Against Essentialism: Latin American Labour History in Comparative Perspective. A Critique of Bergquist

Rebutts Charles Bergquist's critique of historical methods of Latin American labour history, published in the Spring 1990 edition of the journal. Defends "new" labour interpretations of working class experience and class consciousness, although it is acknowledged that some studies were excessively particularistic. Argues that there is no historical norm or law of economic development. Concludes that Bergquist's approach to the study of class consciousness and economic development in Latin America is mistakenly "essentialist," that new social historical methods can be usefully applied, and that comparative studies of labour that include North America or Europe with Latin America are valid.