The analysis of the 2011 ‘Blackberry’ riots in England reveals conflicting perspectives on the role of inequalities. Conservatives view the riots as lawlessness driven by moral decline, while radicals highlight socio-economic disenfranchisement as a key cause. This essay urges addressing underlying inequalities to prevent future unrest rather than merely punishing the rioters.
Drawing on material from the Connecting Lives strand, explain how qualitative and quantitative types of evidence can be used to support the claim that cities produce inequality. Inequality in cities exists for a variety of interconnected reasons—economic, historical, political, and social. ‘The wealthiest 10% of households had household wealth of £1,200,500…
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I got excited when this book arrived on my doorstep. At first glance it has all the key ingredients for a great book. Hacienda DJ author, history of British nightclubs – I expected lots of gory detail and exciting anecdotes and couldn’t wait to get to the acid house chapters….The…
View More Review: Life After Dark – A History of British Nightclubs & Music Venues – by Dave Haslam
Poverty Safari is a winner of the Orwell Prize in 2018. The author, Darren McGarvey offers us a biographical account of his life in working class Glasgow suburb Pollok. Darren is a rapper who does extensive community work and is also a socially conscious intelligent man with his finger on…
View More Review: Poverty Safari – Understanding the Anger of Britain’s Underclass – by Darren McGarveyThis is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read, a first witness account of some of the most important world events of the first half of the twentieth century, a rich period for revolutionary events and the author, Victor Serge, a Belgian born Russian, is perfectly poised…
View More Review: Memoirs of a Revolutionary – by Victor Serge
The revolutions of 1830, 1848, and 1870 significantly impacted French working classes, spurring their organization and political consciousness. Despite initial betrayals and repression by the bourgeoisie, these uprisings fostered advances in labor rights, living standards, and democratic participation, ultimately leading to a more cohesive and recognized working class by the end of the century.
View More Nineteenth Century Revolutions and the French Working Classes
The seminar focused on the evolution of the French labor movement, exploring its historical challenges, low union membership, and the state’s interventionist role. Despite a high collective bargaining coverage, unions face declining influence and membership. Contemporary issues include technological impacts on employment and rising right-wing politics, complicating future labor dynamics.
View More Seminar Presentation: A History of French Labour
The translated academic study offers a detailed examination of 19th century French society, highlighting the impact of various revolutions that generally favored the bourgeois elite despite initial lower-class motivations. It discusses industrialization, improved living standards, and regional variations, while recognizing the rich data sometimes overwhelms the narrative. Overall, it remains a valuable read.
View More Review: A Social History of France in the 19th Century – by Christophe Charle
This book examines post-revolutionary France, highlighting the bourgeois’s dominance during various changes of power from 1789 onwards. It explores modernisation, capitalism’s conflict with the left, and rising living standards among the working class. The author skillfully elaborates on complex topics, emphasizing the lower classes’ experiences amid political transformations.
View More Review: France 1815-1914 The Bourgeois Century – by Roger Magraw
This book examines socialism in France, exploring the evolution of the political left from the nineteenth century through detailed chapters. It covers the rise of trade unionism, the SFIO’s ascent, and the decline of socialist power as communists gained influence. The final chapter discusses Mitterand’s 1981 electoral victory and its historical significance.
View More Review: Marxism and the French Left – by Tony Judt