Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T07:56:11.388Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Study of French Socialist Ideology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2009

Extract

FrenchSocialism has suffered from ideological uncertainty for seventy-five years. Although the party has not been a disassociated, irresponsible cult, it has never had sufficient popular support to implement its ideals by democratic action. Now, in the Fifth Republic, such a prospect seems more remote than ever. More than fifty years as a single, organized party has only led to frustration, marked in the last instance by a schism over support of General de Gaulle. Why has this happened?

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © University of Notre Dame 1959

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 For other explanations of the origins of the present difficulties of French socialism see Ehrmann, H. W., “The Decline of the Socialist Party,” Modern France (ed. Earle, E. M., Princeton, 1951), pp. 181199Google Scholar; Godfrey, E. D., The Fate of the French Non-Communist Left (New York, 1955)Google Scholar; Colton, J., “The French Socialist Party,” Yale Review, XLIII (1954), 402413Google Scholar; Duverger, M., “S.F.I.O.: mort ou transfiguration?Les Temps modernes, X (1955), 112113Google Scholar and Werth, A., France: 1940–1955 (New York, 1956), pp. 523528Google Scholar.

2 Verecque, C., La conquête socialiste du pouvoir politique (Paris, 1909), p. 97Google Scholar.

3 Ibid., p. 120.

4 Ibid., p. 126.

5 Quoted from a statement by Guesde, Jules on “Parlementarisme et révolution” in Lacore, Suzanne, ed., Jules Guesde (Paris, 1946), pp. 163167Google Scholar.

6 Jaurès, J., Studies in Socialism, trans, by Minturn, M. (London, 1906), pp. 168169Google Scholar. See also his article in La Petite République, June 1, 1901. Auclair, M. in La Vie de Jean Jaurès (Paris, 1954)Google Scholar entertainingly describes Jaurès' attitude on these matters.

7 Journal Officiel: Chambre Débats, Mar. 12, 1898, p. 1221 and November 4, 1898, p. 2133 (hereafter cited as J.O. Débats).

8 E.g., Deslinières, L., L'application du système collectiviste (Paris, 1899), p. 461Google Scholar, and Ebers, at the 1899 Congress in Compte rendu sténographique (Paris, 1900), p. 64Google Scholar.

9 Le Socialiste, Sept. 10, 1899.

10 Vaillant, E., “Le parti de la révolution,” Almanach de la question sociale, 1898, p. 31Google Scholar and Congrès 1899, Compte rendu, p. 91.

11 Richard, A., “La marche de I'esprit socialiste en France,” Revue politique et parlementaire, XXI, no. 61 (1899), 32, 38, 42 and at the 1899 Congress, Compte rendu, pp. 76–78Google Scholar.

12 Louis, P., Les étapes du socialisme (Paris, 1903), pp. 345346Google Scholar. Another socialist, Mater, André, observed that all parliamentary action ended in a fruitless judicial battle anyway. “Le socialisme et I'unité,” La Vie Socialiste, I (1905), 623624Google Scholar.

13 Blum, L., Le socialisme maître de l'heure (Paris, 1945), p. 6Google Scholar.

14 Rappoport, C., La révolution sociale (Paris, 1912), p. 4Google Scholar.

15 Ibid., p. 468. See also pp. 32, 35, 418, 428–429.

16 J. O. Dibats, Feb. 10, 1898, p. 554.

17 Le Socialiste, Feb. 24-March 3, 1901 and Verecque, , op. cit., p. 222Google Scholar.

18 Deslinières, L., Entretiens Socialistes (Paris, 1901), p. 7Google Scholar. See also Gérault-Richard, , La Petite République, 04 18, 1903Google Scholar.

19 Lacore, pp. 165–166. See also Bourdeau, J., “La crise du socialisme et la fin d'une doctrine,” Revue des deux mondes, 155 (1899), 257Google Scholar; Ralea, M., L'idée de révolution dans les doctrines socialistes; étude sur l'évolution de la tactique révolutionnaire (Paris, 1923), pp. 356359Google Scholar.

20 La Petite République, April 7, 1900. See also Jaurès, , “Socialisme et liberté,” Revue de Paris, V (1898), 492493Google Scholar.

21 Jaurès, , “La leçon des fêtes de Bruxelles,” Le movement socialiste, I (1899), 452 and La Petite République, Feb. 1, 1902Google Scholar.

22 DaCosta, C., Les Blanquistes (Paris, 1912), p. 47Google Scholar.

23 Charnay, M., Les Allemanistes (Paris, 1912), p. 56Google Scholar and Congrès 1899, Compte rendu, p. 166.

24 Fournière, E., Les moyens pratiques du socialisme (Paris, 1900), pp. 67Google Scholar and La Petite République, Feb. 26, 1901.

25 Millerand, A., “La bataille électorale,” Almanach de la question sociale, 1898, p. 108Google Scholar and “Les socialistes et la legislature nouvelle,” ibid., 1899, p. 62.

26 Millerand, , Le socialisme réformiste français (Paris, 1903), pp. 1316Google Scholar.

27 J. O. Débats, June 13, 1898, p. 1762.

28 Fournière, , “Les moyens pratiques du socialisme,” Revue Blanche, XXIII (1900), 195205Google Scholar and La Petite République, Aug. 27, 1900.

29 Quoted in Orry, Albert, Les independents (Paris, 1911), pp. 7374Google Scholar.

30 J. O. Débats, March 8, 1898, p. 1069. See also Congrèh 1899, Compte rendu, p. 146.

31 La Petite République, Feb. 11, 1900.

32 J. O. Débats, Apr. 7, 1905, p. 1261; June 12, 1902, p. 1820.

33 La Petite République, Aug. 16, 1900. I have deleted the bill of particulars included in what would otherwise be a very long sentence.

34 La Petite République, Oct. 17, 1901; Apr. 8, 1902; Dec. 13, 1902. See also J. O. Débats, July 12, 1905, pp. 2890–2891.

35 Deslinières, , L'application du système collectivite, p. 445Google Scholar.

36 J. O. Débats, Dec. 1, 1899, p. 2021.

37 Laddier, Henri, “Le vrai combat,” Almanack de la question sociale, 1902, p. 27Google Scholar. See also Le conseil national du Parti ouvrier français, Aux travailleurs de France: onze ans d'histoire socialiste (1889–1900) (Paris, 1901), p. 84Google Scholar.

38 J. O. Débats, June 1, 1900, p. 1361 and Troisième congrès général des organisations socialistes françaises, Compte rendu sténographique (Paris, 1901), p. 351Google Scholar.