Growing up Communist in the Netherlands and Britain : childhood, political activism, and identity formation / Elke Weesjes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Weesjes, Elke, author.

Series:

Heritage and memory studies.

Heritage and memory studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Children--Political activity--Netherlands--20th century.

Children.

Children--Political activity--Great Britain--20th century.

Communism--Netherlands--20th century.

Communism.

Communism--Great Britain--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (293 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam : Amsterdam University Press, 2021.

Summary:

This book documents communists' attempts, successful and otherwise, to overcome their isolation and to connect with the major social and political movements of the twentieth century. Communist parties in Britain and the Netherlands emerged from the Second World War expecting to play a significant role in post-war society, due to their domestic anti-fascist activities and to the part played by the Soviet Union in defeating fascism. The Cold War shattered these hopes, and isolated communist parties and their members. By analysing the accounts of communist children, Weesjes highlights their struggle to establish communities and define their identities within the specific cultural, social, and political frameworks of the Cold War period and beyond.

Contents:

Friendships and relationships

8 Epilogue

Looking Back

9 Afterword

List of Abbreviations

Bibliography

Online Resources

Archives

Newspapers and Periodicals

Documentaries/Film

Index

Communist Youth Organisations 1969-1991

Gender roles, sexuality and the feminist movement

The anti-racist movement

The gay rights movement

The final years

Part II

5 From Heroes to Villains

The Second World War and '1956'

Resistance and war trauma

'1956'

6 Private Spheres

Communist Home Life

Politics at home

Cultural upbringing

Child-rearing mores

7 Public Spheres

Neighbourhood, School and Work

School and education

Work and careers

Anti-communism

MI5 and the BVD

Working mothers

Money and poverty

Summer camps and holidays

Cover

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction

Cradle Communists and Oral History

Part I

2 Under the Party's Wing

Communist Youth Organisations 1920-1956

Foundation years

Class Against Class and Popular Front

The Spanish Civil War

The Second World War

Promising years: 1945-1948

Isolation: 1948-1956

3 Out of the Shadows

Communist Youth Organisations 1957-1968

The ban-the-bomb movement

The politicisation of youth

The student movement

The anti-Vietnam War movement

Old guard vs. new guard

4 Fragmentation and Demise

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 16 Dec 2021).

ISBN:

90-485-5185-4

OCLC:

1281707866