The Socialists contended that the State will disappear after the Socialist society has been firmly established. In 1882 the Socialists split between the followers of Guesde, who claimed to represent the revolutionary and scientific Socialism of Marx, and the followers of Paul Brousse, who were more opportunist and were also called possibilists, and cared little for the theories of Marx. In 1890 there was a secession from the Broussists, who followed Allemane and absorbed the more revolutionary elements of the party and became leading spirits in some of the strongest syndicates. Another group was the Independent Socialists, among whom were Jaurès, Millerand, and Viviani.[1]
The disputes between the various sections of Socialists caused difficulties in the Trade Unions, and helped to bring about the resolution to keep politics out of the Unions. From this to Syndicalism was an easy step.
Since the year 1905, as the result of a union between the Parti Socialiste de France (Parti Ouvrier Socialiste Révolutionnaire Francais, led by Guesde) and the Parti Socialiste Francais (Jaurès), there, have been only two groups of Socialists, the United Socialist Party and the Independents, who are intellectuals not willing to be tied to a party. At the General Election of 1914 the former secured 102 members and the latter 30, out of a total of 590.
Tendencies towards a rapprochement between the various groups were seriously interfered with by an event which had considerable importance for the
- ↑ See Levine, loc. cit. chap ii.
