Abate, Tony (1992) A fight for Labor? The foundation of the Democratic Labor Party. Honours thesis, Victoria University of Technology.

Abstract

The following thesis is about the formation of the Democratic Labor Party(DLP). Its prime aim will be to show that ideology was the overriding factor which brought about the DLP's existence. In attempting to prove this contention the following thesis will be subdivided into three parts. Firstly, an emphasis will be placed on outlining the lack of historiographical consensus concerning the DLP's formation. Three main schools of thought will be identified. It is hoped the inconsistencies within each group will allow the reader to see the scope that exists for a new argument. Secondly, this thesis will argue that the DLP's existence was d i r e c t l y related to the Catholic Social Studies Movement (Movement) and ALP Industrial Groups. This connection will be highUghted by drawing together DLP policy, Movement/Industrial Group directives, populist ideals and views from contemporaries associated with Democratic Labor. Issues concerning the family, economics, social decentralisation and patriotism will all be used to illustrate and reinforce this link. Thirdly, this thesis will introduce some key Catholic activists and discuss their definition of "true" Labor ideals. By bringing forward this final point, the following thesis will seek to complete the argument that ideology was at the heart of the DLP's genesis and existence.

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