As We Come Marching: People, Power and Progressive Politics

Eric P. Mintz is an associate professor of political science at the
Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The ascendancy of the ideology of the New Right and the virtual collapse
of the New Democratic Party have created a need for a reconsideration
and restatement of such values as cooperation, community, equality,
social justice, and social responsibility, which have been an important
part of political dialogue in Canada. The 19 articles in this volume,
edited by former NDP Member of Parliament Steven Langdon and his
parliamentary assistant, Victoria Cross, generally take the perspective
that the labor movement should be at the heart of the revitalization of
“progressive” politics. Despite criticisms of the NDP (and the Rae
government in particular), there is a consensus among the contributors
that the links between the NDP and the labor movement should not be
severed.

This is a readable book that clearly and simply expresses the values of
the “left.” However, the promised rethinking of democratic socialism
is carried out only to a limited extent, and the analysis of various
issues (a number of which arise out of experiences in the Windsor area)
is neither detailed nor thorough. There are some interesting and
informative articles—such as Murray Dobbin’s discussion of the
“New Right revolution” in New Zealand, Michael Darnell’s account
of a strike by Great Lakes fishers, and Coro Strandberg’s proposals
concerning community economic development strategies—but none of the
articles really provides a sustained critique of New Right ideology or a
convincing presentation of alternative directions.