Socialism and Boulangism, 1887–89

Abstract

In 1887, as the Boulangist movement was beginning to take shape, French socialism was still in its infancy. Although it had been seriously damaged by the repression of the Paris Commune and the subsequent loss of its leading activists through death, deportation or exile, French socialism had gradually begun to rebuild itself following the amnesty of 1880. Unity of the movement, however, was far from being assured. During the period dealt with here three significant and distinct movements all carried the red flag - the Guesdists of the Parti ouvrier francais (French Workers Party), the Possibilists of the Federation des travailleurs socialistes frangais (Federation of French Socialist Workers) and the Blanquists of the Comite revolutionnaire central (Central Revolutionary Committee). The advent of Boulangism was to further emphasise the divisions that existed between them. The question that this chapter seeks to address is why one of these socialist movements should have been tempted to align itself with Boulangism.