Marv Gandall wrote: [clip]
>
> Of course, how can we really discuss the issue without knowing which parties, period, and personnel that Hobsbawn (if Doug's attibution is correct) was alluding to?
With this I agree, since I was about to offer the same point. It would be interesting to see a developed debate on it by historians who had reasonable access to scuh empirical detail as can be gathered.
If we has even _some_ knowledge of these ratios it would have _some_ political importance, as casting light on (tentatively) what sort of left has to be built up to make a significant impact on the world!
Carrol