The Left in Power: Bob Rae's NDP and the Working Class

by Steven High

The Ontario Historical Society Best Local History Book Award, 2025 (Winner)

At the end of the twentieth century, as social democratic parties around the world struggled to produce a coherent response to the deindustrialization crisis, many pivoted towards progressive neoliberalism and Third Way social democracy. Almost everywhere, they turned their backs on the weakened trade union movement and embraced neoliberal assumptions about labour force flexibility and global competition. Shamefully, Third Way social democrats emphasized the moral dimension of poverty rather than its structural causes as they abandoned the old redistributive class politics of the Left.

Based on extensive archival research and interviews with NDP politicians, senior economic policy advisors, and trade unionists, The Left in Power examines the response of the political Left in Ontario to the crisis that gripped the old ‘industrialized world.’ Steven High revisits the heartbreaking years of Bob Rae’s Ontario NDP government—from their historic and unexpected 1990 victory, to their policy shifts that left working-class voters feeling betrayed, to their landslide defeat in 1995—to uncover what we can learn from one social democratic party’s mistakes about how to govern from the Left.

Genres: Politics, History

250 pages, Paperback

Published February 11, 2025

Reviews

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Left in Power, Steven High gives a well-researched and objective account of the New Democratic Party’s 1990-95 government in Ontario, Canada, under Bob Rae. The victory of the Social Democratic NDP was a surprise to everyone and no more so than to the party itself and, as High makes clear, it showed. These were tumultuous years as the west was shifting to globalization and neoliberalism and, in an effort to cope, the NDP government abandoned many of their progressive ideas much to the dismay of their membership and allies in the labour movement. This is not to say they didn’t do some good especially in northern Ontario but their embrace of many neoliberal policies including austerity resulted in the abandonment of the party by many of its members and staunchest allies and, eventually, loss at the next election. In clear and concise language, High gives an in depth look at what the NDP accomplished and how and why it failed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Literary Press Group of Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Daniel Macgregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough history of NDP's rise to power in Ontario, highly recommend for all of those interested in social democratic political parties.