Radical League
Encyclopedia
The Radical League was a Dutch
progressive
liberal
political party
. The league is historically linked with the PvdA.
caucuses of the Liberal Union
seceded from the party and formed the Radical League. The caucus was called "Amsterdam". The debate in the Liberal Union about the extension of suffrage was not moving in the direction of the Radicals. They were led by the charismatic, solistic politician Willem Treub
. He set up a national organization.
In 1893 the party won the Leeuwarden seat in a by-election. The newly MP was former Amsterdam alderman C.V. Gerritsen, who was also the husband of feminist Aletta Jacobs
. In 1894 the party won two additional seats. They played a minor role in parliament. In 1897 they won an additional seat. The Radicals supported the progressive liberal cabinet led by Pierson
, although they were not necessary for its majority. In 1901 the League merged with another group of progressive former Liberal Union members to form the Free-thinking Democratic League.
liberal
and radical
democratic
party, committed to implementation of universal suffrage
and social laws. The party was inspired by "kathedersocialisme", the progressive politics professed by latitudinarian
preachers. It championed democratization of the political system by abolishing the Senate (the upper house
of parliament) and the implementation of a referendum
. It favoured the nationalization of crucial industries like the railways.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
liberal
Liberalism worldwide
This article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. The league is historically linked with the PvdA.
Party History
In November 1892 one of the AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
caucuses of the Liberal Union
Liberal Union
The Liberal Union was a Dutch liberal political party. A major party in its time, the LU was one of the historic predecessors of the Liberal State Party, and therefore of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy....
seceded from the party and formed the Radical League. The caucus was called "Amsterdam". The debate in the Liberal Union about the extension of suffrage was not moving in the direction of the Radicals. They were led by the charismatic, solistic politician Willem Treub
Willem Treub
Marie Willem Frederik Treub was a Dutch politician.-References:* in the Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland...
. He set up a national organization.
In 1893 the party won the Leeuwarden seat in a by-election. The newly MP was former Amsterdam alderman C.V. Gerritsen, who was also the husband of feminist Aletta Jacobs
Aletta Jacobs
Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs, better known as Aletta Jacobs was the first woman to complete a university course in the Netherlands and the first female physician. She was born to a Jewish doctor's family in Sappemeer...
. In 1894 the party won two additional seats. They played a minor role in parliament. In 1897 they won an additional seat. The Radicals supported the progressive liberal cabinet led by Pierson
Nicolaas Gerard Pierson
Nicolaas Gerard Pierson was a Dutch Liberal financial and economic expert, politician, and statesman, chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands from 1897 until 1901....
, although they were not necessary for its majority. In 1901 the League merged with another group of progressive former Liberal Union members to form the Free-thinking Democratic League.
Ideology & Issues
The League was a progressiveProgressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
liberal
Liberalism worldwide
This article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
and radical
Radicalism (historical)
The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
party, committed to implementation of universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
and social laws. The party was inspired by "kathedersocialisme", the progressive politics professed by latitudinarian
Latitudinarian
Latitudinarian was initially a pejorative term applied to a group of 17th-century English theologians who believed in conforming to official Church of England practices but who felt that matters of doctrine, liturgical practice, and ecclesiastical organization were of relatively little importance...
preachers. It championed democratization of the political system by abolishing the Senate (the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of parliament) and the implementation of a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
. It favoured the nationalization of crucial industries like the railways.
Representation
This table shows the League's results in elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the party's political leadership the fractievoorzitter, the chair of the parliamentary party.| Year | HoR | S | Fractievoorzitter | Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 1 | 0 | Carel Gerritsen | opposition |
| 1894 Dutch general election, 1894 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1894.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Liberal Union... |
3 | 0 | Willem Treub Willem Treub Marie Willem Frederik Treub was a Dutch politician.-References:* in the Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland... |
opposition |
| 1895 | 3 | 0 | Willem Treub | opposition |
| 1896 | 3 | 0 | Willem Treub | opposition |
| 1897 Dutch general election, 1897 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1897.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
4 | 0 | Willem Treub | supports cabinet Pierson |
| 1898 | 4 | 0 | Willem Treub | supports cabinet Pierson |
| 1899 | 4 | 0 | Willem Treub | supports cabinet Pierson |
| 1900 | 4 | 0 | Willem Treub | supports cabinet Pierson |
Local government
The party was particularly strong in Amsterdam. Treub was alderman there.Electorate
The League's electorate centered around Amsterdam, where intellectuals, journalists, teachers and educated workers supported the party.Pillarization
The small and localized Radical League lacked a system of pillarized organisations around it. The weekly magazine "De Amsterdammer" ("The Amsterdammer") sympathized with the party however.See also
- LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
- Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theoryIndividual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
- Liberalism worldwideLiberalism worldwideThis article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracyLiberal democracyLiberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
- RadicalismRadicalizationRadicalization is the process in which an individual changes from passiveness or activism to become more revolutionary, militant or extremist. Radicalization is often associated with youth, adversity, alienation, social exclusion, poverty, or the perception of injustice to self or others.-...
- Liberalism in the NetherlandsLiberalism in the NetherlandsThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...