Page 317 - DPOL202_COMPARATIVE_POLITICS_AND_GOVERNMENT_ENGLISH

Comparative Politics and Government

Notes by a vote of many members of the Socialist Party who desired to join the Third International and
although the Comintern was dissolved in 1943, the party “is still Bolshevised in spirit, principles and
organisation”. Obviously, it used its vote to mainly negate whatever was proposed except when it
suited the then Soviet Union. In other words, it is definitely anti-American in denouncing France’s
servitude to the Wall Street for Marshall Aid, membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation,
and other military pacts. It has opposed the official policy of supporting German rearmament or
aggressions in various parts of Africa and Asia. Its ultimate goal is social revolution. It calls for the
reconstruction of France and its industry, the modernisation of agriculture, provision of food for the
people, the restoration of a sound financial position, and protection of the health of the people. In
1950 it evolved a special programme for the benefit of the rural areas. Its tactics have been exceptionally
opportunistic on many occasions and it has been condemned for inciting sabotage, riots and violence
and sedition in the colonial areas.
Socialist Party: Founded in 1879 and though close to the Communist Party, the Socialist Party (PSU)
“stands worlds apart, because it is rooted in the principle of responsible democracy and civil rights.”
Originally it represented a fusion of two separate and antagonistic groups—the liberal reforming
and parliamentary led by Jean Jaures comprising the majority and working with the radicals and the
second one of revolutionary Syndicalists and Marxists led by Jules Guesde. In 1920 there was a split
when its 15,000 members and 13 deputies joined the Communist Party. It is referred to officially by
the initials of S.F.I.O. meaning Section Francaise del Internationale Ouvriere or the French Section of the
Second International i.e., the Socialist International founded in 1905.
This party is the defender of the Democratic Republic of France and stands for the programmes of
nationalisation, welfare state, planned economic investment, public housing, industrialisation,
educational opportunity, more equal tax structure, more municipal liberty and more local welfare
services. It has also supported French membership of the Brussels Treaty, North Atlantic Treaty Pact,
the Schuman Plan, the European Common Market and the Euratom. It is an advocate of extended
Self-government and economic development of the colonies, but not outright independence. In the
elections of 1956 it captured 100 seats in the National Assembly and formed government under the
Premiership of Guy Mollet. In the elections of 1958, it suffered heavy losses; its strength in the National
Assembly decreased to 40 and so it refused to join the cabinet. The party remained in opposition but
supported President de Gaulle on the question of crushing insurrection in Algeria.
Radical Party: It was founded in 1901. Its official name is the Parti Radical or et Radical Socialiste. It is
organised around local notables, committees and provincial newspapers. It had a very strong influence
under the Third Republic, but now it is nothing more than a congeries of departmental groups, a
battle of the federations, and unblendable assemblage of interests and policies, highly personalised.
Its members have always been detachable from the main body for the purpose of joining left, right
and centre coalitions. It has stood for return to the constitution of the Third Republic, single-member
districts, governmental economy, amnesty to tax-evaders and safeguards for the interests of the tenants.
However, it has been divided on sliding scales for wages, welfare policies, tax increases, and the
budgets. However, it is pro-West and thus insists on French membership of the military pacts. In the
crisis of 1958 it was sadly split. The conservatives led by Andre Morice joined the right and Soustelle
in voting for de Gaulle first as the Prime Minister and then as the President of the Republic.
This party has its nation-wide structure by electing delegates from the local comites up through cantonal
and then departmental federations.
But their federations are highly independent of Paris headquarters even in the choice of the candidates
and electoral strategy. It has an annual National Congress consisting of the elected delegates. Editors
of the Radical owned newspapers are its ex-officio delegates. Day-to-day decisions especially when
the cabinets are in crisis, are made by the Executive Committee of 70 composed of the representatives
of party members, members of party chambers, and a small contingent of party officials in consultation
with the parliamentary group.
Small Parties: In the political proces of France, some minor parties have a role of their own in view of
the fact that they exploit regional and local issues so as to attract the sympathy of the voters. On
certain crucial issues, the viewpoints of the major parties become analogous and so the voters prefer

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