Social Chauvinism

an opportunist trend in the international socialist movement. The adherents of social chauvinism support the chauvinistic policies of the bourgeoisie. Social chauvinism was particularly strong during World War I (1914-18), when most of the leaders of the parties of the Second International, betraying the principles of international proletarian solidarity, endorsed the imperialist policies of their countries’ governments. They preached class cooperation in the imperialist war and urged the masses to fight in the war, using the slogan “Defend the fatherland.”

With the aid of pacifist or pseudo-Marxist phraseology, the centrists attempted to justify the betrayal of the social chauvinists. The Bolsheviks, headed by V. I. Lenin, waged a resolute struggle against social chauvinism. Frequently, social chauvinism was manifested in various policies of right-wing Social Democrats after World War I.