The Nolens Doctrine is a principle in

politics of the Netherlands The Netherlands is a parliamentary representative democracy. A constitutional monarchy, the country is organised as a decentralised unitary state.''Civil service systems in Western Europe'' edited by A. J. G. M. Bekke, Frits M. Meer, Edward E ...

that Catholics should only collaborate with the Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) in the cabinet in cases of "utmost necessity."

Background

The doctrine refers to the leader of the General League of Roman Catholic Electoral Associations, Willem Hubert Nolens. He articulated this principle in 1922 after the League's board sought to forbid cooperation. Nolens' aim was not to exclude collaboration with the social democrats but rather to leave the door slightly open. Towards the end of the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...

, the doctrine lost its significance as the rise of fascism and the economic crisis led the SDAP to adopt a more responsible stance, removing several ideological obstacles. This resulted in the formation of the second De Geer cabinet in August 1939, which included both the SDAP and the League's successor, the

Roman Catholic State Party The Roman Catholic State Party (, RKSP) was a Catholic Christian democratic political party in the Netherlands. The party was founded in 1926 as a continuation of the General League of Roman Catholic Electoral Associations. During its entire exis ...

(RKSP). After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the phrase "utmost necessity" was often referenced when the successor of the RKSP, the

Catholic People's Party The Catholic People's Party (, KVP) was a Roman Catholicism in the Netherlands, Catholic Christian democracy, Christian democratic list of political parties in the Netherlands, political party in the Netherlands. The party was founded in 1945 as ...

(KVP), did or did not form a coalition with the successor of the SDAP, the Labour Party (PvdA). Political scientist Hans Daudt formalized this into a theory in 1980 (also known as the ''Daudt doctrine''), but it is generally rejected within political science.

References

{{Reflist Political terminology Politics of the Netherlands