Rebel Youth By Ian Milligan - Book Report/Review Example

Book Review By Xuanchang Huang (250851768) For Peter V. Krats November 17th, Introduction This paper details a critical review and personal assessment about the book: Rebel Youth: 1960s Labor Unrest, Young Workers, and New Leftists in English Canada. This book has been written by Ian Milligan; and it is published by UBC Press in 2014. The book is comprised of six chapters along with introduction and conclusion segments. Each chapter separately addresses the issue and highlights the causes, effects, and interplay between different movements heading simultaneously toward the rebellion. In order to set the tone of the subsequent chapters, the author has used the introductory chapters for highlighting the reasons and causes that have triggered the movement during the period. The central theme puts light on the causes and issues that demanded egalitarian society in the country. During the period between 1964 and 1973, baby boomers started to change their perspective on the issues of individual rights, civil rights and democracy as well. More importantly, there was a class difference in the society which did not allow a member of one class to change the class and move into the camp of other class. This class struggle was largely visible during the mentioned decade as it was a common economic practice that right after the high school, ordinary or underprivileged Canadians were forced to work in the factories and mills for earning bread and butter and satisfy their routine requirements. In order to show this struggle, the author, in the first chapters, has highlighted the reasons that provided base and enabled youth to fight against the forces of status quo which had not allowed the suppressed common Canadian to avail the benefits of democracy. Subsequently, the author mentions the role of youth and the labor and their individual and collective struggle at campuses and in the streets as well. More specifically, the author has primarily focused on defining and elaborating three broad themes central to the book: New Leftists, youth culture and young workers (Milligan, 2014, p.7). Discussion: Main Points and Critical Analysis The book highlights that the Canadian youth were not alone in their class struggle. For example, it has been mentioned that the similar uprising movements were also taking place in various countries where the youth were playing the lead role; for example, in the United States, similar rebellious movement and such voices were also heard at university campuses such as Berkeley and Columbia and Chicago as well; in Poland, France, Mexico and London (Milligan, 2010, p. 6). Based on this situation, it can be easily extracted that the author is not observing the rebel movement from the native factors triggering the fire of rebellion against the elite dominance instead he is more insisting that such uprisings were also taking place in other parts of the world which were also inspiring them to fight against authoritarianism and class-based society as well. The book contains some strong points. First, the author describes and details those stories which have not been found or told previously and have been hidden from the history of Canada. At the same time, the book’s fundamental premise is that the New Leftists have subscribed to the similar perspective which has been mainly found in the core concepts of young workers; and this understanding of youth culture especially after the end of the Second World War has considerably improved and enhanced the rebellious activism during the reported period. The book has used illustrations for highlighting the gravity of situation during the period of turmoil in the sixties. For example, the book’s cover page contains six photographs in which demonstrators are being manhandled by the police. In this regard, it is pertinent to highlight that the photograph conveys the message that the police is using its authority to thwart and restrict the movement of the demonstrators. Within this context, it is worth highlighting that only those photographs have been chosen which directly support the perspective of the author and his view point relating to the events taking place during the period. As a result, it can be easily deduced that the author has indirectly supported the cause of the rebel youth. However, from my perspective, the book has still certain inherent weaknesses. For example, the author has recorded various oral interviews from the participants and have also included in the book for supporting his understanding and perspective on certain issues. Under this situation, it can be argued that the author tries to include those perspectives which are in line with his views and avoid using those perspectives which are contradictory to his understanding. In a nutshell, it can be argued that the subjective bias relating to interviews and information can be found in the book; and for common readers, it is difficult to observe it in the book. As a result, the book is only depicting a particular perspective instead of providing balanced view of the situation taking place during the highlighted decade. The book historicizes the events and provides picket lines that evoke strong memories of the events of era that brought numerous changes to the Canadian society as well as the labor movement. Milligan presents and situates the events in a unique context, through an exploration of ideological clashes, which occurred during the turbulent period. In his chronological analysis of the events the author provides an analysis of the violent strikes such as the Peterborough Examiner strike, Texpack strike in Brantford among others. These strikes were a reflection of the worker students’ attempts to support demands for improved workplace safety, pay equity and child care. In what Milligan refers to as ‘wildcat wave’ in page 45, he describes some of the confrontations that were core to the political youth movements. However, Milligan depicts some irony because even during the movements as the youths were rising up against the managers there were leftists who were writing them off referring them as ineffective agents of social change (Milligan, 2010, p. 64). Milligan acknowledges the failures of the movement in its struggle to develop and mobilize a fighting coalition of workers and youth in Canada. For example, the differences between the labour movement’s leadership and that of student leadership were too profound. However, he recognizes the importance of the leftist ideologies and thinking because they provided dynamic movement in their attempt to foster meaningful change in the society (Milligan, 2010, p. 120). In his review of the unfolding events in the mid 1960s towards early 1970 there are some gaps and inconsistencies with only disparate events, which were tied together. These were used as a signal to show that something was happening, but it was not specifically pinpointed. There are different opinions in regard to what happened during the period, although Milligan acknowledged the existence of some people who were active during the movements. The book encourages people to revisit their past, which provides useful lessons for their daily living. He acknowledges that the struggles as reflected in the book were not only about the new leftists libeling alienation and middle class students because it had a significant impact on all youths regardless of their classes. He argues that the people should not miss the important lessons, which can provide important lessons for the current generation especially contemporary activists and politicians, who struggle to understand their circumstances (Milligan, 2010, p. 182). The primary thesis of the book, regarding the role of young workers’ in the struggles that led to turmoil in the 1960s is argued well and persuasively. However, Milligan fails to capture the spirit and passion of the historical counts of the Canadian society in that decade. The increasing disputes and role of the working class, as well as other groups that were oppressed were the results of capitalism advancement. However, the argument of different authors is based on their schools of thoughts and their basic points of focus. His argumentation also fails to provide an elaborate discussion of the students’ ability to move beyond the campus and establish alliances with the labor and working class movements. However, his acknowledgement of the weaknesses associated with the shortage of written sources he acknowledges that his argument was only based on white, male and middle class mindset. Therefore, the book might not provide comprehensive details of the unfolding events during the decade. Summary The book reflects a struggle against the status quo and highlights the demands of the New Left, young workers and youth culture as well. The books covers a critical decade in which uprising against the forces of status quo began to wage war against authoritarianism. The author insists that this movement was not alone against the opponents of the egalitarian society instead similar events were simultaneously taking place in London, Paris, Mexico city and other places as well, clearly demonstrating that the youth in the form of baby boomers had made their mind for supporting the cause of democracy and for the full establishment of the egalitarian society. However, it is still pertinent to highlight that the author has also supported this cause through depiction of such photographs which show that the police is manhandling the protestors. Additionally, the author has used oral interviews for supporting different arguments in the book. Under this condition, it is considerably difficult to develop and maintain a balanced opinion about the topic and the book; consequently, the effects of bias in the book cannot be ruled out. References Milligan, I. (2014). Rebel Youth: 1960s Labor Unrest, Young Workers, and New Leftists in English Canada. Toronto: UBC Press. Read More