Sorelianism

Sorelianism is advocacy for or support of the ideology and thinking of Georges Sorel, a French revolutionary syndicalist. Sorelians oppose bourgeois democracy, the developments of the 18th century, the secular spirit, and the French Revolution, while supporting Classicism.^[1] A revisionist interpretation of Marxism,^[1] Sorel believed that the victory of the proletariat in class struggle could be achieved only through the power of myth and a general strike.^[2] To Sorel, the aftermath of class conflict would involve rejuvenation of both the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.^[3]

With the seeming failure of syndicalism, he announced his abandonment of socialist literature in 1910, and claimed in 1914, using an aphorism of Benedetto Croce, that "socialism is dead" due to the "decomposition of Marxism".^[1] Sorel became a supporter of Charles Maurras-style integral nationalism (maurrassisme) beginning in 1909, which he considered as having similar moral aims to syndicalism despite being enemies materially.^[1] In this sense, Sorelianism is considered to be a precursor to fascism;^[4] however, he became disillusioned with these ideas with World War I, and from 1918 until his death, which occurred in 1922, he would be a supporter of the then Russian Revolution and communism, which he considered a revival of syndicalism.^[5]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sternhell et al., p. 78.
^ Sternhell et al., p. 76.
^ Cite error: The named reference christensen18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Sternhell et al., p. 90.
^ Stanley 1981, p. 20.

[sternhell78-1] Sternhell et al., p. 78.

[2] Sternhell et al., p. 76.

[christensen18-3] Cite error: The named reference christensen18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] Sternhell et al., p. 90.

[FOOTNOTEStanley198120-5] Stanley 1981, p. 20.

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