Social Democratic Workers' Party (Netherlands) - Ideology and Issues

Ideology and Issues

When it was founded in 1897 the SDAP was a revisionist socialist party, which strived for a socialist revolution. The party wanted to nationalize the means of production and build a system of social security. It was a staunch proponent of universal suffrage. Through time the party became more moderate. In 1939 the party was a reformist democratic socialist party, which wanted to improve the situation of Dutch workers through parliament.

The parties main issues were the 5 k's the party opposed:

1. Capital (Dutch: Kapitaal): the party opposed the rule of capital, and wanted to create a socialist society .
2. Church (Dutch: Kerk): the party opposed the control the church had over large parts of society.
3. King (Dutch: Koning): the party opposed the monarchy and wanted to transform the Netherlands into a republic.
4. Barracks (Dutch: Kazerne): the party wanted to disarm the Dutch army. The party opposed militarism and nationalism. After the rise of the German Nazi Party the SDAP began to agitate for a people's army.
5. Pubs (Dutch: Kroeg): the party thought that alcoholism was one of the greatest foes of the working class.