The political landscape created by industrialization in the first half of the twentieth century has become increasingly unstable as the industrial labor force contracts, eroding support for labor parties on a global scale. This volume examines challenges faced by labor in the West over thelast decade, through a comparative study of labor-based political parties in the United States, England, France, West Germany, Sweden, Israel and Canada. The contributors, internationally-recognized sociologists and political scientists, examine factors contributing to the growth, maintenance ordecline of these parties, while Piven offers a comprehensive overview of labor politics and shows how the history of labor parties in other countries helps make sense of the postwar history of the Democratic party in the U.S.