Историк представил расширенное издание политической истории Австралийской лейбористской партии

- by Graham Holton - The Guardian - Issue #2197 Historian Ross McMullin has revised and expanded the first edition of this book, which now stands at 800 pages. McMullin had unprecedented access to ALP and national archives, enabling him to meticulously research all state Labor branches and major federal actions. McMullin has achieved an authoritative and highly readable political history of the ALP. The book is organised chronologically along the major eras of ALP history, beginning with the 1891 shearers’ strike, from which emerged parliamentary Labor. Chris Watson, Labor’s first prime minister, achieved political credibility for the young party. Andrew Fisher passed nation-building reforms, pensions, the Commonwealth Bank, and infrastructure projects. The wartime government of John Curtin introduced Australia’s alliance with the United States. Following World War II, Ben Chifley undertook reconstruction, increased immigration, and attempted bank nationalisation. His social welfare, economic planning and collective responsibility became central to ALP tradition. Chifley’s legacy was brought undone by the 1949 coal strike and party division. The Whitlam government passed important reforms, but economic challenges, US enmity and CIA involvement led to his dismissal by Governor General, John Kerr. After years in opposition, Bob Hawke led the party to victory. His economic reforms, the union Accords, and the floating of the dollar led to modernisation in McMullin’s account. The class-collaborationist Accords have also led to a disempowered workforce and dwindling union membership. The revised edition has been expanded to cover the dramatic transfer of power from Hawke to Paul Keating, followed by the ALP losing government after thirteen years. The Rudd - Gillard years were turbulent, complicated by the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), saved by Rudd’s economic stimulus programme. This was followed with the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which was later removed. Julia Gillard introduced the important but flawed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). After years in opposition, Labor was returned to government under Anthony Albanese. The rest is very recent history. While Labor’s relationship with the trade union movement and the evolution of traditional labourism to modern social democracy are examined, there are a number of shortcomings. There is a marked lack of information on rank-and-file union members, women’s activism, migrant workers, Indigenous Australians, and grassroots social movements associated with Labor. The class conflict which generated Labor in the first place and which continues is insufficiently explored. Likewise trade union activism is skimmed over. The CPA pamphlet ‘Can we move the ALP to left by joining it?’ available on cpa.org.au under ‘resources’ is recommended on this topic. McMullin explores the instability of Labor’s internal leadership. He also looks at factionalism, corruption, electoral defeats, and expulsions, but there is limited critical analysis of Labor ideology and policies and too much focus on major personalities. Nor is there a deep analysis of long-term economic and social forces. Despite these flaws, the book is an interesting single volume study of the political history of the ALP. 3 out of 5 red stars