Integralism is a perspective according to which
society is an
organic unity. It defends social differentiation and
hierarchy with co-operation between
social classes, transcending conflict between social and economic groups. It advocates free unionism,
corporatism, and organic political representation instead of ideological forms of representation. Often seen by opponents as a belief in
blood and soil conservatism, Integralism claims that the best political institutions for given
nations will differ depending on the history, culture and climate of the nation's
habitat. Integralism is a Catholic inspired movement and does not support a
national church, or
Erastianism (
Gallicanism in
French context). Its critics and opponents also say that the movement is particularly associated with the French
Action Française movement founded by
Charles Maurras, and with
fascism (especially in
Latin America), although there exist deep points of disagreement: the stress on free unionism and
localism while fascism defends a centralist state; the traditionalist and catholic foundation of their ideas against the atheist and modernist philosophical base of
fascism. In
Portugal, where the integralism was born, it is a monarchist and
traditionalist movement of ideas and not a republican and
state capitalist movement as was
fascism.
See also
External links