The Constant Liberal: Pierre Trudeau, Organized Labour, and the Canadian Social Democratic Left

Resource type
Author/contributor
Title
The Constant Liberal: Pierre Trudeau, Organized Labour, and the Canadian Social Democratic Left
Abstract
Pierre Elliott Trudeau – radical progressive or unavowed socialist? Christo Aivalis argues that although Trudeau found key influences and friendships on the left, he was in fact a consistently classic liberal, driven by individualist, capitalist principles. Trudeau’s legacy is still divisive. Most scholars portray Trudeau’s ties to unions and the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation as either evidence of communist affinities or as being at the root of his reputation as the champion of a progressive, modern Canada. The Constant Liberal traces the charismatic politician’s relationship with left and labour movements throughout his career. Trudeau worked with leftists in the 1950s to oppose right-wing Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis but against them as prime minister when workers and progressives were seen as obstacles to higher corporate profit margins. While numerous biographies have noted the impact of Trudeau’s engagement with the left on his intellectual and political development, this comprehensive analysis is the first to showcase the interplay between liberalism and democratic socialism that defined his world view – and shaped his effective use of power.The Constant Liberal suggests that Trudeau’s leftist activity was not so much a call for social democracy as a warning to fellow liberals that lack of reform could undermine liberal-capitalist social relations. Historians, political scientists, and political historians are the primary audience for this book, but it will also find readers among scholars of political economy, economics, industrial relations, and Canadian studies. It will appeal broadly to those interested in the life and thinking of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the Canadian social democratic left, and liberalism/neo-liberalism. --Publisher's description
Place
Vancouver
Publisher
UBC Press
Date
2018
# of Pages
xiv, 278 pages
Language
English
ISBN
978-0-7748-3714-9
Short Title
The Constant Liberal
Accessed
5/25/18, 11:22 PM
Notes

"Pierre Trudeau served as the prime minister of Canada for more than fifteen years, yet there remains considerable ambiguity about where he personally situated himself on the political spectrum. Was he an ardent liberal or a social democrat? The Constant Liberal persuasively answers this question and offers keen insights into how the ideological boundary between liberalism and socialism has shaped recent Canadian political history."

-Reg Whitaker, coauthor of Secret Service: Political Policing in Canada from the Fenians to Fortress America

"Those who regard Pierre Trudeau as a wild-eyed socialist will be surprised that in the eyes of the left he was an orthodox liberal with conservative instincts. His mod style suggested progressive change, but this study chronicles how Trudeau the Elder repeatedly refused to challenge the status quo to deliver social justice for ordinary Canadians. Was the ‘Just Society’ just for show? Read this book if you want to know."

-Paul Litt, author of Trudeaumania

Citation
Aivalis, C. (2018). The Constant Liberal: Pierre Trudeau, Organized Labour, and the Canadian Social Democratic Left. UBC Press. https://www.ubcpress.ca/the-constant-liberal