UBC Press The Constant Liberal: Pierre Trudeau, Organized Labour, and the Canadian Social Democratic Left

Pierre Elliott Trudeau – radical progressive or unavowed socialist? His legacy remains divisive. The Constant Liberal traces the charismatic politician’s relationship with the left and labour movements throughout his career. Christo Aivalis argues that Trudeau was in fact a consistently classic liberal, driven by individualist and capitalist principles. This comprehensive analysis showcases the interplay between liberalism and democratic socialism that defined Trudeau’s world view – and shaped his use of power. The Constant Liberal suggests that Trudeau’s leftist activity was less a call for social democracy than a warning to fellow liberals that lack of reform could undermine liberal-capitalist social relations. Review [Aivalis’s] careful re-telling of the historical record provides a useful and interesting narrative which will be of interest to many readers today, and provides considerable fodder for thought as we engage in current political debates. Author: Andrew Jackson, Institute of Political Economy, Carleton University Source: The Broadbent Blog The Constant Liberal is a worthy and useful contribution to the considerable body of literature surrounding the life and career of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. It offers a partial corrective to popular perceptions of Trudeau, illustrating the more conservative aspects of his beliefs and thinking in the process. Above all, in drawing from an often neglected body of source material, The Constant Liberal serves as an exposition of a once powerful and influential current of Canadian political thought, now largely tamed or dormant. Author: Luke Savage Source: Literary Review of Canada Review Pierre Trudeau served as the prime minister of Canada for more than fifteen years, yet there remains considerable ambiguity about where he personally situated himself on the political spectrum. Was he an ardent liberal or a social democrat? The Constant Liberal persuasively answers this question and offers keen insights into how the ideological boundary between liberalism and socialism has shaped recent Canadian political history. Author: Reg Whitaker, coauthor of Secret Service: Political Policing in Canada from the Fenians to Fortress America Book Description Challenging interpretations of Pierre Elliott Trudeau as either the founder of a progressive Canada or an unavowed and destructive socialist, this book argues that he was in fact a staunch defender of capitalist values who helped make the country more conservative. From the Author Christo Aivalis is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council postdoctoral fellow in the Department of History at the University of Toronto. His work has appeared in the Canadian Historical Review, Labour/Le Travail, Our Times, Canadian Dimension, and Active History. He is currently working on a biography of Canadian labour leader A.R. Mosher. About the Author Christo Aivalis is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council postdoctoral fellow in the Department of History at the University of Toronto. His work has appeared in the Canadian Historical Review, Labour/Le Travail, Our Times, Canadian Dimension, and Active History. He is currently working on a biography of Canadian labour leader A.R. Mosher.