This revised work by Lamb (research fellow, Keele Univ.) and Docherty (Historical Dictionary of Socialism) updates the first edition considerably, with 440 cross-referenced entries (114 of them new) ranging in length from a few sentences to several pages. Entries cover major thinkers, politicians, activists, institutions, and current and historical political parties as well as related sociopolitical movements throughout history. Formatted like other works in the series, this resource includes a lengthy and informative introduction, a chronology, and an extensive bibliography. It will complement other series titles, such as the Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor, also by Docherty. Bottom Line This title is a much-needed addition to the small world of reference works on socialism and related movements. Similar works, such as An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Marxism, Socialism and Communism (1981) and A Dictionary of Marxist Thought (1991), were published before the rise of new or reinvigorated Socialist and social-democratic parties in Europe and the Third World, and more recent works, such as The Historical Dictionary of Utopianism (Scarecrow, 2004), Utopias and Utopians (Greenwood, 1999), and Encyclopedia of the American Left (Oxford Univ., 1998), offer only a partial treatment of socialism. This edition provides a broad historical view of socialism as an idea, a movement, and a political actor at the national and international level. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Nadine Cohen, Univ. of Georgia, Athens Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
With this third edition of a work tracing the historical roots of socialism and its current relevancy as a global movement, Lamb offers a timely reference work updating both previous editions, including the first one, written by James Docherty and published in 1998 by Scarecrow. With close to 500 entries, this one includes a comprehensive A–Z list of people, events, organizations, countries, and concepts associated with socialism over the last 500 years. As the author explains, the third edition offers a special focus on ‘the revival of social democracy’ in Eastern Europe, Latin America, South America, and Africa. The work is noteworthy because of its inclusion of women, with entries ranging from former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet to German Marxist Clara Zetkin. There are also new entries, such as one on homosexuality, which details a long history of the movement's support of LGBT rights and gives readers important perspectives on inclusion and diversity in the movement. In addition to 60 new entries, the dictionary offers extensive cross-referencing, a glossary of terms, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, and an extended chronology spanning 1516–2015. Although the bibliography is by no means comprehensive, it does offer a breadth of primary, secondary, and online resources. Because of its scope, this work will have broad interdisciplinary appeal for students interested in international relations, political science, history, gender studies, literature, and religion.Summing Up:Recommended. All academic levels; general readers.
The Historical Dictionary of Socialism is a quality reference publication for beginning researchers with thorough, concise information. The resource would be a great starting place for a high school or undergraduate to begin research on the topic.. . .[T]he almost 75 page bibliography provides an extensive, impressively organized list of further resources and publications. The author has meticulously organized the sections of the bibliography under certain themes and resource types, it will be of huge benefit for researchers in need of further reading. There are other reference titles on the same topic in the same style as this historical dictionary; however, this volume is of high quality, and the information it provides is thorough and up to date. The HistoricalDictionary of Socialism would be a great addition to a general reference section in any public or academic library.
Over 500 compact entries document the various tenets, events, institutions, policies, people, and more associated with the Socialist movement. These entries are arranged alphabetically and are generously cross-referenced for ease of navigation.. . .This third edition has been extensively updated with new entries, as well as expanded chronology, introduction, and bibliography sections. In particular, the extensive bibliography is highly organized, and the introduction section does well in defining Socialism as well as conveying its origins, development, and schisms that pushed it into the many-faceted force for social change it is regarded as today. The book also includes a helpful acronyms and abbreviations section, as well as a glossary.. . .[R]eaders can absolutely benefit from the [book's] highly readable format and intelligent breakdown of its abundant material.
American Reference Books Annual
With this third edition of a work tracing the historical roots of socialism and its current relevancy as a global movement, Lamb offers a timely reference work updating both previous editions, including the first one, written by James Docherty and published in 1998 by Scarecrow. With close to 500 entries, this one includes a comprehensive A–Z list of people, events, organizations, countries, and concepts associated with socialism over the last 500 years. As the author explains, the third edition offers a special focus on ‘the revival of social democracy’ in Eastern Europe, Latin America, South America, and Africa. The work is noteworthy because of its inclusion of women, with entries ranging from former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet to German Marxist Clara Zetkin. There are also new entries, such as one on homosexuality, which details a long history of the movement's support of LGBT rights and gives readers important perspectives on inclusion and diversity in the movement. In addition to 60 new entries, the dictionary offers extensive cross-referencing, a glossary of terms, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, and an extended chronology spanning 1516–2015. Although the bibliography is by no means comprehensive, it does offer a breadth of primary, secondary, and online resources. Because of its scope, this work will have broad interdisciplinary appeal for students interested in international relations, political science, history, gender studies, literature, and religion. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels; general readers.
With this third edition of a work tracing the historical roots of socialism and its current relevancy as a global movement, Lamb offers a timely reference work updating both previous editions, including the first one, written by James Docherty and published in 1998 by Scarecrow. With close to 500 entries, this one includes a comprehensive A–Z list of people, events, organizations, countries, and concepts associated with socialism over the last 500 years. As the author explains, the third edition offers a special focus on ‘the revival of social democracy’ in Eastern Europe, Latin America, South America, and Africa. The work is noteworthy because of its inclusion of women, with entries ranging from former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet to German Marxist Clara Zetkin. There are also new entries, such as one on homosexuality, which details a long history of the movement's support of LGBT rights and gives readers important perspectives on inclusion and diversity in the movement. In addition to 60 new entries, the dictionary offers extensive cross-referencing, a glossary of terms, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, and an extended chronology spanning 1516–2015. Although the bibliography is by no means comprehensive, it does offer a breadth of primary, secondary, and online resources. Because of its scope, this work will have broad interdisciplinary appeal for students interested in international relations, political science, history, gender studies, literature, and religion.
The Historical Dictionary of Socialism is a quality reference publication for beginning researchers with thorough, concise information. The resource would be a great starting place for a high school or undergraduate to begin research on the topic. . . .[T]he almost 75 page bibliography provides an extensive, impressively organized list of further resources and publications. The author has meticulously organized the sections of the bibliography under certain themes and resource types, it will be of huge benefit for researchers in need of further reading. There are other reference titles on the same topic in the same style as this historical dictionary; however, this volume is of high quality, and the information it provides is thorough and up to date. The Historical Dictionary of Socialism would be a great addition to a general reference section in any public or academic library.
Together, the approximately 440 entries found in this historical dictionary are intended to serve as a general guide to the subject, tracing the evolution and diversification of socialism from the early 19th century to the early 21st. Primarily concerned with politics (thus leaving any deeper examination of industrial relations to the complementary Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor), it provides information on writers, activists, ideas, political parties, institutions, and movements important to the history of socialism. Also included are an introductory overview, a chronology, a glossary of terms, and a bibliography.
Reference and Research Book News
Peter Lamb and James C. Docherty have done us proud, wife a reference work of wide utility. Recommended to libraries at all levels.
"American Reference Books Annual"
