Democratic Socialism Or Social Democracy?
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Democratic Socialism or Social Democracy? The Influence of the British Labour Party and the Parti Socialiste Français in the Ideological Transformation of the Partido Socialista Português and the Partido Socialista Obrero Español in the mid-1970s Alan Granadino Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of History and Civilization of the European University Institute Florence, 16 May 2016. European University Institute Department of History and Civilization Democratic Socialism or Social Democracy? The Influence of the British Labour Party and the Parti Socialiste Français in the Ideological Transformation of the Partido Socialista Português and the Partido Socialista Obrero Español in the mid-1970s Alan Granadino Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of History and Civilization of the European University Institute Examining Board Prof. Federico Romero (Supervisor, EUI) Prof. Lucy Riall (Second reader, EUI) Prof. Mario del Pero (SciencesPo) Prof. Abdón Mateos (UNED Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia) © Alan Granadino, 2016 No part of this thesis may be copied, reproduced or transmitted without prior permission of the author Researcher declaration to accompany the submission of written work Department of History and Civilization - Doctoral Programme I Alan David Granadino González certify that I am the author of the work Democratic Socialism or Social Democracy? The Influence of the British Labour Party and the Parti Socialiste Française in the Ideological Transformation of the Partido Socialista Português and the Partido Socialista Obrero Español in the mid-1970s I have presented for examination for the Ph.D. at the European University Institute. I also certify that this is solely my own original work, other than where I have clearly indicated, in this declaration and in the thesis, that it is the work of others. I warrant that I have obtained all the permissions required for using any material from other copyrighted publications. I certify that this work complies with the Code of Ethics in Academic Research issued by the European University Institute (IUE 332/2/10 (CA 297). The copyright of this work rests with its author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This work may not be reproduced without my prior written consent. This authorisation does not, to the best of my knowledge, infringe the rights of any third party. I declare that this work consists of 184.600 words. Statement of language correction: This thesis has been corrected for linguistic and stylistic errors. I certify that I have checked and approved all language corrections, and that these have not affected the content of this work. Signature and date: In Helsinki, 19 February 2016 Abstract This thesis investigates the link between the ideological transformations experienced by the Spanish and Portuguese Socialist Parties (PSOE and PS) in the mid-1970s and the relations of these parties with the British Labour Party (BLP) and the French Socialist Party (PSF). The PSOE and the PS underwent similar ideological transformations. They went from advocating Socialism in freedom, rupture with capitalism, international neutralism, self-management and closer relations with the Communists, to practically accepting liberal democracy and the placement of their countries in the West as well as rejecting collaboration with the Communist parties. These transformations happened in the context of the Iberian transitions to democracy in which the main international actors concerned with maintaining Cold War détente got involved. The aim of this thesis is to determine to what extent and how the BLP and the PSF, both representatives of different ideological tendencies within the Western European Socialism, influenced the ideological transformation of the PSOE and the PS. Adopting a transnational and comparative approach and using the theory of cultural transfers, this thesis traces and identifies the circulation of ideas, concepts and practices between the Iberian Socialist parties and their European counterparts, thus examining the relations that the PSOE and the PS maintained with the BLP and the PSF. This thesis argues that both the PSOE and the PS were deeply influenced by the French Socialists and their ideas on the rupture with Capitalism, self-management and the union between Socialists and Communists. This was a cause of concern for the main European Social Democrat parties (the BLP and the German SPD), who made an effort to counterbalance the French influence on the Iberian Socialists, especially regarding the issue of the union of the Left. This turned the Socialist parties of the Iberian Peninsula into a battlefield for two different conceptions of democratic Socialism. As a result, the PSOE and the PS received, adopted, rejected and adapted ideas and practices from these two European tendencies that they applied to their own social, political, cultural and historical realities. If at the beginning of the 1970s both parties were more in tune with the French Socialists than with the European Social Democracy, at the end of the transitions to democracy both of them moved closer to the Western European Social Democrat parties, without completely abandoning the ideas, concepts and rhetoric borrowed from the French. 7 8 Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Prof. Federico Romero for his support and his faith in my work, even in the moments when its outcome seemed uncertain. Without his patience, guidance and support this thesis would have not been possible. Besides my supervisor, I thank Prof. Lucy Riall, second reader of this thesis during three years, for her motivation and her recommendation to make a leap forward in a crucial moment of the EUI program. My sincere thanks also go to Heinz-Gerhard Haupt, second reader of this thesis for two years, for his help in defining the topic and for his availability and useful advice at the beginning of the research process. I am grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Education for having provided me with the economic means to carry out my research. The grant has allowed me to develop my thesis in the best environment I could have dreamed of, the European University Institute. The uniqueness of this institution has also contributed to this work, as I have had the privilege to meet amazing and inspiring people from very different cultural and academic backgrounds. I thank all the staff of the EUI for their kindness and support that has manifested itself in the most unexpected ways. I especially thank Romain, Pol, Giorgio, Kaarlo, Carolina, Matti, Miguel, José Miguel, Cloe, Pablo (gracias tito) and many others (you know who you are guys!) for having been there to share my EUI years and for making the experience so memorable. Additionally, I would like to thank the staff of all the archives in which I have done research, as their expertise and guidance has been very helpful. The staff of the Fundação Mário Soares, the Arquivo Histórico Diplomático do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, and the headquarters of the PS in Largo do Rato has been especially supportive. Also, thank you to the staff of the Fondation Jean Jaurès for their guidance in the Centre d’Archives Socialistes. A special thanks goes to Chiqui and Aurélio from the Fundación Pablo Iglesias. I really appreciate their availability, kindness and guidance. It goes without saying that I am immensely grateful to all my family for their unconditional love and support during every moment of this thesis project. My parents and my sister are always there for me – gracias! A special thanks to Raija and Pauli, because they made it 9 possible to finish the work on time. Their support and help in the final stages has been absolutely invaluable. Kiitos paljon! The person I can’t thank enough for her constant support, love and understanding is Sanni. I am fortunate to have had her next to me during this experience. I also thank my daughter Telma, because she is the light of my life and her presence has given me strength and determination to finish this work. Finally, I want to pay homage to my great uncle Octavio, who in a way inspired me to start this project. I also want to pay respect to the memory of my beloved grandparents, Bárbara and Wenceslao, who passed away while I was in Florence. 10 Table of Contents Abbreviations 13 Introduction 15 Objectives of the thesis 15 Methodology and Sources 19 State of the Art 21 Hypotheses 26 Chronological frame, and structure of the thesis 27 1. The Portuguese Socialist Party: From Creation to Carnation Revolution 29 1.1. The antecedents of the PS and the international context at the beginning of the 1970s 31 1.1.1. The history of the PS 31 1.1.2. The international context at the beginning of the Carnation Revolution 45 1.1.3. The West European Left at the beginning of the 1970s 55 1.2. Relations between the PS and the European Socialists (BLP, PSF and SI) at the beginning of the Carnation Revolution, April 1974 to December 1974 65 1.2.1. The BLP and the PS before the revolution 65 1.2.2. The outbreak of the Carnation Revolution and Portuguese decolonisation 68 1.2.3. The resignation of Spínola and ‘the Communist threat’ 86 1.3. The PS, the PSF and the outbreak of the Revolution 101 1.3.1. The ideological affinity between the PS and the PSF after the creation of the Portuguese Party 101 1.3.2. The PS and the PSF after 25th April 1974 111 1.3.3. Portugal after the resignation of Spínola: Fertile soil for Socialism? 121 1.4. The First Congress of the PS in Lisbon 125 2. The PSOE: A renovated Socialist party in Europe 135 2.1.