Michael Harrington

Michael Harrington
Bernard Gotfryd · Public domain · source
Name	Michael Harrington
Caption	Harrington in 1976
Birth date	February 24, 1928
Birth place	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Death date	July 31, 1989
Death place	Larchmont, New York, U.S.
Education	College of the Holy Cross (BA), University of Chicago (MA)
Occupation	Political activist, writer, professor
Known for	Author of The Other America; Democratic socialist leader
Party	Social Democrats, USA, Democratic Socialists of America
Spouse	Stephanie Harrington

Michael Harrington was an American democratic socialist, writer, political activist, and professor whose work profoundly influenced national policy and the New Left. He is best known for his seminal 1962 book, The Other America, which brought widespread attention to poverty in the United States and is credited with inspiring the War on Poverty under President Lyndon B. Johnson. A co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, Harrington was a leading intellectual figure in American socialism for decades, advocating for a humane and democratic alternative to both capitalism and communism.

Early life and education

Born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, Harrington was raised in a middle-class Irish Catholic family. He attended St. Louis University High School before enrolling at the College of the Holy Cross, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English and developed an interest in literature and social justice. He subsequently pursued a master's degree in English at the University of Chicago, immersing himself in the intellectual ferment of the city. During this period, he was deeply influenced by the Catholic Worker Movement and its founder, Dorothy Day, which catalyzed his lifelong commitment to activism and socialist ideals.

Political activism and writing

Harrington's political journey began in earnest in New York City, where he joined the Young People's Socialist League and became a prominent member of the Socialist Party of America. He worked as an associate editor for the leftist magazine The Catholic Worker before moving to the more secular publication Dissent, founded by Irving Howe. Throughout the 1950s, Harrington was a vocal critic of both McCarthyism and the bureaucratic communism of the Soviet Union, positioning himself within the tradition of democratic socialism. He became a national organizer for the League for Industrial Democracy and traveled extensively, lecturing on labor issues and socialist theory, which solidified his reputation as a compelling orator and thinker.

The Other America and influence

Harrington's magnum opus, The Other America, published in 1962, systematically documented the pervasive yet invisible poverty afflicting tens of millions of Americans. The book argued that poverty was a structural feature of affluent society, affecting groups from Appalachian miners to Harlem residents and elderly pensioners. Its publication had an immediate and seismic impact, catching the attention of influential figures like Senator Hubert Humphrey and, most notably, President John F. Kennedy. The book is widely regarded as a primary intellectual catalyst for the Economic Opportunity Act and the suite of federal programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson known as the War on Poverty.

Later career and death

In the decades following his famous work, Harrington remained a prolific writer and activist. He taught as a professor of political science at Queens College, City University of New York, and continued to lead socialist organizations, including serving as co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. He authored several more books, including The Twilight of Capitalism and Socialism: Past and Future, which elaborated his vision of a democratic socialist society. Harrington was a persistent critic of the Reagan administration's economic policies. He died in 1989 in Larchmont, New York, after a battle with esophageal cancer.

Legacy and impact

Michael Harrington's legacy is deeply embedded in the fabric of American social policy and leftist thought. His work provided the foundational analysis for the Great Society programs and continues to inform debates on economic inequality. The organization he helped lead, the Democratic Socialists of America, grew into a major force in American politics in the 21st century. Intellectuals and politicians, from Senator Bernie Sanders to scholars at institutions like the Brookings Institution, cite his influence. The annual Michael Harrington Award is given by the American Political Science Association to recognize scholars whose work demonstrates a commitment to social justice.

Category:American political writers Category:Democratic socialists Category:American anti-poverty advocates