“Social peace”. International circulation of debates about corporatism and regulation of collective labour relations (Luxembourg, 1932-1940)

This article investigates the influence that the international debates over corporatism had on the regulation of collective labour relations during the 1930s, taking Luxembourg as an example. Focusing on the debates between the social Catholic and social democratic currents, the article illustrates the diversity of approaches to corporatism and the controversies it generated in a context of political radicalisation. It then considers the role of the debates on corporatism in the convergence of Christian and social democratic unionism around the demand for government regulation of collective labour relations. As a result, the article contributes to our understanding of the formation of industrial relations systems in Europe, as well as of the international circulation of the debates over corporatism.