Guesde

The Polish-German activist Rosa Luxemburg, for example, argued that policies to “reduce capitalist exploitation” were ridiculous, while Jules Guesde, a leading French socialist, insisted that “in multiplying reforms, one only multiplies shams.”

Next year at the Reims congress the orthodox Marxian programme of Guesde was opposed by the “possibilists,” who rejected the intransigeant attitude of Guesde for the opportunist policy of Beno�t Malon.

At the congress of St-�tienne the difference developed into separation, those who refused all compromise with a capitalist government following Guesde, while the opportunists formed several groups.

Guesde took his full share in the consequent discussion between the Guesdists, the Blanquists, the possibilists, &c.

Guesde, nevertheless, continued to oppose the opportunist policy of Jaur�s, whom he denounced for supporting one bourgeois party against another.