Challenges of Labour: Central and Western Europe 1917-1920

From 1917-1920 revolutionary activity and working class unrest pervaded Europe, making this one of the most active periods for the European labor movements and socialists. Yet, with the exception of Russia, the forces of order and property crushed revolutions with renewed strength, and succeeded in largely neutralizing socialist governments.The Challenges of Labourbrings together essays by leading authorities in the field, all published for the first time in English, to provide a fresh look at these critical years. The contributors examine developments in the rural provinces and key cities of both Western and Central Europe which were marked by revolutionary and labor protest in the period after the first world war. Beginning with an introduction which gives a clear account of the principal themes and establishes the comparative structure of the book, the collection goes on to explore the causes and extent of unrest, the factors which contributed to its initial success andultimate failure, and the influence of the propertied classes and reestablishment of the old order. Posing new questions in the context of existing debates,The Challenges of Labourprovides a uniquely comprehensive survey of this important topic.