Strijdbaar democraat. Biografie van P.J. Oud (1886-1968)
Combative Democrat. Biography of P.J. Oud (1886–1968)
P.J. (Piet) Oud (1886–1968) occupies a unique place in Dutch political history. He was one of the founding figures of both the Dutch Labor Party (PvdA) and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and left his mark on politics and governance for decades.In Combative Democrat, Boris van Haastrecht traces the development of a young idealist and advocate for women’s suffrage into the authoritative “Professor Oud”: statesman, constitutional scholar, and co-founder and leader of the VVD. As a member of the House of Representatives, Oud was regarded as the ‘conscience of parliament’. He also served as Minister of Finance during the Great Depression, as mayor of Rotterdam during the Second World War, and as an influential parliamentary historian.This biography brings a multifaceted politician to life and sheds new light on the rise of the modern professional politician in the Netherlands. At the same time, Combative Democrat demonstrates just how surprisingly relevant Oud’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary democracy remains today.