The issue contains the second group of four studies exploring current relations between trade unions and political parties in Western Europe; all eight studies were originally prepared for a 1973 symposium at Cornell University. In an overview of the studies, the author cites a widening gap between unions and parties. (Author/AJ)

France's three major trade union federations, which do not encompass all organized French workers, espouse quite different styles of relations with political parties. The author relates these to the three main traditions of French trade-unionism: the communist-leninist, the social democratic, and the syndicalist models, but finds them changing.…

In Italy, the tensions of the past decade have attenuated the divisions between the rival labor movements, the political system remains highly fragmented, but the trade unions are increasingly engaged in joint industrial and political activities. Their cooperation may even result eventually in the unification of the major labor federations.…

The balance of power inside the dominant socialist and Catholic blocs in Belgium, which were once incontestably led by the political elites, has been shifting toward the trade unions. Regionalism has fragmented the political system far more than the industrial relations system; the unions' political influence will continue in importance. (Author)

The postwar realignment of union-party relations in Switzerland severed old formal ties but left some important links undisturbed; practical and effective cooperation on legislative items supports current informal union-party alliances. Major current problems include the unions' demand for codetermination in industry and the huge numbers of…