ABSTRACT
The 'French state' was among the most striking corporatist experiences in Europe during the twentieth century. Corporatism in 1930s France was therefore not limited to the nationalist right or Catholic circles, but was in fact a source for a whole portion of the labour movement, from the Confederation des Travailleurs Chretiens (CFTC) to the Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT). In 1930s France, the traditionalist branch was strongly characterized by spiritualism. The emergence of the French state and the implementation of a corporatist system led to a redefinition of the position and role of traditionalists and modernizers. Traditionalists could rely on publications and organizations that were marked as the crucible or voice of a National Revolution of Vichy inspiration. The first zone of influence for the modernizers was of a unionist nature. The dissolution of the CGT and the Confederation Generale du Patronat Francais (CGPF) in the summer of 1940 did not result in the disappearance of local trade unions.
