We will examine the history and present dilemmas of the discipline as practiced in the United States. A major theme will be the development of a Marxist paradigm of inquiry, and the various recent challenges to that paradigm. Although the emphasis is on American labor history, there will be some comparative and international perspective, with readings on the history of western Europe and India as well as the United States. We will also deal at length with the problem of narrative form, using the representation of violence as our principal example. The course is run as a seminar, not a lecture, so vigorous participation is expected on your part.
Attendance is mandatory.
Instead of a single term paper, students will write a series of concise, analytical essays, two to three pages long, discussing the weekly readings. A total of nine such papers is required of each student. Students will also give oral presentations on the readings, designed to provide a framework for lively discussion. During the last month of class, students will do a small amount of primary research on an episode of industrial violence, or on another aspect of labor history to be arranged with me. The idea is to build a bridge between theoretical abstraction and the practical task of historical research.