'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914

Struggling for freedom. Social theory on strike actions in Belgian politics, 1884-1914 In nineteenth century workers' songs, the strike was presented as a heroic struggle for freedom. At first sight, the arguments in political debates more or less followed this same line of thought, in that se...

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Main Author: J. Deferme
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: openjournals.nl 2002-01-01
Series:BMGN: Low Countries Historical Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojstest.minions.amsterdam/article/view/4082
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author J. Deferme
author_facet J. Deferme
author_sort J. Deferme
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description Struggling for freedom. Social theory on strike actions in Belgian politics, 1884-1914 In nineteenth century workers' songs, the strike was presented as a heroic struggle for freedom. At first sight, the arguments in political debates more or less followed this same line of thought, in that several 'socially progressive' politicians defended strike actions using the argument of 'right of association'; a right that the working class also claimed in their struggle for emancipation. Yet the dominant political attitude towards the social question during those years was inspired by social control rather than emancipation. Therefore, when petitioners had to arouse parliamentary sympathy for strikes, they smartly abandoned the discourse linked to the struggle for freedom, and instead chose to present strikes not as heroic, voluntary actions, but rather as something inevitable; a 'force majeure'. This presentation was a radical departure from the traditional liberal values of individual responsibility, and was, instead, inspired by a very modern sociological discourse. This even went so far as to question the ultimate roots of the legal system itself, viz. the basic principles of civil law.
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spelling doaj.art-95d9d76e5ebc499cb647c045740fc4142022-12-21T20:04:37Zengopenjournals.nlBMGN: Low Countries Historical Review0165-05052211-28982002-01-011172'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914J. DefermeStruggling for freedom. Social theory on strike actions in Belgian politics, 1884-1914 In nineteenth century workers' songs, the strike was presented as a heroic struggle for freedom. At first sight, the arguments in political debates more or less followed this same line of thought, in that several 'socially progressive' politicians defended strike actions using the argument of 'right of association'; a right that the working class also claimed in their struggle for emancipation. Yet the dominant political attitude towards the social question during those years was inspired by social control rather than emancipation. Therefore, when petitioners had to arouse parliamentary sympathy for strikes, they smartly abandoned the discourse linked to the struggle for freedom, and instead chose to present strikes not as heroic, voluntary actions, but rather as something inevitable; a 'force majeure'. This presentation was a radical departure from the traditional liberal values of individual responsibility, and was, instead, inspired by a very modern sociological discourse. This even went so far as to question the ultimate roots of the legal system itself, viz. the basic principles of civil law.https://ojstest.minions.amsterdam/article/view/4082PoliticsStrikes
spellingShingle J. Deferme
'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914
BMGN: Low Countries Historical Review
Politics
Strikes
title 'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914
title_full 'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914
title_fullStr 'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914
title_full_unstemmed 'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914
title_short 'Alles strijdt, wat naar vrijheid haakt.' Theorievorming over de staking in de Belgische politiek, 1884-1914
title_sort alles strijdt wat naar vrijheid haakt theorievorming over de staking in de belgische politiek 1884 1914
topic Politics
Strikes
url https://ojstest.minions.amsterdam/article/view/4082
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