Young Socialists

The Young Socialists or socialist Jeunesses are the youth organization of the Socialist party French. Their statute changed during the 20th century.

History of the Young French Socialists

Creation

Although SFIO was created in 1905, the section for the young people is open only in 1912 at the request of the Internationale Socialist. The section “Young people” of the SFIO gathers young employees and students; those are followers of the theses antimilitarists of Gustave Herve. The JS base their action on the Pacifisme and the Internationalisme, obstructing the SFIO which worries about the image that gives the socialist youth, carried in events antipatriotic, with its incipient electorate. The relations are tightened between the direction of the party and the young section.

The First World War bursts, the antimilitarism wavers, the large pacifist theorists join the government of the Sacred union against Germany. The Young Socialists are muzzled by the Party. In 1915, some young Socialists create, with the young German Socialists, the OIJS, the International organization of the young Socialists (currently IUSY).

The scission

The Russian Révolution upsets the socialist rows. The militants of the SFIO are filled with enthusiasm, discuss or even take their distances. But the Young Socialists are those which applaud the revolution Bolshevik and without surprise vote adhesion with the Comintern (21 conditions) as of October 1920: the majority of the JS become communist (75%). In spite of the establishment of a committee for autonomy, manpower of the Young Socialists decrease, the organization fall into the coma.

Rebirth

At the end of the years 1920, certain militants take part in creation, of the red Faucons. Young intellectuals of left start again the young section of the SFIO, the principal organizers are Léopold Sédar Senghor, Claude Lévi-Strauss or even Georges Pompidou. In 1924 is created the Ligue of republican and socialist university action (L.A.U.R.S.) by Paul Ostaya. But the organization remains primarily Parisian and coed. Manpower exceed the thousand of members, the revival militant, impelled by Leon Blum and Paul Faure, benefits the JS but the direction of the Party is always wary of youth and autonomy refuses to him.

Following the come to power of Benito Mussolini in Italy and with the rise of the fascistic organizations in France, the Young Socialists make antifascism their combat priority. The coup attempt of State carried out by the leagues of extreme-right-hand side in June 1934, reinforces the rows with the organization which reaches the figure of 34.000 militants.

Victory of the Popular front and dissolution

In 1936, the victory of the Popular front directed by Leon Blum makes it possible the JS to reach more than 50.000 members. But a fight of orientation begins within the organization. Indeed, the trotskists make, since 1934, of the infiltration within the SFIO. In addition, the left of the party is organized around Marceau Pivert which animates the current of the Gauche revolutionist within the SFIO.

The young trotskists take around Fred Zeller the direction of the federation of the Seine (Paris) which is the largest federation of Young Socialists. They publish the newspaper Révolution , drawn with more than 70.000 specimens.

Benefitting from the disputes of the Young Socialists against the pause of " November 1936 " and of the refusal of the government of Blum to intervene in Spain, the JS of the Seine organize a demonstration with the militants of revolutionary Left of Green woodpecker against a fascistic meeting. The demonstration turns to the blood bath, 6 demonstrators are killed by the police force and a militant Socialist, Solange Demangel, are mortally wounded (she dies shortly after). The following day, the JS of the Seine titrate their newspaper: “8 billion for the loan, 6 died in Clichy: the money of the middle-class treats to blood of the workmen. ”

The Young Socialists and the red Falcons are dissolved.

In 1938, the SFIO dissolves the revolutionary Left and excludes Marceau Pivert from the party. Excluded found the working Socialist party and peasant (PSOP), the Extreme left organizes himself.

The Second world war

The Young Socialists are present in the Résistance but the young Communists are more active and the action of the JS is raised little.

IVe Republic and decolonization

With the Release, socialist Youths are reorganized under the control of SFIO.

However, the JS give an opinion against colonial policy and particularly the war in Indo-China what causes the strong ones tended between the JS and the SFIO.

1947: Strikes with the Renault factories, manifestation of the JS against Ramadier and Jules Moch with the Father Lachaise.
Dissolution of the JS by Guy Mollet: creation of the revolutionary democratic Gathering (Sartre and Rousset)

At the beginning of year 1950, foundation by Pierre Mauroy of the Léo-Lagrange Federation, recasting of JS
Pierre Mauroy, near to Guy Mollet: Quiet JS on Algérie

Scission of Pivertistes (ex-GR.) and Blumistes which take part in the foundation of the autonomous Socialist party (PSA)

Ve République and end of the SFIO

The JS are not any more very numerous. The priority is given to the Fédération Léo-Lagrange and the takeover of UNEF.

The JS are practically absent from movement of May 1968.

1971-1992

François Mitterrand authorizes the recasting of the JS and ES (Student Socialists). 1975: congress of Pau, JS directed by the CERES (Chevènement), Edith Cresson is sent by Mitterrand to purge the organization. The socialist Youth movement becomes a driving belt of the PS, the MJS is directed by a national secretary with Youth named by the first secretary of the PS: Development associative and trade-union organizations: Information for the rights of the soldier, S.O.S Racism, UNEF-ID, FIDL.

Towards autonomy 1992-2005

Michel Rocard then first secretary of the Socialist party gives autonomy to the young Socialists and lets them create at the time of the congress of Avignon: the Movement of the young Socialists.

The movement obtains with a clean political orientation, an national office and a president, Benoît Hamon. For the first time, the totality of the authorities of the MJS (local and national) is not any more indicated by the PS, but is elected directly by the members of the MJS. This autonomy, which was not called into question by the PS nor by the MJS, contributed to its development. From less than 1000 members, the members passed to approximately 6000 in 2005 (last census).

See too

Movement of the young Socialists (France)

External bond

'' 100 years of history: socialist Youths '', article of Democracy and Socialisme on socialist Youths.

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