Neither Power Nor Glory 100 Years Of Political Labor In Victoria, 1856-1956

From its origins in the mid-19th century to the calamitous split of the 1950s, this authoritative account chronicles the struggles of political Labor in Victoria, Australia. Ensnared by the colony's powerful liberal protectionist tradition in the late 19th century, Victorian Labor found itself hindered by a grossly unfair electoral system and the lack of a constituency outside Melbourne's industrial suburbs. But, exile from government also meant that the party developed its own distinctive traditions and culture. It was a unique and intriguing species among the state Labor parties. Meticulously researched and elegantly written, this book fills an important gap in Australian political history and our understanding of the Labor Party. It is also a timely antidote to nostalgia about Labor's past.

Paul Strangio is a senior lecturer in politics in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University. He is the author of Confusion: The Making of the Australian Two-Party System; Keeper of the Faith: A Biography of Jim Cairns; and The Victorian Premiers, 1856–2006.