Jean Van Heijenoort How the Fourth International Was Conceived

8/13/2019 Jean Van Heijenoort How the Fourth International Was Conceived

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How the Fourth International Was Conceived

by Jean van Heijenoort

This article was first published in the August 1944 issue ofFourth International.[Jean van Heijenoort (1912-1986) was Trotsky's secretary in 1932 inPrinkipo an! "o##owe! $i% to &rance orway an! eico* +s a #ea!ero" t$e &o,rt$ nternationa# $e $ea!e! a provisiona# internationa#centre in t$e .nite! /tates !,rin0 or#! ar Two an! #e"t po#iticss$ort#y t$erea"ter*

,r %ove%ent $as t$e ri0$t to consi!er itse#" t$e representative an!t$e $istorica# stan!ar! 4earer o" revo#,tionary socia#is%* t is at t$een! o" a c$ain w$ose #inks were t$e 5o%%,nist ea0,e o" ar an!7n0e#s t$e nternationa# orkin0 en's +ssociation (&irstnternationa#) t$e /econ! nternationa# t$e o#s$evik Party o" eninan! t$e 5o%%,nist nternationa#* ,t in or!er to esta4#is$ t$e speci"ic4e0innin0s o" o,r %ove%ent it is necessary to 4e0in wit$ t$e year1923 in t$e .//*

The Left Opposition

T$e cto4er revo#,tion esta4#is$e! t$e "irst orkers' /tate 4,tre%aine! iso#ate!* :it$o,t revo#,tion in 7,rope: sai! eninrepeate!#y :we s$a## peris$*: History veri"ie! t$e tr,t$ o" $is wor!s 4,tin its own %anner* ;e0eneration appeare! in t$e apparat,s itse#" o"t$e new re0i%e,estion o" t$e interna# re0i%e o" t$e party t$estr,00#e 0rew pro0ressive#y to inc#,!e a## pro4#e%s o" revo#,tionarytactics an! strate0y* ,tsi!e o" t$e .// opposition 0ro,ps appeare!in %ost o" t$e sections o" t$e 5o%%,nist nternationa#* T$e


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connections o" t$ese 0ro,ps a%on0 t$e%se#ves an! wit$ t$e ,ssianpposition re%aine! precario,s* any o" t$e 0ro,ps arose inopposition to one o" t$e aspects o" /ta#inist po#icy* T$eir po#itica#so#i!arity was "ar "ro% co%p#ete* ne 0ro,p t$at prove! o" 0reati%portance "or t$e ",t,re o" o,r %ove%ent t$e e"t pposition in t$e

+%erican co%%,nist party appeare! 4e#ate!#y on t$e scene in 1928*T$e or0ani?ationa# co$esion o" t$e nternationa# e"t pposition wasnot serio,s#y ,n!ertaken ,nti# t$e ti%e o" Trotsky's ep,#sion "ro% t$e.// an! $is arriva# in T,rkey in &e4r,ary 1929* T$e "irst internationa#con"erence o" t$e e"t pposition took p#ace in Paris in 193=*

T$e po#icy o" t$e pposition in re#ation to t$e 5o%%,nistnternationa# 4ot$ in its entirety as we## as its vario,s sections $a!re%aine! t$e sa%e since 1923* n one wor! it was


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&or t$ree years t$e e"t pposition $a! so,n!e! t$e a#ar% at t$e riseo" Aer%an "ascis%* n a series o" artic#es an! pa%p$#ets w$ic$ int$eir c#arity an! revo#,tionary passion rank a%on0 t$e 4est pro!,ctso" $is pen Trotsky revea#e! t$e nat,re o" "ascis% an! s$owe! t$econse>,ences o" a "ascist victory to t$e Aer%an workers to t$e

internationa# #a4or %ove%ent to t$e .// to 7,rope an! to t$ew$o#e wor#!* He a#so pointe! to t$e %eans o" co%4attin0 t$is !an0er@t$e ,nite! "ront o" t$e workers' parties 5o%%,nist an! /ocia#;e%ocratic "or t$e active !e"ence o" workers' or0ani?ations a0ainstt$e a?i ver%in a !e"ensive str,00#e w$ic$ w$en s,ccess",# wo,#!4eco%e an o""ensive*

The Collapse of the Geran Counist !artyT$e #ea!ers o" t$e two o""icia# workers' parties vie! wit$ eac$ ot$er in

t$eir i%potence in t$e "ace o" t$e "ascist %enace* T$e /ocia#!e%ocratic #ea!ers$ip !esperate#y 0raspe! at a !e%ocracy w$ic$ int$e %i!st o" econo%ic c$aos an! t$e s$arpene! socia# an! po#itica#con"#icts was !isownin0 itse#"* T$e /ta#inists acte! in #ine wit$ t$e:0enia#: t$eory o" t$eir #ea!er t$at it was necessary to cr,s$ t$e/ocia# ;e%ocrats 4e"ore "i0$tin0 "ascis%* T$ey $a! %a!e co%%onca,se wit$ t$e a?is in t$e "a%o,s p#e4iscite in Pr,ssia in +,0,st1931* $en t$e "ascist %enace 4eca%e i%%inent t$ey c#a%ore! wit$4ra00a!ocio@ :+"ter t$e% wi## 4e o,r t,rnB:

$en Hit#er "or%e! $is 0overn%ent on Jan,ary 3= 1933 not a## was#ost* T$e workers' or0ani?ations were sti## intact* n t$e "o##owin0weeks t$e a?is acte! very ca,tio,s#y* n &e4r,ary Trotsky state! in aconversation@ :T$e sit,ation in Aer%any is si%i#ar to t$at o" a %an att$e 4otto% o" an a4yss "acin0 a stone wa##* To 0et o,t it is necessaryto c#,tc$ at t$e rocks wit$ 4are an! 4#oo!y $an!s* t is necessary to$ave co,ra0e an! wi## 4,t it is possi4#e* ot a## is #ost*:

T$e o""icia# #ea!ers$ip o" t$e workers' parties a##owe! t$e #ast c$anceto s#ip 4y* n t$e "ace o" t$eir passivity Hit#er 4eca%e %ore 4ra?en* He

$a! never $ope! to win s,c$ an easy victory* +t t$e 4e0innin0 o"arc$ t$e cr,!e provocation o" t$e eic$sta0 "ire a##owe! $i% to!e"inite#y entrenc$ $is re0i%e* T$e workers' or0ani?ations were sweptaway*

Trotsky's reaction was not #on0 in co%in0* He wrote an artic#eentit#e! T$e Tra0e!y o" t$e Aer%an Pro#etariat* t was !ate! arc$1C 1933 an! $a! as a s,4-tit#e :T$e Aer%an orkers i## ise


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/ta#inis%,a##y responsi4#e "or t$e $istorica# catastrop$e in Aer%any*

T$e %e%4ers w$o !eno,nce! t$e #ine t$at $a! 4een "o##owe! or%ere#y >,estione! it were epe##e!* T$e po#icy o" re"or% was #osin0a## rea#ity*


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n J,#y 1G 1933 Trotsky ,n!er t$e pen-na%e o" A* A,rov a!!resse!to t$e sections o" t$e pposition an artic#e entit#e! t is necessary to4,i#! new 5o%%,nist parties an! a new nternationa#* Here t$eperspective o" re"or% was !e"inite#y a4an!one!* +"ter t$e #essons o"t$e events t$e t,rn was !ecisive@ :Ta#k o" 're"or%' an! t$e !e%an! o"

rea!%ission o" t$e oppositionists into t$e o""icia# parties %,st 4e!e"inite#y 0iven ,p as ,topian an! reactionary: $e wrote* +n! $e tookt$is opport,nity to 0ive 0enera# an! va#,a4#e a!vice@ :T$e %ost!an0ero,s t$in0 in po#itics is to 4eco%e a prisoner o" yo,r own"or%,#a w$ic$ was appropriate yester!ay 4,t is !eprive! o" anycontent to!ay*:

n J,#y 2=t$ a secon! artic#e entit#e! :t is no #on0er possi4#e to stayin t$e nternationa#' wit$ /ta#in an,i#sky o?ovsky an! 5o*:answere! possi4#e ar0,%ents a0ainst t$e new position*

T$e c$an0e in po#icy coinci!e! wit$ t$e c$an0e in Trotsky's resi!ence*n J,#y 1It$ $e #e"t stan4,# an! on t$e 2Ct$ $e #an!e! in arsei##es*et !ay $e sett#e! $i%se#" near /aint-Pa#ais on t$e +t#anticsea4oar!* t was a 4i0 c$an0e in $is persona# #i"e* $i#e on t$e is#an!o" Prinkipo t$e arriva# o" a visitor was a #itt#e event every "o,r or si%ont$sE in &rance Trotsky was a4#e in t$e "o##owin0 weeks to %eetwit$ practica##y a## #ea!in0 %e%4ers o" t$e 7,ropean opposition0ro,ps an! wit$ >,ite a "ew "ro% overseas*

$en Trotsky #an!e! in arsei##es t$e trans#ation o" $is "irst artic#e on

t$e nee! o" a new nternationa# $a! $ar!#y reac$e! t$e #ea!ers$ip o"t$e vario,s sections* T$e #ea!in0 Trotskyists o" &rance e#0i,%Aer%any ta#y etc* soon took t$e roa! to /aint-Pa#ais an! t$ere in

Trotsky's st,!y or ,n!er t$e trees o" $is 0ar!en participate! in#en0t$y !isc,ssions* pposition to t$e new orientation was practica##ynon-eistent* T$e t,rn to a new party in Aer%any t$ree %ont$s4e"ore $a! 4roken wit$ a #on0 tra!ition an! opene! new perspectives*

T$e !isc,ssions !i! not !ea# so %,c$ wit$ t$e nee! o" a newnternationa# 4,t rat$er wit$ t$e ways an! %eans o" 4rin0in0 it a4o,t@

$ow to 4,i#! it $ow to 4,i#! new partiesF

The "ew International+ "ew voices raise! t$e >,estion@ $aven't we waite! too #on0F/$o,#!n't we $ave reco0ni?e! t$e nee! o" a new nternationa# %,c$soonerF To t$is Trotsky answere!@ :T$is is a >,estion we %ay we###eave to t$e $istorians*: He was ,n!o,4te!#y pro"o,n!#y convince!


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t$at t$e c$an0e in t$e po#icy wo,#! $ave 4een incorrect severa# yearssooner 4,t $e re",se! to !isc,ss t$is >,estion 4eca,se it was no#on0er o" practica# an! i%%e!iate interest*

ne >,estion t$at took ,p a #ar0e s$are o" t$e !isc,ssion was t$at o"t$e .//* t is wort$w$i#e ea%inin0 $ow it was pose! t$en* T$e

!oc,%ent o" ;ece%4er 1932 t$at we $ave a#rea!y %entione! an!w$ic$ sti## "o##owe! t$e #ine o" re"or% $a! state!@

"Sharper and brighter is the %uestion &of refor!' in the (SS). The policy of the secondparty there would i!ply the policy of ar!ed insurrection and a new revolution. The

policy of the faction i!plies the line of inner refor! of the party and the wor*ers+ state."

n t$e artic#e o" +pri# 1933 w$ic$ pointe! o,t t$e nee! o" a new partyin Aer%any 4,t at t$e sa%e ti%e retaine! t$e po#icy o" re"or% in t$e5o%%,nist nternationa# Trotsky wrote@

"f the Stalinist bureaucracy will bring the (SS) to collapse then.... it will be necessaryto build a ,ourth nternational."

T$e pro4#e% was@ $ow to !iscar! t$e po#icy o" re"or% o" t$e o#s$evikParty an! at t$e sa%e ti%e retain t$e perspective o" re"or%in0 t$eworkers' stateF How to proc#ai% t$e &o,rt$ nternationa# 4e"ore t$e/ta#inist 4,rea,cracy $as #e! t$e .// to its co##apseF

T$e pro4#e% o" t$e .// was t$e 0reatest o4stac#e in Trotsky's %in!4e"ore reac$in0 t$e conc#,sion t$at t$ere re%aine! no ot$er

a#ternative t$an to "or% a &o,rt$ nternationa#* /$ort#y 4e"ore $isartic#e o" J,#y 1G $e sai! in a conversation at Prinkipo@ :/ince +pri# we$ave 4een "or re"or% in a## co,ntries ecept Aer%any w$ere we are"or a new party* ow we can take a sy%%etrica# position i*e* in "avoro" a new party in every co,ntry ecept t$e .// w$ere we wi## 4e "orre"or% o" t$e o#s$evik Party*: (T$is position as "ar as know wasnever p,t into writin0*) ,t it was c#ear to $is #isteners t$at $is i!eason t$is %atter were on#y in t$e process o" "or%ation an! t$at t$ey $a!not yet reac$e! t$eir conc#,sion*

T$e so#,tion o" t$is pro4#e% is as is we## known now t$e !istinction4etween a socia# revo#,tion an! a po#itica# revo#,tion* T$is so#,tionwas a#rea!y o,t#ine! in t$e "irst !oc,%ents in J,#y w$ic$ speak a4o,tt$e nee! o" a new nternationa#*

n t$e ot$er $an! in t$e s,%%er o" 1933 t$e !isc,ssions aro,n! t$enat,re o" t$e .// were n,%ero,s@ not on#y was /ta#inis% 4ankr,ptin Aer%any 4,t t$e "irst econo%ic eperiences o" Hit#er ooseve#t as


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we## as t$e ta#ian corporate state 0ave rise on a## si!es to t$eories o":/tate capita#is%*:

Trotsky t$en c#ari"ie! $is position towar! t$e .// in a #on0 artic#eentit#e! T$e 5#ass at,re o" t$e /oviet /tate !ate! cto4er 1 1933*

T$is artic#e !e"inite#y e#i%inates t$e perspective o" a peace",# re%ova#

o" t$e 4,rea,cracy an! c#ari"ies t$e "or%,#as in t$e !oc,%ents on t$enew nternationa#* n t$e %ain t$is is t$e position we $ave %aintaine!to t$e present* (n t$e >,estion o" an $istorica# ana#o0y wit$

T$er%i!or a correction was %a!e in &e4r,ary 193G*)

+not$er >,estion re>,ire! a 0oo! !ea# o" attention in t$e !isc,ssionsat /aint-Pa#ais@ t$at o" o,r re#ation towar! ot$er or0ani?ations* T$ee"t pposition $a! its attention "oc,se! ec#,sive#y on t$e vario,s5o%%,nist parties* ,r or0ani?ation was %a!e ,p wit$ a "ew rareeceptions on#y o" epe##e! %e%4ers o" 5o%%,nist parties or Do,n0

5o%%,nist #ea0,es* +## o,r activity was s,4or!inate! to t$eperspective o" re"or%* +s ear#y as J,ne 1G 1933 t$at is 4e"ore t$et,rn towar! a ew nternationa# Trotsky a!!resse! to t$e sections o"t$e e"t pposition an artic#e e"t /ocia#ist r0ani?ations an! ,r

Tasks in w$ic$ $e pointe! o,t a new "ie#! o" activity@ T$e victory o"Aer%an "ascis% $a! 4ro,0$t a crisis to t$e /ocia# ;e%ocracy* T$e5o%intern was #osin0 its power o" attraction* e co,#! epect t$at t$ecentrist or0ani?ations o" t$e #e"t wo,#! t,rn towar!s ,s* t wast$ere"ore necessary to t,rn o,r attention an! o,r e""orts in t$is

!irection*n "act t$e w$o#e po#itica# at%osp$ere o,r orientation towar!s a newnternationa# t$e arriva# o" Trotsky in &rance act,a##y attracte!towar!s ,s t$e eyes o" or0ani?ations w$ic$ in !i""erent perio!s $a!4roken wit$ t$e /econ! an! T$ir! nternationa#s* ,%ero,s were t$evisits in /aint-Pa#ais o" #ea!ers o" t$ese or0ani?ations (Aer%an /*+*P*7n0#is$ **P* ;,tc$ */*P* an! */*P* etc*)* T$e ;,tc$ party o"/neev#iet (*/*P*) !ec#are! itse#" rea!y to join o,r ranks i%%e!iate#y*

T$e ecite%ent provoke! 4y t$e s$a%e",# 4ankr,ptcy o" t$e two

nternationa#s in Aer%any was so 0reat t$at not #ess t$an "o,rteenor0ani?ations 4e#on0in0 to neit$er o" t$e two nternationa#s !eci!e!to ,nite* evert$e#ess t$ey were "ar "ro% $avin0 a co%%on pro0ra%*

To co%p#ain a4o,t t$e o#! o""icia# or0ani?ations in artic#es an!speec$es is one t$in0* To ,n!ertake to 4,i#! a new nternationa# isanot$er* ,r or0ani?ation !eci!e! to participate in t$e con"erence o"t$e "o,rteen 0ro,ps $e#! in Paris at t$e en! o" +,0,st 1933* ,r po#icywas c#ear@ to !raw o,r conc#,sions "ro% events to t$e en! to propose


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o,r pro0ra% o" creatin0 a new nternationa# to !eno,nce t$ose w$owante! to re%ain e>,ivoca# an! a%4i0,o,s* To0et$er wit$ a "ewor0ani?ations w$ic$ reco0ni?e! t$e i%%e!iate necessity o" a newnternationa# (/*+*P* */*P* */*P*) o,r or0ani?ation si0ne! apro0ra%%atic !oc,%ent known ,n!er t$e na%e o" ;ec#aration o" t$e

&o,r* /o%e %ont$s #ater t$e /*+*P* was to !eny its si0nat,re*T$e con"erence in Paris prove! to 4e t$e %ai%,% e""ort o" w$ic$ t$ecentrist 0ro,ps were capa4#e* t re%aine! wit$o,t res,#ts* +## t$eperspectives 0ra!,a##y revea#e! t$e%se#ves to 4e e%pty ,nrea#isticwit$ t$e eception o" one@ to create a new nternationa#* T$e "or%a#"o,n!in0 o" t$e &o,rt$ nternationa# took p#ace "ive years #ater in1938*

7#even years $ave passe! since t$at s,%%er o" 1933 w$en t$e &o,rt$nternationa# was conceive!* ts pro0ress $as 4een s#ow a#ways too

s#ow "or o,r $opes* t was 4orn a%i!st t$e !e"eats provoke! 4y t$e o#!o""icia# or0ani?ations o" t$e workin0 c#ass* $i#e a !e"eat wi## stir t$e4est e#e%ents o" t$e van0,ar! to ea%ine its ca,ses an! to 4,i#! a4etter or0ani?ation its e""ect on t$e c#ass as a w$o#e is one o"!isorientation !isco,ra0e%ent an! passivity* t takes years an! yearsto era!icate its %arksE a new 0eneration w$ic$ $as not knowncynicis% %,st raise its $ea!*

e $ave "o,n! in o,r pat$ t$e p,tri! corpse o" t$e 5o%intern anor0ani?ation w$ic$ $as ,ti#i?e! t$e i%%ense presti0e o" t$e victorio,s

,ssian evo#,tion precise#y to !isorientate !isor0ani?e an! cr,s$w$ere necessary t$e revo#,tionary e%ancipation o" t$e workin0 c#ass*

&o##owin0 !e"eats in a series o" co,ntries a catastrop$e $as!escen!e! ,pon t$e peop#es

Jean Van Heijenoort How the Fourth International Was Conceived

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