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The Fire and the Ashes

Rekindling Democratic Socialism

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In The Fire and the Ashes, long-time union economist and policy analyst Andrew Jackson looks back on a fascinating career in the labour movement, the NDP, and left politics, combining keen historical analysis with a political manifesto for today.

As one of the few trade union economists in Canada, Jackson brings a unique insider perspective and decades of experience to bear on his critical reflections on the history and changing fortunes of the NDP, the failures of neoliberalism, and the waning and recent renewal of the democratic socialist tradition.

What plays out is a battle of ideas fought by Jackson and the wider left—one meant to rekindle both political veterans and a new generation of activists who believe that a true democracy cannot exist with great inequalities of wealth and political power, and that social ownership and public investment must be brought squarely into the mainstream.

Contributors

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson spent most of his career as Chief Economist and Director of Social and Economic Policy with the Canadian Labour Congress. Since retiring from the CLC in 2012 he has been senior policy adviser to the Broadbent Institute, and spent two years as the Packer Visiting Professor of Social Justice at York University. He is currently an adjunct research professor at Carleton University. He writes a regular column for the Globe and Mail Report on Business and is the author of numerous articles and several books, including Work and Labour in Canada: Critical Issues, which is now in its third edition with Canadian Scholars Press.

Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

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In the opening chapter, Jackson describes his book as "part personal memoir, part historical analysis, and part political manifesto." He also discusses how the labour movement has been … 12 $1.20

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In this chapter, the author discusses the conditions and circumstances that labour movements faced during his career. Topics include the rise of student activism, the culture wars of the 1970s, … 7 $0.70

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This chapter details Jackson’s political awakening, the radicalism of the NDP in the 1960s, and his time at the LSE, where he studied with the Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband. 15 $1.50

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This chapter examines the Dave Barrett NDP government of British Columbia, which was in power from 1972-1975. Jackson later worked with the BC NDP caucus as they tried to resist the resurgent … 8 $0.80

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In this chapter, Jackson discusses his time with the federal NDP caucus, then led by Ed Broadbent. 6 $0.60

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This chapter concerns the authors’ work on the free trade debates in 1988, which culminated in the edited collection The Free Trade Deal. 4 $0.40

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In this chapter, Jackson examines the Canadian Labour Congress, which appointed him senior economist on May Day 1989. He suggests that the CLC is a fragile body compared with central labour … 17 $1.70

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This chapter examines the marriage of labour and social democracy in Canada, which dates to the founding of the New Democratic Party in 1961. He suggests that the NDP has moderated its … 13 $1.30

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In this chapter, the author compares the corporatist labour policies of Europe to the situation in Canada. He suggests that the European model was driven by the strength of the labour movement … 8 $0.80

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This chapter stresses the importance of education in the labour movement. 3 $0.30

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In this chapter, Jackson discusses the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which worked closely with the labour movement to counter the development of right-wing thought and policies. It … 8 $0.80

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This chapter examines the activities of the Canadian Labour Congress in a global context, where it worked with organizations from other countries to codify basic labour rights. 5 $0.50

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In this chapter, Jackson examines CLC policies in the 1980s and 1990s, which struck a balance between inward-looking economic nationalism, regulating access to domestic markets, and a more … 8 $0.80

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In this chapter, Jackson writes about the Great Recession of 2008-2009, and suggests that the functioning of democracies relies on economic and social equality. The best way to achieve this … 5 $0.50

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This chapter details Jackson’s policy proposals for a green economy that is capable of sustaining future generations. 12 $1.20

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In his concluding chapter, the author surveys the political present, and notes that narratives about elections being won by appealing to the "mushy centre" are disproven by the success … 16 $1.60