Malon came from a poor peasant family. An opportunity to escape the life of a rural labourer presented itself when Benoît was admitted to a seminary school in Lyon. However, instead of becoming a priest, Malon became interested in radical politics through the writings of P.-J. Proudhon. In 1863 he left the seminary and moved to Paris, where he worked in a factory as a dyer. He became a friend of Zéphyrin Camélinat. Camélinat was a friend of Proudhon and a collaborator of Charles Longuet, Karl Marx' son-in-law. Through Camélinat and Longuet, Malon became involved in the French section of the First International, which he joined in 1865. In the factional struggles within the International, Malon sided with the 'anti-authoritarian' followers of Proudhon and Bakunin, against the Marxists. Malon was active in organising factory workers and led several strikes. In 1868 and 1870, Malon was among the defendants in the sedition trials of the French Section of the International. He was sentenced to prison both times.
With the fall of Napoléon III in 1870, Malon was freed from prison and helped organise relief for the poor during the Prussian siege of Paris. He joined the 'Republican Central Committee', which united Proudhonists with followers of Auguste Blanqui. In 1871 Malon was elected to the National Assembly of the new Third Republic, but he resigned in protest against the peace treaty, which ceded Alsace-Lorraine to Prussia.
When the Paris Commune rose against the Thiers government at Versailles, Malon was elected to the Council of the Commune. He also served on the Committee on Labour and Trade. Malon opposed the Jacobin faction in the Commune, associated with Félix Pyat. Malon voted against the creation of a new Committee of Public Safety. He was horrified by the 'bloody week' when several hostages were shot.[citation needed] After the suppression of the Commune he escaped to Lugano, Switzerland, where he joined the Jura Federation, dominated by Bakuninists.
Around this time, Malon began a romantic relationship with Léodile Champseix (better known under her literary pseudonym André Léo), an author and feminist. They entered a 'free marriage' in 1872.
In 1885, Malon founded the journal Revue Socialiste. Despite his affiliation with the Possibilists, Malon considered himself an independent socialist and called for the re-unification of the socialist movement (which he did not live to see). The Revue Socialiste opened its pages to all tendencies of French socialism. In 1889, he became editor of the newspaper Egalité. He also published several books, including a work on 'social economy' (1883), a five-volume history of socialism and a work outlining his theory of 'integral socialism' (1891).
When Malon died in 1893, his funeral at the Père-Lachaise cemetery was attended by a crowd of over 10,000 mourners. In 1913, a monument to Malon was established, and Jean Jaurès gave the dedication speech. In 1905, the various factions of French socialism united in the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO).
Referencesedit
Vincent, K. Steven, Between Marxism and Anarchism: Benoit Malon and French Reformist Socialism. Berkeley, 1992.
Noël, Bernard, Dictionnaire de la Commune. Paris, 1978.
Vuilleumier, Marc. "Benoît Malon, Herzen et les premiers socialistes russes." Revue des études slaves (2012): 139–161.
benoît, malon, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2023, learn, when, remove, th. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Benoit Malon 23 June 1841 13 September 1893 was a French Socialist writer communard and political leader Benoit MalonBenoit MalonBorn 1841 06 23 23 June 1841PrecieuxDied13 September 1893 1893 09 13 aged 52 Asnieres sur SeineResting placePere Lachaise CemeteryNationalityFrenchBiography editMalon came from a poor peasant family An opportunity to escape the life of a rural labourer presented itself when Benoit was admitted to a seminary school in Lyon However instead of becoming a priest Malon became interested in radical politics through the writings of P J Proudhon In 1863 he left the seminary and moved to Paris where he worked in a factory as a dyer He became a friend of Zephyrin Camelinat Camelinat was a friend of Proudhon and a collaborator of Charles Longuet Karl Marx son in law Through Camelinat and Longuet Malon became involved in the French section of the First International which he joined in 1865 In the factional struggles within the International Malon sided with the anti authoritarian followers of Proudhon and Bakunin against the Marxists Malon was active in organising factory workers and led several strikes In 1868 and 1870 Malon was among the defendants in the sedition trials of the French Section of the International He was sentenced to prison both times With the fall of Napoleon III in 1870 Malon was freed from prison and helped organise relief for the poor during the Prussian siege of Paris He joined the Republican Central Committee which united Proudhonists with followers of Auguste Blanqui In 1871 Malon was elected to the National Assembly of the new Third Republic but he resigned in protest against the peace treaty which ceded Alsace Lorraine to Prussia When the Paris Commune rose against the Thiers government at Versailles Malon was elected to the Council of the Commune He also served on the Committee on Labour and Trade Malon opposed the Jacobin faction in the Commune associated with Felix Pyat Malon voted against the creation of a new Committee of Public Safety He was horrified by the bloody week when several hostages were shot citation needed After the suppression of the Commune he escaped to Lugano Switzerland where he joined the Jura Federation dominated by Bakuninists Around this time Malon began a romantic relationship with Leodile Champseix better known under her literary pseudonym Andre Leo an author and feminist They entered a free marriage in 1872 A general amnesty in 1880 enabled Malon to return to France where he resumed work as a journalist and became involved in the new French Workers Party POF of Jules Guesde In 1882 the party split between orthodox Marxists around Guesde and reformist possibilists led by Paul Brousse Malon sided with Brousse and helped organise the Federation of the Socialist Workers of France FTSF In 1885 Malon founded the journal Revue Socialiste Despite his affiliation with the Possibilists Malon considered himself an independent socialist and called for the re unification of the socialist movement which he did not live to see The Revue Socialiste opened its pages to all tendencies of French socialism In 1889 he became editor of the newspaper Egalite He also published several books including a work on social economy 1883 a five volume history of socialism and a work outlining his theory of integral socialism 1891 When Malon died in 1893 his funeral at the Pere Lachaise cemetery was attended by a crowd of over 10 000 mourners In 1913 a monument to Malon was established and Jean Jaures gave the dedication speech In 1905 the various factions of French socialism united in the French Section of the Workers International SFIO References editVincent K Steven Between Marxism and Anarchism Benoit Malon and French Reformist Socialism Berkeley 1992 Noel Bernard Dictionnaire de la Commune Paris 1978 Vuilleumier Marc Benoit Malon Herzen et les premiers socialistes russes Revue des etudes slaves 2012 139 161 External links editWorks by or about Benoit Malon at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benoit Malon amp oldid 1168685533, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
