| The Radical Middle Class: Populist Democracy and the Question of Capitalism in Progressive Era Portland, Oregon Subjects: Middle class -- Oregon -- Portland -- History -- 20th century; Small business -- Oregon -- Portland -- History -- 20th century; Middle class -- United States -- History; Progressivism (United States politics); America has a long tradition of middle-class radicalism, albeit one that intellectual orthodoxy has tended to obscure. The Radical Middle Class seeks to uncover the democratic, populist, and even anticapitalist legacy of the middle class. By examining in particular the independent small business sector or petite bourgeoisie, using Progressive Era Portland, Oregon, as a case study, Robert Johnston shows that class still matters in America. But it matters only if the politics and culture of the leading player in affairs of class, the middle class, is dramatically reconceived. Robert D. Johnston is Director of the Teaching of History Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. |