International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress, London 1896
Encyclopedia
The International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress held in London from July 26 - August 1 1896 was the fourth congress of the Second International
. The congress has been described as "the most agitated, the most tumultuous, and the most chaotic of all the congresses of the Second International" because of the many factional disputes between and within the national delegations.
The congress was the only one of the Second International to have its proceedings published in English.
, the industrial question and the further organization of social democracy. It also passed motions regarding the independence of Cuba, Macedonia and Armenia, tsarism, monarchism
, and adopted a special address from the Bulgarian Social Democrats.
Second International
The Second International , the original Socialist International, was an organization of socialist and labour parties formed in Paris on July 14, 1889. At the Paris meeting delegations from 20 countries participated...
. The congress has been described as "the most agitated, the most tumultuous, and the most chaotic of all the congresses of the Second International" because of the many factional disputes between and within the national delegations.
The congress was the only one of the Second International to have its proceedings published in English.
| Country | # of delegats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 48 | Representing the Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... |
| Great Britain | 475 | Representing the Social Democratic Federation Social Democratic Federation The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term... , Fabian Society Fabian Society The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World... , Miners Federation |
| Austria | 6 | |
| Australia | 1 | The Australians had deputized a London doctor to represent them |
| Bohemia | 1 | |
| Bulgaria | 4 | |
| Belgium | 19 | |
| Denmark | 7 | |
| Spain | 6 | |
| United States | 7 | |
| France | 129 | |
| Netherlands | 13 | |
| Hungary | 3 | |
| Italy | 13 | |
| Poland | 13 | |
| Portugal | 1 | |
| Romania | 1 | |
| Russia | 7 | |
| Sweden | 2 | |
| Switzerland | 12 | |
| Sweden | 2 | |
| Switzerland | 12 |
Resolutions
The Congress passed resolutions on the Agrarian question, political action, education, the position of the working class regarding militarismMilitarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
, the industrial question and the further organization of social democracy. It also passed motions regarding the independence of Cuba, Macedonia and Armenia, tsarism, monarchism
Monarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
, and adopted a special address from the Bulgarian Social Democrats.