Socialism vs communism In Ve Republic

Question 1

What were primary issues that allowed the left to come into prominence for the first time in the last century?

Answer 1

Ecology

abortions and homosexuality all saw the relative growth in exposure

Question 2

What were major changes that the Left saw?

Answer 2

steady integration into globalisation and a capitalist economy
they pushed for decentralisation with certain departments becoming economic strongholds for the economy outside of Paris

Question 3

three types of Party classification

Answer 3

Mass party
Cadre party
‘catch all’ Party - increasingly desirable given the context of the election system

Question 4

What issues characterised the initial struggle for dominance on the left in the Ve Republic?

Answer 4

The cold war
fear of communism
A necessary dependence on smaller parties such as the Trotskyist supporters and the Parti Socialiste Unifié of the far left

Question 5

How was the PCF regarded pre 5th Rep?

Answer 5

They had adopted a strong ideal that crossed Marxist beliefs with French rev traditional beliefs
Promised a future of no poverty and exploitation of the lower classes. The inclusion of associations such as the union de Femmes Francaises and the mouvement de jueness were important in giving enjoyment to the masses as well.

Question 6

The PCF’s stance on the Ve République

Answer 6

They opposed it and suffered as a result

Question 7

The isolation of the Party caused what with regard to the Deputies

Answer 7

the number of deputies they had decreased from 150 to 140

Question 8

by 1988 what was the percentage of communist votes in the Presidential election?

Answer 8

6.8 %

Question 9

What fundamental change in the demographic of the communist party took place?

Answer 9

Many of the resistance generation passed away whilst the new voters and members could no longer sympathises with the views of the Party- the same happened to the Gaullists as well

Question 10

What was the effect of the rise of Unions in France and Larger firms who respected worker rights?

Answer 10

The PCF lost blue collar supporters and had to appeal instead to a new group of voters

Question 11

The death of the leader Thorez saw what change?

Answer 11

de-sovietization as the Party no longer supported the global push for communism that was once attached with the Russians

Question 12

How did Marchais further decrease the popularity of the PCF?

Answer 12

He supported Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Marxism was discredited
The PCF had lost it’s political direction in many senses

Question 13

What was the problem on a local scale for the communists?

Answer 13

there was a lack of realism in the eyes of the communist mayors
These mayors however were damaging the image of the PCF by not solving the no. 1 problem of unemployment

Question 14

Problem with the Party structure of the PCF

Answer 14

It endorsed democratic centralism which proved a weakness for reaching a wider support base
Many of the dissidents within the party were often expelled
Discussions within the Party were censored and monitored which proved very difficult for new ideas to be established

Question 15

What difficulties did the Political system present to the 5th Republic?

Answer 15

the 2 stage voting system made it harder for to contest the Gaullist Majority

Question 16

When was the common Programme created and what was it?

Answer 16

the first alliance between the PCF and the PS in 1972

Question 17

How did the Common Programme benefit the Socialists?

Answer 17

It was near impossible for the commies to gain enough support to win the elections and thus supported Mitt in the elections of 65 and 74.

Question 18

Why were the communists forced into the Alliance?

Answer 18

because they had a hunger to change their image
they were locked in a union with the PS
they eventually left the alliance in 1984 over fears of destruction

Question 19

How did Marchais fast track the decline for the Party

Answer 19

He failed to drop democratic centralism
reinforced ties with Moscow
Failed to reach out to a wider support base

Question 20

How did the PCF mutate slightly

Answer 20

eventually dropped its revolutionary identity
increase in membership of women and younger people
abandoned dependence on blue collars

Question 21

What was the second Alliance with the socialists called?

Answer 21

‘La gauche Plurielle’ - 1997- 2002

Question 22

Why did the second alliance work better for the PCF

Answer 22

Jospin made sure that communist views were respected, for example with the electricity negotiations

Question 23

Why was Hue criticised?

Answer 23

for turning the Communist party into a PS mark two, this was fair as they depended heavily on the PS to make their mark

Question 24

How did the PS look at the outset of the Ve Republic?

Answer 24

it was a struggling party with only around 70,000 members

they were keen to crush capitalism and clericalism

Question 25

the position of the PS in the 60s

Answer 25

internal confusion and conflict

Deferre for example only achieved 5% of the votes in the Presidential elections

Question 26

the position of the PS in the 70s

Answer 26

Period of Revival- name changed officially to the PS

Overtook the PCF in number of votes for the first time

Question 27

position of the PS in the 80s

Answer 27

In power for the best part of the decade

failed to achieve economic transformation they had promised

Question 28

position of the PS in the early 90s

Answer 28

the vote dropped to below 20%

Question 29

position of the PS in the late 90s

Answer 29

they became part of an Alliance under Jospin premiership where they enjoyed a resurgence with the commies and the greens

Question 30

What was the name of the alliance formed in the late 60s

Answer 30

the FGDS failed to make any connection with the students though

Question 31

What did DG’s resignation spark?

Answer 31

gave way to Deferre to take advantage but failed- this in turn gave way to Mitterand

Question 32

How many voters did Mitterrand attract

Answer 32

3 million out of the 5 million PCF voters

Question 33

1981- what was the state of play between the two lefties?

Answer 33

the commies were reluctant to support their rivals but did so in order to maintain municipal gains
The socialists were ahead though

Question 34

What did Mitterrand do by attracting the PCF support?

Answer 34

he had to look towards the a new Third Force- including the Centrists and the ecologists because the PCF had been weakened so much

Question 35

What was the problem with Mitterrand diversifying support?

Answer 35

the groups he targeted prospered proportionately to the failure of the PS

Question 36

Priorities in the Gauche Plurielle

Answer 36

anti-immigration laws reversed and employment opportunities became more prominent

Question 37

How were smaller parties perceived in the Gauche Plurielle?

Answer 37

they were somewhat indispensable to the Alliance

The PS needed more than ever to maintain the credibility of the allies

Question 38

Internal problems that arose in the GP

Answer 38

rivalries, between the MDC and PCF in particular who did not favour the Green parties ideas

Question 39

Mauroy’s role in French Politics

Answer 39

PM from 81 to 84

First sec to P from 88 to 92

Question 40

How could Mitterrand take the role of first sec in the PS

Answer 40

he joined the PS in 71 with the CIR and through a series of machinations he was able to gain this position

Question 41

key divisions in the PS

Answer 41

Chèvenement left the PS and formed the MDC

Jospin and Fabuis were also divided

Question 42

Pros of factionalism in the PS

Answer 42

voting for each motion could be done more fairly
each faction could compare themselves with others
there was a good representation of the shifting balance of views

Question 43

Negs of SP factionalism

Answer 43

proved a problem in view of the imminent succession of Mitterrand
The poor image of the PS in the 90s was worsened by the squabbling on TV by the Fabusiens

Question 44

Mitterands early statement on the PS

Answer 44

that the anyone who does not accept a rupture with a capitalist society will not be accepted a place into the PS- his views became less and less polarised in order to attract view, as time went on

Question 45

Main doctrinal agreement in Programme commun

Answer 45

communists accepted the western bourgeois democracy

the socialists committed to nationalisations in France

Question 46

Example of ways in which the spirit of socialism was lost in the 80s under Mitterrand

Answer 46

anti capitalist supporters at congress’ in toulouse and Lille in 84 and 86
business taxes were reduced and unemployment rose under them

Question 47

Importance of policies under Jospin

Answer 47

they anchored the lefts credibility
whilst they also allowed them to pursue more pleasing policies to the markets including the 35 hour week and Universal health care

Question 48

How did the PS finance itself

Answer 48

mainly through the URBA group which was illegal

Question 49

How was the image of the PS ruined in the early 90s, named the socialist disgrace.

Answer 49

Mitterrand’s war record was revealed and the Urba incident too

Question 50

Voting in the Party

Answer 50

by 81 had become a catch all party as the Gaullists had done in the 60s and increased suport of catholics and young people of whom now 45% were voting for the PS

Question 51

Jospin reforms

Answer 51

tax on capital assets
1 billion franc emergency investment into unemployment
Social modernisation bill- work related rights