Kommunismus, Wahlkampf und Demokratieverständnis in den Niederlanden (1945–1970er-Jahre)

Abstract

Harm Kaal: Kommunismus, Wahlkampf und Demokratieverständnis in den Niederlanden (1945–1970er-Jahre), in: Jahrbuch für Historische Kommunismusforschung 2025. Berlin: Metropol Verlag, pp. 115–132.

This article asks what its presence and participation in the Dutch postwar democratic system meant for the Dutch Communist Party: to what extent did Dutch communists appropriate, apply or instrumentalise democratic discourse and practices? How did the CPN, given its strong alliance with Moscow, navigate its role and position in a liberal democracy? The article shows that democracy was a concept that Dutch communists actively engaged with on at least three different levels. First, ideologically, specifically in relation to the system of government. The Dutch communists, faithful followers of the Moscow party line, presented people's democracy as an ideal. Secondly, on a practical level: democracy as a way of life and behaviour, for example, a fair and “democratic” way of conducting an election campaign, which meant no use of violence and offering opportunities for debate at meetings. Thirdly, democracy was used as a rhetorical tool to make the democracy/fascism binary salient and to position oneself on the right. Using the memory of their key role in the resistance against the German occupation, the communists presented themselves as the true defenders of democratic principles such as freedom of speech and assembly.

Über den Autor

Prof. Dr. Harm Kaal, geb. 1977. Studium der Geschichte und 2008 Promotion in Amsterdam. Seit 2023 Professor für Applied History an der Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (RU), zuvor Associate Professor an der RU und Assistant Professor an der Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Aufenthalte als Gastwissenschaftler an der University of Cambridge und am Institute of Historical Research (London). Veröffentlichungen u. a.: “Boundary disputes. New approaches to the interaction between sport and politics in the postwar years”, in: Journal of Modern European History 19 (2021), H. 3, S. 362–379; New Perspectives on Power and Political Representation from Ancient History to the Present Day. Repertoires of Representation, Leiden/Boston 2019 (mit Danielle Slootjes); “The voice of the people. Communicative practices of popular political engagement in the Netherlands, 1950s–1960s”, in: Archiv für Sozialgeschichte 58 (2018), S. 183–200; “Popular Politicians: The Interaction between Politics and Popular Culture in the Netherlands, 1950s–1980s”, in: Cultural & Social History 15 (2018), H. 4, S. 595–616.