Radical Socialist Party (French: Parti radical-socialiste)

A French political party. Its official name is the Radical Republican and Radical Socialist Party (Parti républicain radical et radical-socialiste), and after World War II it was abbreviated to the Radical Party. Founded in 1901, it advocated liberal democracy and was the most influential and representative party in France during the interwar period (average vote share of 17.3%, average number of seats 131). The radical movement before the party's founding began under the July Monarchy. Inheriting the tradition of the Jacobins of the French Revolution, they were literally radicals, participated in the February Revolution, fought under the Second Empire, and played a decisive role in the establishment of the Third Republic. They fought for individual freedom, anti-clericalism, and democratization of education, but as their political ideology (radicalism) spread, the party, which was on the far left in the 1870s and 1880s, gradually shifted to the right, and in the 20th century, contrary to its name, changed into a moderate center party. E. Heriot dominated the party during the interwar period and after the Second World War. The party was a party of notables based on rural peasants and petty bourgeoisie, with few members and activists, and loose organization and discipline. However, party officials skilled in negotiation and compromise formed parliamentary coalitions one after another and joined the majority. During the interwar period and then from the spring of 1947 onwards, the party participated in almost all cabinets and produced many prime ministers and cabinet members. However, economic and social policies that defended private property and free enterprise strengthened the party's conservative nature, and it lost its former strength and vitality (average vote share of 8.6% and average number of seats of 56 from 1945 to 1968). P. Mendes-France's attempt to shift to the left from 1955 to 1957 was also unsuccessful, and the party gradually weakened. However, the left wing that split in 1971 formed the Left Radical Party and allied with the Socialist Party.

[Yokota Chihiro]

The Radical Party joined the Democratic Union of France (UDF), a coalition of political parties established by President Giscard d'Estaing in 1978, and became one of its constituent parties. The Radical Party then transferred to the Union for a National Movement (UMP) when the ruling coalition led by Jacques Chirac, who won the presidential election in 2002, was formed. In 2007, UMP President Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president.

[Editorial Department]

"An Introduction to the Study of the French Radical Socialist Party" by Tsuchikura Kanji (1999, Kansai University Press)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

フランスの政党。正式の党名は急進共和・急進社会党Parti républicain radical et radical-socialisteで、第二次世界大戦後は急進党と略称される。1901年に結成され、自由民主主義を奉じ、戦間期フランスのもっとも有力で代表的な政党（平均得票率は17.3％、平均議席数は131）。結党前の急進主義者の運動は、七月王政下に始められた。フランス革命のジャコバン派の伝統を継承し、文字どおりの急進派で、二月革命に加わり、第二帝政下に戦い、第三共和政樹立に決定的な役割を果たした。彼らは個人の自由、反教権主義、教育の民主化を掲げて戦ったが、その政治思想（急進主義）の浸透につれて、1870、1880年代に極左翼にあった党は、しだいに右に移り、20世紀に入ると、党名に反して穏健な中央党派に変わる。E・エリオは戦間期と第二次世界大戦後の党を支配した。党は地方の農民や小ブルジョア層を基盤とする名望家政党で、党員、活動家が少なく、組織も規律も緩い。しかし、交渉と妥協に長じた党幹部は、次々と議会連合を組み、多数派に加わった。戦間期に、ついで1947年春以降に、党はほとんどの内閣に参加し、多くの首相、閣僚を出した。しかし、個人の財産や自由企業を擁護する経済・社会政策は党の保守性を強め、昔日の党勢も活力も失われた（1945～68年の平均得票率は8.6％、平均議席数は56）。1955～57年のP・マンデス・フランスの左転換の試みも成功せず、しだいに衰弱する。ただ、1971年に分裂した左派は、左翼急進党を結成し、社会党と結んでいる。

［横田地弘］

　急進党は、1978年にジスカール・デスタン大統領によって設立された政党連合組織のフランス民主連合（UDF）に参加し、その構成政党の一つとなった。その後、2002年の大統領選挙で当選したシラクの与党連合である国民運動連合（UMP）が結成されると、急進党はUMPに移った。2007年にはUMP総裁のサルコジが大統領に当選している。

［編集部］

『土倉莞爾著『フランス急進社会党研究序説』（1999・関西大学出版部）』

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