Myths of cohesion: capital and compromise in the historiography of nineteenth-century Birmingham.

The author comments on the works of Asa Briggs regarding the historiography of nineteenth-century Birmingham, England, focusing on social relations in industry. His model has been considered important in the analysis of class relations in early industrial society. According to the model, industrialization in Birmingham has influenced the rising number of small workshops producing hardware products. Because of this, an identity has emerged between employers and employees. The social cohesion brought about was reflected in the weakness of trade unionism and political movements involving class cooperation. Brigg's extended model had been used to underpin structural-functionalist approaches to social conflict.