Pacifist Socialist Party

Infobox Dutch_Political_Party
party_name = Pacifist Socialist Party
party_
party_wikicolourid = SP
leader = Nico van der Veen (1957-1960)
Henk Lankhorst (1960-1969)
Hans Wiebenga (1969-1972)
Bram van der Lek (1972-1978)
Fred van der Spek (1978-1985)
Andrée van Es (1985-1991)
foundation = January 27, 1957
Dissolved = January 27 1991
merged into GreenLeft
ideology = Socialism and Pacifism
international = none
european = none
europarl = Grael
colours = Red and White
headquarters = Bloemgracht 55, Amsterdam (1960-1968)
Kerkstraat 445 (1968-1979)
Nieuwe Looierstraat 45 (1979-1991)
website = noneThe Pacifist Socialist Party (in Dutch: "Pacifistisch Socialistische Partij", PSP) was a Dutch left-socialist political party. The PSP played a small role in Dutch politics. It is a predecessor of the GreenLeft.

Party History

Before 1957

Since 1955 a group of "politically homeless" had formed. The group mainly consisted out of former members of the Labour Party (PvdA) and the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN). They had left the PvdA over the military intervention against independence of Indonesia and the Labour party's support for NATO. Many of them had a background in the orthodox Marxist wing of the Social Democratic Workers' Party or the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had merged into the PvdA. The member of the CPN had left their party over the Stalinist course of the CPN. Some of these politically homeless had never been member of parties, while others had been member of pre-war parties such as the Independent Socialist Party

These politically homeless were a diverse group: progressive Christians, leftwing socialists, orthodox marxists, anti-stalinist trotskyists, left communists, liberal pacifists and some anarchists. Many of them were active in the developing peace movement.

The rise of Cold War, 1956 French/English/Israeli intervention in the Suez and Soviet intervention in Hungary had made this group skeptic of both the Eastern bloc and Western bloc. They were oriented at some Third way between communism and capitalism.

In 1956 the group asked the PvdA to put two candidates of these politically homeless on their list for the next elections, one who would certainly gain a seat and one who would need to be elected by preference votes. These person would have an independent position in parliament. The PvdA, although originally sympathetic to idea rejected this. Thus the group felt forced to found its own party and it founded the Action group for the formation of a Party on Anti-militarist and Socialist principles in November 1956. It would chart the possibilities of a new political party.

1957-1971

On 27 January 1957 the PSP was founded by the Action group. The first year was devoted to the organization of the party and the preparation for the elections which were expected to be in 1960. The party sought to expand its membership, its branches and its electoral support. The founders were joined by members of the Socialist Union, a group which unsuccessfully had split from the PvdA in 1950. In 1958 it entered in the provincial elections and it won two seats in the North Holland provincial legislative. In the 1959 elections the party won two seats in the Tweede Kamer.

In the early years the party became known for its parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition against the rising Cold War, and especially the placement of nuclear weapons. The socialist revolution in Cuba and uprisings against the South African system of Apartheid led to considerable debate within the party between groups who opposed all violence and groups who opposed repressive violence (from the ruling class) and supported liberating violence (against the ruling class). In 1961 the party threw off its principled pacifism and advocated the minimization of violence. Extra-parliamentary action against colonialism also became more important; the party supported New Guinean and Algerian independence.

In the 1963 elections the party performed particularly well. It doubled its seats to four. This success can be attributed to several developments: the rising opposition to the Cold War; Furthermore for the developing students' movement and especially the anarchist Provo the PSP was the only acceptable party. And finally the CPN was suffering from internal conflicts, in 1958 three MPs had left the CPN and formed their own parliamentary party, led by Henk Gortzak. They called themselves the "Bridge Group" (Dutch: Brug-groep) and they unsuccessfully competed in the 1959 elections. After that this group founded the Socialist Workers' Party (Dutch: Socialist Werkerspartij; SWP). This internal dissent had caused the CPN to fall to only one seat in the 1963 elections.

In the mid-1960s the Vietnam War became an important issue. The PSP was heavily involved in the opposition against the American intervention. It was the first party to spend attention to the war and it was involved in the organization of demonstrations, rallies and teach ins. Monarchy also became an issue as Crown Princess Beatrix would marry Claus von Amsberg in 1966. The PSP used this opportunity to voice its support for a republican constitution. In the same year the CPN-dissenters of the SWP joined the PSP. The PSP held on to its four seats in the 1967 election. In 1969 Gortzak, previously leader of the SWP returned as MP: now for the PSP.

1971-1981

The 1970s were characterized by internal conflicts between moderate and more radical members of the PSP. The most important reason for this was the radicalization within the PvdA. A new, more radical, generation had gained power with the PvdA. They wanted to form a majority cabinet with only leftwing parties. To achieve this they formed the Progressive Accord with the new left-liberal Democrats 66 and the progressive Christian PPR. The PSP also participated in these talks but broke off, because the majority of the PSP congress thought this alliance was neither pacifist nor socialist. The cooperative minority clashed strongly with the isolationist majority. In the 1971 elections the party lost two of its four seats, while the PvdA won seats.

The party's political leader, Hans Wiebenga was replaced by the younger Bram van der Lek, who emphasizes the environment as an important issue. He was unable to win seats in the 1972 elections. As party leader he would embrace extra-parliamentary protest of all kinds of groups: the PSP was involved in the nascent environmental, squatting, women's and students' movements.

Both the moderates and the most radicals left the party. Until 1974 a Trotskyist group, the Proletarian Left, led by Erik Meijer, now MEP for the Socialist Party operated within the party they wanted to use the SP to electrify the masses. In 1974 nearly all of them (except for their leader Meijer) left the party to found what later became the Socialist Alternative Politics. In 1975 the moderate so called "progressive cooperatives" left the party. Many members of them joined the PvdA.

From 1975 on, the party membership exhibits a strong growth and will double in the next five years. Nevertheless, the 1977 elections were especially disastrous: the party lost all but one seat, this is attributed to the political competition between social-democratic prime minister Joop den Uyl and his Christian democratic competitor Dries van Agt, which caused many PSP-sympathizers to vote for Den Uyl. The internal dissent within the party also damaged its external appeal. After one year Van der Lek left parliament, he was replaced by Fred van der Spek.

1981-1989

In the early 1980s the placement of American nuclear weapons became an important political issue. The PSP was involved in the organization of national demonstrations against nuclear weapons and more than 80% of the members of the PSP attended one of the two mass protests against the placement nuclear weapons of 1981 and 1983. [Lucardie P. "et al." "Verloren Illusie, Geslaagde Fusie? GroenLinks in Historisch and Politicologische Perspectief" 1999, Leiden: DSWO-press; p.45 ] In the 1981 election the PSP was rewarded for its principled opposition: it won three seats. In the subsequent 1982 election it kept its seats. The party membership nearly reached 10,000 in this period.

Since the 1980s the party began to cooperate more with the PPR, which had broken with the PvdA and the CPN, which had destalinized. It cooperated mainly in municipal and provincial elections and legislatives, because a higher percentage of votes is necessary to gain seats in such elections. In 1984 the PPR, CPN and PSP formed the "Green Progressive Accord" that entered with one list in the European elections. They won one seat, which rotated between the PSP and PPR. Party-members also met each other in grassroots extraparliamentary protest against nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. The cooperation led to internal conflicts. Before the election of 1986 the CPN and the PPR wanted to form an electoral alliance with the PSP. This led to a crisis within the party: chair of the parliamentary party, Fred van der Spek who opposed cooperation was replaced by the party congress by Andrée van Es, who favoured cooperation. Van der Spek founded his own Party for Socialism and Disarmament (Dutch: "Party voor Socialisme en Ontwapening"; PSvO). The 1986 PSP congress however still rejected cooperation. In the elections of 1986 nuclear weapons were no longer an issue: the party was left with only one seat. The membership of the party rapidly declined. The pressure to cooperate increased.

After 1989

In 1989 the PSP initiated talks with the PPR and the PSP. Their initiative was supported by an open letter from members of trade unions, environmental movements and the arts which called for one progressive formation left of the PvdA. After long negotiations, which were pressured by the fall of the Second cabinet Lubbers and the subsequent earlier elections, the party entered in the 1989 elections as part of the GreenLeft. Andrée van Es was second on the list. In 1991 the PSP dissolved itself into the GreenLeft. In 1992 a group of former PSP-members who had refused to join the GreenLeft formed the PSP'92.

The PSP left a considerable mark on the GreenLeft, although it has moderated its pacifism and socialism. Especially the progressive, tolerant and non-dogmatic ideals of the PSP still play an important role. MPs Kees Vendrik, Ineke van Gent and Leo Platvoet were active within the party, as was MEP Joost Lagendijk.

Name

The name Pacifist Socialist Party is an obvious combination of the party two main issues: peace and social justice. Other proposals on the 1957 foundation congress were "Radical Socialist Peace Party" (Dutch: Radicaal Socialistische Vredespartij), "League for General Welfare" (Bond voor Algemeen Welzijn), "Progressive Party" (Vernieuwingspartij) and "Dutch Workers' Party" (Nederlanse Arbeiderspartij).

Ideology & Issues

Ideology

The party's ideology was based on pacifism, socialism and democracy. These three values were united by human rights. In war, capitalism and dictatorship human rights are infringed.

In its 1957 manifesto of principles [which can be found [http://www.rug.nl/dnpp/politiekePartijen/groenLinks/psp/begprog.pdf here] ] the PSP advocated two major societal renewals: A spiritual renewal, which sought to replace a society based on fear, division and power with a society based on trust, unity and justice. This reflected the party's pacifism; an economic renewal, which sought to replace a society based on classes by a classless society. This reflected the party's socialism. The PSP furthermore advocated a democratic political system and a democratic economy, it rejected the use of violence to solve international conflicts and it proposed a federal world state in which wealth would be shared by both the former colonizing powers and their former colonies.

In the 1970s and 1980s new issues were incorporated into the PSP's ideology: women's liberation, gay rights and environmentalism.

Issues

These radical principles are relfected in the party's concern for a democratic socialist economy, a pacifist foreign policy, a directly democratic political system and feminization of society.

The PSP advocated a democratic socialist society where government planning and workers' self-management played an important role:
*The party advocated the nationalization of major parts of the economy, including banks, transport companies, basic industries and construction. These government companies should be controlled by the workers;
*In other economic sectors such as agriculture, should make more use of cooperatives;
*The government has to plan the economic development of the Netherlands and control the development of prices and profits;
*The PSP wanted to attain full employment by decreasing working time, lowering age of pension to 60, extending obligatory school attendance to 18 and increasing part time work;
*Through progressive taxation, which would have to be almost 100% after 50,000 euros (then 100,000 guilders, incomes should be made more equal;
*The PSP advocated government ownership of all the land, which could then be rented by companies;
*The party wanted to increase the rights of tenants and squatters and take government action against unoccupied buildings;
*The PSP opposed the use of nuclear energy and advocated investing in alternative energy sources;
*The party wanted to invest in public transport, which should be owned by the government;
*Environmental protection was an important issue for the party. It wanted to but the burden of environmental protection at companies and it opposed direct eco-taxes, which would have a regressive effect.

The PSP advocated an anti-militarist and socialist foreign policy:
*The party opposed the placement of nuclear weapons in the Netherlands;
*The PSP wanted to withdraw from NATO;
*It wanted to dissolve the Dutch army in time: until that time the rights of conscientious objectors should be protected and the Dutch arms industry should be dissolved;
*The party opposed the European Economic Community, which undermined the ability of the government to plan its own economy;
*The PSP advocated increased trade with Second World and Third World countries. Third World countries should also receive more development aid, with less restrictions.

On the national level the party advocated radical democratization of society and protection of civil rights:
*It proposed decentralization of government services and direct democracy at the municipal level;
*The party sought to abolish the Eerste Kamer and double the number of seats in the Tweede Kamer;
*The PSP wanted to abolish the position of head of state, and with that the Dutch Monarchy, positions like Queen's Commissioner and mayor should also be abolished;
*It wanted to lower the age limit for voting rights and extend voting rights for migrants;
*The PSP opposed undemocratic institutions, especially when they endangered civil rights of citizens, it sought to abolish the secret service and private security companies;
*The party wanted to protect the rights of convicts.

The PSP wanted to radically feminize society, liberate other oppressed groups and democratize society:
*The party wanted to better the position of women: it advocated free child care, the legalization of abortion and part time work for both partners. It sought to make social security arrangements individual instead of family oriented;
*It advocated the rights of sexual minorities: equal rights for same-sex partnerships and legalization of transvestism;
*It supported the 1979 petition to lower the age of consent to the age of 12 [Brongersma, Edward (1988). "Schutzalter 12 Jahre? - Sex mit Kindern in der niederländischen Gesetzgebung ("Age of Consent 12 years? Dutch legislation on sex with children")", in Leopardi, Angelo: Der pädosexuelle Komplex ("On the topic of pedosexuality") (in German). Frankfurt/Main, Germany: Foerster Verlag, 214. ISBN 3-922257-66-6.]
*The PSP paid special attention to the position of minority cultures and languages in the Netherlands such as West Frisian;
*The party advocated the democratization of schools and universities, better protection of the rights for students, smaller class sizes, and more room for experimentation and alternative education. The party opposed religious education;
*The PSP sought to ban all casinos and smoking in public buildings on the one side, but it also advocated the legalisation of softdrugs and government controlled supply of hard drugs;
*The party was opposed to any form of discrimination and sought to expand the rights of migrants;
*It sought to legalize of prostitution and increase the protection of prostitutes;
*The PSP favoured individual choice for euthanasia;
*It wanted to democratize hospitals, better protect rights for patients and create one healthcare insurance for all.

Representation

In this table the election results of the PSP in Tweede Kamer (TK), Eerste Kamer (EK), European elections (EP), provincial (PS) and municipal (GR) is represented, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader. The membership of PSP and the party chair is also represented.

(a): elected on combined PSP/PvdA/PPR lists
(b): elected on combined PSP/CPN, PSP/PPR or PSP/CPN/PPR lists (estimate)
(c): PSvO split from the PSP
(d): cooperating in GreenLeft parliamentary parties.

Municipal and Provincial Government

The PSP had a provincial stronghold in North Holland where more than half of the party's vote came from.

It had some municipal strongholds in the Zaanstreek and Amsterdam, but also in some cities, where it had particularly strong branches, such as Midwoud, Bussum, Hoorn and Goirle. Because of its isolated position It did not supply many aldermen between 1974 and 1975 its supplied one Amsterdam alderman.

In the following figure one can see the election results of the provincial election of 1962 per province. It shows the areas where the PSP is strong, namely the urban areas like North Holland and South Holland. The party is weaker in rural Catholic provinces like Limburg and North Brabant, but also strong in the rural traditional socialist strongholds rural Groningen, and Friesland.

Electorate

The party's electorate was very heterogeneous, although most voters could be seen as intellectuals, students, scientists, artists, while most socialist parties are oriented at workers. The party was a refuge for people who no longer felt at home in the social-democratic PvdA and the Communist Party of the Netherlands. It was supported by progressive Christians, especially mennonites. Most of its voters lived in Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

The electorate of the PSP fluctuated; the changing appeal of the PvdA and the CPN played a role, as did the events of he Cold War. The rise of the youth movement, like Provo, and the Vietnam war boosted the electorate of the party in the 1960s. Internal conflicts in the PSP and radical course of the social-democratic PvdA cost the PSP votes in the 1970s. The mass demonstrations against the placement of nuclear weapons boosted the party's support in the early 1980s.

Organization

Organizational structure

The highest organ of the PSP was the congress, it was formed by delegates from the municipal branches. It convened once every year. It appointed the party board and decided the order of the First Chamber, Second Chamber, European Parliament candidates list and had the last say over the party program. For the months that the congress did not convene, a party council took over its role. It consisted out of representatives of all the municipal branches.

The party board consisted out of 10 members. A party chair, general secretary, treasurer, political secretary, parliamentary secretary, international secretary, youth secretary, education secretary, the secretary for propaganda and a chair for the committee for radio and television.

Linked organisations

The PSP published its own magazine which was called "Liberation" (Dutch: Bevrijding) between 1957 and 1966 and 1978 and 1991 and "Radical: Weekly for Socialism and Peace" (Dutch: Radikaal: Weekbad voor Socialisme en Vrede) between 1967 and 1977. It was printed at the PSPs own printing company also called Liberation.

The PSPs youth was organized in the Pacifist Socialist Young Working Groups (Dutch: Pacifistisch Socialistische Jongeren Groepen, PSJG) between 1977 and 1991. Between 1985 and 1991 the PSJG became more independent as it saw itself as the youth organization of both the PSP and the PSvO which had split from the party. It published "Keihard Tegengeweld" (The title is a pun as it means both strongly against violence as strong counter-violence) and "Disaster" (Dutch: RamPSPoed, which spells PSP). In 1991 the PSJG merged into DWARS the GreenLeft youth, which continued publishing Disaster until 1995.

In the 1980s the scientific institute of the PSP cooperated strongly with the scientific institutes of the PPR and CPN. They published "De Helling" together since 1985. The "Rode Draad" was published since 1985 it was a magazine for municipal and provincial councillors of the both the PSP, PPR and CPN.

Relationships to other parties

For a long time the party refused to cooperate with other parties and preferred a position of testimonial party, which resembles the position of the Dutch orthodox Protestant parties, like the Political Reformed Party. The PSP's members of parliament, although isolated because of their radical position, were often respected across all parties for their principled position, commitment, rhetoric abilities and demeanour.

Between 1956 and 1981 it was at "cold war" with the Communist Party of the Netherlands as many former communists had joined the PSP's ranks. The PSP was highly critical of the CPNs stalinist course. After 1981 the CPN, which had destalinized and PSP, began to cooperate more closely. The progressive Christian Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party were also dismissed by the PSP as too supportive of the PvdA and too moderate on important issues. After 1981 the PPR broke its links with the PvdA and became more oriented toward PSP and CPN. In the 1980s the four parties began to cooperate in municipal and European elections, because less seats can be won there. In 1989 this intensive cooperation led to the formation of a new party, the GreenLeft.

The party was originally sympathetic to the Labour Party PvdA. Before the party was founded, the group of politically homeless had asked to have an independent candidate on their lists. During the 1960s the relation deteriorated, as the PSP rejected the PvdA's moderate course and the PvdA the PSP's radical course. In 1971 the PvdA, which had become more leftwing under pressure of a new generation of party members, opened the door to the PSP. It wanted the PSP to cooperate in the Progressive Accords together with left-liberal Democrats 66 and the PPR. The PSP rejected as these accords would be neither socialist nor pacifist. This decision let to considerable upheaval within the party. In the 1980s as the PvdA became more centrist, the PSP rejected the PvdA even more.

International Comparison

There are very few parties, internationally, that resemble the PSP. Scandinavian parties like the Danish Socialist People's Party come close. These parties also combine socialist with new left ideals, and stand between United States-oriented social democracy and Soviet Union-oriented communism. French Unified Socialist Party which was formed by leftwing dissenters in the main socialist SFIO and anti-stalinist dissenters in the French Communist Party is also similar in its opposition to both social democracy and communism. The Australian Nuclear Disarmament Party shared its priority of nuclear disarmament.

References