Social Democratic Workers' Party (Netherlands)
Social Democratic Workers' Party Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij | |
---|---|
Het Volk | |
Youth wing | Arbeiders Jeugd Centrale |
Membership (1939) | 82,415 [1] |
Ideology | Socialism Marxism Reformism Republicanism |
Political position | Centre left to left-wing |
International affiliation | Second International (1894–1914) Labour and Socialist International (1923–1940) |
Colours | Red |
The Social Democratic Workers' Party (Dutch: Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij, SDAP) was a Dutch socialist political party existing from 1894 to 1946, and a predecessor of the social democratic Labour Party.
History
1893–1904
The SDAP was founded by members of the
, and most were intellectual-type men like teacher, vicar or lawyer. That's why SDB-members and other socialists mockingly called the SDAP not a workers' party but a teachers' (Dutch: Schoolmeesters), vicars (Dutch: Dominees) and lawyers (Dutch: Advocaten) party still forming the acronym SDAP.The party was founded in Zwolle in 1894. The party programme was a literal translation of the Erfurt Program of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Both parties believed in an imminent revolution which would make an end to suffering and inequality between classes and between men and women. The parliamentary work was only seen as a means to help the workers before the revolution would set off.
In the first years the SDAP was a small party, searching for the best way to organise itself. It received a lot of help, both financial and organisational, from the German SPD. In 1894 the
In 1896, Cornélie Huygens became the first female member of the SDAP, and the first woman in the Netherlands to be a member of a political party. She was known as the "Red Lady".[2]
In
In 1900, party leader Troelstra visited
In the
1903–1919
In January 1903, a large
Initially the SDAP supported the strike, hoping it would spark a socialist revolution. But in reaction to the government legislation, moderate party members, including Troelstra, turned against the strikes. This led to a controversy between
The strike ended the cooperation of socialist unions with confessional unions and the social democratic SDAP and anarchists of other organisations. The strike however didn't only lead to breaches. The
After the railway strike the conflict between
On the eve of the 1905 election the revisionists won a crucial victory. The party decided to support liberal candidates who were in favour of universal suffrage. The party gained one seat, meaning it held seven seats and supported the liberal minority government, led by De Meester.
Many members of the SDAP were irritated by the behaviour of the orthodox Marxists who were continuously denouncing moderates. Troelstra openly attacked the orthodox Marxists and the party congress in a formal resolution declared to oppose all labelling opportunists and revisionists. The orthodox Marxist chairman Tak resigned and Vliegen became chairman. Tak also lost control of Het Volk to Vliegen.
In 1907, a group of orthodox Marxists around David Wijnkoop founded the magazine De Tribune, which attacked the revisionist leadership of the SDAP. Troelstra and other leaders removed David Wijnkoop and his associates from the party ranks in 1909. Wijnkoop founded the orthodox Marxist Social Democratic Party (SDP) the same year. The SDP later became the Communist Party of Holland. This was one of the first splits within the European labour movement.
In the 1909 election the SDAP held on to its seven seats, but their liberal allies lost many seats to the confessional parties, who won a majority of sixty seats. In the knowledge that they could not accomplish anything in parliament, the SDAP focused on the extra-parliamentary movement for universal suffrage, for both men and women, regardless of class.
The party's original strategy was to organise mass strikes for universal suffrage. But the socialist union NVV feared reprisals from employers. So the SDAP decided to start a
During this time the
The 1913 election the SDAP more than doubled its seats to 15. As a serious force in parliament, the SDAP was asked to participate in government by the liberal formateur, providing three ministers. The SDAP, even the reformist Troelstra, refused government participation, because the party acknowledged one of its major ideals, national disarmament, could not be realised. Instead of an unstable minority government an extra-parliamentary cabinet was formed, made up out of liberal and non-partisan ministers. The cabinet intended to realise socialist demands, like universal suffrage, the state pension and the eight-hour working day.
After the 1913 municipal elections however the SDAP did accept government responsibility in
After World War I had broken out, the SDAP supported the Dutch policy of armed neutrality. This support was welcomed by the leaders of the other parties but not by many SDAP members. In 1915 a special conference declared that the SDAP only supported the government temporarily and the support could be withdrawn, thus preventing another party-wide conflict.
During the war the allies blockaded the Dutch ports, which in turn led to enormous lack of food: riots broke out in the major cities. The SDAP supported the government actions against these riots. Many of the protestors were furious about the SDAP and changed allegiance to the Social Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, the political system was in revision. A constitutional reform enabling universal suffrage was prepared by the liberal cabinet. In order to realise this change a two-thirds majority was necessary. This practically meant that all major parties, including the confessional parties needed to agree with the change. The confessional parties would consent to the change, but only if confessional schools would be granted finances equal to the public schools and if universal suffrage was not extended to women.
The SDAP was especially critical of the second demand. On 17 September 1916 it organised a mass rally with 40,000 demonstrators, demanding female suffrage. In the end, however, the party consented with the changes the confessional parties demanded. With some changes, women were granted the right to be elected and women's suffrage was deconstitutionalised, meaning that only a normal majority was necessary to implement the change. In 1919 the left-liberal Henri Marchant initiated a law to implement female suffrage, and in 1922 the first election with real universal suffrage was held.
In
In November 1918
Troelstra's mistake, the SDAP's reluctance to form a socialist/liberal government in 1913 and the electoral strength of the confessional parties prevented the SDAP's participation in government until 1939.
The SDAP won in the 1919 municipal elections, and socialist supported
In 1919 many socialist demands (universal suffrage, the eight hour workday and state pensions) were implemented. The party began to shift their focus away from the revolution and towards the direct improvement of the position of the working class.
1919–1946
Between 1919 and 1939 the SDAP got increasingly more seats but were kept out of government by a confessional majority, which in 1926 by mouth of Roman Catholic Political Party leader, Wiel Nolens said that the confessionals would only govern with the socialists in a case of extreme necessity.
During the 1930s the SDAP began to moderate its policies. It removed the demand of national disarmament in 1934, and became less republican, for instance sending a telegram with felicitations to Queen Wilhelmina in 1938 after her daughter, princess
In reaction to this moderate course a group of orthodox Marxist members, led by
This course of moderation was suddenly interrupted by the incidents surrounding the mutiny on the cruiser De Zeven Provinciën. During the mutiny the political leadership of the SDAP announced that, although they did not support it, they could understand the motives behind the mutiny. Because of this incident the government temporarily forbade soldiers to be a member of the SDAP.
In 1939, at the dawn of World War II, prominent SDAP members were asked to participate in a national coalition, led by Protestant politician De Geer; the dawning war was the extreme necessity that allowed the SDAP to enter government. After the Netherlands was invaded by the Germans this government became the Dutch government-in-exile, in London. The SDAP first supplied two ministers (Albeda and Jan van de Tempel) and in 1944 they were joined by Jaap Burger. The SDAP was banned in 1940 by the occupying force. Many SDAP members were involved in resistance work during the war.
After World War II, there was a widespread sentiment in the Netherlands that the political system should be changed. This was called the
Ideology and issues
When it was founded in 1897 the SDAP was a
The parties main issues were the 5 k's the party opposed:
- Capital (Dutch: Kapitaal): the party opposed the rule of capital, and wanted to create a socialist society.
- Church (Dutch: Kerk): the party opposed the control the church had over large parts of society.
- monarchy and wanted to transform the Netherlands into a republic.
- the SDAP began to agitate for a people's army.
- Pubs (Dutch: Kroeg): the party thought that alcoholismwas one of the greatest foes of the working class.
Electoral results
House of Representatives
Election year | No. of votes | % of overall vote | No. of seats won | Change | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1897 | 12,312 | 3.0% | 2 / 100
|
2 | Confidence and supply |
1901 | 36,981 | 9.5% | 6 / 100
|
4 | In opposition |
1905 | 65,561 | 11.2% | 6 / 100
|
Confidence and supply | |
1909 | 82,855 | 13.9% | 7 / 100
|
1 | In opposition |
1913 | 142,185 | 18.5% | 17 / 100
|
10 | Confidence and supply |
1917 | 15 / 100
|
2 | Confidence and supply | ||
1918 | 296,145 | 22.0% | 22 / 100
|
7 | In opposition |
1922 | 567,769 | 19.4% | 20 / 100
|
2 | In opposition |
1925 | 706,689 | 22.9% | 24 / 100
|
4 | In opposition |
1929 | 804,714 | 23.8% | 24 / 100
|
In opposition | |
1933 | 798,632 | 21.5% | 22 / 100
|
2 | In opposition |
1937 | 890,661 | 21.9% | 23 / 100
|
1 | In opposition |
Representation
This table shows the SDAP's results in elections to the
Year | HoR | S | SP
|
Fractievoorzitter
|
Lijsttrekker
|
Cabinet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1897 | 2 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports Pierson cabinet |
1898 | 2 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1899 | 2 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1900 | 2 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1901 | 6 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1902 | 6 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1903 | 6 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1904 | 6 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1905 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports De Meester cabinet |
1906 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1907 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1908 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1909 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1910 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1911 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1912 | 7 | 0 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | opposition |
1913 | 15 | 2 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports Cort van der Linden cabinet |
1914 | 15 | 2 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1915 | 15 | 2 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1916 | 15 | 2 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1917 | 15 | 2 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | n/a | supports cabinet |
1918 | 22 | 2 | unknown | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | opposition |
1919 | 22 | 3 | 117 | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | no election | opposition |
1920 | 22 | 4 | 117 | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | no election | opposition |
1921 | 22 | 4 | 117 | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | no election | opposition |
1922 | 20 | 4 | 117 | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | opposition |
1923 | 20 | 11 | 107 | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | no election | opposition |
1924 | 20 | 11 | 107 | Pieter Jelles Troelstra | no election | opposition |
1925 | 24 | 11 | 107 | Johan Willem Albarda
|
Johan Willem Albarda | opposition |
1926 | 24 | 11 | 107 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1927 | 24 | 11 | 120 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1928 | 24 | 11 | 120 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1929 | 24 | 11 | 120 | Johan Willem Albarda | Johan Willem Albalda | opposition |
1930 | 24 | 11 | 120 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1931 | 24 | 11 | 127 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1932 | 24 | 11 | 127 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1933 | 22 | 11 | 127 | Johan Willem Albarda | Johan Willem Albarda | opposition |
1934 | 22 | 11 | 127 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1935 | 22 | 11 | 126 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1936 | 22 | 11 | 126 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1937 | 23 | 12 | 126 | Johan Willem Albarda | Johan Willem Albarda | opposition |
1938 | 23 | 12 | 126 | Johan Willem Albarda | no election | opposition |
1939 | 23 | 12 | 124 | Willem Drees | no election | Johan Willem Albarda |
1940 | out of session | no election | Johan Willem Albarda | |||
1941 | out of session | no election | Johan Willem Albarda | |||
1942 | out of session | no election | Johan Willem Albarda | |||
1943 | out of session | no election | Johan Willem Albarda | |||
1944 | out of session | no election | Johan Willem Albarda | |||
1945 | 23 | 12 | 124 | Willem Drees | no election | Johan Willem Albarda |
Founders
Founders, known as the 12 apostles: Frank van der Goes, Pieter Jelles Troelstra, Henri van Kol, Adriaan Gerhard, Helmig Jan van der Vegt, Louis Cohen, Jan Fortuijn, Willem Helsdingen, Henri Polak, Jan Schaper, Hendrik Spiekman, and Willem Vliegen.
Municipal and provincial government
Many SDAP members of parliament were also members of a provincial or municipal council. Since the 1913 the SDAP had participated in the municipal government of Amsterdam. Several famous SDAP-politicians, like
In 1919 the SDAP had 1162 members of
The figure below shows the SDAP's results in the 1927 provincial elections. In several provinces, the urban North Holland and South Holland especially, the party performed very well. In the Catholic and predominantly rural South, Limburg and North Brabant, the party has a marginal position. In the Protestant and rural North, especially Groningen and Friesland, the party also performed well.
Province | Seats in SP (1927) |
---|---|
Limburg | 4 |
North Brabant | 4 |
Zeeland | 4 |
Utrecht | 8 |
North Holland | 21 |
South Holland | 21 |
Gelderland | 11 |
Overijssel | 8 |
Drenthe | 8 |
Friesland
|
14 |
Groningen | 14 |
Electorate
In the period 1897-1919, when voting rights were restricted the party mainly received support from educated workers and young members of the
The party historically received strong support from the major cities, such as
.Organisation
Organisational structure
The highest organ of the SDAP was the
Membership
When the SDAP was founded in 1897 it has around 600 members organised in 25 municipal branches.
In 1919 the party had around 49,000 members in around 645 municipal branches.
In 1938 the party had around 88,000 members in around 650 municipal branches.
The party's membership throughout its existence is displayed in the chart below.[3]
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
International organisations
Between 1894 and 1914 the SDAP was member of the Second International, after World War I, it lost its international contacts.
The party was a member of the Labour and Socialist International between 1923 and 1940.[4]
Pillarised organisations
The SDAP had strong links with other socialist organisations in the socialist
Relationships to other parties
Between 1897 and 1919 the SDAP supported liberal politicians, who were in favour of universal suffrage, in some districts. Several liberal minority governments were supported by the socialists. These relations deteriorated after the SDAPs unwillingness to participate in socialist/liberal cabinet in 1913 and Troelstra's mistake (in 1918). Furthermore, universal suffrage, a goal which united the liberals and the socialists was granted in 1918.
The relations between the SDAP and the confessional parties was particularly bad. The confessional parties saw socialism as an atheist ideology. This prevented SDAP government participation until 1939. Following the 1919 election some Christian socialist parties entered parliament which advocated stronger cooperation between the SDAP and the confessional parties. These calls were ignored by the confessional parties.
The SDAP was in constant state of cold war with the communist party
The SDAP also had good relations: with the
Footnotes
- ^ "SDAP ledentallen (1895-1939)". Documentatiecentrum Nederlandse Politieke Partijen (DNPP) (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Huygens, Cornélie Lydie (1848-1902)". Huygens ING. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
- ^ "SDAP ledentallen (1895-1939)". Documentatiecentrum Nederlandse Politieke Partijen (DNPP) (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ Kowalski, Werner. Geschichte der sozialistischen arbeiter-internationale: 1923 - 19. Berlin: Dt. Verl. d. Wissenschaften, 1985. p. 309
Additional sources consulted
- J. Perry, P.J. Knegtmans, D.F.J. Bosscher, F. Becker and P. Kalma (1994). Honderd jaar sociaal-democratie in Nederland 1894-1994. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Bert Bakker.
- H. de Vos. (1976) Geschiedenis van het socialisme in Nederland, in het kader van zijn tijd, deel 1. Baarn: Het wereldvenster
Further reading
- Bert Altena, "Bürger in der Sozialdemokratie: Ihre Bedeutung für die Entwicklung der Sozialdemokratischen Arbeiterpartei (SDAP) in den Niederlanden 1894-1914" (Citizens in The Social Democracy: Their Importance for the Development of the Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) in the Netherlands, 1894-1914), Geschichte und Gesellschaft, vol. 20, no. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1994), pp. 533–548. In JSTOR
- Archief SDAP at the International Institute of Social History