Voir, juger, agir. Les mouvements de jeunesse d’Action catholique spécialisée et l’Organisation Internationale du Travail

Abstract

Specialized Catholic Action movements have developed since the 1930s some forms of international action. This action led them to set up contacts with international organizations. The International Labour Organization is in this respect at the first rank, due to its seniority and the close relationship it had developed with Young Christian Workers and Catholic Rural Youth movements and their international bodies. The study of these relationships shows that the ILO tried-through them-to reach a part of public opinion and was interested by the inquiries and information collected by specialized Catholic Action movements. However, this relationship suffered from discontinuities, due to international events, but also to the tripartite structure of the ILO, which gave some priority to trade unions and employers’ organizations. These youth movements met also some difficulties to be present permanently and to maintain a close relationship.