Research question/goal:

The project aims to create a comprehensive empirical basis for the comparative long-term analysis of the formation, organizational forms and transformation of the trade union movements in 16 countries of Western Europe from the beginnings till 1945. Country profiles with general informations about the organizations as well as the political, legal and business environment for the rise and development of the labour movement complete as detailed as possible statistics on membership over time. Additional overviews will use comparative indicators to present these data.