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Georges Sorel and the Nouvelle Ecole

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Syndicalism in France

Part of the book series: St Antony’s ((STANTS))

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Abstract

In 1899, after a direct appeal on his behalf by Jean Jaurès to the minister of commerce Alexandre Millerand, an impoverished Fernand Pelloutier took up temporary employment at the Office du Travail, his task to complete a statistical enquiry on trade unions in France. The unlikely intermediary between Pelloutier and these two representatives of reformist socialism was Georges Sorel.

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Notes

  1. Several bibliographies of Sorel’s work are available but the best is to be found in J. Julliard and S. Sand (eds), Georges Sorel en son temps (Paris: 1985), pp. 425–67.

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  2. G. Sorel, ‘L’Ethique du socialisme’, Rév. mét, VII, 1899, pp. 280–301.

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  3. G. Sorel, ‘Morale et socialisme’, MS, I, 1899, p. 208.

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  4. See especially G. Sorel, Le Procès de Socrate (Paris: 1899) and ‘Essai sur la philosophie de Proudhon’, Revue philosophique, XXXIII, 1892, pp. 622–38 and XXXIV, 1892, pp. 41–68.

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  5. G. Sorel, ‘Socialismes nationaux’, Cahiers de la Quinzaine, 14th cahier of the 3rd series, 1902, p. 52. See G. Sorel, ‘Les Aspects juridiques du socialisme’, RS, XXXII, 1900, pp. 385–415, 558–85 and S. Sand, ‘Lutte de classes et conscience juridique dans la pensée de Georges Sorel’, in J. Julliard and S. Sand, pp. 225–45.

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  6. G. Sorel, L’Avenir socialiste des syndicats (Paris: 1898), p. 10. This section was not reprinted in the later editions.

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  7. G. Sorel, ‘L’Avenir socialiste des syndicats’, in G. Sorel, Matériaux d’une théorie du prolétariat (Paris: 1919), p. 127.

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  8. G. Sorel, ‘Les divers types de sociétés coopératives’, La Science sociale, XXVIII, 1899, p. 188.

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  9. See also G. Sorel, Les Illusions du progrès (Paris: 1908), pp. 276–86.

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  10. G. Sorel, ‘Les Dissensions de la social démocratie en Allemagne’, Revue politique et parlemantaire, XXV, 1900, pp. 33–66.

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  11. G. Sorel, ‘Les divers types de sociétés coopératives’ and ‘Les Grèves’, La Science sociale, XXX, 1900, pp. 311–32 and 417–36.

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  12. G. Sorel, ‘Qu’est-ce qu’un syndicat?’ Pages libres, 116, 21 March 1903, pp. 241–57.

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  13. G. Sorel, La Révolution dreyfusienne (Paris: 1909).

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  14. G. Sorel, Réflexions sur la violence (Paris: 1908). The first edition appeared as a series of articles in Le Mouvement socialiste, beginning in January 1906.

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  15. G. Sorel, Les Illusions du progrès (Paris: 1908), p. 276.

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  16. G. Sorel, Saggi di critica del marxismo (Milan-Palermo-Naples: 1903), p. 15.

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  17. G. Sorel, La Décomposition du marxisme (Paris: 1908), p. 58.

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  18. G. Sorel, ‘Eglise, Evangile et Socialisme’, (1899), in G. Sorel, La Ruine du monde antique (Paris: 1902), p. 311.

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  19. M. Rebérioux, ‘La place de Georges Sorel dans le socialisme au tournant du siècle’, in J. Julliard and S. Sand (eds), p. 48. Pierre Monatte made a similar point: see C. Chambelland, ‘Monatte, lecteur de Sorel’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, 4, 1986, p. 141.

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  20. For details of Berth’s life and an incomplete bibliography see P. Andreu, ‘Bibliographie d’Edouard Berth’, Bulletin of the International Institute of Social History, 8, 1953, pp. 196–204,

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  21. and P. Andreu, Introduction to ‘Lettres de Georges Sorel à Edouard Berth’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, 3, 1985, pp. 77–100.

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  22. E. Berth, ‘Avant-Propos’, to G. Sorel, D’Aristote à Marx (Paris: 1935), p. 8.

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  23. See G. Sorel, ‘La crise de la pensée catholique’, Revue de métaphysique et de morale, X, 1902, pp. 523–57

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  24. and E. Berth, ‘La crise de la pensée catholique’, MS, XII, 1904, pp. 188–94.

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  25. G. Sorel, ‘Idées socialistes et faits économiques’, RS, XXXV, 1902, pp. 294–318, 385–410, 519–544.

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  26. G. Sorel, Introduction à l’économie moderne (Paris: 1903).

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  27. See G. Sorel, ‘Taine devant l’Académie’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 100–104; ‘L’hypocrisie du devoir’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 138–41; ‘Education bourgeoise’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 169–72; ‘Faillite de la science bourgeoise’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 209–11; ‘Les procédés historiques de M. Tarde’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 254–8; ‘Sémites et cléricaux’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 325–8.

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  28. See H. Lagardelle, ‘Lettere di Giorgio Sorel a Uberto Lagardelle’, Educazione fascista, XI, 1933, pp. 229–43, 320–34, 506–18, 760–783, 956–75;

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  29. A. Riosa, ‘La correspondance Sorel-Lagardelle: la découverte de l’original’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, 2, 1984, pp. 130–6. Alceo Riosa intends to publish the complete correspondence in the near future.

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  30. Surprisingly little has been written on Lagardelle but see M. Dachary de Flers, Lagardelle et l’Equipe du Mouvement socialiste, Thèse de Doctorat du Troisième Cycle, Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, 1982;

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  31. G. A. P. Turko, The Life and Ideas of Hubert Lagardelle (Ph.D., London 1977).

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  32. H. Lagardelle, ‘Nos Principes’, La Jeunesse socialiste, I, 1895, pp. 57–66.

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  33. H. Lagardelle, ‘La Question sociale et le socialisme’, Le Devenir social, IV, 1898, pp. 270–84.

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  34. For a detailed discussion of the contents, contributors and readership of Le Mouvement socialiste, see de Fiers, op. cit. See also M. de Fiers, ‘Le Mouvement socialiste (1899–1914)’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, 5, 1987, pp. 49–76.

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  35. See in particular H. Lagardelle, ‘Le Socialisme et l’Affaire Dreyfus’, MS, I, 1899, pp. 155–66, 285–99.

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  36. See G. Sorel, ‘Préface’ to S. Merlino, Formes et essence du socialisme, (Paris: 1898), p. xiv,

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  37. and H. Lagardelle, ‘Les Caractères généraux du syndicalisme’, MS, XXIII, 1908, p. 436.

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  38. G. Sorel, Lettres à Paul Delesalle (Paris: 1947), p. 109.

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  39. G. B. Furiozzi, ‘Quattro lettere inedite di Sorel’, Pensiero politico, X, 1977, pp. 419–424; G. Sorel, Lettres à Paul Delesalle, p. 109;

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  40. G. Sorel, ‘Lettere a Uberto Lagardelle’, Educazione fascista, XI, 1933, p. 963.

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  41. For a detailed account of the ‘Byzantine interactions’ involved see P. Mazgaj, The Action Française and Revolutionary Syndicalism (Chapel Hill: 1979).

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  42. For Valois’ own account of this episode see G. Valois, D’un siècle à l’autre (Paris: 1921). Having begun his career as an anarchist Valois had first met Pelloutier, Delesalle and Sorel before the turn of the century. He went on to become the founder of France’s first overtly Fascist political party.

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  43. See G. Valois, ‘Syndicalisme et démocratie, une note de M. Hubert Lagardelle’, Revue critique des idées et des livres, XII, 1911, pp. 87–90.

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  44. A facsimile edition of the Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon has recently been issued: see P. Andreu (ed.), Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon (Paris: 1976).

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  45. G. Guy-Grand, ‘Le Procès de la démocratie’, Revue de métaphysique et de morale, XVIII, 1910, pp. 102–35, 242–61, 356–96, 545–80, 694–710. Sorel used the expression ‘guy-grandesque’ as a term of contempt.

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  46. E. Berth, ‘Le procès de la Démocratie’, Revue critique des idées et des livres, XIII, 1911, pp. 9–46.

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  47. G. Valois, ‘Pourquoi nous rattachons nos travaux à l’esprit proudhonien’, Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon, 1, January–February, 1912, p. 42.

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  48. A. Vincent, ‘La Famille chez Proudhon et dans la Démocratie’, Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon, 3–4, May–August, 1912, p. 149.

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  49. J. Darville, ‘Proudhon’, Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon, 1, January–February, 1912, pp. 9–28.

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  50. J. Darville, ‘Satellites de la ploutocratie’, Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon, 5–6, 1913, pp. 177–211.

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  51. E. Berth, Les méfaits des intellectuels (Paris: 1914).

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  52. G. Sorel, ‘La disfatta dei “mufles”’, Il Divenire sociale, V, 1909, pp. 177–81; ‘Socialistes antiparlementaires’, Action française, 22 August 1909.

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  53. H. Lagrange, ‘L’Oeuvre de Sorel et le Cercle Proudhon’, Cahiers du Cercle Proudhon, 3–4, May–August, 1912, p. 129.

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  54. P. Andreu, Introduction to ‘Lettres de Georges Sorel à Edouard Berth’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, 3, 1985, p. 81.

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  55. G. Sorel, Terre libre, 15 July 1910. I thank Michel Prat for bringing this letter to my attention.

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  56. G. Sorel, ‘Urbain Gohier’, L’Indépendance, II, 1912, pp. 305–20.

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  57. G. Sorel, La Révolution dreyfusienne (Paris: 1908); reference to 2nd edition (Paris: 1911), p. 64.

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  58. G. Sorel, ‘Urbain Gohier’; ‘Quelques prétentions juives’, L’Indépendance, III, 1912, pp. 217–36, 277–95, 317–36; ‘Aux temps dreyfusiens’, L’Indépendance, IV, 1912, pp. 29–56.

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  59. R. Louzon, ‘La faillite du Dreyfusisme ou le triomphe du parti juif’, MS, XX, 1906, pp. 192–9.

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  60. S. Sand, ‘Sorel, les Juifs et l’antisémitisme’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, 2, 1984, pp. 7–36.

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  61. For a different view see D. Lindenberg, ‘Mouvement prolétarien et révolution religieuse: Georges Sorel critique de Renan’, in J. Julliard and S. Sand (eds) Georges Sorel en son temps (Paris: 1985), pp. 189–201.

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  62. G. Sorel, ‘Modernismo nella religione e nel socialismo’, Il Divenire sociale, III, 1907, pp. 339–45; reprinted in the original French in Revue critique des idées et des livres, II, 1908, pp. 177–204.

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  63. G. Sorel, ‘Trois problèmes’, L’Indépendance, II, 1911, pp. 221–40, 261–79.

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  64. G. Sorel, ‘Lyripipi sorbonici moralisationes’, L’Indépendance, I, 1911, pp. 111–25; ‘Si les dogmes évoluent’, II, 1911, pp. 31–44; ‘Une critique des sociologues’, II, 1911, pp. 73–84.

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  65. G. Sorel, ‘L’Evolution créatrice’, MS, XXII, 1907, pp. 257–82, 478–94; MS, XXXIII, 1908, pp. 34–52, 184–94, 276–94.

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  66. See in particular G. Sorel, De l’utilité du pragmatisme (Paris: 1921), pp. 357–451.

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  67. For a discussion of this issue see S. Sand, ‘Quelques remarques sur Sorel critique de “l’Evolution créatrice”. Quatre lettres inédites de Bergson à Sorel’, Cahiers Georges Sorel, I, 1983, pp. 109–23.

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  68. G. Sorel, ‘Vues sur les problèmes de la philosophie’, Rev. mét., XIX, 1911, p. 99.

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  69. H. Lagardelle, Le Socialisme ouvrier (Paris: 1911) p. xiv.

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  70. See H. Lagardelle, ‘La formation du syndicalisme en France’, MS, XXX, 1911, pp. 161–86, 241–57; XXXI, 1912, pp. 134–146.

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  71. See in particular H. Lagardelle, review of G. Valois, La monarchie et la classe ouvriére, MS, XXVIII, 1910, pp. 239–40; ‘La Critique syndicaliste de la démocratie’, MS, XXIX, 1911, pp. 81–6; ‘Nouveaux problèmes’, MS, XXX, 1911, pp. 321–4; ‘Proudhon et les Néo-Monarchistes’, MS, XXXI, 1912, pp. 65–9; ‘Les Ennemis de Rousseau’, MS, XXXII, 1912, pp. 101–6.

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  72. H. Lagardelle, ‘Monarchistes et syndicalistes’, MS, XXIX, 1911, p. 54.

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  73. H. Lagardelle, ‘La Démocratie en France’, MS, XXXIII, 1912, pp. 321–32; XXXIV, 1913, pp. 13–29.

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  74. See also H. Lagardelle, ‘Préface’ to J. Gaumont, L’Etat contre la nation (Paris: 1911).

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  75. Ibid., pp. 330–2; see also H. Lagardelle, ‘La Démocratie et les partis politiques’, MS, XXXII, 1912, pp. 313–8.

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  76. G. Sorel, ‘Lettres à Mario Missiroli’, in G. Sorel, Da Proudhon a Lenin e l’Europa sotto la tormenta (Rome: 1974), p. 513.

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  1. University College, Swansea, UK

    Jeremy Jennings (Lecturer in French Political Thought and Government)

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© 1990 J. R. Jennings

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Jennings, J. (1990). Georges Sorel and the Nouvelle Ecole. In: Syndicalism in France. St Antony’s. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08876-8_3

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