Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti
Encyclopedia
Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti (lit. "Unified Party of the Working Class") was a short-lived political party in Norway.
, two splits had occurred: the Social Democratic Labour Party
in 1921 and the Communist Party
in 1923. The first two had wanted to unify for many years, and the Communist Party also wanted in, in order to not become isolated. In 1926–1927 a committee set up a program which had to be ratified at a unifying congress.
As it happened, there were two unifying congresses in January 1927: one where Labour and Social Democratic Labour united once and for all with support from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
, and one where Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti was founded. Behind this party was the Communist Party, who mainly opposed a full unification of the parties, but supported an umbrella model ("the Labour Party model"). Erling Falk
and Mot Dag
/Arbeideropposisjonen, who had formerly been excluded from the Labour Party, were also behind this policy. Some Communists who wanted a full unification; including Sverre Støstad, Fredrik Monsen and Olav Larssen
, were excluded shortly before the congresses.
839 people, whose selection was based on their support of the committee program, travelled to the Labour/Social Democratic congress. About 400 others, of which 159 trade unionists, were selected by different bodies on a "free basis", which mainly meant that they supported the Communist tactics. They gathered in Idrettens Hus on 29 Januaruy 1927. Once there, the 400 formed a deputation, headed by Elias Volan
, who was sent to speak at the largest congress. A vote at the largest congress decided that the 400 would not be let in, and thus they went on with a separate congress where Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti was founded. The party name was chosen on 1 February 1927. The reason why a political party was formed, even though the Communists only wanted a cooperative body, was the nature of Norwegian election laws. Elias Volan was elected chairman, and Emil Stang, Jr. was elected deputy chairman. The party used the newspaper Norges Kommunistblad
as a means of communication; for instance the party's by-laws were printed there on 22 February.
. In Finnmark
and Troms
the party fielded as Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti, in the latter county with Sigurd Simensen
as the first candidate. In Hedmark
, Oppland
, Telemark
, Sør-Trøndelag
, Nord-Trøndelag
, the party fielded as Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti/Norges Kommunistiske Parti. In Akershus
, Buskerud
, Hordaland
and Nordland
the party fielded as Norges Kommunistiske Parti/Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti.
. The Communist Party continued on its own, and those who belonged to Mot Dag were party members until 1928, when the organization collectively exited the Communist Party.
Establishment
It was a part of the tendency of unification among the workers' parties in Norway. From the Norwegian Labour PartyNorwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
, two splits had occurred: the Social Democratic Labour Party
Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway
The Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway was a Norwegian political party in the 1920s. Following the Labour Party's entry into the Comintern in 1919, its right wing left the party to form the Social Democratic Labour Party in 1921...
in 1921 and the Communist Party
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
in 1923. The first two had wanted to unify for many years, and the Communist Party also wanted in, in order to not become isolated. In 1926–1927 a committee set up a program which had to be ratified at a unifying congress.
As it happened, there were two unifying congresses in January 1927: one where Labour and Social Democratic Labour united once and for all with support from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
, and one where Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti was founded. Behind this party was the Communist Party, who mainly opposed a full unification of the parties, but supported an umbrella model ("the Labour Party model"). Erling Falk
Erling Falk
Erling Falk was a Norwegian politician, ideologist and writer. He was active in the Norwegian Students' Society, the Norwegian Labour Party and the Communist Party, but is best known as a leading figure in the group Mot Dag, who issued a periodical of the same name...
and Mot Dag
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
/Arbeideropposisjonen, who had formerly been excluded from the Labour Party, were also behind this policy. Some Communists who wanted a full unification; including Sverre Støstad, Fredrik Monsen and Olav Larssen
Olav Larssen
Olav Larssen was a Norwegian newspaper editor.He was a typographer by education. He edited the Labour Party newspapers Demokraten in Hamar from 1920 to 1927, and Hamar Arbeiderblad from 1927 to 1935. In 1935 he was hired as a journalist in Arbeiderbladet...
, were excluded shortly before the congresses.
839 people, whose selection was based on their support of the committee program, travelled to the Labour/Social Democratic congress. About 400 others, of which 159 trade unionists, were selected by different bodies on a "free basis", which mainly meant that they supported the Communist tactics. They gathered in Idrettens Hus on 29 Januaruy 1927. Once there, the 400 formed a deputation, headed by Elias Volan
Elias Volan
Elias Karelius Johansen Volan was a Norwegian trade unionist.He was born in Inderøy as a son of crofter Johan Berent Johannessen Volvollan and Lise Eliasdatter Kjærbo. He attended Sund Folk High School from 1903 to 1904, but spent the rest of his youth as a worker. In 1908 he became chairman of...
, who was sent to speak at the largest congress. A vote at the largest congress decided that the 400 would not be let in, and thus they went on with a separate congress where Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti was founded. The party name was chosen on 1 February 1927. The reason why a political party was formed, even though the Communists only wanted a cooperative body, was the nature of Norwegian election laws. Elias Volan was elected chairman, and Emil Stang, Jr. was elected deputy chairman. The party used the newspaper Norges Kommunistblad
Norges Kommunistblad
Norges Kommunistblad was a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway.It was started on 5 November 1923 as the official party newspaper from the Communist Party, which was established that year after a split from the Labour Party. The first editor was Olav Scheflo...
as a means of communication; for instance the party's by-laws were printed there on 22 February.
Election
The party contested the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1927Norwegian parliamentary election, 1927
-Results:-References:*...
. In Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
and Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
the party fielded as Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti, in the latter county with Sigurd Simensen
Sigurd Simensen
Sigurd Simensen was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour and Communist parties.He was born in Vestfossen. He started his career as an iron and metalworker, working at Thunes Mekaniske Verksted. He first joined the Union of Iron and Metalworkers in 1907, and was politically...
as the first candidate. In Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
, Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
, Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, Sør-Trøndelag
Sør-Trøndelag
- References :...
, Nord-Trøndelag
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
, the party fielded as Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti/Norges Kommunistiske Parti. In Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
, Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
, Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
and Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
the party fielded as Norges Kommunistiske Parti/Arbeiderklassens Samlingsparti.
Demise
The party then disappeared "in silence" around New Years' 1927–1928. The election was highly unsuccessful for the party. Another reason for its disappearance was that one of their main goals were fulfilled, as the Confederation of Trade Unions at its autumn congress declined to enter the International Federation of Trade UnionsInternational Federation of Trade Unions
The International Federation of Trade Unions was an international organization of trade unions, existing between 1919 and 1945. IFTU had its roots in the pre-war IFTU....
. The Communist Party continued on its own, and those who belonged to Mot Dag were party members until 1928, when the organization collectively exited the Communist Party.