Federalism, an act of resistance

Already mentioned in a previous article dated July 10, 2025 with René Capitant (see René Capitant, the Gaullist in favor of a federal Constitution – APROFED ), the APROFED association comes back to you this week to discuss the link between federalism and the Resistance.

Indeed, at the end of the Second World War, a significant part of the French (and European) resistance movement was in favour of the idea of ​​a federal regime , both for France and for Europe , for several historical, political and ideological reasons.

The war had been provoked largely by aggressive nationalisms , notably that of Nazi Germany, but also by the failure of states to cooperate effectively after the First World War. Many resistance fighters wanted to prevent these excesses from recurring. Federalism, with its logic of cooperation, shared sovereignty, and balance of power , appeared as an antidote to destructive nationalism.

Resistance fighters had seen the horror of occupation, deportations, and fighting. Many believed that a federal system would allow for lasting peace by integrating nations into a common structure, thus reducing the risk of war. The idea of ​​a “united Europe” or “United States of Europe” emerged strongly after the war, notably among figures such as Altiero Spinelli (Italian, author of the Ventotene Manifesto in 1941), Jean Monnet , and Denis de Rougemont .

Much of the Resistance (in France as elsewhere) was marked by left- wing ideals , solidarity , social justice , and sometimes federalism . Federalism represented a more democratic system, where power was decentralized , better distributed between citizens and territories.

Some resistance fighters also criticized the centralized model of the French state, which they saw as too rigid, hierarchical, and even authoritarian. They saw French federalism (i.e., a France organized into autonomous regions) as a way to better represent local realities , while strengthening democracy.

The Allies, particularly the United States, represented a functional federal model (with a union of states) and played a leading role in the reconstruction of Europe. This encouraged the idea that Europe could draw inspiration from this model to ensure peace, prosperity, and stability.

The 1944 National Council of the Resistance (CNR) Programme contained a desire for social, democratic and cooperative reconstruction . Several former resistance fighters, such as Jean Monnet and Henri Frenay , subsequently participated in the creation of European institutions (ECSC, then EEC, etc.).

To sum up, the resistance was mostly in favour of a federal regime because they wanted to build a lasting peace , prevent the return of nationalism, strengthen democracy, and establish a united but diverse Europe , in the image of a federation.

And as Stéphane Hessel, a former resistance fighter, reminds us (see Stéphane Hessel’s work: Indignez-vous! – APROFED ), “to create is to resist and to resist is to create”. Faced with the current failure of power, which is giving rise to numerous protest movements, even resistance movements, it is time, in our opinion, to create something new called federalism, as 71% of French people demand (see 71% of French people in favour of France becoming federal – APROFED ).

We wish you a good read and remind you that federalism is the only solution to reconcile unity in diversity.