The People's Unity Party – Socialist Party (Icelandic: Sameiningarflokkur alþýðu – Sósíalistaflokkurinn), generally referred to as the Socialist Party (Icelandic: Sósíalistaflokkurinn), was an Icelandic political party that functioned from 1938 to 1968, when the People's Alliance party was created.
It was formed through the merger of the Communist Party of Iceland (KFI) and another splinter group from the Social Democratic Party on the grounds that a united front was needed against fascism, according to the guidelines put forth by the Comintern. The formation of the Socialist Party was a result of the Popular Front line embraced by ComIntern, and promoted in Iceland by Einar Olgeirsson of the KFI. Philosopher Jon Olafsson has argued that as it resulted in a split within the larger Social Democratic Party, Comintern did not approve of the merger in its eventual form.[1] This has been contested by historians Thor Whitehead and Hannes H. Gissurarson in books about the communist movement.[2]
The Socialist Party maintained cordial relations with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In 1939 the chairmanship was taken over by Einar Olgeirsson, after the previous non-communist chairman had left the party in protest against the refusal of his new allies to condemn the attack by the USSR on Finland in the Winter War.
During the Second World War the influence of the party grew. In the 1942 elections it won over its mother organization, the Social Democrats. The Socialist Party clearly supported the formation of the Icelandic Republic in 1944. During the two first years of independence, the Socialist Party took part in a broad coalition government. The coalition broke down on the issue of the claims of the United States to have a military base in Keflavík, which the socialists opposed.
In 1956, the Socialist Party took part in the People's Alliance along with the Egalitarian Society and Hannibal Valdimarsson. When the People's Alliance was made into a formal political party in 1968, the Socialist Party was merged into it and thus became defunct as an independent entity.
^Jón Ólafsson, "Komintern gegn klofningi. Viðbrögð Alþjóðasambands kommúnista við stofnun Sósíalistaflokksins", Saga XLV:1 2007, 93-111
^Thor Whitehead, Sovét-Ísland. Óskalandið, Reykjavík: Ugla 2010; Hannes H. Gissurarson, Íslenskir kommúnistar 1918–1998, Reykjavík: Almenna bókafélagið 2011.
Sources
Arnór Hannibalsson: Moskvulínan. Reykjavík 1999: Nýja bókafélagið.
Einar Olgeirsson: Kraftaverk einnar kynslóðar. Jón Guðnason skráði. Reykjavík 1983: Mál og menning.
Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson: Íslenskir kommúnistar 1918–1998. Reykjavík 2011: Almenna bókafélagið.
Jón Ólafsson: Kæru félagar. Reykjavík 1999: Mál og menning.
Þór Whitehead: Sovét-Ísland. Óskalandið. Reykjavík 2010: Ugla.
Hannes H. Gissurarson: Communism in Iceland, 1918–1998 Social Science Research Institute at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik 2021.
External links
January 20, 2023
people, unity, party, socialist, party, confused, with, icelandic, socialist, party, icelandic, sameiningarflokkur, alþýðu, sósíalistaflokkurinn, generally, referred, socialist, party, icelandic, sósíalistaflokkurinn, icelandic, political, party, that, functio. Not to be confused with Icelandic Socialist Party The People s Unity Party Socialist Party Icelandic Sameiningarflokkur althydu Sosialistaflokkurinn generally referred to as the Socialist Party Icelandic Sosialistaflokkurinn was an Icelandic political party that functioned from 1938 to 1968 when the People s Alliance party was created People s Unity Party Socialist Party Sameiningarflokkur althydu SosialistaflokkurinnLeaderEinar OlgeirssonFounderHedinn ValdimarssonFounded24 October 1938 1938 10 24 Dissolved1968Merger ofCommunist Party of IcelandWorkers Party of the Left SocialistsMerged intoPeople s AllianceHeadquartersReykjavikMembership 1960s 1500IdeologyCommunismMarxism LeninismSocialismPolitical positionFar leftPolitics of IcelandPolitical partiesElections Contents 1 History 2 Election results 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksHistory EditIt was formed through the merger of the Communist Party of Iceland KFI and another splinter group from the Social Democratic Party on the grounds that a united front was needed against fascism according to the guidelines put forth by the Comintern The formation of the Socialist Party was a result of the Popular Front line embraced by ComIntern and promoted in Iceland by Einar Olgeirsson of the KFI Philosopher Jon Olafsson has argued that as it resulted in a split within the larger Social Democratic Party Comintern did not approve of the merger in its eventual form 1 This has been contested by historians Thor Whitehead and Hannes H Gissurarson in books about the communist movement 2 The Socialist Party maintained cordial relations with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union In 1939 the chairmanship was taken over by Einar Olgeirsson after the previous non communist chairman had left the party in protest against the refusal of his new allies to condemn the attack by the USSR on Finland in the Winter War During the Second World War the influence of the party grew In the 1942 elections it won over its mother organization the Social Democrats The Socialist Party clearly supported the formation of the Icelandic Republic in 1944 During the two first years of independence the Socialist Party took part in a broad coalition government The coalition broke down on the issue of the claims of the United States to have a military base in Keflavik which the socialists opposed In 1956 the Socialist Party took part in the People s Alliance along with the Egalitarian Society and Hannibal Valdimarsson When the People s Alliance was made into a formal political party in 1968 the Socialist Party was merged into it and thus became defunct as an independent entity Election results EditElection Votes Vote Seats PlaceJuly 1942 9 423 16 2 6 3rd October 1942 11 059 18 5 10 3rd 1946 13 049 19 5 10 3rd 1949 14 077 19 5 9 3rd 1953 12 422 16 0 7 3rd References Edit Jon olafsson Komintern gegn klofningi Vidbrogd Althjodasambands kommunista vid stofnun Sosialistaflokksins Saga XLV 1 2007 93 111 Thor Whitehead Sovet Island oskalandid Reykjavik Ugla 2010 Hannes H Gissurarson Islenskir kommunistar 1918 1998 Reykjavik Almenna bokafelagid 2011 Sources EditArnor Hannibalsson Moskvulinan Reykjavik 1999 Nyja bokafelagid Einar Olgeirsson Kraftaverk einnar kynslodar Jon Gudnason skradi Reykjavik 1983 Mal og menning Hannes Holmsteinn Gissurarson Islenskir kommunistar 1918 1998 Reykjavik 2011 Almenna bokafelagid Jon olafsson Kaeru felagar Reykjavik 1999 Mal og menning THor Whitehead Sovet Island oskalandid Reykjavik 2010 Ugla Hannes H Gissurarson Communism in Iceland 1918 1998 Social Science Research Institute at the University of Iceland Reykjavik 2021 External links EditEnglish Extract of H H Gissurarson s book Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title People 27s Unity Party Socialist Party amp oldid 1108830922, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
