The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party

A history of how American liberals since the 1960s persisted and at times prevailed despite conservatism’s rise

Challenging the rise of conservatism as the predominant narrative of American politics since the late twentieth century, this collection of essays reveals the significance of those liberals who advanced an expansive vision of social change. These liberals operated both outside the Democratic Party and within it, as what Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone famously called the “democratic wing of the Democratic Party.”

This expansive liberalism served as a vital counterbalance to the prevailing conservatism and neoliberalism of the era, occasionally succeeding in advancing its own agenda despite the countervailing headwinds. Even when politically sidelined, it remained a vibrant and viable alternative that showcased imaginative thought and action. This collection of essays features ten chapters—from leading academics as well as new voices—that show how liberals reoriented themselves after the 1960s, how they struggled for a more inclusive Democratic Party, how they developed creative strategies, and how they confronted deindustrialization. At a time when the democratic wing of the Democratic Party is once again on the rise, understanding this history is more relevant than ever.

Contributors: Patrick Andelic, Jonathan Bell, Daniel Castaneda, Marisa Chappell, Mary Ellen Curtin, Daniel Geary, Van Gosse, Nelson Lichtenstein, Alex Riggs, Joe Ryan-Hume, Patricia Sullivan, Katherine Turk.