Towards a Comparative History of Coalfield Societies

This volume transcends over-arching national models to focus instead on local coal mining societies that can then be compared and contrasted to similar communities elsewhere. Adopting a regional approach that compares coalfield communities from five continents, this volume reflects coalfield experiences on a truly global scale. By looking at what made communities unique as well as what they shared in common, a much fuller understanding of the workplace, neighbourhood, family, identity and political organization is possible.