https://socialistaction.org/2016/07/17/to-the-masses/
To the Masses!
/ 24 hours ago
Lenin-birthday-9By MARK UGOLINI
John Riddell and Mike Taber, “To the Masses” (Haymarket Books 2016),
1299 pp., $55
Thanks to John Riddell and Mike Taber for the huge effort over many
years that has brought us “To the Masses” and the other wonderful books
that make up their series on the Communist International in Lenin’s
time. Now in print is nearly the entire documentary record of the first
four historic congresses, rich in lessons for the entire working-class
movement.
I finished reading To the Masses recently, and what an interesting
journey it was! In some ways it reads like a good novel, telling the
fascinating story of the central political struggle of the Third
Congress. The appendices are excellent, and I followed John’s advice to
read them as they are referenced in the main body of the book. I found
myself frequently flipping between the chapters and the Appendices. This
helped me follow the political debate, and allowed a fuller appreciation
of the unfolding story.
Most valuable to me were insights into the Comintern leadership—how they
interacted and engaged others in political discussion and debate. But
most interesting was how these leaders led (or attempted to lead) on the
most critical political questions—both when adherence to political
principle was paramount, and compromise was an absolute necessity.
In some cases, the path forward required parting ways with currents that
had become mired in national chauvinism and opportunism. But in the
absence of fundamental differences, Comintern leaders were tireless in
efforts to bring competing currents together to create stronger national
sections. High priority was placed on avoiding unnecessary splits in
these sections.
Despite the quality and experience of the Russian leaders, the task of
building a centralized International seemed at times beyond their
capabilities. Building an International in the conditions they faced was
clearly a huge step into largely uncharted waters.
When challenged at the Congress, leaders of the Communist International
Executive Committee (ECCI) admitted to serious errors in the direction
they provided national sections. To help correct these errors they
repeatedly pleaded with national sections to assign its central leaders
to work in the International center, and thereby strengthen the work of
the ECCI.
Lenin was in attendance at some of the plenary sessions, but missing
from others. However, he often was active in hallway debates among
delegates, sometimes unexpectedly popping in on important commission
sessions with a powerful verbal message.
For much of the congress, Lenin was part of the minority, on the
political “right” wing. And he seemed quite natural in this role. He
appeared comfortable in warding off harsh polemical attacks, and was
unfazed even when these harsh polemics came from the youngest, least
experienced delegates. It was common for the most prestigious and
authoritative party leaders to be severely criticized during intense,
though generally comradely, political debate.
One major discussion at the congress was the role of the German party
(VKPD) in the “March Action” it had initiated during March 1921. In
response to provocative police actions against miners in Central
Germany, the VKPD launched initiatives in action designed to spark (or
push) the working class into a more generalized revolutionary uprising.
These VKPD actions resulted in a serious working-class defeat. Lenin and
Trotsky both spoke out forcefully against the ultra-left strategy and
tactics employed by the German party, and ran into a whirlwind of
criticism by the German delegation and many other delegates at the congress.
At a plenary discussing Strategy and Tactics Lenin presented a minority
viewpoint: “If the congress is not going to wage a vigorous offensive
against such errors, against such ‘leftist’ stupidities, the whole
movement is doomed. That is my deep conviction … we are organized and
disciplined Marxists … We Russians are already sick and tired of these
leftist phrases. We are people of organization. In drawing up our plans,
we must proceed in an organized way and try to find the correct line …
Show me a party that has already won the majority of the working class …
we must win the majority of the working class…
“In Europe, where almost all the proletarians are organized, we must win
the majority of the working class. Anyone who fails to understand this
is lost to the Communist movement; he will never learn anything if he
has failed to learn that much three years after the great revolution”
(pp. 465-67).
In a subsequent session Trotsky followed up on this theme: “This
celebrated philosophy of the offensive, which is completely non-Marxist,
has arisen from the following curious outlook: ‘A wall of passivity is
gradually rising, which is ruining the movement. So let us advance, and
break through this wall!’… We are obligated to say frankly to the German
working class that we regard this philosophy of the offensive as the
greatest of dangers, and that to apply it in practice is the greatest of
political crimes … It is sometimes forgotten that we learn the art of
strategy, precisely and soberly estimate the enemy’s power, and analyse
the situation, rather than rushing into battle to break the wall of
passivity or, in the words of another comrade, ‘to activate the party’”
(pp. 578-79).
But I most appreciated what I learned about Clara Zetkin, and the
prominent political role she played. What principled and courageous
leadership she demonstrated at the congress! With very few backers
initially, she stood in firm opposition to the congress majority, and
was passionate and committed to her position. Zetkin’s steadfastness had
a huge impact on the debate and helped change many minds, which proved
critical in altering the political direction of the congress. In one
congress session she said:
“Comrades, here is my position: Because the Zentrale (Central Bureau of
German CP) had an incorrect political orientation to the revolutionary
offensive, it came to a false position regarding the March struggle and
was not in a position to carry out thJuly 2016 Clara Zetkine struggle in
the necessary fashion … the errors of the March Action were not mistakes
like those that take place in every struggle and are to some degree
unavoidable. Rather the mistakes were organically rooted in the
erroneous theory of the offensive itself … In the future, actions will
be required that are a question of life or death for the party. If they
are conducted according to the schema set up by the new theory, that
means destruction of the party, and the revolutionary proletariat in
Germany will thereby lose the leadership it requires.”
She then challenged the congress to broaden the debate: “I will express
this opinion of ours frankly, although it will encounter vigorous
resistance. Along with many comrades in Germany and other countries, I
firmly believe that criticism of the errors and mistakes must not be
restricted to the party organization and the party press. This criticism
should properly be presented to the broadest public and the masses
themselves … Our workers themselves … demand that the errors and
weaknesses of the party be openly discussed, because such debates, if
conducted objectively, are educational and enlightening for them as
well. The proletarians have a right to this in another sense as well.
They must pay for our policies and our errors through their sacrifices,
their liberty, and their lives” (pp. 545-47).
For the most part, democratic processes prevailed at the congress. A
vibrant and healthy political debate and discussion was certainly on
display, and the Third Congress and the International clearly benefited
from it.
I plan to devote some time spreading the word on the importance of this
work. “To the Masses” contains important lessons for anyone seeking a
better understanding of revolutionary Marxist history, and also for
those working to advance the struggles of the working class and oppressed.
Photos: (Top) Lenin addresses the Third Congress of the Communist
International in 1921. (Below) Clara Zetkin.
Share this:
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
July 17, 2016 in Books, Marxist Theory & History. Tags: Clara Zetkin,
John Riddell, Lenin, Mike Taber, Trotsky
Related posts
The Promise of Beijing
Interview With Muralist Mike Alewitz
US Victory in Afghanistan… What Does it Mean?
Post navigation
← Sanders endorses Clinton: Laws of political physics confirmed
Vote Socialist Action!
Jeff Mackler for President and Karen Schraufnagel for Vice President
More information:
Newspaper Archives
Newspaper Archives Select Month July 2016 (8) June 2016 (14) May 2016
(9) April 2016 (12) March 2016 (14) February 2016 (8) January 2016
(11) December 2015 (11) November 2015 (9) October 2015 (8) September
2015 (10) August 2015 (7) July 2015 (13) June 2015 (9) May 2015
(10) April 2015 (12) March 2015 (9) February 2015 (11) January 2015
(10) December 2014 (12) November 2014 (11) October 2014 (9) September
2014 (6) August 2014 (10) July 2014 (11) June 2014 (10) May 2014
(11) April 2014 (10) March 2014 (9) February 2014 (11) January 2014
(11) December 2013 (10) November 2013 (11) October 2013 (17)
September 2013 (13) August 2013 (10) July 2013 (11) June 2013 (15)
May 2013 (14) April 2013 (14) March 2013 (12) February 2013 (10)
January 2013 (17) December 2012 (7) November 2012 (8) October 2012
(19) September 2012 (2) August 2012 (27) July 2012 (18) June 2012
(3) May 2012 (19) April 2012 (14) March 2012 (17) February 2012 (19)
January 2012 (17) December 2011 (3) November 2011 (33) October 2011
(14) September 2011 (13) August 2011 (34) July 2011 (24) June 2011
(19) May 2011 (19) April 2011 (15) March 2011 (15) February 2011
(16) January 2011 (15) December 2010 (17) November 2010 (1) October
2010 (6) September 2010 (3) August 2010 (8) July 2010 (7) June 2010
(2) May 2010 (9) April 2010 (3) March 2010 (8) February 2010 (3)
January 2010 (9) December 2009 (6) November 2009 (5) October 2009
(16) September 2009 (3) August 2009 (2) July 2009 (5) June 2009 (2)
May 2009 (7) April 2009 (6) March 2009 (16) February 2009 (9)
January 2009 (10) December 2008 (11) November 2008 (8) October 2008
(16) September 2008 (14) August 2008 (18) July 2008 (12) June 2008
(3) May 2008 (2) April 2008 (3) March 2008 (14) February 2008 (11)
January 2008 (11) December 2007 (8) November 2007 (1) July 2007 (1)
June 2007 (1) April 2007 (1) March 2007 (1) February 2007 (3)
December 2006 (11) November 2006 (11) October 2006 (13) September
2006 (15) August 2006 (11) July 2006 (18) June 2006 (7) May 2006
(14) April 2006 (6) March 2006 (14) February 2006 (5) January 2006
(2) December 2005 (9) November 2005 (8) October 2005 (13) September
2005 (12) August 2005 (9) July 2005 (16) June 2005 (16) May 2005
(16) April 2005 (12) March 2005 (14) February 2005 (19) January 2005
(15) December 2004 (14) November 2002 (17) October 2002 (19)
September 2002 (22) August 2002 (21) July 2002 (15) May 2002 (21)
April 2002 (21) February 2002 (15) January 2002 (15) December 2001
(17) October 2001 (24) September 2001 (18) July 2001 (19) June 2001
(18) October 2000 (17) September 2000 (21) August 2000 (19) July 2000
(16) June 2000 (26) May 2000 (21) April 2000 (22) March 2000 (28)
February 2000 (18) January 2000 (20) December 1999 (20) November
1999 (26) October 1999 (25) September 1999 (18) August 1999 (40) July
1999 (38) June 1999 (24) May 1999 (27) April 1999 (25) March 1999
(26) February 1999 (29) January 1999 (24) July 1998 (12)
Search
Get Involved
Donate to help support our work
Get email updates
Join Socialist Action
View socialistactionusa’s profile on Facebook
View SocialistActUS’s profile on Twitter
View SocialistActionCT’s profile on YouTube
Subscribe to Our Newspaper
Blog at WordPress.com. The Expound Theme.
