An Unrepentant Liberal

About the Book

An Unrepentant Liberal is a book of writings by an American professor of political science over a particular period of history. It includes an introduction by the author, who envisaged this book in his lifetime. Unfortunately, he died before its completion. There is, in addition, a preface by Ann Karson, his widow. This book contains a chapter from Dr Karson’s major work, American Labor Unions and Politics, 1900-1918, and one from a previous writing on which it was based. Among other things, these and some of his scholarly articles and reviews about American labor tell of the discovery for which he is known, that the influence of Roman Catholicism should be added to previously noted factors accounting for the relative conservatism of American unions and the absence of a Labor Party in the United States. American labor in the early 20th Century was his research specialty. Other articles and reviews concern aspects of American government and politics, on which he regularly taught, and world affairs, as well as health issues and education. Topics include race relations, civil liberties, religion, socialism, the left, the right and foreign affairs.

About the Author

Marc Karson, Ph.D., was born in New York on 8th February, 1920, and died in Asheville, North Carolina, on 22nd February, 2008. His main work, a well-reviewed book published in 1958 (paper-back 1965), was American Labor Unions and Politics, 1900-1918. One chapter is included in the present volume. He was a professor of political science, specializing in American government. His research special interest was the American labor movement in the early years of the 20th century. His main publication, American Labor Unions and Politics 1900-1918, was highly regarded, especially for his original research and recognition of the influence of the Catholic church on the early labor unions. He wrote many articles and reviews, and lectured often for the United States Information Agency; as well as others, from universities to cruise lines, throughout the world. Dr. Karson was interested in politics from an early age. He tried to sign up to fight against Franco in Spain but was rejected as too young. He was ready for World war II before most Americans and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force before Pearl Harbor, then transferring to the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1968, he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 13th District of Illinois, south-west of Chicago. He strongly opposed the Vietnam War, as he later did the 2003 war in Iraq. His undergraduate degree was from American University. Under the G.I. Bill, he studied under Harold Laski at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he obtained his doctorate. He had two sets of twins with his second wife, Marjorie. They are Keir, Lucy, David and Michael. He was putting this book together with the help of his third wife (of 33 years), Ann, at the time of his death. A version of part of it was published in 1981 by Mankato State University, in Minnesota, where he taught for ten years, from 1972. Earlier, he taught at Washburn University in Kansas, Southern Illinois University and North Central College in Illinois. For a short period he also ran the education program of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers in New York. Dr. Karson was known as a charismatic lecturer with international expertise, and his writings reflect that passion and knowledge. Although now they primarily speak of a period of political history, many have relevance in today’s world.