2008/03/01 by Geoffrey Robinson · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Australian History and Society #Labor Movements and Unions #Political and Economic history of UK and US #League #Conservatism #Progressivism #Context (archaeology) #Politics #Mainstream #Political science #Scholarship #Political economy #Sociology #Economic history #Economics #History #Law #Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1080/10314610701837227
openalex publication_date 2008/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
In 1931, the All for Australia League and other ‘citizens movements’ mounted a major challenge to the established conservative parties. Traditional views of the League saw it as a reflection of economic group interests, whether of the business establishment or dissident capitalists such as manufactures. More recent scholarship has stressed middle-class concerns with ‘sound finance’ as the inspiration of the League. This paper instead situates the League in the historical context of centre party projects in New South Wales, and of progressivism, in particular industrial psychology. The economic crisis and the rightward shift of the nationalists enabled a group of political entrepreneurs to transform the League from a front group for business into a populist movement. However, the shift of mainstream conservatism back to the political centre fatally undercut the League's support base.