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SP
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Nico van der Veen (1957-1960) <br> Henk Lankhorst (1960-1969) <br> Hans Wiebenga (1969-1972) <br> Bram van der Lek (1972-1978) <br> Fred van der Spek (1978-1985) <br> Andrée van Es (1985-1991)
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January 27 , 1957
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January 27 1991 <br>merged into GreenLeft
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Socialism and Pacifism
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none
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none
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Grael
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Red and White
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Bloemgracht 55, Amsterdam (1960-1968)<br>Kerkstraat 445 (1968-1979)<br>Nieuwe Looierstraat 45 (1979-1991)
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The (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 .
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
Marxist s, anti-stalinist
Trotskyist s, 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.
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 shook of its principled pacifism and advocated the minimization of violence. Extra-parliamentary action against colonialism also became more important; the party supported
New Guinea n and
Algeria n independence.
In the 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 In s.
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.
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.
The
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 .
In the early 1980s the placement of American 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 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.
In 1989 the PSP initiated talks with the PPR and the PSP. Their initiative was supported by an open letter from members of
Trade Union s,
Environmental Movement s 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 .
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).
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 principleswhich can be found
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 .
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 Euro s (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 Tenant s and Squat ters 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 s 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:
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 ;
- The PSP paid special attention to the position of minority cultures and languages in the Netherlands such as 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 Casino s 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.
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 .
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
Zaan streek 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.
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
Mennonite s. 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.
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.
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 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.
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, retoric abilities and demanour.
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 deteriotated, 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.
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.
