From May to September. Working Class, Socialism and Organization in HASI (1977-1983)

Abstract

This essay seeks to offer a historical review of the trajectory experienced by the Basque political party, Herri Alderdi Sozialista Iraultzailea (HASI or Partido Socialista Revolucionario Popular) during the first years of its existence and its discussions on the conception of the working class, socialism and forms of revolutionary organization. In this sense, this research makes a hitherto unpublished incursion into the history of one of the leading parties in the formation of the nationalist left, thus being a fundamental contribution to contemporary Basque history. Under a methodological conception that mixes political, conceptual, social history and the analysis of frameworks typical of the sociology of the new social movements, the archival documentation has made it possible to highlight the initial conceptions of the collective related to the revolutionary potential of the workers' councils during the Basque Transition (the so-called assemblies), the disputes and purges during the First Congress of the formation held in 1978 and the final acceptance of the idea of the Leading Bloc under the aegis of ETA-Military. In relation to the latter, the article also provides a final reflection on the organizational and strategic approach of the «Bloque Dirigente».