How leaders mobilize workers : social democracy, revolution, and moderate syndicalism

Abstract

This book explains why leaders chose social democracy, revolution, or moderate syndicalism to mobilize workers, and why it matters. In some countries, leaders have responded effectively to their political environment, while leaders in other countries have made ill-fitting choices. Vössing explains not only why leaders make fitting or ill-fitting choices of mobilization strategies, but also how their choices affect the success of that interest mobilization and subsequent political development. Using the most extensive compilation of quantitative data and historical sources, this book combines a thorough analysis of the formation of class politics in all twenty industrialized countries between 1863 and 1919 with a general theory of political mobilization. It integrates economic, political, and ideational factors into a comprehensive account which highlights the critical role of individual leaders, and which develops an innovative model for their decision-making process based on insights from both rational choice theory and psychology.