Garaudy, Roger

(1913- )

   philosopher, political figure

   Born in Marseille, Roger Garaudy served as a deputy (1945-51, 1956-58), then senator (195962), and as a member of the political bureau of the communist party. Although he was the formost intellectual theorist within the party, he was expelled in 1970 for criticizing the French party's support of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. He also had called for a new look at the party's position on the question of the historical role and identity of the working class, and had introduced other theoretical elements, including the ideas of the Italian communist Antonio Gram-sci. Garaudy's reappraisal in many ways reflected the discontent within the French party of many left-wing French intellectuals. An academic, Garaudy has authored studies on socialist realism, and Marxism, and sought to establish a dialogue between Marxists and Christians (De l'anathème au dialogue, 1965). A convert to Islam, he had published several works on that subject (L'Islam habité, notre avenir, 1981) and his memories (Mon Tour du siècle en solitaire, 1989). His controversial Les Mythes fondateurs de la politique israélienne (1995) has been criticized for restating the ideas of certain negationist historians regarding the Holocaust.