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The Communist Party of Canada During the Great Depression : Organizing and Class Consciusness

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The Communist Party of Canada During the Great Depression : Organizing and Class Consciusness THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION: ORGANIZING AND CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS by Anne Burger . B.A. (Honours), Simon Fraser University, 1980 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology O Anne Burger 2004 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY May 2004 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. Approval Name: Anne Burger Degree: Master of Arts Title of Thesis: The Communist Party of Canada During the Great Depression: Organizing and Class Consciousness Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Barbara Mitchell Dr. Gary Teeple Senior Supervisor Associate Professor of Sociology Simon Fraser University Dr. Karl Froschauer Member Assistant Professor of Sociology Simon Fraser University Dr. Mark Leier External Examiner Associate Professor of History Simon Fraser University Date Approved: 17 May 2004 Partial Copyright Licence The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. The original Partial Copyright Licence attesting to these terms, and signed by this author, may be found in the original bound copy of this work, retained in the Simon Fraser University Archive. Bennett Library Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada ABSTRACT Canada experienced its worst economic crisis during the Great Depression of the 1930s with unprecedented numbers of Canadians suffering extreme economic and social hardship. Survival and struggle to change those conditions became as much a mark of the times as the economic circumstances themselves. The Communist Party of Canada (CPC) was one organization that played a significant role in this national upsurge of struggle. The Party believed that the worsening material conditions would engender class consciousness of Canadian workers, leading to the overthrow of the capitalist system to achieve a worker-farmer socialist state. The Party was instrumental in organizing workers, farmers, the unorganized and the unemployed, however, it was not successful in raising Canadian working class consciousness to a revolutionary level. The factors that will be analyzed as being the main contributing factors to the Party's limitations are the CPC1srelationship with the Comintern, repression by the Canadian state, and dominant ideology that prevailed in Canada during the Depression. From its inception in 1921 the CPC worked assiduously to meet the needs of Canadian workers in a rapidly changing economy in the 1920s and one that was also collapsing in the Depression. In many ways it recognized Canadian workers' needs in these times and was at the head of the labour movement fighting for workers' needs and defending them. However, the CPC was somewhat hamstrung by its very close relationship with the Comintern allowing this international communist body to dictate almost every move it made whether or not it was the best for Canadian workers. State repression of the CPC and labour movement, also had a curbing effect on the advancement of the CPC in its work with Canadian workers, forcing the Party underground, decimating its leadership and intimidating Party activists, unions and workers. Finally, dominant ideology during the Depression, in spite of serious threats by alternate sets of ideas, particularly those promulgated by the CPC, largely stood its ground as defender of the present capitalist system that relied on the exploitation of Canadian workers for its survival. DEDICATION to Benjamin, Jean and Dijs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis has truly been a work in the making. Life has intervened in its inimitable way but has also determined that the work be completed. A number of people have significantly assisted along the way during the work's 'gestation'. My first expression of appreciation is to Gary Teeple who has always, and unreservedly, supported and guided me in the periods of my research and writing. His faith in my completing along with his intellectual insightfulness and guidance have greatly helped at all stages. Hari Sharma, in an earlier phase of developing my thesis, contributed ideas on resources and analysis for which I am appreciative. Coming on board at the final stage of completing, Karl Froschauer has unstintingly contributed ideas that have undoubtedly enabled me to bring this work to completion. I am very grateful to his generous contribution and willingness to assist at short notice in the final stage. Various friends have shown genuine interest and support in my continuing progress and completing. John and Marion Malcolmson most generously shared their home with me for a number of months when I lived out of province so I could devote time to research and writing and be close to my committee and resources. Cathy Livingstone and Herbert Pimlott lent books, read drafts and provided feedback in earlier stages for which I am very grateful. Others along the way have also offered assistance if I wanted it, while certain friends and family members have provided invaluable moral support. Standing particularly at my side in unfailing support and belief in my finishing has been my son Benjamin who, by the time I was at the final stage, was in post-secondary studies himself and even more empathic and supportive. The spirit throughout this work had its birth in the humanity of my parents who have always lived their lives by inspiring example. In addition, many women and men I have had the honour of working with, who believe in the right of people to dignified lives, have also fed the spirit and insightfulness of this work. Finally, I am grateful to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Simon Fraser University for supporting my re-entrance to the graduate studies program so that I could complete my M.A. TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval ............................................................................................................................. ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................. III Dedication ...................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. vi Chapter One ....................................................................................................... 1 1. Background ........................................................................:........................................ 1 2 . Thesis Question ........................................................................................................ 5 3 . Literature Review ........................................................................................................7 4 . Methodology ..............................................................................................................17 Chapter Two: The Political Economy of Canada. 1920s and 1930s ..............23 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 23 Economy ................................................................................................................... 24 Introduction................................................................................................................ 24 The 1920s ................................................................................................................. 26 The 1930s .............................................................................................................. 29 Class Formation .................................................................................................... 32 Introduction................................................................................................................ 32 Capitalist Class ......................................................................................................... 34 Working Class ........................................................................................................... 37 Petite Bourgeoisie ..................................................................................................... 39 Political Development................................................................................................ 41 Introduction................................................................................................................ 41 Farniers' Movement .................................................................................................. 43 Labour Movement ....................................................................................................
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