The notion of „socialism” in political thought of Alexis de Tocqueville

The article presents an analysis of an original conception of socialism outlined in the works of Alexis de Tocqueville. The author begins with a brief presentation of historical context in which the views of French thinker were shaped, referring to his experiences from the period of the July Revolution of 1830 and the February Revolution of 1848. The author goes on to detailed analysis of his definition of socialism, making an indispensable reference to his republican conception of freedom and the role of a citizen in democracy. Finally, the author looks at Tocquevillian vision of genesis of socialist ideas, associated by him with anxiety, which democratic system inevitably generates.

The article is an attempt to analyze two works by Jan Bobrzyński written at the end of World War Two and in the early period of Polish People’s Republic: Współczesne zadania socjalizmu (The Modern Tasks of Socialism) and Die grosse deutsche Lüge (The Great German Lie). The author compares the contents of the two writings with Bobrzyński’s views from before WWII. The question is pondered whether Jan Borzyński’s post-war choices, such as joining the Polish Socialist Party or fierce anti- Germanism, were the result of the evolution of his views, ideological disorientation, or simply opportunism manifested in adjusting his own beliefs to the needs of the moment?

A signpost at the crossroads. The life and thought  of Józef Karol Potocki (1854–1898) of Józef Karol Potocki (1854–1898

Józef Karol Potocki vel Marian Bohusz (1854–1898) was very important and influential although forgotten thinker. His ideas of evolutionary socialism and ethnic nationalism were fundamental for both main Polish political formations of the 1st half of 20th century: Polish Socialist Party (and broader Piłsudski’s camp) and National Democracy. The very fundament of Potocki’s world-view was idea of any “cosmic energy” as prime mover of evolution. The evolution leads towards broader and broader, deeper and deeper integration, towards more complex societies. In opinion of Potocki socialism (as a system based on cooperation) would be natural result of this evolution. Historical and cultural heritage transform society into nation – community bonded by biological ancestry, economic cooperation and culture. This ethnic meaning of the Polish nation excluded Jewish minority. On the other hand, the real nation are the working people (especially peasants), not ruling classes. Nation needs an independent state as instrument of autonomous development, therefore Potocki was bitterly anti-Russian. Potocki tried to propagate the idea of a common front of socialists and nationalists for independence. Polarization of Polish public opinion in the end of 19th century made his efforts unsuccessful.