Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber Why the US Never Got a Labor Party
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Jan 21, 2026 
Vivek Chibber, a sociology professor and editor of Catalyst, delves into the historical reasons behind the absence of a labor party in the US. He discusses how unique factors like craft unionism, mass immigration, and racial tensions hindered working-class solidarity. Chibber compares American union growth with Europe's, highlights the chilling effects of employer violence, and argues that early enfranchisement diminished the incentive for independent labor movements. This fascinating analysis reveals the complexities of American social democracy.
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American Social Democracy Was Limited
- The US achieved a limited social democracy through the New Deal's welfare programs and union legalization.
- That social democracy remained much weaker and more anemic than European counterparts.
Union Density And Political Representation Matter
- Two central reasons for US weakness were lower union density and absence of a mass labor party.
- These structural differences help explain American exceptionalism versus Europe.
Early Democratization Shifted US Incentives
- Early democratization in the US reduced the incentive to form independent labor parties.
- European workers, lacking political rights, had to build parties and unions together, producing stronger labour movements.
