Social Patriotism

Social Patriotism is an openly patriotic standpoint which combines patriotism with socialism. It was first identified at the outset of the First World War when a majority of Social Democrats opted to support the war efforts of their respective governments and abandoned socialist internationalism and worker solidarity.

At the International Socialist Conference at Zimmerwald, the social patriots were identified as "the openly patriotic majority of the formerly Social-Democratic leaders" in Germany. In France and Austria the majority belonged, while in Britain and Russia some, such as (Henry Hyndman, the Fabians, the Trade-Unionists, Georgi Plekhanov, Ilia Rubanovich and the Nasha Zarya group belonged).