McIlroy, J.

Marxism and the trade unions: the bureaucracy versus the rank and file debate revisited

Article

McIlroy, J. 2014. Marxism and the trade unions: the bureaucracy versus the rank and file debate revisited. Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory. 42 (4), pp. 497-526. https://doi.org/10.1080/03017605.2014.984493

Publication dates
Type	Article
Title	Marxism and the trade unions: the bureaucracy versus the rank and file debate revisited
Authors	McIlroy, J.
Abstract	The conviction that trade unionism is characterised by an embedded conflict of interest between a conservative, privileged bureaucracy and a militant, radical rank and file has a long history. This article explores its provenance in classical Marxism and reviews contemporary debates. It argues that the dichotomy depends on an idealised, crudely defined conception of the rank and file that downplays economism and trade union consciousness, reads the insurgency of crisis situations into periods of normality, misunderstands the imbrication of leaders’ personal interests with organisational interests and exaggerates their monopoly of bureaucracy and powers of persuasion. Bureaucracy is inherent in trade unionism under capitalism. It pervades practice differentially but is not the exclusive property of a leading stratum. In any critical Marxism, trade unionism, its reformist practice and the economistic consciousness it generates, constitutes the primary barrier to progress, although its leading functionaries remain a subordinate problem.
Research Group	Centre for Education Research and Scholarship (CERS)
Publisher	Taylor and Francis
Journal	Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory
ISSN	0301-7605
Print	22 Dec 2014
Publication process dates
Deposited	27 Jan 2015
Output status	Published
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1080/03017605.2014.984493
Language	English

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McIlroy, J. 2014. Testimony of a revolutionary. Capital and Class. 38 (3), pp. 609-616. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816814551268a

British trade unions and the academics: the case of Unionlearn

McIlroy, J. and Croucher, R. 2013. British trade unions and the academics: the case of Unionlearn. Capital and Class. 37 (2), pp. 263-284. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816813487134

The turn to transnational labor history and the study of global trade unionism

McIlroy, J. and Croucher, R. 2013. The turn to transnational labor history and the study of global trade unionism. Labor History. 54 (5), pp. 491-511. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2013.849923

British Labour and the challenge of Israel-Palestine

McIlroy, J. 2013. British Labour and the challenge of Israel-Palestine. Capital and Class. 37 (3), pp. 491-496. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816813505282b

The Society for the Study of Labour History, 1956–1985: its origins and its heyday

McIlroy, J. 2010. The Society for the Study of Labour History, 1956–1985: its origins and its heyday. Labour History Review. 75 (S.1), pp. 19-112. https://doi.org/10.1179/174581810X12574393682708

Beyond national history

Croucher, R. and McIlroy, J. 2013. Beyond national history. Labor History. 54 (5), pp. 485-491. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2013.849922

A Trotskyist's tale

McIlroy, J. 2013. A Trotskyist's tale. History Workshop Journal. 75 (1), pp. 287-297. https://doi.org/10.1093/hwj/dbs028

Restoring Stalinism to communist history

McIlroy, J. 2013. Restoring Stalinism to communist history. Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory. 41 (4), pp. 599-622. https://doi.org/10.1080/03017605.2013.876816

Léon Jouhaux, Louis Saillant and the national and international in transnational trade unionism

McIlroy, J. 2013. Léon Jouhaux, Louis Saillant and the national and international in transnational trade unionism. Labor History. 54 (5), pp. 554-576. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2013.849927

Asa Briggs and the emergence of labour history in post-war Britain [book section]

McIlroy, J. 2014. Asa Briggs and the emergence of labour history in post-war Britain [book section]. in: Taylor, M. (ed.) The age of Asa: Lord Briggs, public life and history in Britain since 1945 London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 108-141

Organizing for partnership: the influence of the American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organisations on the British Trades Union Congress 1995–2005

McIlroy, J. 2013. Organizing for partnership: the influence of the American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organisations on the British Trades Union Congress 1995–2005. Labor History. 54 (2), pp. 138-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2013.773143

The last chance saloon? The Independent Labour Party and miners' militancy in the Second World War revisited

McIlroy, J. and Campbell, A. 2011. The last chance saloon? The Independent Labour Party and miners' militancy in the Second World War revisited. Journal of Contemporary History. 46 (4), pp. 871-896. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022009411413404

Strikes and class consciousness in the early work of Richard Hyman

McIlroy, J. 2012. Strikes and class consciousness in the early work of Richard Hyman. Capital and Class. 36 (1), pp. 53-75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816811429738

Radical political unionism reassessed

McIlroy, J. 2012. Radical political unionism reassessed. European Journal of Industrial Relations. 18 (3), pp. 251-258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959680112452802

Waving or drowning? British labor history in troubled waters

McIlroy, J. 2012. Waving or drowning? British labor history in troubled waters. Labor History. 53 (1), pp. 91-119. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2012.650435

Mauritius 1938: the origins of a milestone in colonial trade union legislation

Croucher, R. and McIlroy, J. 2013. Mauritius 1938: the origins of a milestone in colonial trade union legislation. Labor History. 54 (3), pp. 223-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2013.804268

Asa Briggs and the emergence of labour history in post-war Britain [article]

McIlroy, J. 2012. Asa Briggs and the emergence of labour history in post-war Britain [article]. Labour History Review. 77 (2), pp. 211-242. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.2012.13

Ten years of New Labour: workplace learning, social partnership and union revitalization in Britain

McIlroy, J. 2008. Ten years of New Labour: workplace learning, social partnership and union revitalization in Britain. British Journal of Industrial Relations. 46 (2), pp. 283-313. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2008.00678.x

A Labour historian of the old school - Raymond Challinor remembered

McIlroy, J. 2011. A Labour historian of the old school - Raymond Challinor remembered. Labour History Review. 76 (2), pp. 143-160. https://doi.org/10.1179/174581811X13063237706961

McGahey, Michael (Mick) (1925-1999)

McIlroy, J. 2010. McGahey, Michael (Mick) (1925-1999). in: Gildart, K. and Howell, D. (ed.) Dictionary of Labour Biography: Volume XIII London Palgrave Macmillan.

Birch, Reginald (Reg) (1914-1994), Trade union leader Communist Maoist

McIlroy, J. 2010. Birch, Reginald (Reg) (1914-1994), Trade union leader Communist Maoist. in: Gildart, K. and Howell, D. (ed.) Dictionary of Labour Biography: Volume XIII London Palgrave Macmillan.

Fifty years on

McIlroy, J., Campbell, A., Halstead, J. and Martin, D. 2010. Fifty years on. Labour History Review. 75 (1), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1179/174581810X12572557623613

Skills and training: a strategic role for trade unions or the limits of neoliberalism?

McIlroy, J. and Croucher, R. 2008. Skills and training: a strategic role for trade unions or the limits of neoliberalism? in: Daniels, G. and McIlroy, J. (ed.) Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World: British Trade Unions under New Labour London Routledge. pp. 283-315

The National Unemployed Workers Movement and the Communist Party of Great Britain revisited

Campbell, A. and McIlroy, J. 2008. The National Unemployed Workers Movement and the Communist Party of Great Britain revisited. Labour History Review. 73 (1), pp. 61-88. https://doi.org/10.1179/174581808X279118

Two tales about crisis and corruption at the Central Labour College

McIlroy, J. 2007. Two tales about crisis and corruption at the Central Labour College. Labour History Review. 72 (1), pp. 69-73. https://doi.org/10.1179/174581807X179930

The general strike and mining lockout of 1926: a select bibliography

McIlroy, J., Campbell, A., Gildart, K. and Outram, Q. 2006. The general strike and mining lockout of 1926: a select bibliography. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (21), pp. 183-206. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2006.21.8

Memory, commemoration and history - 1926 in 2006

McIlroy, J. 2006. Memory, commemoration and history - 1926 in 2006. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (21), pp. 65-108. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2006.21.4

The last word on Communism

Campbell, A. and McIlroy, J. 2005. The last word on Communism. Labour History Review. 70 (1), pp. 97-101. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.70.1.97

A reply to critics

Campbell, A. and McIlroy, J. 2004. A reply to critics. Labour History Review. 69 (3), pp. 373-380. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.69.3.372

Look back in anger: mining communities, the mining novel and the great miners' strike

McIlroy, J. 2004. Look back in anger: mining communities, the mining novel and the great miners' strike. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (18), pp. 135-164. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2004.18.4

Critical reflections on recent British Communist Party history

McIlroy, J. 2004. Critical reflections on recent British Communist Party history. Historical Materialism: Research in Critical Marxist Theory. 12 (1), pp. 127-154. https://doi.org/10.1163/156920604773564014

Editorial: New directions in international Communist historiography

McIlroy, J. and Campbell, A. 2003. Editorial: New directions in international Communist historiography. Labour History Review. 68 (1), pp. 3-5. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.68.1.3

Histories of the British Communist Party: a user's guide

McIlroy, J. and Campbell, A. 2003. Histories of the British Communist Party: a user's guide. Labour History Review. 68 (1), pp. 33-59. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.68.1.33

Forging the faithful: the British at the International Lenin School

McIlroy, J., Campbell, A., McLoughlin, B. and Halstead, J. 2003. Forging the faithful: the British at the International Lenin School. Labour History Review. 68 (1), pp. 99-128. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.68.1.99

A very different historian: Royden Harrison, radical academics and suppressed alternatives

McIlroy, J. and Halstead, J. 2003. A very different historian: Royden Harrison, radical academics and suppressed alternatives. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (15), pp. 113-143. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2003.15.5

Beyond Betteshanger: order 1305 in the Scottish coalfields during the Second World War, part 2: the Cardowan story

McIlroy, J. and Campbell, A. 2003. Beyond Betteshanger: order 1305 in the Scottish coalfields during the Second World War, part 2: the Cardowan story. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (16), pp. 39-80. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2003.16.2

Beyond Betteshanger: order 1305 in the Scottish coalfields during the Second World War. part 1: politics prosecutions and protest

McIlroy, J. and Campbell, A. 2003. Beyond Betteshanger: order 1305 in the Scottish coalfields during the Second World War. part 1: politics prosecutions and protest. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (15), pp. 27-72. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2003.15.2

Is CPGB history important? A reply to Harriet Jones

Campbell, A. and McIlroy, J. 2003. Is CPGB history important? A reply to Harriet Jones. Labour History Review. 68 (3), pp. 385-390. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.68.3.385

'Every factory our fortress': communist party workplace branches in a time of militancy, 1956-1979, part 2: testimonies and judgements

McIlroy, J. 2001. 'Every factory our fortress': communist party workplace branches in a time of militancy, 1956-1979, part 2: testimonies and judgements. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (12), pp. 57-107. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2001.12.3

'Every factory our fortress': Communist party workplace branches in a time of militancy, 1956-79, part 1: history, politics, topography

McIlroy, J. 2000. 'Every factory our fortress': Communist party workplace branches in a time of militancy, 1956-79, part 1: history, politics, topography. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (10), pp. 99-130. https://doi.org/10.3828/hsir.2000.10.5