Veteran founder of French Marxist socialism who entered the Union sacrée government in 1914
A journalist exiled for supporting the Paris Commune, he drafted the programme of the French Workers’ Party with Marx in 1880 and became the standard-bearer of French Marxism. He long opposed the reformist Jaurès and took part in founding the unified Socialist Party (SFIO) in 1905. At Stuttgart in 1907 he argued that class struggle would abolish war and that no special anti-war action was needed. In August 1914, seeing France itself in danger, he joined the Union sacrée government as a minister without portfolio and stayed until 1916.
Related historical events
- 1870–1871The Paris CommuneJournalist exiled for supporting the CommuneHe was exiled for supporting the Paris Commune.
- 1914–1918First World WarFrench wartime minister without portfolioIn August 1914, he joined the Union sacrée government as a minister without portfolio.
- 1907–1919The collapse of the Second InternationalFrench minister of stateThe veteran of French Marxism entered the Union sacrée government.