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Poujadism is a far-right political ideology and movement, named after Pierre Poujade. Current British political parties which claim to be heirs to his tradition are the Populist Party (UK) and Third Way (UK).[ citation needed ] Margaret Thatcher was often (incorrectly) described as a Poujadist due to her beginnings as the daughter of a grocer.[ citation needed ]
After the war[ clarification needed ], Poujade was the owner of a book and stationery store. [1]
On 23 July 1953, with a group of about 20 persons, Poujade prevented inspectors of the tax board from verifying the income of another shopkeeper. This was the start of a tax protest movement by shopkeepers, first in the Lot department, then in the Aveyron department, and finally the whole south of the Massif Central. [1]
On 29 November 1953, Pierre Poujade created the Union de Défense des Commerçants et Artisans (UDCA; Defense Union of Shopkeepers and Craftsmen), to organize the tax protesters. This movement would soon be called "Poujadism" (French: Poujadisme). [1] Poujadism flourished most vigorously in the last years of the Fourth Republic, and articulated the economic interests and grievances of shopkeepers and other proprietor-managers of small businesses facing economic and social change. The main themes of Poujadism concerned the defense of the common man against the elites. [1]
In addition to the protest against the income tax and the price control imposed by finance minister Antoine Pinay to limit inflation, Poujadism was opposed to industrialization, urbanization, and American-style modernization, which were perceived as a threat to the identity of rural France. [2]