Neosocialism
Encyclopedia
Neosocialism was a political trend of socialism
, represented in France during the 1930s
and in Belgium
, which included several revisionist tendencies in the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO). In the wake of the Great Depression, a group of right-wing members, led by Henri de Man
in Belgium, founder of planisme
, and in France Marcel Déat
, Pierre Renaudel, René Belin, the "neo-Turks" of the Radical-Socialist Party (Pierre Mendès-France
, etc.), opposed themselves both to Marxism
and to gradual reformism
. Instead, influenced by Henri de Man's planisme, they promoted a "constructive revolution" headed by the state and technocrats
, through economic planification. Such ideas also influenced the Non-Conformist Movement in the French right-wing.
Marcel Déat published in 1930 Perspectives socialistes (Socialist Perspectives), a revisionist work closely influenced by Henri de Man's planisme. Along with over a hundred articles written in La Vie Socialiste, the review of the SFIO's right-wing, Perspective socialistes marked the shift of Déat from classical Socialism to Neo-Socialism. Déat replaced class struggle
by collaboration of classes and national solidarity, advocated corporatism
as a social organization model, replaced the notion of "Socialism
" by "anti-Capitalism
" and supported an authoritarian state which would plan the economy
and from which parliamentarism would be repealed.
The Neo-Socialist faction inside of the SFIO, which included Marcel Déat and Pierre Renaudel, were expelled during the November 1933 Congress, because of their revisionist stances and admiration for Fascism
. The neos advocated alliances with the middle-classes and favored making compromises with the "bourgeois" Radical-Socialist Party to enact the SFIO's program one issue at a time. After having being expelled from the SFIO, Marcel Déat and his followers created the Parti socialiste de France-Union Jean Jaurès (1933–1935) which was one of the main expression of Neo-Socialism in France. Inside the Confédération générale du travail
(CGT) trade union, Neo-Socialism was represented by René Belin's Syndicats (then Redressements)'s faction.
On the other hand, Henri de Man's planisme influenced the left-wing of the Radical Party, called "Young Turks" (among them Pierre Mendès France). Planisme would later influence dirigisme
, semi-planified economy, regionalism, spatial planning
as well as Mendesism, "left-wing Gaullism
" (Louis Vallon) and Socialist clubs in the 1960s (Club Jean Moulin, etc.).
The Neo-Socialists, however, evolved toward a form of participatory and nationalist socialism which eventually led them to join with the reactionary right and support the collaborationist Vichy Regime during the Second World War (René Belin and Marcel Déat became members of the Vichy government
). As a result, Déat's neo-socialism was discredited in France after the war.
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, represented in France during the 1930s
Third Republic
Third Republic may refer to:* French Third Republic * Third Republic of South Korea * Third and current Democratic Republic of the Congo * Third and current Hellenic Republic of Greece...
and in Belgium
History of Belgium
The history of Belgium, from pre-history to the present day, is intertwined with the histories of its European neighbours, in particular those of the Netherlands and Luxembourg...
, which included several revisionist tendencies in the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO). In the wake of the Great Depression, a group of right-wing members, led by Henri de Man
Henri de Man
Henri De Man was one of the leading Belgian socialist theoreticians of his period, who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II...
in Belgium, founder of planisme
Planisme
Planisme was an ideological current in the interwar period which advocated the use of economic plans and planification. Représentants of planisme include, in France, the groupe X-crise, and in Belgium Henri de Man...
, and in France Marcel Déat
Marcel Déat
Marcel Déat was a French Socialist until 1933, when he initiated a spin-off from the French Section of the Workers' International along with other right-wing 'Neosocialists'. He then founded the collaborationist National Popular Rally during the Vichy regime...
, Pierre Renaudel, René Belin, the "neo-Turks" of the Radical-Socialist Party (Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès France was a French politician. He descended from a Portuguese Jewish family that moved to France in the sixteenth century.-Third Republic and World War II:...
, etc.), opposed themselves both to Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and to gradual reformism
Reformism
Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a society can ultimately change a society's fundamental economic relations and political structures...
. Instead, influenced by Henri de Man's planisme, they promoted a "constructive revolution" headed by the state and technocrats
Technocracy (bureaucratic)
Technocracy is a form of government where technical experts are in control of decision making in their respective fields. Economists, engineers, scientists, health professionals, and those who have knowledge, expertise or skills would compose the governing body...
, through economic planification. Such ideas also influenced the Non-Conformist Movement in the French right-wing.
Marcel Déat published in 1930 Perspectives socialistes (Socialist Perspectives), a revisionist work closely influenced by Henri de Man's planisme. Along with over a hundred articles written in La Vie Socialiste, the review of the SFIO's right-wing, Perspective socialistes marked the shift of Déat from classical Socialism to Neo-Socialism. Déat replaced class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
by collaboration of classes and national solidarity, advocated corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
as a social organization model, replaced the notion of "Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
" by "anti-Capitalism
Anti-capitalism
Anti-capitalism describes a wide variety of movements, ideas, and attitudes which oppose capitalism. Anti-capitalists, in the strict sense of the word, are those who wish to completely replace capitalism with another system....
" and supported an authoritarian state which would plan the economy
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
and from which parliamentarism would be repealed.
The Neo-Socialist faction inside of the SFIO, which included Marcel Déat and Pierre Renaudel, were expelled during the November 1933 Congress, because of their revisionist stances and admiration for Fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
. The neos advocated alliances with the middle-classes and favored making compromises with the "bourgeois" Radical-Socialist Party to enact the SFIO's program one issue at a time. After having being expelled from the SFIO, Marcel Déat and his followers created the Parti socialiste de France-Union Jean Jaurès (1933–1935) which was one of the main expression of Neo-Socialism in France. Inside the Confédération générale du travail
Confédération générale du travail
The General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
(CGT) trade union, Neo-Socialism was represented by René Belin's Syndicats (then Redressements)'s faction.
On the other hand, Henri de Man's planisme influenced the left-wing of the Radical Party, called "Young Turks" (among them Pierre Mendès France). Planisme would later influence dirigisme
Dirigisme
Dirigisme is an economy in which the government exerts strong directive influence. While the term has occasionally been applied to centrally planned economies, where the state effectively controls both production and allocation of resources , it originally had neither of these meanings when...
, semi-planified economy, regionalism, spatial planning
Spatial planning
Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. Discrete professional disciplines which involve spatial planning include land use planning, urban planning, regional planning, transport planning and...
as well as Mendesism, "left-wing Gaullism
Gaullism
Gaullism is a French political ideology based on the thought and action of Resistance leader then president Charles de Gaulle.-Foreign policy:...
" (Louis Vallon) and Socialist clubs in the 1960s (Club Jean Moulin, etc.).
The Neo-Socialists, however, evolved toward a form of participatory and nationalist socialism which eventually led them to join with the reactionary right and support the collaborationist Vichy Regime during the Second World War (René Belin and Marcel Déat became members of the Vichy government
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
). As a result, Déat's neo-socialism was discredited in France after the war.