New Left

The New Left refers to radical, often Communist or anarchist, political parties and movements which emerged in the United States, Western Europe, Japan, Mexico and elsewhere during the 1960s. It flourished into the 1970s and faded in importance after 1980. The New Left was a political reaction against the acceptance of capitalism by the major established parties. It was a generational revolt, dominated by "red diaper babies" (whose parents had been active in the old left), and was strongest on university campuses. The old bastions of left-wing strength, especially the labor unions, generally rejected the New Left. In the 21st century the remnants of the New left dominate the Green Parties in many countries.

These are distinguished from the "Old Left" of such groups that originated from the 1890s-1930s, such as the Soviet-line Communist Party USA which carried an apologetic line in support of Stalinism. The New Left rejected Moscow and favored Mao Zedong of China, Fidel Castro of Cubs and Ho Chi Ming of Vietnam.

Parties and movements which emerged from the New Left include the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Progressive Labor Party, the political movement of Lyndon LaRouche, Students for a Democratic Society, the Weather Underground, the Youth International Party, and several others. A distinguishing feature of the New Left was a tendency to view the Third World as the "vanguard" of the "revolution", rather than the industrial working class of Europe and North America as the Old Left did. Thus, the imagery and ideology of such Third World revolutionaries as Mao Zedong and Che Guevara were favored. Another distinguishing feature of the New Left was a much greater emphasis on manifestations of cultural rebellion against mainstream society, particularly borrowing from the hippie movement, radical feminism, and black nationalism. Again, was a sharp reaction against the Old Left which was culturally very staid and which saw counter-cultural movements as decadent and capitalistic.

Bibliography

• Diggins, John Patrick. The Rise and Fall of the American Left (1992), includes old and new left; by a leading conservative historian
• Ellis, Richard J. The Dark Side of the Left: Illiberal Egalitarianism in America (2000) major study by leading historian.
• Gosse, Van. The Movements of the New Left, 1950-1975: A Brief History with Documents (2005) excerpt and text search
• Koelble, Thomas A. The Left Unraveled: Social Democracy and the New Left Challenge in Britain and West Germany (1991) online edition
• O'Neill, William L. The New Left: A History (2001) short survey by leading scholar online edition
• Rossinow, Doug. The Politics of Authenticity (1998), on U.S. movement; based on extensive archival research excerpt and text search