226
PARTISAN REVIEW
Kurzweil:
Just one last question. Is socialism becoming a stronger
force in Europe?
Estier:
I believe there is some kind of groping in this direction, but
we should not draw premature conclusions. In the last several
years, some European countries have been turning to socialism or
social democracy: Greece, Sweden, and now Spain. So, one could
be tempted to say that there is a movement, and that it could
constitute a new pole for ideas that are, let's say, social
democratic, that is, an idea of social justice intended to improve
capitalist society. But one cannot draw this conclusion. I think
what has led the Socialists to power in the countries I just
mentioned is primarily a will to change the internal situation. The
French people in 1981 had had enough of the Right; therefore
they voted for the Socialists. The same thing happened in Greece.
After the fascist period, the Right, which had the task of restoring
democracy, was nevertheless reactionary, and a more drastic
change was necessary. In Sweden, after the Socialists were ousted
six years ago, the Right was unable to institute an effective
program. Hence the Socialists came back. In Spain, this was
equally obvious, after Francoism.... Thus, the most common
phenomenon, it seems, is that after a certain number of years, the
population-in a period of crisis-votes against an untenable
situation, ousting those in power and electing the opposition.
Still, certain ties exist between the Swedish Socialists, the Greek
Socialists, the French Socialists, the Spanish Socialists, even
though the situations and traditions are different in each country.
The existence of these links may, little by little, contribute to the
creation of a new approach to our problems, particularly to
international economic problems . I don't believe that one can go
further at this time in analyzing the phenomenon.
Kurzweil:
Thank you very much,
We are saddened
by
the death of our friend
CLARA MALRAUX
