The Might of the Popular Front (Guest Editorial)

I have previously noted the lack of guiding ideological principles in the political parties of two-party democracies (i.e. the United States).

However, advanced multiparty systems currently suffer the opposite problem, which is an over-fractured party dynamic. The recent “blue wave” of Europe is not due to sudden public passion for the right wing, but rather the simple fact that the left wing is not unified enough to put up effective resistance. Seizing upon this opportunity, rightist merger parties such as France’s UMP or Canada’s Conservatives. Because of this, we now see either neo-conservative or neo-liberal governments in much of Europe and Canada.

This pattern hearkens back to the days of the 1930s, when most European democracies succumbed to the rightist unity that swept in totalitarian blocs. So perhaps a solution from the 30s may be necessary to abate the current emergence of the right.

France and Spain responded to the totalitarians by setting up Popular Fronts incorporating temporary coalitions of Republicans, Communists, Socialists, and various other left-wing components. These would have probably prevented a right-wing electoral ascendancy from within if the fronts had not been overthrown by foreign intervention.

Leon Blum, France’s PF Prime Minister, noted the important distinction that Popular Fronts were not intended as a permanent governing coalition so much as a temporary resistance movement. And that is what is called upon now. Germany has taken a step in the right direction with the formation of Die Linke (or The Left) to combat the rightward-movement of the SPD.

What strikes me most is the rift between the green and social-democratic parties, which share essentially the same platforms. If these were to merge, economic and ecological issues would be much more easily dealt with.

Perhaps a good starting point for the reintroduction of the Popular Front would be in the depressingly over-fractured systems of African democracies, whose parties are currently centred around small tribes or personalities, and allow for one-party dominance in most cases, if not disastrous coups.
-The Resident Historian