The Development of an Anglo-American Model of Trade Union and Political Party Relations

In this article we offer an historical and comparative view of trade union and political party relations in the United States and Great Britain. Using our own typology of union/party linkages, we trace the development of ties between the labor movements and political parties in both countries from the beginning of the 20th century, when both labor movements turned to political action to gain relief from hostile court decisions; through the mid-20th century, when relations were particularly strong; to the present where unions have a favored, but not central, role in party policymaking. Today, the Labour and Democratic parties protect the institutional viability of unions, but often adopt policies corrosive of the unions' aims. We believe the current state-of-affairs is explained by a retreat from the Keynesian assumptions that underpinned relations in the mid-20th century and a change in electoral strategy that de-emphasizes class-based alliances.