8 Social democracy and socialism
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Gregor Gall
Abstract
Media interest in Mick Lynch during the rail strikes allowed him ample opportunity to articulate his wider world view to a mass audience. This chapter looks at its various components and how they related to the strikes, wider political change and the notion of a working-class hero, especially concerning Labour and a general strike. This begins with looking at his analysis of capitalism. As will become clear, Lynch was a radical reformer of a reformist, social democratic – and not revolutionary socialist – bent. So Lynch did not envisage a world without capital and capitalism, for he believes social democracy is the hope for humankind. In his own words, he is a ‘pragmatic … reformist’. However, his moderate radicalism took on an added significance on account of his ability to articulate it and the attention he was given due to the rail strikes in a peculiar period of political instability where the right became more rampant and reactionary. These are among the factors that produced the phenomenon of Lynch as a working-class hero. Based, as this was, more on words than deeds, he was a powerful propagandist. And despite his unsuccessful search for political representation via Labour, for many Lynch’s world view remained no less compelling for that.
Abstract
Media interest in Mick Lynch during the rail strikes allowed him ample opportunity to articulate his wider world view to a mass audience. This chapter looks at its various components and how they related to the strikes, wider political change and the notion of a working-class hero, especially concerning Labour and a general strike. This begins with looking at his analysis of capitalism. As will become clear, Lynch was a radical reformer of a reformist, social democratic – and not revolutionary socialist – bent. So Lynch did not envisage a world without capital and capitalism, for he believes social democracy is the hope for humankind. In his own words, he is a ‘pragmatic … reformist’. However, his moderate radicalism took on an added significance on account of his ability to articulate it and the attention he was given due to the rail strikes in a peculiar period of political instability where the right became more rampant and reactionary. These are among the factors that produced the phenomenon of Lynch as a working-class hero. Based, as this was, more on words than deeds, he was a powerful propagandist. And despite his unsuccessful search for political representation via Labour, for many Lynch’s world view remained no less compelling for that.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Preface viii
- Abbreviations ix
- Introduction 1
- 1 Approaching Lynch 9
- 2 What is a working-class hero? 29
- 3 Sparks fly! Boyhood and blacklisted but back again 53
- 4 Working for the union 70
- 5 Becoming General Secretary 86
- 6 A working-class hero is made 93
- 7 Power and participation 121
- 8 Social democracy and socialism 162
- Conclusion 195
- Appendix 1 221
- Appendix 2 225
- Notes 227
- Selected bibliography 260
- Index 265
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Preface viii
- Abbreviations ix
- Introduction 1
- 1 Approaching Lynch 9
- 2 What is a working-class hero? 29
- 3 Sparks fly! Boyhood and blacklisted but back again 53
- 4 Working for the union 70
- 5 Becoming General Secretary 86
- 6 A working-class hero is made 93
- 7 Power and participation 121
- 8 Social democracy and socialism 162
- Conclusion 195
- Appendix 1 221
- Appendix 2 225
- Notes 227
- Selected bibliography 260
- Index 265
