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Langism

Jack Lang in 1946.

In Australian politics, largely in New South Wales, Langism[1] is the politics, ideology, and style of governing of former New South Wales Premier and Labor Leader Jack Lang. Reaching its peak in the 1930s and 1940s around the period of Lang's Premiership (1930–1932), dismissal, and federal political career, Langism is largely characterised as a combination of political ideals of Jack Lang, including economic populism/nationalism (also left-wing populism), anti-austerity policies, Australian nationalism and anti-communism. Much of which was laid out in the Lang Plan. Lang's opposition to reimbursing foreign debt and supporting lowering domestic interest rates gave Lang a reputation as a radical,[2] a renegade,[2] and even a dictator.[3][4] After the sacking of Lang in 1932 by Governor Philip Game, the term Langism was used by conservatives and the United Australia Party as a pejorative and to smear the New South Wales Labor Party. Adherents of Langism, or his government and politics, are referred to as Langites.[5]

Ideology

Much of Langism centres around the economic policies and ideals of the Lang Government and Jack Lang himself. Lang's primary economic ideology came from his, along with his party's, proposal of the "Lang Plan", a deflationary economic proposal to help during the Great Depression. While never fully implemented (the Premiers' Plan being agreed to), the "Lang Plan" was considered to break with the economic orthodoxy at the time,[6] initiating Lang's long-held reputation as being a radical[2][6] or a renegade.[2][6]

Premier for just seven months,[7] Lang signed the Premiers' Plan on 10 June 1931.[8]

Not uncommon within the Labor Party at the time, Lang's politics also included aspects of nationalism and conservatism,[6] and received a comparison to Huey Long (politics), the former Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana.[1]

Critical reception

Throughout much of Lang's tenure as leader of the Labor Party in New South Wales, the term Langism was often used by political opponents to deride and criticise both him and the Labor Party. The Nationalist/United Australia Party and the Country Party throughout the country were the most vocal users of the term. With the likes of acting Premier of Tasmania Walter Lee praising the election of Bertram Stevens, following the dismissal of Lang in 1932, saying the party will “smash Langism throughout Australia.”[9] In a 1927 article in the North West Champion (Moree), Langism was described as a “communist-controlled school of political thought.” Further adding: “Langism stands for the most crooked and questionable methods of government and departmental administration ever known in this or any other Australian state.”[10]

Former Liberal Federal MP David Kemp, in A Democratic Nation: Identity, Freedom and Equality in Australia 1901–1925, wrote that “Lang constructed an ideology that later came to be known as 'Langism', based around class war rhetoric.” And added that, “He was an anti-capitalist populist who preferred his own dominance to that of the communists, and was comfortable with the concept of the class struggle, which he sought to convert into personal political power.”[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Robertson, Geoffrey (2001). How Labor Governed: Social Structures and the Formation of Public Policy During the New South Wales Lang Government of November 1930 to May 1932 (Thesis). Monash University.
  2. ^ a b c d Robinson, Geoffrey (27 February 2021). "The Rise and Fall of Jack Lang, Australia's Renegade Labor Premier". Jacobin.
  3. ^ Hogan, Michael. Labor Pains: Early Conference and Executive Reports of the Labor Party of NSW 1926–1939 – Volume V.
  4. ^ Dixon, Ralph (1943). The Story Of J. T. Lang (PDF).
  5. ^ Walker, R. B. (May 1980). "The Fall of the "Labor Daily"". Labour History. 18 (38): 67–75. doi:10.2307/27508405. JSTOR 27508405.
  6. ^ a b c d Robinson, Geoffrey (2 March 2021). "Jack Lang: Australian Labor's Renegade Premier". Tribune.
  7. ^ "Part Six – Ministries" (PDF). parliament.nsw.gov.au. New South Wales Parliament.
  8. ^ Cook, Peter (October 1969). "Labor and the Premiers' Plan". Labour History. 7 (17): 99. doi:10.2307/27507956. JSTOR 27507956.
  9. ^ "Will Smash Langism in Australia". The Advertiser. South Australia, Australia. 13 June 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 9 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Langism". North West Champion. Vol. 15, no. 58. New South Wales, Australia. 8 August 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 9 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Kemp, David (2019). A Democratic Nation: Identity, Freedom and Equality in Australia 1901–1925. Melbourne University Publishing. ISBN 978-0522873467.
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