Left Wing Infantile Disorder by Lenin_f

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V. I. LENIN

"LEFT-WING"COMMUNISM,

AN INFANTILE

DISORDER

FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESSPEKING 1970

First Edition 1965

Second Printing 1970

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

The present English translation of V. I. Lenins "Left-Wing" Communism, an Infantile iso!e! is a

reprint of the te!t gi"en in V. I. Lenin# Sele#te Wo!$s# English edition# Foreign Lang$ages P$%lishing

&o$se# 'osco(# 195)# Vol. II# Part ). The notes at the end of the %oo* are %ased on those gi"en in the

English edition and in the +hinese edition p$%lished %, the Peoples P$%lishing &o$se# Pe*ing# in

Septe-%er 196.

C O N T E N T S

I. IN WHAT SENSE CAN WE SPEAK OF THE INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION? 1

II. ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE BOL- SHEVIKS' SUCCESS 5

III. THE PRINCIPAL STAGES IN THE HISTOR OF BOLSHEVISM 9

IV. IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST WHAT ENEMIES WITHIN THE WORKING-CLASS MOVEMENT DID BOLSHEVISM GROW UP AND BECOME STRONG AND STEELED?

1!

V. "LEFT-WING" COMMMUNISM IN GERMAN# LEADERS --PART -- CLASS -- MASSES $!

VI. SHOULD REVOLUTIONARIES WORK IN REACTIONAR TRADE UNIONS? %!

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VII. SHOULD WE PARTICIPATE IN BOURGEOIS PARLIAMENTS? &9

VIII. NO COMPROMISES? !$

I. "LEFT-WING" COMMUNISM IN GREAT BRITAIN 77

. SOME CONCLUSIONS 9%

APPENDIX:

I. THE SPLIT AMONG THE GERMAN COMMUNISTS 11$

II. THE COMMUNISTS AND THE INDEPENDENTS IN GERMAN 115

III. TURATI AND CO. IN ITAL 11(

IV. INCORRECT CONCLUSIONS FROM CORRECT PREMISES 119

V. 1$5

LETTER FROM WNKOOP 1$!

NOTES 1$7

page 1

"LEFT-WING" COMMUNISM,

AN INFANTILE DISORDER /1

I

IN WHAT SENSE CAN WE SPEAK

OF THE INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION ?

In the first -onths follo(ing the con$est of political po(er %, the proletariat in 2$ssia 34cto%er )5

/o"e-%er 7# 1917# it -ight ha"e see-ed that the tre-endo$s difference %et(een %ac*(ard 2$ssia





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and the ad"anced co$ntries of estern E$rope (o$ld ca$se the proletarian re"ol$tion in these latter

co$ntries to ha"e "er, little rese-%lance to o$rs. o( (e alread, ha"e "er, considera%le international

e!perience (hich -ost definitel, sho(s that certain f$nda-ental feat$res of o$r re"ol$tion ha"e a

significance (hich is not local# not pec$liarl, national# not 2$ssian onl,# %$t international. I spea* here

of international significance not in the %road sense of the ter-8 not so-e# %$t all the f$nda-ental and

-an, of the secondar, feat$res of o$r re"ol$tion are of international significance in the sense that there"ol$tion infl$ences all co$ntries. o# ta*ing it in the narro(est sense# i.e.# $nderstanding international

significance to -ean the international "alidit, or the historical ine"ita%ilit, of a repetition on an

international scale of (hat has ta*en place in o$r co$ntr,# it -$st %e ad-itted that certain f$nda-ental

feat$res of o$r re"ol$tion do possess s$ch a significance.

4f co$rse# it (o$ld %e a "er, great -ista*e to e!aggerate this tr$th and to appl, it not onl, to certain

f$nda-ental feat$res of o$r re"ol$tion. It (o$ld also %e a -ista*e to lose sight of the fact that after the

"ictor, of the proletarian re"ol$tion in at least one of the ad"anced co$ntries things (ill in all pro%a%ilit,

ta*e a sharp t$rn# "i.# 2$ssia (ill soon after cease to %e the -odel co$ntr, and once again %eco-e a

%ac*(ard co$ntr, 3in the :So"iet: and the socialist sense.

;$t at the present -o-ent of histor, the sit$ation is precisel, s$ch that the 2$ssian -odel re"eals to

all co$ntries so-ething# and so-ething "er, essential# of their near and ine"ita%le f$t$re. <d"anced

(or*ers in e"er, land ha"e long $nderstood this= and -ore often the, ha"e not so -$ch $nderstood it as

grasped it# sensed it# %, re"ol$tionar, class instinct. &erein lies the international :significance: 3in the

narro( sense of the ter- of So"iet po(er# and of the f$nda-entals of ;olshe"i* theor, and tactics. This

the :re"ol$tionar,: leaders of the Second International# s$ch as >a$ts*, in ?er-an, and 4tto ;a$er and

Friedrich <dler in <$stria# failed to $nderstand# and therefore pro"ed to %e reactionaries and ad"ocates

of the (orst *ind of opport$nis- and social treacher,. Incidentall,# the anon,-o$s pa-phlet

entitled T%e Wo!l Re&olution 3:Welt!e&olution : (hich appeared in 1919 in Vienna 3Soialistische;$cherei# &eft 11= Igna ;rand "er, clearl, re"eals their (hole process of tho$ght and their (hole

circle of ideas# or# rather# the f$ll depth of their st$pidit,# pedantr,# %aseness and %etra,al of (or*ing@

class interests @@ and# -oreo"er# $nder the g$ise of :defending: the idea of :(orld re"ol$tion.:

;$t (e shall ha"e to disc$ss this pa-phlet in greater detail so-e other ti-e. &ere (e shall note onl,

one -ore point8 long# long ago# >a$ts*,# (hen he (as still a 'ar!ist and not a renegade# approaching

the $estion as a historian# foresa( the possi%ilit, of a sit$ation arising in (hich the re"ol$tionar, spirit

of the 2$ssian proletariat (o$ld ser"e as a -odel for estern E$rope. This (as in 190)# (hen >a$ts*,

(rote an article for the re"ol$tionar, Is$!a entitled :The Sla"s and 2e"ol$tion.: This is (hat he (rote in

the article8

:<t the present ti-e: 3in contrast to 1AA :it (o$ld see- that not onl, ha"e the Sla"s entered the

ran*s of the re"ol$tionar, nations# %$t that the centre of re"ol$tionar, tho$ght and re"ol$tionar, action

is shifting -ore and -ore to the Sla"s. The re"ol$tionar, centre is shifting fro- the est to the East. In

the first half of the nineteenth cent$r, it (as in France# at ti-es in England. In 1AA ?er-an, Boined the

ran*s of the re"ol$tionar, nations. . . . The ne( cent$r, opens (ith e"ents (hich s$ggest the tho$ght

that (e are approaching a f$rther shift of the re"ol$tionar, centre# na-el,# to 2$ssia. . . . 2$ssia# (hich



has %orro(ed so -$ch re"ol$tionar, initiati"e fro- the est# is no( perhaps herself read, to ser"e as a

so$rce of re"ol$tionar, energ, for the est. The 2$ssian re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ent that is no( flaring $p

(ill perhaps pro"e to %e the -ost potent -eans of e!orcising that spirit of fla%%, philistinis- and

te-perate politics (hich is %eginning to spread in o$r -idst# and it -a, ca$se the thirst for %attle and the

passionate de"otion to o$r great ideals to flare $p in %right fla-es again. 2$ssia has long ceased to %e

-erel, a %$l(ar* of reaction and a%sol$tis- for estern E$rope. It -ight %e said that toda, the "er,opposite is the case. estern E$rope is %eco-ing a %$l(ar* of reaction and a%sol$tis- in 2$ssia. . . .

The 2$ssian re"ol$tionaries -ight perhaps ha"e coped (ith the tsar long ago had the, not %een

co-pelled at the sa-e ti-e to fight his all,# E$ropean capital. Let $s hope that this ti-e the, (ill

s$cceed in coping (ith %oth ene-ies# and that the ne( &ol, <lliance (ill collapse -ore $ic*l, than

its predecessors. ;$t ho(e"er the present str$ggle in 2$ssia -a, end# the %lood and felicit, of the

-art,rs# (ho-# $nfort$natel,# it (ill prod$ce in too great n$-%ers# (ill not ha"e %een sacrificed in "ain.

The, (ill no$rish the shoots of social re"ol$tion thro$gho$t the ci"ilied (orld and -a*e the- gro(

-ore l$!$riantl, and rapidl,. In 1AA the Sla"s (ere a %lac* frost (hich %lighted the flo(ers of the

peoples spring. Perhaps the, are no( destined to %e the stor- that (ill %rea* the ice of reaction and

irresisti%l, %ring (ith it a ne( and happ, spring for the nations.: 3>arl >a$ts*,# :The Sla"s and

2e"ol$tion#: Is$!a# 2$ssian Social@Ce-ocratic re"ol$tionar, ne(spaper# o. 1A# 'arch 10# 190).

>arl >a$ts*, (rote (ell eighteen ,ears agoD

II

ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS

FOR THE BOLSHEVIKS SUCCESS

+ertainl,# al-ost e"er,one no( realies that the ;olshe"i*s co$ld not ha"e -aintained the-sel"es in

po(er for t(o and a half -onths# let alone t(o and a half ,ears# $nless the strictest# tr$l, iron discipline

had pre"ailed in o$r Part,# and $nless the latter had %een rendered the f$llest and $nreser"ed s$pport of

the (hole -ass of the (or*ing class# that is# of all its thin*ing# honest# self@sacrificing and infl$ential

ele-ents (ho are capa%le of leading or of carr,ing (ith the- the %ac*(ard strata.

The dictatorship of the proletariat is a -ost deter-ined and -ost r$thless (ar (aged %, the ne( class

against a mo!e o(e!ful ene-,# the %o$rgeoisie# (hose resistance is increased tenfol %, its o"erthro(

3e"en if onl, in one co$ntr,# and (hose po(er lies not onl, in the strength of international capital# in

the strength and d$ra%ilit, of the international connections of the %o$rgeoisie# %$t also in the fo!#e of

%a)it # in the strength of s-all prod$ction. For# $nfort$natel,# small !ou#tion is still "er,# "er,

(idespread in the (orld# and s-all prod$ction engene!s capitalis- and the %o$rgeoisie contin$o$sl,#

dail,# ho$rl,# spontaneo$sl,# and on a -ass scale. For all these reasons the dictatorship of the proletariat

is essential# and "ictor, o"er the %o$rgeoisie is i-possi%le (itho$t a long# st$%%orn and desperate (ar of

life and death# a (ar de-anding perse"erance# discipline# fir-ness# indo-ita%leness and $nit, of (ill.

I repeat# the e!perience of the "ictorio$s dictatorship of the proletariat in 2$ssia has clearl, sho(n

e"en to those (ho are $na%le to thin*# or (ho ha"e not had occasion to ponder o"er this $estion# that



a%sol$te centraliation and the strictest discipline of the proletariat constit$te one of the f$nda-ental

conditions for "ictor, o"er the %o$rgeoisie.

This is often disc$ssed. ;$t not nearl, eno$gh tho$ght is gi"en to (hat it -eans# and $nder (hat

conditions it is possi%le. o$ld it not %e %etter if greetings in hono$r of So"iet po(er and the ;olshe"i*s

(ere mo!e f!e*uentl+ attended %, a !ofoun anal+sis of the reasons (%+ the ;olshe"i*s (ere a%le to

%$ild $p the discipline the re"ol$tionar, proletariat needs

<s a trend of political tho$ght and as a political part,# ;olshe"is- e!ists since 190. 4nl, the histor,

of ;olshe"is- d$ring the (hole period of its e!istence can satisfactoril, e!plain (h, it (as a%le to %$ild

$p and to -aintain $nder -ost diffic$lt conditions the iron discipline needed for the "ictor, of the

proletariat.

<nd first of all the $estion arises8 ho( is the discipline of the re"ol$tionar, part, of the proletariat

-aintained &o( is it tested &o( is it reinforced First# %, the class conscio$sness of the proletarian

"ang$ard and %, its de"otion to the re"ol$tion# %, its perse"erance# self@sacrifice and herois-. Secondl,#

%, its a%ilit, to lin* itself (ith# to *eep in close to$ch (ith# and to a certain e!tent# if ,o$ li*e# to -erge(ith the %roadest -asses of the toilers @@ pri-aril, (ith the proletariat# )ut also (it% t%e non-

!oleta!ian toiling -asses. Thirdl,# %, the correctness of the political leadership e!ercised %, this

"ang$ard# %, the correctness of its political strateg, and tactics# pro"ided that the %roadest -asses ha"e

%een con"inced )+ t%ei! o(n ee!ien#e that the, are correct. itho$t these conditions# discipline in a

re"ol$tionar, part, that is reall, capa%le of %eing the part, of the ad"anced class# (hose -ission it is to

o"erthro( the %o$rgeoisie and transfor- the (hole of societ,# cannot %e achie"ed. itho$t these

conditions# all atte-pts to esta%lish discipline ine"ita%l, fall flat and end in phrase@-ongering and

gri-acing. 4n the other hand# these conditions cannot arise all at once. The, are created onl, %,

prolonged effort and hard@(on e!perience. Their creation is facilitated %, correct re"ol$tionar, theor,#

(hich# in its t$rn# is not a dog-a# %$t ass$-es final shape onl, in close connection (ith the practical

acti"it, of a tr$l, -ass and tr$l, re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ent.

That ;olshe"is- (as a%le# in 1917@)0# $nder $nprecedentedl, diffic$lt conditions# to %$ild $p and

s$ccessf$ll, -aintain the strictest centraliation and iron discipline (as si-pl, d$e to a n$-%er of

historical pec$liarities of 2$ssia.

4n the one hand# ;olshe"is- arose in 190 on the "er, fir- fo$ndation of the theor, of 'ar!is-.

<nd the correctness of this @@ and onl, this @@ re"ol$tionar, theor, has %een pro"ed not onl, %, (orld

e!perience thro$gho$t the nineteenth cent$r,# %$t partic$larl, %, the e!perience of the (anderings and

"acillations# the -ista*es and disappoint-ents of re"ol$tionar, tho$ght in 2$ssia. For nearl, half acent$r, @@ appro!i-atel, fro- the forties to the nineties @@ ad"anced tho$ght in 2$ssia# oppressed %, an

$nparalleled# sa"age and reactionar, tsardo-# eagerl, so$ght for a correct re"ol$tionar, theor, and

follo(ed (ith astonishing diligence and thoro$ghness each and e"er, :last (ord: in this real- in E$rope

and <-erica. 2$ssia achie"ed 'ar!is-# the onl, correct re"ol$tionar, theor,# thro$gh

"erita%le suffe!ing # thro$gh half a cent$r, of $nprecedented tor-ent and sacrifice# of $nprecedented

re"ol$tionar, herois-# incredi%le energ,# de"oted searching# st$d,# practical trial# disappoint-ent#

"erification and co-parison (ith E$ropean e!perience. Than*s to the enforced e-igration ca$sed %,



tsardo-# re"ol$tionar, 2$ssia in the second half of the nineteenth cent$r, possessed s$ch a (ealth of

international connections and s$ch e!cellent infor-ation on (orld for-s and theories of the

re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ent as no other co$ntr, in the (orld.

4n the other hand# ha"ing arisen on this granite theoretical fo$ndation# ;olshe"is- passed thro$gh

fifteen ,ears 3190@17 of practical histor, (hich in (ealth of e!perience has no e$al an,(here else in

the (orld. For no other co$ntr, d$ring these fifteen ,ears had an,thing e"en appro!i-ating to thisre"ol$tionar, e!perience# this rapid and "aried s$ccession of different for-s of the -o"e-ent @@ legal

and illegal# peacef$l and stor-,# $ndergro$nd and open# circles and -ass -o"e-ents# parlia-entar, and

terrorist. In no other co$ntr, (as there concentrated d$ring so short a ti-e s$ch a (ealth of for-s#

shades# and -ethods of str$ggle of all classes of -odern societ,# and -oreo"er# a str$ggle (hich# o(ing

to the %ac*(ardness of the co$ntr, and the se"erit, of the tsarist ,o*e# -at$red (ith e!ceptional rapidit,

and as si-ilated -ost eagerl, and s$ccessf$ll, the appropriate :last (ord: of <-erican and E$ropean

political e!perience.

III

THE PRINCIPAL STAGES IN THE HISTOR!

OF BOLSHEVISM

The ,ears of preparation of the re"ol$tion 3190@05. The approach of a great stor- is felt

e"er,(here. <ll classes are in a state of fer-ent and preparation. <%road# the press of the political e!iles

disc$sses the theoretical aspects of all the f$nda-ental pro%le-s of the re"ol$tion. The representati"esof the three -ain classes# of the three principal political trends# the li%eral@%o$rgeois# the pett,

%o$rgeois@de-ocratic 3concealed $nder the la%els :social@de-ocratic: and :social@re"ol$tionar,:# and

the proletarian@re"ol$tionar, trends# anticipate and prepare the approaching open class str$ggle %, a

-ost %itter %attle on progra--atical and tactical "ie(s. <ll the iss$es on (hich the -asses (aged an

ar-ed str$ggle in 1905@07 and 1917@)0 can 3and sho$ld %e st$died in their e-%r,onic for- in the press

of that ti-e. ;et(een these three -ain trends# there (ere# of co$rse# a host of inter-ediate# transitional#

half(a, for-s. 4r# -ore correctl,# in the str$ggle of the press# parties# factions and gro$ps# there (ere

cr,stalliing those political and ideological trends (hich are act$all, class trends= the classes (ere

forging the re$isite political and ideological (eapons for the i-pending %attles.

The ,ears of re"ol$tion 31905@07. <ll classes co-e o$t into the open. <ll progra--atical and tactical

"ie(s are tested %, the action of the -asses. The stri*e str$ggle is $nparalleled an,(here in the (orld

for its e!tent and ac$teness. The econo-ic stri*e gro(s into a political stri*e# and the latter into

ins$rrection. The relations %et(een the proletariat# as the leader# and the "acillating# $nsta%le peasantr,#

as the led# are tested in practice. The So"iet for- of organiation is %orn in the spontaneo$s de"elop-ent

of the str$ggle. The contro"ersies of that ti-e o"er the significance of the So"iets anticipate the great

str$ggle of 1917@)0. The alternation of parlia-entar, and non@parlia-entar, for-s of str$ggle# of tactics



of %o,cotting parlia-ent and tactics of participating in parlia-ent# of legal and illegal for-s of str$ggle#

and li*e(ise their interrelations and connections @@ all of this is disting$ished %, an astonishing richness

of content. <s far as teaching the f$nda-entals of political science @@ to -asses and leaders# to classes

and parties @@ (as concerned# one -onth of this period (as e$i"alent to a (hole ,ear of :peacef$l#:

:constit$tional: de"elop-ent. itho$t the :dress rehearsal: of 1905# the "ictor, of the 4cto%er

2e"ol$tion in 1917 (o$ld ha"e %een i-possi%le. The ,ears of reaction 31907@10. Tsardo- scored "ictor,. <ll the re"ol$tionar, and opposition parties

ha"e %een defeated. Cepression# de-oraliation# splits# discord# renegac,# pornograph, ta*e the place of

politics. There is an increased drift to(ard philosophical idealis-= -,sticis- %eco-es the shell of

co$nter@re"ol$tionar, senti-ents. ;$t at the sa-e ti-e# it is precisel, this great defeat that gi"es the

re"ol$tionar, parties and the re"ol$tionar, class a real and "er, "al$a%le lesson# a lesson in historical

dialectics# a lesson in the $nderstanding of the political str$ggle and in the s*ill and art of (aging it. 4ne

gets to *no( ones friends in ti-es of -isfort$ne. Cefeated ar-ies learn (ell.

Victorio$s tsardo- is co-pelled to accelerate the destr$ction of the re-nants of the pre%o$rgeois#

patriarchal -ode of life in 2$ssia. The co$ntr,s de"elop-ent along %o$rgeois lines proceeds (ith

re-ar*a%le speed. E!tra@class and a%o"e@class ill$sions# ill$sions concerning the possi%ilit, of a"oiding

capitalis-# are scattered to the (inds. The class str$ggle -anifests itself in $ite a ne( and -ore distinct

for-.

The re"ol$tionar, parties -$st co-plete their ed$cation. The, ha"e learned to attac*. o( the, ha"e

to realie that this *no(ledge -$st %e s$pple-ented (ith the *no(ledge ho( to retreat properl,. The,

ha"e to realie @@ and the re"ol$tionar, class is ta$ght to realie it %, its o(n %itter e!perience @@ that

"ictor, is i-possi%le $nless the, ha"e learned %oth ho( to attac* and ho( to retreat properl,. 4f all the

defeated opposition and re"ol$tionar, parties# the ;olshe"i*s effected the -ost orderl, retreat# (ith the

least loss to their :ar-,#: (ith its core %est preser"ed# (ith the least 3in respect to prof$ndit, and

irre-edia%ilit, splits# (ith the least de-oraliation# and in the %est condition to res$-e the (or* on the

%roadest scale and in the -ost correct and energetic -anner. The ;olshe"i*s achie"ed this onl, %eca$se

the, r$thlessl, e!posed and e!pelled the re"ol$tionar, phrase@-ongers# (ho ref$sed to $nderstand that

one had to retreat# that one had to *no( ho( to retreat# and that one had a%sol$tel, to learn ho( to (or*

legall, in the -ost reactionar, parlia-ents# in the -ost reactionar, trade $nions# cooperati"e societies#

ins$rance societies and si-ilar organiations.

The ,ears of rise 31910@1. <t first the rise (as incredi%l, slo(= then# follo(ing the Lena e"ents of

191)#/$ it %eca-e so-e(hat -ore rapid. 4"erco-ing $nprecedented diffic$lties# the ;olshe"i*s p$shed aside the 'enshe"i*s# (hose role as agents of the %o$rgeoisie in the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent

(as perfectl, $nderstood %, the (hole %o$rgeoisie after 1905# and (ho (ere therefore s$pported in a

tho$sand (a,s %, the (hole %o$rgeoisie against the ;olshe"i*s. ;$t the ;olshe"i*s (o$ld ne"er ha"e

s$cceeded in doing this had the, not carried o$t a correct tactic of co-%ining illegal (or* (ith the

o%ligator, $tiliation of :legal possi%ilities.: The ;olshe"i*s (on all the la%o$r seats in the arch@

reactionar, C$-a.

The first i-perialist (orld (ar 3191@17. Legal parlia-entaris-# (ith an e!tre-el, reactionar,





:parlia-ent#: is of "er, $sef$l ser"ice to the part, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat# the ;olshe"i*s. The

;olshe"i* dep$ties are e!iled to Si%eria. In the e!ile press a%road all shades of social@i-perialis-#

social@cha$"inis-# social@patriotis-# inconsistent and consistent internationalis-# pacifis-# and the

re"ol$tionar, rep$diation of pacifist ill$sions find f$ll e!pression. The learned fools and old (o-en of

the Second International# (ho had arrogantl, and conte-pt$o$sl, t$rned $p their noses at the a%$ndance

of :factions: in the 2$ssian socialist -o"e-ent and at the %itter str$ggle the, (aged a-ong the-sel"es#(ere $na%le @@ (hen the (ar depri"ed the- of their "a$nted :legalit,: in all the ad"anced co$ntries @@ to

organie an,thing e"en appro!i-ating s$ch a free 3illegal interchange of "ie(s and s$ch a free 3illegal

(or*ing o$t of correct "ie(s as the 2$ssian re"ol$tionaries did in S(iterland and in a n$-%er of other

co$ntries. It (as precisel, %eca$se of this that %oth the a"o(ed social@patriots and the :>a$ts*,ites: of

all co$ntries pro"ed to %e the (orst traitors to the proletariat. <nd one of the principal reasons (h,

;olshe"is- (as a%le to score "ictor, in 1917@)0 (as that e"er since the end of 191 it had %een

r$thlessl, e!posing the %aseness# loathso-eness and "ileness of social@cha$"inis- and :>a$ts*,is-: 3to

(hich Long$etis-/% in France# the "ie(s of the leaders of the Independent La%o$r Part, /& and the

Fa%ians /5 in England# of T$rati in Ital,# etc.# correspond# and the -asses later %eca-e -ore and -ore

con"inced %, their o(n e!perience of the correctness of the ;olshe"i* "ie(s.

The second re"ol$tion in 2$ssia 3Fe%r$ar, to 4cto%er 1917. The incredi%le senilit, and o%soleteness

of tsardo- had created 3(ith the aid of the %lo(s and hardships of a -ost agoniing (ar an incredi%l,

destr$cti"e po(er directed against tsardo-. ithin a fe( da,s 2$ssia (as transfor-ed into a de-ocratic

%o$rgeois rep$%lic# -ore free @@ $nder (ar conditions @@ than an, other co$ntr, in the (orld. The leaders

of the opposition and re"ol$tionar, parties %egan to set $p a go"ern-ent# B$st as is done in the -ost

:strictl, parlia-entar,: rep$%lics# and the fact that a -an had %een a leader of an opposition part, in

parlia-ent# e"en in a -ost reactionar, parlia-ent# assiste hi- in his s$%se$ent role in the re"ol$tion.

In a fe( (ee*s the 'enshe"i*s and :Socialist@2e"ol$tion aries: thoro$ghl, i-%i%ed all the -ethodsand -anners# arg$-ents and sophistries of the E$ropean heroes of the Second International# of the

-inisterialists and other opport$nist sc$-. <ll that (e no( read a%o$t the Scheide-anns and os*es#

a%o$t >a$ts*, and &ilferding# 2enner and <$sterlit# 4tto ;a$er and Frit <dler# T$rati and Long$et#

a%o$t the Fa%ians and the leaders of the Independent La%o$r Part, of England @@ all this see-s to $s 3and

reall, is a drear, repetition# a reiteration of an old and fa-iliar refrain. e ha"e alread, seen all this in

the case of the 'enshe"i*s. &istor, pla,ed a Bo*e and -ade the opport$nists of a %ac*(ard co$ntr,

anticipate the opport$nists of a n$-%er of ad"anced co$ntries.

If the heroes of the Second International ha"e all s$ffered %an*r$ptc, and ha"e disgraced the-sel"es

o"er the $estion of the significance and role of the So"iets and So"iet po(er= if the leaders of the three

"er, i-portant parties (hich ha"e no( left the Second International 3na-el,# the ?er-an Independent

Social@Ce-ocratic Part,#/! the French Long$etites and the ;ritish Independent La%o$r Part, ha"e

disgraced and entangled the-sel"es o"er this $estion in a -ost :stri*ing: (a,= if the, ha"e all t$rned

o$t to %e sla"es to the preB$dices of pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrac, 3$ite in the spirit of the pett, %o$rgeois

of 1AA (ho called the-sel"es :Social@Ce-ocrats: G (e ha"e al!ea+ seen all t%is in the case of the

'enshe"i*s. &istor, pla,ed a Bo*e8 in 2$ssia# in 1905# the So"iets (ere %orn# fro- Fe%r$ar, to 4cto%er











1917 the, (ere t$rned to a false $se %, the 'enshe"i*s# (ho (ent %an*r$pt %eca$se of their ina%ilit, to

$nderstand the role and significance of the So"iets= and no( the idea of So"iet po(er has arisen all o&e!

t%e (o!l and is spreading a-ong the proletariat of all co$ntries (ith e!traordinar, speed. <nd the old

heroes of the Second International are also going %an*r$pt e&e!+(%e!e# li*e o$r 'enshe"i*s# %eca$se

the, are not capa%le of $nderstanding the role and significance of the So"iets. E!perience has pro"ed

that on certain "er, essential $estions of the proletarian re"ol$tion# all co$ntries (ill in ine"ita%l, ha"eto perfor- (hat 2$ssia has perfor-ed.

+ontrar, to the "ie(s that are toda, not infre$entl, -et (ith in E$rope and <-erica# the ;olshe"i*s

%egan their "ictorio$s str$ggle against the parlia-entar, 3fact$all, %o$rgeois rep$%lic and against the

'enshe"i*s "er, ca$tio$sl,# and the preparations the, -ade for it (ere %, no -eans si-ple. e

did not call for the o"erthro( of the go"ern-ent at the %eginning of the period -entioned# %$t e!plained

that it (as i-possi%le to o"erthro( it (it%out first changing the co-position and the senti-ents of the

So"iets. e did not proclai- a %o,cott of the %o$rgeois parlia-ent# the +onstit$ent <sse-%l,# %$t said

@@ and fro- the <pril 31917 +onference of o$r Part, on(ards %egan to sa, officiall, in the na-e of the

Part, @@ that a %o$rgeois rep$%lic (ith a +onstit$ent <sse-%l, is %etter than a %o$rgeois rep$%lic(itho$t a +onstit$ent <sse-%l,# %$t that a :(or*ers and peasants: rep$%lic# a So"iet rep$%lic# is %etter

than an, %o$rgeois@de-ocratic# parlia-entar,# rep$%lic. itho$t s$ch caref$l# thoro$gh# circ$-spect

and prolonged preparations (e co$ld not ha"e o%tained "ictor, in 4cto%er 1917# nor ha"e -aintained

that "ictor,.

IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST WHAT

ENEMIES WITHIN THE WORKING-CLASS

MOVEMENT DID BOLSHEVISM GROW UP

AND BECOME STRONG AND STEELED ?

Firstl, and principall,# in the str$ggle against opport$nis-# (hich in 191 had definitel, gro(n into

social@cha$"inis-# had definitel, sided (ith the %o$rgeoisie against the proletariat. at$rall,# this (as

the principal ene-, of ;olshe"is- (ithin the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent. It re-ains the principal ene-,

internationall, too. The ;olshe"i*s de"oted# and contin$e to de"ote# -ost attention to this ene-,. This

aspect of ;olshe"i* acti"ities is no( fairl, (ell *no(n a%road too.

So-ething different# ho(e"er# -$st %e said of the other ene-, of ;olshe"is- (ithin the (or*ing@

class -o"e-ent. It is far fro- s$fficientl, *no(n as ,et a%road that ;olshe"is- gre( $p# too* shape#

and %eca-e steeled in long ,ears of str$ggle against ett+-)ou!geois !e&olutionism# (hich s-ac*s of# or %orro(s so-ething fro-# anarchis-# and (hich falls short# in an,thing essential# of the conditions and

re$ire-ents of a consistentl, proletarian class str$ggle. For 'ar!ists# it is (ell esta%lished theoreticall,

@@ and the e!perience of all E$ropean re"ol$tions and re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ents has f$ll, confir-ed it @@

that the s-all o(ner# the s-all -aster 3a social t,pe that is represented in -an, E$ropean co$ntries on a

"er, (ide# a -ass scale# (ho $nder capitalis- al(a,s s$ffers oppression and# "er, often# an incredi%l,

ac$te and rapid deterioration in his conditions# and r$in# easil, goes to re"ol$tionar, e!tre-es# %$t is

incapa%le of perse"erance# organiation# discipline and steadfastness. The pett, %o$rgeois :dri"en to



fren,: %, the horrors of capitalis- is a social pheno-enon (hich# li*e anarchis-# is characteristic of all

capitalist co$ntries. The insta%ilit, of s$ch re"ol$tionis-# its %arrenness# its lia%ilit, to %eco-e s(iftl,

transfor-ed into s$%-ission# apath,# fantas,# and e"en a :frenied: infat$ation (ith one or another

%o$rgeois :fad: @@ all this is a -atter of co--on *no(ledge. ;$t a theoretical# a%stract recognition of

these tr$ths does not at all free re"ol$tionar, parties fro- old -ista*es# (hich al(a,s crop $p at

$ne!pected -o-ents# in a so-e(hat ne( for-# in hitherto $n*no(n "est-ents or s$rro$ndings# in a pec$liar @@ -ore or less pec$liar @@ sit$ation.

<narchis- (as not infre$entl, a sort of p$nish-ent for the opport$nist sins of the (or*ing@class

-o"e-ent. The t(o -onstrosities (ere -$t$all, co-ple-entar,. <nd the fact that in 2$ssia# altho$gh

her pop$lation is -ore pett, %o$rgeois than that of the E$ropean co$ntries# anarchis- e!ercised a

relati"el, negligi%le infl$ence in the preparations for and d$ring %oth re"ol$tions 31905 and 1917# -$st

$ndo$%tedl, %e partl, placed to the credit of ;olshe"is-# (hich has al(a,s co-%ated opport$nis-

r$thlessl, and $nco-pro-isingl,. I sa, :partl,#: for a still -ore i-portant role in (ea*ening the

infl$ence of anarchis- in 2$ssia (as pla,ed %, the fact that in the past 3in the se"enties of the

nineteenth cent$r, it had had the opport$nit, to de"elop (ith e!ceptional l$!$riance and to displa, its$tter fallacio$sness and $nfitness as a g$iding theor, for the re"ol$tionar, class.

<t its inception in 190# ;olshe"is- too* o"er the tradition of r$thless str$ggle against pett,@

%o$rgeois# se-ianarchist 3or dilettante@anarchist re"ol$tionis-# the tradition (hich has al(a,s e!isted

in re"ol$tionar, Social@Ce-ocrac,# and %e ca-e partic$larl, strong in 1900@0# (hen the fo$ndations

for a -ass part, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat (ere %eing laid in 2$ssia. ;olshe"is- too* o"er and

contin$ed the str$ggle against the part, (hich -ore than an, other e!pressed the tendencies of pett,@

%o$rgeois re"ol$tionis-# na-el,# the :Socialist@2e"ol$tionar,: Part,# and (aged this str$ggle on three

-ain points. First# this part,# reBecting 'ar!is-# st$%%ornl, ref$sed 3or# it (o$ld %e -ore correct to sa,8

(as $na%le to $nderstand the need for a strictl, o%Becti"e appraisal of the class forces and theirinterrelations %efore $nderta*ing an, political action. Secondl,# this part, considered itself to %e

partic$larl, :re"ol$tionar,#: or :Left#: %eca$se of its recognition of indi"id$al terror# assassination @@ a

thing (hich (e 'ar!ists e-phaticall, reBected. 4f co$rse# (e reBected indi"id$al terror onl, on gro$nds

of e!pedienc,# (hereas people (ho (ere capa%le of conde-ning :on principle: the terror of the ?reat

French 2e"ol$tion# or in general# the terror e-plo,ed %, a "ictorio$s re"ol$tionar, part, (hich is

%esieged %, the %o$rgeoisie of the (hole (orld# (ere ridic$led and la$ghed to scorn alread, %,

Ple*hano"# in 1900@0# (hen he (as a 'ar!ist and a re"ol$tionar,. Thirdl,# the :Socialist@

2e"ol$tionaries: tho$ght it "er, :Left: to sneer at co-parati"el, insignificant opport$nist sins of the

?er-an Social@Ce-ocratic Part,# (hile the, the-sel"es i-itated the e!tre-e opport$nists of that part,#for e!a-ple# on the agrarian $estion# or on the $estion of the dictatorship of the proletariat.

&istor,# %, the (a,# has no( confir-ed on a large# (orld@(ide historic scale the opinion (e ha"e

al(a,s ad"ocated# na-el,# that !e&olutiona!+ ?er-an Social@Ce-ocrac, 3note that as far %ac* as 1900@

0 Ple*hano" de-anded the e!p$lsion of ;ernstein fro- the part,# and the ;olshe"i*s# al(a,s

contin$ing this tradition# in 191 e!posed the $tter %aseness# "ileness and treacher, of Legien/7 #ame

#losest to %eing the part, (hich the re"ol$tionar, proletariat re$ired in order to attain "ictor,. o(# in





19)0# after all the igno-inio$s fail$res and crises of the (ar period and the earl, post(ar ,ears# it can %e

plainl, seen that# of all the estern parties# ?er-an re"ol$tionar, Social@Ce-ocrac, prod$ced the %est

leaders# and reco"ered# rec$perated# and gained ne( strength -ore rapidl, than the others. This -a, %e

seen in the case %oth of the Spartacist part,/( and the Left# proletarian (ing of the :Independent Social@

Ce-ocratic Part, of ?er-an,#: (hich is (aging an incessant str$ggle against the opport$nis- and

spinelessness of the >a$ts*,s# &ilferdings# Lede%o$rs and +rispiens. If (e no( cast a general glanceo"er a f$ll, co-pleted historical period# na-el,# fro- the Paris +o--$ne to the first Socialist So"iet

2ep$%lic# (e shall find that the attit$de of 'ar!is- to anarchis- in general stands o$t -ost definitel,

and $n-ista*a%l,. In the final anal,sis# 'ar!is- pro"ed to %e correct# and altho$gh the anarchists

rightl, pointed to the opport$nist "ie(s on the state that pre"ailed a-ong the -aBorit, of the socialist

parties# it -$st %e stated# firstl,# that this opport$nis- (as connected (ith the distortion# and e"en

deli%erate s$ppression# of 'ar!s "ie(s on the state 3in -, %oo*# T%e State an Re&olution# I pointed o$t

that for thirt,@si! ,ears# fro- 1A75 to 1911# ;e%el *ept secret a letter %, Engels (hich "er, "i"idl,#

sharpl,# %l$ntl, and clearl, e!posed the opport$nis- of the stoc* Social@Ce-ocratic conceptions of the

state= and# secondl,# that the rectification of these opport$nist "ie(s# the recognition of So"iet po(er

and its s$periorit, o"er %o$rgeois parlia-entar, de-ocrac,# proceeded -ost rapidl, and e!tensi"el,

precisel, a-ong the -ost 'ar!ian trends in the socialist parties of E$rope and <-erica.

4n t(o occasions the str$ggle that ;olshe"is- (aged against :Left: de"iations (ithin its o(n part,

ass$-ed partic$larl, large proportions8 in 190A# on the $estion of (hether or not to participate in a

-ost reactionar, :parlia-ent: and in the legal (or*ers societies# (hich (ere %eing re stricted %, -ost

reactionar, la(s= and again in 191A 3the ;rest@Lito"s* Peace# on the $estion (hether one or another

:co-pro-ise: (as ad-issi%le.

In 190A the :Left: ;olshe"i*s (ere e!pelled fro- o$r Part, for st$%%ornl, ref$sing to $nderstand the

necessit, of participating in a -ost reactionar, :parlia-ent.: The :Lefts: @@ a-ong (ho- there (ere-an, splendid re"ol$tionaries (ho s$%se$entl, %ore 3and still %ear the title of -e-%er of the

+o--$nist Part, (ith ctedit @@ %ased the-sel"es partic$larl, on the s$ccessf$l e!perience of the %o,cott

in 1905. hen# in <$g$st 1905# the tsar anno$nced the con"ocation of an ad"isor, :parlia-ent#: the

;olshe"i*s @@ in the teeth of all the opposition parties and the 'enshe"i*s @@ called for a %o,cott# and it

(as act$all, s(ept a(a, %, the re"ol$tion of 4cto%er 1905. <t that ti-e the %o,cott pro"ed correct# not

%eca$se non@participation in reactionar, parlia-ents is correct in general# %$t %eca$se (e correctl,

ga$ged the o%Becti"e sit$ation (hich (as leading to the rapid transfor-ation of the -ass stri*es into a

political stri*e# then into a re"ol$tionar, stri*e# and then into $prising. 'oreo"er# the str$ggle at that

ti-e centred aro$nd the $estion (hether to lea"e the con"ocation of the first representati"e asse-%l, tothe tsar# or to atte-pt to (rest its con"ocation fro- the hands of the old regi-e. hen there (as no

certaint,# nor co$ld there %e# that the o%Becti"e sit$ation (as analogo$s# and li*e(ise no certaint, of a

si-ilar trend and rate of de"elop-ent# the %o,cott ceased to %e correct.

The ;olshe"i* %o,cott of :parlia-ent: in 1905 enriched the re"ol$tionar, proletariat (ith highl,

"al$a%le political e!perience and sho(ed that in co-%ining legal (ith illegal# parlia-entar, (ith e!tra@

parlia-entar, for-s of str$ggle# it is so-eti-es $sef$l and e"en essential to reBect parlia-entar, for-s.


http://www.marx2mao.com/Lenin/SR17.html


http://www.marx2mao.com/Lenin/SR17.html



;$t it is a "er, great -ista*e indeed to appl, this e!perience %lindl,# i-itati"el, and $ncriticall,

to ot%e! conditions and to ot%e! sit$ations. The %o,cott of the :C$-a: %, the ;olshe"i*s in 1906 (as#

ho(e"er# a -ista*e# altho$gh a s-all and easil, re-edia%le one.H < %o,cott of the C$-a in 1907# 190A

and s$%se$ent ,ears (o$ld ha"e %een a serio$s -ista*e and one diffic$lt to re-ed,# %eca$se# on the

one hand# a "er, rapid rise of the re"ol$tionar, tide and its con"ersion into an $prising co$ld not %e

e!pected# and# on the other hand# the (hole historical sit$ation attending the reno"ation of the %o$rgeois-onarch, called for co-%ining legal and illegal acti"ities. Toda,# (hen (e t$rn %ac* at this co-pleted

historical period# the connection of (hich (ith

H hat applies to indi"id$als applies @@ (ith necessar, -odifications @@ to politics and parties. ot he

is (ise (ho -a*es no -ista*es. There are no s$ch -en nor can there %e. &e is (ise (ho -a*es not "er,

serio$s -ista*es and (ho *no(s ho( to correct the- easil, and $ic*l,.

s$%se$ent periods is f$ll, re"ealed# it %eco-es partic$larl, clear that the ;olshe"i*s #oul not %a&e in

190A@1 preser"ed 3let alone strengthened# de"eloped and reinforced the fir- core of the re"ol$tionar, part, of the proletariat had the, not $pheld in stren$o$s str$ggle the "ie(point that it is o)ligato!+ to

co-%ine legal and illegal for-s of str$ggle# that it is o)ligato!+ to participate e"en in a -ost reactionar,

parlia-ent and in a n$-%er of other instit$tions restricted %, reactionar, la(s 3sic* %enefit societies#

etc..

In 191A things did not reach a split. The :Left: +o--$nists at that ti-e onl, for-ed a separate gro$p

or :faction: (ithin o$r Part,# and that not for long. In the sa-e ,ear# 191A# the -ost pro-inent

representati"es of :Left +o--$nis-#: for e!a-ple# +o-rades 2ade* and ;$*harin# openl, ad-itted

their -ista*e. It had see-ed to the- that the ;rest@Lito"s* Peace (as a co-pro-ise (ith the

i-perialists that (as inad-issi%le on principle and har-f$l to the part, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat.

It (as indeed a co-pro-ise (ith the i-perialists# %$t it (as a co-pro-ise (hich# $nder the

circ$-stances# (as o)ligato!+.

Toda,# (hen I hear o$r tactics d$ring the concl$sion of the ;rest@Lito"s* Peace assailed %, the

:Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries#: for instance# or (hen I hear the re-ar* -ade %, +o-rade Lans%$r, in

con"ersation (ith -e @@ :4$r ;ritish trade $nion leaders sa, that if it (as per-issi%le for the ;olshe"i*s

to co-pro-ise# it is per-issi%le for the- to co- pro-ise too#: I $s$all, repl, %, first of all gi"ing a

si-ple and :pop$lar: e!a-ple8

I-agine that ,o$r a$to-o%ile is held $p %, ar-ed %andits. o$ hand the- o"er ,o$r -one,# passport#re"ol"er and a$to-o%ile. In ret$rn ,o$ are relie"ed of the pleasant co-pan, of the %andits. That is

$n$estiona%l, a co-pro-ise.

: o ut es: 3:I gi"e: ,o$ -one,# firear-s# a$to-o%ile# :so that ,o$ gi"e: -e the opport$nit, to depart

in peace. ;$t it (o$ld %e diffic$lt to find a sane -an (ho (o$ld declare s$ch a co-pro-ise to %e

:inad-issi%le on principle#: or (ho (o$ld proclai- the co-pro-iser an acco-plice of the %andits 3e"en



tho$gh the %andits -ight $se the a$to-o%ile and the firear-s for f$rther ro%%eries. 4$r co-pro-ise

(ith the %andits of ?er-an i-perialis- (as a co-pro-ise of s$ch a *ind. ;$t (hen the 'enshe"i*s

and Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries in 2$ssia# the Scheide-annites 3and to a large e!tent the >a$ts*,ites in

?er-an,# 4tto ;a$er and Friedrich <dler 3not to spea* of 'essrs. 2enner and +o. in <$stria# the

2ena$dels and Long$et and +o. in France# the Fa%ians# the :In dependents: and the :La%o$rites:/9 in

England# in 191@1A and in 191A@)0 entered into #om!omises (ith the %andits of their o(n# andso-eti-es of the :<llied#: %o$rgeoisie against the re"ol$tionar, proletariat of their o(n co$ntr,# all

these gentle-en did act as a##omli#es in )anit!+.

The concl$sion is clear8 to reBect co-pro-ises :on principle#: to reBect the ad-issi%ilit, of

co-pro-ises in general# no -atter of (hat *ind# is childishness# (hich it is diffic$lt e"en to ta*e

serio$sl,. < political leader (ho desires to %e $sef$l to the re"ol$tionar, proletariat -$st *no( ho( to

single o$t #on#!ete cases (hen s$ch co-pro-ises are inad-issi%le# (hen the, are an e!pression of

opport$nis- and t!ea#%e!+# and direct all the force of criticis-# the f$ll edge of -erciless e!pos$re and

relentless (ar# against t%ose #on#!ete co-pro-ises# and not allo( the past -asters at :practical:

Socialis- and the parlia-entar, Jes$its to dodge and (riggle o$t of responsi%ilit, %, dis$isitions on:co-pro-ises in general.: It is precisel, in this (a, that 'essrs. the :leaders: of the ;ritish trade

$nions# as (ell as the Fa%ian societ, and the :Independent: La%o$r Part,# dodge responsi%ilit, fo! t%e

t!ea#%e!+ t%e+ %a&e e!et!ate # for ha"ing -ade su#% a co-pro-ise that is reall, tanta-o$nt to the

(orst *ind of opport$nis-# treacher, and %etra,al.

There are co-pro-ises and co-pro-ises. 4ne -$st %e a%le to anal,e the sit$ation and the concrete

conditions of each co-pro-ise# or of each "ariet, of co-pro-ise. 4ne -$st learn to disting$ish

%et(een a -an (ho ga"e the %andits -one, and firear-s in order to lessen the da-age the, can do and

facilitate their capt$re and e!ec$tion# and a -an (ho gi"es %andits -one, and firear-s in order to share

in the loot. In politics this is %, no -eans al(a,s as eas, as in this childishl, si-ple e!a-ple. ;$tan,one (ho set o$t to in"ent a recipe for the (or*ers that (o$ld pro"ide in ad"ance read, -ade

sol$tions for all cases in life# or (ho pro-ised that the polic, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat (o$ld

ne"er enco$nter diffic$lt or intricate sit$ations# (o$ld si-pl, %e a charlatan.

So as to lea"e no roo- for -isinterpretation# I shall atte-pt to o$tline# if onl, "er, %riefl,# a fe(

f$nda-ental r$les for anal,ing concrete co-pro-ises.

The part, (hich concl$ded a co-pro-ise (ith the ?er-an i-perialists %, signing the ;rest@Lito"s*

Peace had %een (or*ing o$t its internationalis- in action e"er since the end of 191. It (as not afraid to

call for the defeat of the tsarist -onarch, and to conde-n :defence of the fatherland: in a (ar %et(eent(o i-perialist ro%%ers. The parlia-entar, representati"es of this part, too* the road to Si%eria rather

than the road leading to -inisterial portfolios in a %o$rgeois go"ern-ent. The re"ol$tion that o"erthre(

tsardo- and esta%lished a de-ocratic rep$%lic p$t this part, to a ne( and tre-endo$s test8 the part,

entered into no agree-ents (ith its :o(n: i-perialists# %$t prepared and carried o$t their o"erthro(.

&a"ing ta*en o"er political po(er# this part, did not lea"e a "estige either of landlord or capitalist

propert,. &a"ing -ade p$%lic and rep$diated the secret treaties of the i-perialists# this part, proposed

peace to all nations# and ,ielded to the "iolence of the ;rest@Lito"s* ro%%ers onl, after the <nglo@French





i-perialists had fr$strated the concl$sion of a peace# and after the ;olshe"i*s had done e"er,thing

h$-anl, possi%le to hasten the re"ol$tion in ?er-an, and other co$ntries. That s$ch a co-pro-ise#

entered into %, s$ch a part, in s$ch a sit$ation# (as a%sol$tel, correct# %eco-es clearer and -ore

e"ident to e"er,one e"er, da,.

The 'enshe"i*s and Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries in 2$ssia 3li*e all the leaders of the Second

International all o"er the (orld in 191@)0 %egan (ith treacher, %, directl, or indirect l, B$stif,ing the:defence of the fatherland#: that is# the defence of t%ei! o(n predator, %o$rgeoisie. The, contin$ed their

treacher, %, entering into a coalition (ith the %o$rgeoisie of t%ei! o(n co$ntr, and fighting together

(ith t%ei! o(n %o$rgeoisie against the re"ol$tionar, proletariat of their o(n co$ntr,. Their %loc# first

(ith >erens*,/10 and the +adets#/11 and then (ith >olcha* and Ceni*in in 2$ssia# li*e the %loc of

their #onf!e!es a%road (ith the %o$rgeoisie of t%ei! respecti"e co$ntries# (as a desertion to the side of

the %o$rgeoisie against the proletariat. Fro- %eginning to end# t%ei! co-pro-ise (ith the %andits of

i-perialis- la, in the fact that the, -ade the-sel"es a##omli#es in i-perialist %anditr,.

V

"LEFT-WING" COMMUNISM IN GERMAN!

LEADERS -- PART! -- CLASS -- MASSES

The ?er-an +o--$nists of (ho- (e -$st no( spea* do not call the-sel"es :Lefts: %$t# if I a- not

-ista*en# the :opposition on principle.: ;$t that the, re"eal all the s,-pto-s of the :infantile disorder

of Leftis-: (ill %e seen fro- (hat follo(s.

< pa-phlet (ritten fro- the standpoint of this opposition# and entitled T%e Slit in t%e Communist

Pa!t+ of e!man+ 3T%e Sa!ta#us League # p$%lished %, :the local gro$p in Fran*f$rt@a-@'ain#: sets

forth the s$%stance of the "ie(s of this opposition -ost salientl,# precisel,# clearl, and %riefl,. < fe(

$otations (ill s$ffice to ac$aint the reader (ith the s$%stance of their "ie(s8

:The +o--$nist Part, is the part, of the -ost deter-ined class str$ggle. . . .:

:. . . Politicall,# the transition period 3%et(een capitalis- and Socialis- is the period of the

proletarian dictatorship. . . .:

:The $estion arises8 ho sho$ld %e the "ehicle of this dictatorship8 t % e

C o m m u n i s t P a ! t + o ! t % e ! o l e t a ! i a n # l a s s . . . Sho$ld (e on principle stri"e for the

dictatorship of the +o--$nist Part,# or for the dictatorship of the proletarian class: . . .

3<ll italics in the original.

F$rther# the a$thor of the pa-phlet acc$ses the :+.+.: of the +o--$nist Part, of ?er-an, of see*ing

to reach a #oalition (it% t%e Ineenent So#ial-emo#!ati# Pa!t+ of e!man+, of !aising :t%e *uestion

of !e#ogni.ing in !in#ile all oliti#al means : of str$ggle# incl$ding parlia-entaris-# onl, in order to

conceal its real and -ain efforts to for- a coalition (ith the Independents. <nd the pa-phlet goes on to







sa,8

:The opposition has chosen another road. It is of the opinion that the $estion of the r$le of the

+o--$nist Part, and of the dictatorship of the Part, is onl, a $estion of tactics. In an, case# the r$le of

the +o--$nist Part, is the final for- of all part, r$le. On !in#ile# (e -$st stri"e for the dictatorship

of the proletarian class. <nd all the -eas$res of the Part,# its organiation# its -ethods of str$ggle# its

strateg, and tactics sho$ld %e directed to this end. <ccordingl,# one -$st e-phaticall, reBect allco-pro-ise (ith other parties# all re"ersion to parlia-entar, for-s of str$ggle# (hich ha"e %eco-e

historicall, and politicall, o%solete# all polic, of -anoe$"ring and agree-ent. . . . Specificall,

proletarian -ethods of re"ol$tionar, str$ggle -$st %e strongl, e-phasied. e( for-s of organiation

-$st %e created $pon the (idest %asis and (ith the (idest scope in order to enlist the %roadest

proletarian circles and strata# (hich are to ta*e part in the re"ol$tionar, str$ggle $nder the leadership of

the +o--$nist Part,. The rall,ing point for all re"ol$tionar, ele-ents sho$ld %e the Wo!$e!s' Union#

%ased on factor, organiations. It sho$ld e-%race all the (or*ers (ho follo( the slogan8 Lea"e the

trade $nionsD and (ill organie the fighting proletariat in the %roadest %attle ran*s. 2ecognition of the

class str$ggle# the So"iet s,ste- and the dictatorship sho$ld %e s$fficient for ad-ittance. <ll s$%se$ent political training of the fighting -asses and their political orientation in the str$ggle is the tas* of the

+o--$nist Part,# (hich stands o$tside the or*ers Knion. . . .

:+onse$entl,# t(o +o--$nist Parties are no( arra,ed one against the other8

:O n e i s a a ! t + o f l e a e ! s# (hich stri"es to organie the re"ol$tionar, str$ggle and to direct it

fro- a)o&e# resorting to co-pro-ises and parlia-entaris- in order to create a sit$ation (hich (o$ld

ena%le it to enter a coalition go"ern-ent in (hose hands the dictatorship (o$ld rest.

:T % e o t % e ! i s a m a s s a ! t +# (hich e!pects an $ps$rge of the re"ol$tionar, str$ggle fro-

%elo(# *no(ing and appl,ing onl, one -ethod in the str$ggle# a -ethod (hich clearl, leads to the goal#

and reBecting all parlia-entar, and opport$nist -ethods= this one -ethod is the $nconditional o&e!t%!o(ot t%e )ou!geoisie (ith the o%Bect of then esta%lishing the proletarian class dictatorship for the

acco-plish-ent of Socialis-. . . .

:. . . There# the dictatorship of leaders= here# the dictatorship of the -assesD That is o$r slogan.:

S$ch are the -ost essential points characteriing the "ie(s of the opposition in the ?er-an

+o--$nist Part,.

<n, ;olshe"i* (ho has conscio$sl, participated in# or has closel, o%ser"ed# the de"elop-ent of

;olshe"is- since 190 (ill at once sa, after reading these arg$-ents# :hat old and fa-iliar r$%%ishD

hat Left childishnessD: ;$t let $s e!a-ine these arg$-ents a little -ore closel,.

The -ere presentation of the $estion @@ :dictatorship of the Part, o ! dictatorship of the class#

dictatorship 3Part, of the leaders# o ! dictatorship 3Part, of the -asses: @@ testifies to the -ost

incredi%le and hopeless conf$sion of -ind. These people are straining to in"ent so-ething $ite o$t of

the ordinar,# and# in their effort to %e cle"er# -a*e the-sel"es ridic$lo$s. E"er,one *no(s that the

-asses are di"ided into classes= that the -asses can %e contrasted to classes onl, %, contrasting the "ast



-aBorit, in general# regardless of di"ision according to stat$s in the social s,ste- of prod$ction# to

categories holding a definite stat$s in the social s,ste- of prod$ction= that $s$all,# and in the -aBorit, of

cases# at least in -odern ci"ilied co$ntries# classes are led %, political parties= that political parties# as a

general r$le# are directed %, -ore or less sta%le gro$ps co-posed of the -ost a$thoritati"e# infl$ential

and e!perienced -e-%ers# (ho are elected to the -ost responsi%le positions and are called leaders. <ll

this is ele-entar,. <ll this is si-ple and clear. h, replace this %, so-e rig-arole# %, so-ene( /ola0$ /1$ 4n the one hand# these people apparentl, got conf$sed (hen the, fo$nd the-sel"es

in diffic$lt straits# (hen the Part,s a%r$pt change@o"er fro- legalit, to illegalit, dist$r%ed the

c$sto-ar,# nor-al and si-ple relations %et(een leaders# parties and classes. In ?er-an,# as in other

E$ropean co$ntries# people had %eco-e too acc$sto-ed to legalit,# to the free and proper election of

:leaders: at reg$lar part, congresses# to the con"enient -ethod of testing the class co-position of

parties thro$gh parlia-entar, elections# -ass -eetings# the press# the senti-ents of the trade $nions and

other organiations# etc. hen# instead of this c$sto-ar, proced$re# it %eca-e necessar,# d$e to the

stor-, de"elop-ent of the re"ol$tion and the de"elop-ent of the ci"il (ar# to pass $ic*l, fro- legalit,

to illegalit,# to co-%ine the t(o# and to adopt the :incon"enient: and :$nde-ocratic: -ethods of

singling o$t# or for-ing# or preser"ing :gro$ps of leaders: @@ people lost their heads and %egan to thin*

$p so-e s$pernat$ral nonsense. Pro%a%l,# the C$tch Tri%$nists/1% (ho had the -isfort$ne to %e %orn in

a s-all co$ntr, (here traditions and conditions of legalit, (ere partic$larl, pri"ileged and partic$larl,

sta%le# and (ho had ne"er (itnessed the change@o"er fro- legalit, to illegalit,# %eca-e conf$sed# lost

their heads# and helped to create these a%s$rd in"entions.

4n the other hand# (e see a si-pl, tho$ghtless and in coherent $se of the no( :fashiona%le: ter-s

:-asses: and :leaders.: These people ha"e heard and co--itted to -e-or, a great -an, attac*s on

:leaders#: in (hich the, are contrasted to :the -asses:8 %$t the, (ere $na%le to thin* -atters o$t and

gain a clear $nderstanding of (hat it (as all a%o$t.

The di"ergence %et(een :leaders: and :-asses: (as %ro$ght o$t (ith partic$lar clarit, and sharpness

in all co$ntries at the end of and after the i-perialist (ar. The principal reason for this pheno-enon (as

e!plained -an, ti-es %, 'ar! and Engels %et(een the ,ears 1A5) and 1A9) %, the e!a-ple of England.

That co$ntr,s -onopol, position led to the separation fro- the :-asses: of a se-i@pett, %o$rgeois#

opport$nist :la%o$r aristocrac,.: The leaders of this la%o$r aristocrac, constantl, deserted to the

%o$rgeoisie# and (ere directl, or indirectl, in its pa,. 'ar! earned the hono$r of inc$rring the hatred of

these sco$ndrels %, openl, %randing the- as traitors. 'odern 3t(entieth cent$r, i-perialis- created a

pri"ileged# -onopol, position for a fe( ad"anced co$ntries# and this ga"e rise e"er,(here in the Second

International to a certain t,pe of traitor# opport$nist# social@cha$"inist leaders# (ho cha-pion theinterests of their o(n craft# their o(n section of the la%o$r aristocrac,. This di"orced the opport$nist

parties fro- the :-asses#: that is# fro- the %roadest strata of the (or*ing people# fro- their -aBorit,#

fro- the lo(est@paid (or*ers. The "ictor, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat is i-possi%le $nless this e"il

is co-%ated# $nless the opport$nist# social@traitor leaders are e!posed# discredited and e!pelled. <nd that

is the polic, on (hich the Third International e-%ar*ed.

To go so far in this connection as to contrast# i n g e n e ! a l # dictatorship of the -asses to dictatorship







of the leaders is ridic$lo$sl, a%s$rd and st$pid. hat is partic$larl, c$rio$s is that act$all,# in place of

the old leaders# (ho hold the co--on h$-an "ie(s on ordinar, -atters# ne( leae!s are p$t forth

3$nder co"er of the slogan8 :Co(n (ith the leadersD: (ho tal* $nnat$ral st$ff and nonsense. S$ch are

La$ffen%erg# olfhei-# &orner#/1& >arl Schrder# Friedrich endel and >arl Erler/) in ?er-an,.

Erlers atte-pts to render the $estion :-ore profo$nd: and to proclai- that political parties are

generall, $nnecessar, and :%o$rgeois#: represent s$ch &erc$lean pillars of a%s$rdit, that one can onl,shr$g ones sho$lders. It goes to confir- the tr$th that a little -ista*e can al(a,s %e t$rned into a

-onstro$s one if it is persisted in# if profo$nd B$stifications are so$ght for it# and if it is carried to its

:logical concl$sion.:

2ep$diation of the part, principle and of part, discipline @@ s$ch is the oppositions net !esult . <nd this

is tanta-o$nt to co-pletel, disar-ing the proletariat in t%e inte!est of t%e )ou!geoisie. It is tanta-o$nt

to that pett,@%o$rgeois diff$seness# insta%ilit,# incapacit, for s$stained effort# $nit, and organied action#

(hich# if ind$lged in# -$st ine"ita%l, destro, e"er, proletarian re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ent. Fro- the

standpoint of +o--$nis-# the rep$diation of the part, principle -eans tr,ing to leap fro- the e"e of

the collapse of capitalis- 3in ?er-an,# not to the lo(er# or the inter-ediate#

H M >arl Erler# :The Cissol$tion of the Part,#: 1ommunistis#%e 2!)eite!.eitung #/15 &a-%$rg#

Fe%r$ar, 7# 19)0# o. )8 :The (or*ing class can not destro, the %o$rgeois state (itho$t destro,ing

%o$rgeois de-ocrac,# and it cannot destro, %o$rgeois de-ocrac, (itho$t destro,ing parties.:

The -ore -$ddleheaded of the s,ndicalists and anarchists of the Latin co$ntries -a, deri"e

:satisfaction: fro- the fact that solid ?er-ans# (ho e"identl, consider the-sel"es 'ar!ists 3>. Erler

and >. &orner sho( "er, solidl, %, their articles in the a%o"e@-entioned paper that the, consider

the-sel"es solid 'ar!ists# %$t tal* incredi%le nonsense in a -ost ridic$lo$s -anner and re"eal theirfail$re to $nderstand the <;+ of 'ar!is-# go to the length of -a*ing $tterl, inept state-ents. The

-ere acceptance of 'ar!is- does not sa"e one fro- -ista*es. e 2$ssians *no( this partic$larl, (ell#

%eca$se in o$r co$ntr, 'ar!is- has %een "er, often the :fashion.: %$t to the higher phase of

+o--$nis-. e in 2$ssia 3in the third ,ear since the o"erthro( of the %o$rgeoisie are going thro$gh

the first steps in the transition fro- capitalis- to Socialis-# or the lo(er stage of +o--$nis-. +lasses

ha"e re-ained# and (ill re-ain e"er,(here fo! +ea!s afte! the con$est of po(er %, the proletariat.

Perhaps in England# (here there is no peasantr, 3%$t (here there are s-all o(nersD# this period -a, %e

shorter. The a%olition of classes -eans not onl, dri"ing o$t the landlords and capitalists @@ that (e

acco-plished (ith co-parati"e ease @@ it also -eans a)olis%ing t%e small #ommoit+ !ou#e!s# and

the, # a n n o t ) e ! i & e n o u t # or cr$shed= (e must li&e in %a!mon+ (ith the-= the, can 3and -$st

%e re-o$lded and re@ed$cated onl, %, "er, prolonged# slo(# ca$tio$s organiational (or*. The,

encircle the proletariat on e"er, side (ith a pett,@%o$rgeois at-osphere# (hich per-eates and corr$pts

the proletariat and ca$ses constant relapses a-ong the proletariat into pett,@%o$rgeois spinelessness#

dis$nit,# indi"id$alis-# and alternate -oods of e!altation and deBection. The strictest centraliation and

discipline are re$ired (ithin the political part, of the proletariat in order to co$nteract this# in order that

the o!gani.ational role of the proletariat 3and that is its !in#ial role -a, %e e!ercised correctl,#


http://www.marx2mao.com/Lenin/LWC20.html#fnp31







s$ccessf$ll,# "ictorio$sl,. The dictatorship of the proletariat is a persistent str$ggle @@ %lood, and

%loodless# "iolent and peacef$l# -ilitar, and econo-ic# ed$cational and ad-inistrati"e @@ against the

forces and traditions of the old societ,. The force of ha%it of -illions and tens of -illions is a -ost

terri%le force. itho$t an iron part, te-pered in the str$ggle# (itho$t a part, enBo,ing the confidence of

all that is honest in the gi"en class# (itho$t a part, capa%le of (atching and infl$encing the -ood of the

-asses# it is i-possi%le to cond$ct s$ch a str$ggle s$ccessf$ll,. It is a tho$sand ti-es easier to "an$ishthe centralied %ig %o$rgeoisie than to :"an$ish: the -illions and -illions of s-all o(ners= ,et the,# %,

their ordinar,# e"er,da,# i-percepti%le# el$si"e# de-oraliing acti"it,# achie"e the "er, res$lts (hich the

%o$rgeoisie need and (hich tend to restore the %o$rgeoisie. hoe"er (ea*ens e"er so little the iron

discipline of the part, of the proletariat 3especiall, d$ring the ti-e of its dictatorship# act$all, aids the

%o$rgeoisie against the proletariat.

Side %, side (ith the $estion of leaders @@ part, @@ class @@ -asses# (e -$st disc$ss the $estion of

the :reactionar,: trade $nions. ;$t first I shall ta*e the li%ert, of -a*ing a fe( concl$ding re-ar*s

%ased on the e!perience of o$r Part,. There ha"e al(a,s %een attac*s on the :dictatorship of leaders: in

o$r Part,. The first ti-e I heard s$ch attac*s# I recall# (as in 1A95# (hen# officiall,# no part, ,et e!isted# %$t (hen a central gro$p %egan to %e for-ed in St. Peters%$rg (hich (as to $nderta*e the leadership of

the district gro$ps. <t the inth +ongress of o$r Part, 3<pril 19)0 there (as a s-all opposition (hich

also spo*e against the :dictatorship of leaders#: against the :oligarch,#: and so on. There is therefore

nothing s$rprising# nothing ne(# nothing terri%le in the :infantile disorder: of :Left@(ing +o--$nis-:

a-ong the ?er-ans. The illness does not in"ol"e an, danger# and after it the constit$tion %eco-es e"en

stronger. 4n the other hand# in o$r case# the rapid alternation of legal and illegal (or*# (hich -ade it

partic$lar l, necessar, to :conceal#: to cloa* in partic$lar secrec, pre cisel, the general staff# precisel,

the leaders# so-eti-es ga"e rise to e!tre-el, dangero$s pheno-ena. The (orst (as that in 191) the

agent@pro"ocate$r 'alino"s*, got on the ;olshe"i* +entral +o--ittee. &e %etra,ed scores and scores

of the %est and -ost lo,al co-rades# ca$sed the- to %e sent to penal ser"it$de and hastened the death of

-an, of the-. That he did not ca$se still greater har- (as d$e to the fact that (e had a proper

relationship %et(een legal and illegal (or*. <s a -e-%er of the +entral +o--ittee of the Part, and a

dep$t, to the C$-a# 'alino"s*, (as forced# in order to gain o$r confidence# to aid $s in esta%lishing

legal dail, papers# (hich e"en $nder tsardo- (ere a%le to (age a str$ggle against the opport$nis- of

the 'enshe"i*s and to propagate the f$nda-entals of ;olshe"is- in a s$ita%l, disg$ised for-. hile

'alino"s*, (ith one hand sent scores and scores of the %est ;olshe"i*s to penal ser"it$de and to death#

he (as o%liged (ith the other to assist in the ed$cation of scores and scores of tho$sands of ne(

;olshe"i*s thro$gh the -edi$- of the legal press. Those ?er-an 3as (ell as ;ritish# <-erican# French

and Italian co-rades (ho are confronted (ith the tas* of learning ho( to cond$ct re"ol$tionar, (or*

inside the reactionar, trade $nions# (o$ld do (ell to gi"e serio$s tho$ght to this fact.H

In -an, co$ntries# incl$ding the -ost ad"anced# the %o$rgeoisie is $ndo$%tedl, no( sending agents@

pro"ocate$rs

H 'alino"s*, (as a prisoner@of@(ar in ?er-an,. hen he ret$rned to 2$ssia $nder the r$le of the



;olshe"i*s# he (as instantl, p$t on trial and shot %, o$r (or*ers. The 'enshe"i*s attac*ed $s -ost

%itterl, for o$r -ista*e @@ the fact that an agent@pro"ocate$r had %eco-e a -e-%er of the +entral

+o--ittee of o$r Part,. ;$t (hen# $nder >erens*,# (e de-anded the arrest and trial of 2od,an*o# the

Spea*er of the C$-a# %eca$se he had *no(n e"en %efore the (ar that 'alino"s*, (as an agent@

pro"ocate$r and had not infor-ed the Tr$do"i*i/1! and the (or*ers in the C$-a# neither the

'enshe"i*s nor the Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries in the >erens*, go"ern-ent s$pported o$r de-and. and2od,an*o re-ained at large and (ent off $nhindered to Boin Ceni*in.

into the +o--$nist parties and (ill contin$e to do so. 4ne -ethod of co-%ating this peril is %, s*ilf$ll,

co-%ining illegal and legal (or*.

VI

SHOULD REVOLUTIONARIES WORK

IN REACTIONAR! TRADE UNIONS ?

The ??er-an :Lefts consider that as far as the, are concerned the repl, to this $estion is an

$n$alified negati"e. In their opinion# decla-ations and angr, eBac$lations 3s$ch as $ttered %, >. &orner

in a partic$larl, :solid: and partic$larl, st$pid -anner against :reactionar,: and :co$nter@

re"ol$tionar,: trade $nions are s$fficient :proof: that# it is $nnecessar, and e"en i-per-issi%le for

re"ol$tionaries and +o--$nists to (or* in ,ello(# social@cha$"inist# co-pro-ising# co$nter@

re"ol$tionar, trade $nions of the Legien t,pe.

;$t ho(e"er strongl, the ?er-an :Lefts: -a, %e con"inced of the re"ol$tionis- of s$ch tactics#

these tactics are in fact f$nda-entall, (rong# and a-o$nt to no -ore than e-pt, phrase@-ongering.

To -a*e thls clear# I shall %egin (ith o$r o(n e!perience @@ in *eeping (ith the general plan of the

present pa-phlet# the o%Bect of (hich is to appl, to estern E$rope (hate"er is of general application#

general "alidit, and generall, %inding force in the histor, and the present tactics of ;olshe"is-.

The correlation %et(een leaders @@ Part, @@ class @@ -asses# as (ell as the relation of the dictatorship of

the proletariat and its part, to the trade $nions# no( present the-sel"es concretel, in 2$ssia in the

follo(ing for-8 the dictatorship is e!ercised %, the proletariat# organied in the So"iets= the proletariat is

led %, the +o--$nist Part, 3;olshe"i*s# (hich# according to the data of the last Part, +ongress 3<pril

19)0# has a -e-%ership of 611#000. The -e-%ership fl$ct$ated greatl, %oth %efore and after the4cto%er 2e"ol$tion# and (as for-erl, considera%l, less# e"en in 191A and 1919./17 e are afraid of an

e!cessi"e gro(th of the Part,# %eca$se careerists and charlatans# (ho deser"e onl, to %e shot# ine"ita%l,

stri"e to attach the-sel"es to the r$ling part,. The last ti-e (e opened (ide the doors of the Part, @@ for

(or*ers and peasants onl, @@ (as d$ring the da,s 3the (inter of 1919 (hen $denich (as (ithin a fe(

"ersts of Petrograd# and Ceni*in (as in 4rel 3a%o$t 50 "ersts fro- 'osco(# that is# (hen the So"iet

2ep$%lic (as in desperate# -ortal danger# and (hen ad"ent$rers# careerists# charlatans and $nrelia%le

persons generall, co$ld not possi%l, co$nt on -a*ing a profita%le career 3and had -ore reason to e!pect







the gallo(s and tort$re %, Boining the +o--$nists. The Part,# (hich holds ann$al congresses 3the last

on the %asis of one delegate for each 1#000 -e-%ers# is directed %, a +entral +o--ittee of nineteen

elected at the congress# and the c$rrent (or* in 'osco( has to %e carried on %, still s-aller %odies# "i.#

the so@called :4rg%$ro: 34rganiation ;$rea$ and :Polit%$ro: 3Political ;$rea$# (hich are elected at

plenar, -eetings of the +entral +o--ittee# fi"e -e-%ers of the +entral +o--ittee to each %$rea$.

This# it (o$ld appear# is a f$ll@fledged :oligarch,.: ot a single i-portant political or organiational$estion is decided %, an, state instit$tion in o$r rep$%lic (itho$t the g$iding instr$ctions of the +entral

+o--ittee of the Part,.

In its (or*# the Part, relies directl, on the trade $nions# (hich# at present# according to the data of the

last congress 3<pril 19)0# ha"e o"er #000#000 -e-%ers# and (hich are for-all,non-a!t+. <ct$all,# all

the directing %odies of the "ast -aBorit, of the t!ae unions# and pri-aril,# of co$rse# of the all@2$ssian

general trade $nion centre or %$rea$ 3the <ll 2$ssian +entral +o$ncil of Trade Knions# consist of

+o--$nists and carr, o$t all the directi"es of the Part,. Th$s# on the (hole# (e ha"e a for-all, non@

+o--$nist# fle!i%le and relati"el, (ide and "er, po(erf$l proletarian apparat$s# %, -eans of (hich the

Part, is closel, lin*ed $p (ith the #lass and (ith the masses# and %, -eans of (hich# $nder theleadership of the Part,# thei#tato!s%i of t%e #lass is e!ercised. itho$t close contact (ith the trade

$nions# (itho$t their heart, s$pport and self@sacrificing (or*# not onl, in econo-ic# )ut also in

milita!+ affairs# it (o$ld# of co$rse# ha"e %een i-possi%le for $s to go"ern the co$ntr, and to -aintain

the dictatorship for t(o@and@a@half -onths# let alone t(o@and@a@half ,ears. at$rall,# in practice# this

close contact calls for "er, co-plicated and di"ersified (or* in the for- of propaganda# agitation#

ti-el, and fre$ent conferences# not onl, (ith the leading trade $nion (or*ers# %$t (ith infl$ential trade

$nion (or*ers generall,= it calls for a deter-ined str$ggle against the 'enshe"i*s# (ho still ha"e a

certain# tho$gh "er, s-all# n$-%er of adherents# (ho- the, teach all possi%le co$nter@re"ol$tionar,

tric*s# fro- ideologicall, defending de-ocrac, 3)ou!geois and preaching :independence: of the trade

$nions 3independent of the proletarian state po(erD to sa%otaging proletarian discipline# etc.# etc.

e consider that contact (ith the :-asses: thro$gh trade $nions is not eno$gh. In the co$rse of the

re"ol$tion prac tical acti"ities ha"e gi"en rise to non-a!t+ (o!$e!s' an easants' #onfe!en#es# and (e

stri"e %, e"er, -eans to s$pport# de"elop and e!tend this instit$tion in order to %e a%le to follo( the

senti-ents of the -asses# to co-e closer to the-# to respond to their re$ire-ents# to pro-ote the %est

a-ong the- to state posts# etc. Knder a recent decree on the transfor-ation of the Peoples

+o--issariat of State +ontrol into the :or*ers and Peasants Inspection#: non@part, conferences of

this *ind are gi"en the right to elect -e-%ers of the State +ontrol for "ario$s *inds of in"estigations#

etc.

Then# of co$rse# all the (or* of the Part, is carried on thro$gh the So"iets# (hich e-%race the

(or*ing -asses irrespecti"e of occ$pation. The district congresses of So"iets areemo#!ati# instit$tions

the li*e of (hich e"en the %est of the de-ocratic rep$%lics of the %o$rgeois (orld has ne"er *no(n= and

thro$gh these congresses 3(hose proceedings the Part, endea"o$rs to follo( (ith the closest attention#

as (ell as %, contin$all, appointing class@conscio$s (or*ers to "ario$s posts in the r$ral districts# the

role of the proletariat as leader of the peasantr, is e!ercised# the dictatorship of the $r%an proletariat is



realied# a s,ste-atic str$ggle against the rich# %o$rgeois# e!ploiting and profiteering peasantr, is

(aged# etc.

S$ch is the general -echanis- of the proletarian state po(er "ie(ed :fro- a%o"e#: fro- the

standpoint of the practical realiation of the dictatorship. It can %e hoped that the reader (ill $nderstand

(h, the 2$ssian ;olshe"i* (ho is a $ainted (ith this -echanis- and (ho for t(ent,@fi"e ,ears has

(atched it gro(ing o$t of s-all# illegal# $ndergro$nd circles# cannot help regarding all this tal* a%o$t:fro- a%o"e: o! :fro- %elo(#: a%o$t the dictatorship of leaders o ! the dictatorship of the -asses# etc.#

as ridic$lo$s and childish nonsense# so-ething li*e disc$ssing (hether a -ans left leg or right ar- is

-ore $sef$l to hi-.

<nd (e cannot %$t regard as e$all, ridic$lo$s and childish nonsense the po-po$s# "er, learned# and

frightf$ll, re"ol$tionar, dis$isitions of the ?er-an Lefts to the effect that +o--$-sts cannot and

sho$ld not (or* in reactionar, trade $nions# that it is per-issi%le to t$rn do(n s$ch (or*# that it is

necessar, to lea"e the trade $nions and to create an a%sol$tel, %rand@ne(# i--ac$late :or*ers Knion

in"ented %, "er, nice 3and# pro%a%l,# for the -ost part "er, ,o$thf$l +o--$nists# etc.# etc.

+apitalis- ine"ita%l, lea"es Socialis- the legac,# on the one hand# of old trade and craft distinctions

a-ong tne (or*ers# distinctions e"ol"ed in the co$rse of cent$ries= and# on the other hand# trade $nions

(hich onl, "er, slo(l,# in the co$rse of ,ears and ,ears# can and (ill de"elop into %roader# ind$strial

$nions (ith less of the craft $nion a%o$t the- 3e-%racing (hole ind$stries# and not onl, crafts# trades

and occ$pations# and later proceed# thro$gh these ind$strial $nions# to eli-inate the di"islon of la%o$r

a-ong people# to ed$cate# school and train people (ith an all-!oun e&eloment an an all-!oun

t!aining # people (ho $no( %o( to o e&e!+t%ing . +o--$nis- is ad"ancing and -$st ad"ance to(ards

this goal# and (ill !ea#% it # %$t onl, after "er, -an, ,ears. To atternpt in practice toda, to anticipate this

f$t$re res$lt of a f$ll, de"eloped# f$ll, sta%ilied and for-ed# f$ll, e!panded and -at$re +o--$nis-

(o$ld %e li*e tr,ing to teach higher -athe-atics to a fo$r@,ear@old child.

e can 3and -$st %egin to %$ild Socialis-# not (ith i-aginar, h$-an -aterial# nor (ith h$-an

-aterial speciall, prepared %, $s# %$t (ith the h$-an -aterial %e$eathed to $s %, capitalis-. Tr$e#

that is "er, :diffic$lt#: %$t no other approach to this tas* is serio$s eno$gh to (arrant disc$ssion.

The trade $nions (ere a tre-endo$s progressi"e step for the (or*ing class in the earl, da,s of

capitalist de"elop-ent# inas-$ch as the, represented a transition fro- the dis$nit, and helplessness of

the (or*ers to the !uaments of class organiation. hen the highest for- of proletarian class

organiation %egan to arise# "i.# the !e&olutiona!+ a!t+ of t%e !oleta!iat 3(hich (ill not deser"e the

na-e $ntil it learns to %ind the leaders (ith the class and the -asses into one single indissol$%le (hole#the trade $nions ine"ita%l, %egan to re"eal #e!tain reactionar, feat$res# a certain craft narro(ness# a

certain tendenc, to %e nonpolitical# a certain inertness# etc. ;$t the de"elop-ent of the proletariat did

not# and co$ld not# proceed an,(here in the (orld other(ise than thro$gh reciprocal action %et(een

the- and the part, of the (or*ing class. The con$est of political po(er %, the proletariat is a gigantic

for(ard step for the proletariat as a class# and the Part, -$st -ore than e"er and in a ne( (a,# not onl,

in the old (a,# ed$cate and g$ide the trade $nions# at the sa-e ti-e %earing in -ind that the, are and

(ill long re-ain an indispensa%le :school of +o--$nis-: and a preparator, school that trains the



proletarians to e!ercise their dictatorship# an indispensa%le organiation of the (or*ers for the grad$al

transfer of the -anage-ent of the (hole econo-ic life of the co$ntr, to the (or*ing #lass 3and not to

the separate trades# and later to all the (or*ing people.

< #e!tain a-o$nt of :reactionariness: in the trade $nions# in the sense -entioned# is ine&ita)le $nder

the dictatorship of the proletariat. Fail$re to $nderstand this signifies co-plete fail$re to $nderstand the

f$nda-ental conditions of the t!ansition fro- capitalis- to Socialis-. To fear t%is :reactionariness#: to#tr, to a"oid it# to leap o"er it# (o$ld %e the greatest foll,# for it (o$ld %e fearing that f$nction of the

proletarian "ang$ard (hich consists in training# ed$cating# enlightening and dra(ing into the ne( life

the -ost %ac*(ard strata and -asses of the (or*ing class and the peasantr,. 4n the other hand# to

postpone the achie"e-ent of the dictatorship of the proletariat $ntil a ti-e co-es (hen not a single

(or*er is left (ith a narro( craft o$tloo*# or (ith craft and craft@$nion prerdices# (o$ld %e a greater

-ista*e. The art of politics 3and the +o--$nists correct $nderstanding of his tas*s lies in correctl,

ga$ging the conditions and the -o-ent (hen the "ang$ard of the proletariat can s$ccessf$ll, seie

po(er# (hen it is a%le# d$ring and after the sei$re of po(er# to o%tain ade$ate s$pport fro- ade$atel,

%road strata of the (or*ing class and of the non@proletarian (or*ing -asses# and (hen it is a%lethereafter to -aintain# consolidate and e!tend its r$le %, ed$cating# training and attracting e"er %roader

-asses of the (or*ing people.

F$rther. In co$ntries -ore ad"anced than 2$ssia# a certain reactionariness in the trade $nions has %een

and (as %o$nd to %e -anifested to a -$ch stronger degree than in o$r co$ntr,. 4$r 'enshe"i*s fo$nd

s$pport in the trade $nions 3and to so-e e!tent still find in a "er, fe( $nions# precisel, %eca$se of the

craft narro(ness# craft egotis- and opport$nis-. The 'enshe"i*s of the est ha"e ac$ired a -$ch

fir-er :footing: in the trade $nions= there the #!aft-

union# na!!o(ine # selfis%# #ase%a!ene # #o&etous# ett+-)ou!geois "la)ou! a!isto#!a#+#:ime!ialist-

mine # ime!ialist )!i)e an ime!ialist-#o!!ute # e-erged as a -$ch stronger strat$- than in o$rco$ntr,. That is incontesta%le. The str$ggle against the ?o-perses# against 'essrs. Jo$ha$!# &enderson#

'errhei-# Legien and +o. in estern E$rope is -$ch -ore diffic$lt than the str$ggle against o$r

'enshe"i*s# (ho represent an a)solutel+ %omogeneous social and political t,pe. This str$ggle -$st %e

(aged r$thlessl,# and it -$st $nfailingl, %e %ro$ght @@ as (e %ro$ght it @@ to a point (hen all the

incorrigi%le leaders opport$nis- and social@cha$"is- are co-pletel, discredited and dri"en o$t of the

trade $nions. Political po(er cannot %e capt$red 3and the atte-pt to capt$re it sho$ld not %e -ade $ntil

the str$ggle has reached a #e!tain stage. This :certain stage: (ill %e iffe!ent in different co$ntries and in

different circ$-stances= it can %e correctl, ga$ged onl, %, tho$ghtf$l# e!perienced and *no(ledgea%le

political leaders of the proletariat in each partic$lar co$ntr,. 3In 2$ssia# one a-ong other criteria of thes$ccess of this str$ggle (as the elections to the +onstit$ent <sse-%l, in o"e-%er 1917# a fe( da,s

after the proletarian re"ol$tion of 4cto%er )5# 1917. In these elections the 'enshe"i*s (ere $tterl,

defeated= the, o%tained 700#000 "otes @@ 1#00#000 if the "ote of Transca$casia %e added @@ as against

9#000#000 "otes polled %, the ;olshe"i*s. See -, article# :The Elections to the +onstit$ent <sse-%l,

and the Cictatorship of the Proletariat#/1( in the Communist Inte!national # o. 7@A.

;$t (e (age the st$ggle against the :la%o$r aristocrac,: in the na-e of the -asses of the (or*ers and





in order to (in the- to o$r side= (e (age the str$ggle against the opport$nist and social@cha$"inist

leaders in order to (in the (or*ing class to o$r side. To forget this -ost ele-entar, and -ost self@

e"ident tr$th (o$ld %e st$pid. <nd it is precisel, this st$pidit, the ?er-an :Left: +o--$nists are g$ilt,

of (hen# )e#ause of the reactionar, and co$nter@re"ol$tionar, character of the trade $nion to

leae!s%i# the, B$-p to the concl$sion that . . . (e -$st lea"e the trade $nionsDD that (e -$st ref$se to

(or* in the-DD that (e -$st create ne( and a ! t i f i # i a I for-s of la%o$r organiationDD This is s$chan $npardona%le %l$nder that it is e$al to the greatest ser"ice the +o--$nists co$ld render the

%o$rgeoisie. For o$r 'enshe"i*s# li*e all the opport$nist# social@cha$"inist# >a$ts*,ite trade $nion

leaders# are nothing %$t :agents of the %o$rgeoisie in the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent: 3as (e ha"e al(a,s

said the 'enshe"i*s (ere# or :la%o$r lie$tenants of the capitalist class#: to $se the splendid and

profo$ndl, tr$e e!pression of the follo(ers of Caniel CeLeon in <-erica. To ref$se to (or* in the

reactionar, trade $nions -eans lea"ing the ins$fficientl, de"eloped or %ac*(ard -asses of (or*ers

$nder the infl$ence of the reactionar, leaders# the agents of the %o$rgeoisie# the la%o$r aristocrats# or the

:(or*ers (ho ha"e %eco-e co-pletel, %o$rgeois: 3cf. Engels letter to 'ar! in 1A5A a%o$t the ;ritish

(or*ers/19.

It is precisel, this a%s$rd :theor,: that +o--$nists -$st not (or* in reactionar, trade $nions that

%rings o$t (ith the greatest clarit, ho( fri"olo$s is the attit$de of the :Left: +o--$nists to(ards the

$estion of infl$encing :the -asses#: and to (hat a%$ses the, go in their "ociferations a%o$t :the

-asses.: If ,o$ (ant to help :the -asses: and to (in the s,-path, and s$pport of :the -asses#: ,o$

-$st not fear diffic$lties# ,o$ -$st not fear the pinpric*s# chicaner,# ins$lts and persec$tion on the part

of the :leaders: 3(ho# %eing opport$nists and social@cha$"inists# are in -ost cases directl, or indirectl,

connected (ith the %o$rgeoisie and the police# %$t -$st i-perati"el, (o!$ (%e!e&e! t%e masses a!e to

)e foun . o$ -$st %e capa%le of e"er, sacrifice# of o"er co-ing the greatest o%stacles in order to carr,

on agitation and propaganda s,ste-aticall,# perse"eringl,# persistentl, and patientl,# precisel, in those

instit$tions# societies and associations @@ e"en the -ost $ltra@reactionar, @@ in (hich proletarian or

se-iproletarian -asses are to %e fo$nd. <nd the trade $nions and (or*ers cooperati"es 3the latter

so-eti-es# at least are precisel, organiations (here the -asses are to %e fo$nd. <ccording to fig$res

$oted in the S(edish paper 3ol$ets ag)la Politi$en on 'arch 10# 19)0# trade $nion -e-%ership in

?reat ;ritain increased fro- 5#500#000 at the end of 1917 to 6#600#000 at the end of 191A# an increase of

19 per cent. To(ards the close of 1919 the -e-%ership (as esti-ated at 7#500#000. I ha"e not at hand

the corresponding fig$res for France and ?er-an,# %$t a%sol$tel, incontesta%le and generall, *no(n

facts testif, to a rapid gro(th of trade $nion -e-%ership in these co$ntries too.

These facts r-a*e cr,stal clear (hat is confir-ed %, tho$ sands of other s,-pto-s# na-el,# that classconscio$sness and the desire for organiation are gro(ing precisel, a-ong the proletarian -asses#

a-ong the :ran* and file#: a-ong the %ac*(ard ele-ents. 'illions of (or*ers in ?reat ;ritain# France

and ?er-an, are fo! t%e fi!st time passing fro- a co-plete lac* of organiation to the ele-entar,#

lo(est# -ost si-ple# and 3for those still thoro$ghl, i-%$ed (ith %o$rgeois@de-ocratic preB$dices -ost

easil, co-prehensi%le for- of organiation# na-el,# the trade $nions# ,et the re"ol$tionar,# %$t

i-pr$dent# Left +o--$nists stand %,# sho$ting :the -asses# the -assesD: @@ and !efuse to (o!$ (it%in

t%e t ! a e u n i o n s DD ref$se on the prete!t that the, are :reactionar,:DD and in"ent a %rand@ne(#





i--ac$late little :or*ers Knion#: (hich is g$iltless of %o$rgeois@de-ocratic preB$dices and innocent

of craft or narro( craft@$nion sins# (hich# the, clai-# (ill %e 3(ill %eD a %road organiation# and the

onl, 3onl,D condition of -e-%ership of (hich (ill %e :recognition of the So"iet s,ste- and the

dictatorship:DD 3See passage $oted a%o"e.

?reater foolishness and greater da-age to the re"ol$tion than that ca$sed %, the :Left:

re"ol$tionaries cannot %e i-aginedD h,# if (e in 2$ssia toda,# after t(o and a half ,ears of$nprecedented "ictories o"er the %o$rgeoisie of 2$ssia and the Entente# (ere to -a*e :recognition of

the dictatorship: a condition of trade $nion -e-%ership# (e sho$ld %e co--itting a foll,# (e sho$ld %e

da-aging o$r infl$ence o"er the -asses# (e sho$ld %e helping the 'enshe"i*s. For the (hole tas* of

the +o--$nists is to %e a%le to #on&in#e the %ac*(ard ele-ents# to (or* among the-# and not to fen#e

t%emsel&es off fro- the- %, artificial and childishl, :Left: slogans.

There need %e no do$%t that 'essrs. ?o-pers# &enderson# Jo$ha$!# and Legien are "er, gratef$l to

:Left: re"ol$tionaries (ho# li*e the ?er-an opposition :on principle: 3hea"en preser"e $s fro- s$ch

:principles:D# or li*e so-e of the re"ol$tionaries in the <-erican Ind$strial or*ers of the orld#

/$0 ad"ocate lea"ing the reactionar, trade $nions and ref$sal to (or* in the-. There need %e no do$%t

that those gentle-en# the :leaders: of opport$nis-# (ill resort to e"er, tric* of %o$rgeois diplo-ac,# to

the aid of %o$rgeois go"ern-ents# the priests# the police and the co$rts# to pre"ent +o--$nists Boining

the trade $nions# to force the- o$t %, e"er, -eans# to -a*e their (or* in the trade $nions as $npleasant

as possi%le# to ins$lt# %ait and persec$te the-. e -$st %e a%le to (ithstand all this# to agree to all and

e"er, sacrifice# and e"en @@ if need %e @@ to resort to "ario$s stratage-s# artifices# illegal -ethods# to

e"asions and s$%terf$ges# onl, so as to get into the trade $nions# to re-ain in the-# and to carr, on

+o--$nist (or* (ithin the- at all costs. Knder tsardo- (e had no :legal possi%ilities: (hate"er $ntil

1905= %$t (hen N$%ato"# a secret police agent# organied ;lac* &$ndred (or*ers asse-%lies and

(or*ing-ens societies for the p$rpose of trapping re"ol$tionaries and co-%ating the-# (e sent-e-%ers of o$r Part, to these asse-%lies and into these societies 3I personall, re-e-%er one of the-#

+o-rade ;a%$sh*in# a pro-inent St. Peters%$rg (or*er# (ho (as shot %, the tsars generals in 1906.

The, esta%lished contact (ith the -asses# -anaged to carr, on their agitation# and s$cceeded in (resting

(or*ers fro- the infl$ence of N$%ato"s agents./) 4f co$rse# in estern E$rope# (here legalistic#

constit$tionalist# %o$rgeois@de-ocratic preB$dices ha"e a partic$lar tenacit, and are "er, deepl,

ingrained# this is a -ore diffic$lt Bo%. ;$t it can and sho$ld %e carried o$t# and carried o$t s,ste-aticall,.

The E!ec$ti"e +o--ittee of the Third International -$st# in -, opinion# positi"el, conde-n# and

call $pon the ne!t congress of the +o--$nist International to conde-n# %oth the polic, of ref$sing to

Boin reactionar, trade $nions in general 3e!plaining in detail (h, s$ch ref$sal is $n(ise# and (hat

e!tre-e har- it does to the ca$se of the proletarian re"ol$tion and# in partic$lar# the line of cond$ct of

so-e -e-%ers of the +o--$nist Part, of &olland# (ho @@ (hether directl, or indirectl,# openl, or

co"ertl,# (holl, or partl, does not -atter @@ s$pported this erroneo$s polic,. The Third Inter@

H The ?o-perses# &endersons# Jo$ha$! and Legiens are nothing %$t N$%ato"s# differing fro- o$r







N$%ato" onl, in their E$ropean dress# polish# ci"ilied# refined# de-ocraticall, slee* -anner of

cond$cting their despica%le polic,.

national -$st %rea* (ith the tactics of the Second International= it -$st not e"ade or gloss o"er sore

points# %$t -$st p$t the- %l$ntl,. The (hole tr$th has %een p$t s$arel, to the :Independents: 3the

Independent Social@Ce-ocratic Part, of ?er-an,= the (hole tr$th -$st li*e(ise %e p$t s$arel, to the

:Left: +o--$nists.

VII

SHOULD WE PARTICIPATE

IN BOURGEOIS PARLIAMENTS ?

The ?er-an :Left: +o--$nists# (ith the greatest con te-pt @@ and (ith the greatest fri"olit, @@ repl,

to this $estion in the negati"e. Their arg$-ents In the passage $oted a%o"e (e read8

:. . . 4ne -$st e-phaticall, reBect . . . all re"ersion to parlia-entar, for-s of str$ggle# (hich ha"e

%eco-e historicall, and politicall, o%solete. . . .:

This is said (ith a%s$rd pretentio$sness# and is o%"io$sl, incorrect. :2e"ersion: to parlia-entaris-D

Perhaps there is alread, a So"iet rep$%lic in ?er-an, It see-s notD &o(# then# can one spea* of

:re"ersion: Is this not an e-pt, phrase

Parlia-entaris- has %eco-e :historicall, o%solete.: That is tr$e as regards propaganda. ;$t e"er,one

*no(s that this is still a long (a, fro- o"erco-ing it !a#ti#all+. +apitalis- co$ld ha"e %een declared#

and (ith f$ll B$stice# to %e :historicall, o%solete: -an, decades ago# %$t that does not at all re-o"e theneed for a "er, long and "er, persistent str$ggle on t%e soil of capitalis-. Parlia-entaris- is

:historicall, o%solete: fro- the standpoint of (o!l %isto!+# that is to sa,# the e!a of %o$rgeois

parlia-entaris- has co-e to an end and the e!a of the proletarian dictatorship has )egun. That is

incontesta%le. ;$t (orld histor, rec*ons in decades. Ten or t(ent, ,ears sooner or later -a*es no

difference (hen -eas$red %, the scale of (orld histor,= fro- the standpoint of (orld histor, it is a trifle

that cannot %e calc$lated e"en appro!i-atel,. ;$t precisel, for that reason it is a ho(ling theoretical

%l$nder to appl, the scale of (orld histor, to practical politics.

Is parlia-entaris- :politicall, o%solete: That is $ite another -atter. ere that tr$e# the position of

the :Lefts: (o$ld %e a strong one. ;$t it has to %e pro"ed %, a -ost searching anal,sis# and the :Lefts:

do not e"en *no( ho( to approach it. In the :Theses on Parlia-entaris-#: p$%lished in the Bulletin of

t%e P!o&isional Bu!eau in 2mste!am of t%e Communist Inte!national # o. 1# Fe%r$ar, 19)0# and

o%"io$sl, e!pressing the C$tch@Left or Left@C$tch stri"ings# the anal,sis# as (e shall see# is also

hopelessl, %ad.

In the first place# contrar, to the opinion of s$ch o$tstanding political leaders as 2osa L$!e-%$rg and

>arl Lie%*necht# the ?er-an :Lefts#: as (e *no(# considered parlia-entaris- to %e :politicall,



o%solete: e"en in Jan$ar,# 1919. e *no( that the :Lefts: (ere -ista*en. This fact alone $tterl,

destro,s# at a single stro*e# the proposition that parlia-entaris- is :politicall, o%solete.: The o%ligation

falls $pon the :Lefts: of pro"ing (h, their error# indisp$ta%le at that ti-e# has no( ceased to %e in error.

The, do not# and cannot prod$ce e"en a shado( of proof. The attit$de of a politicai part, to(ards its

o(n -ista*es is one of the -ost i-portant and s$rest (a,s of B$dging ho( earnest the part, is and ho(

it in !a#ti#e f$lfils its o%ligations to(ards its #lass and the toiling masses. Fran*l, ad-itting a -ista*e#ascertaining the reasons for it# anal,ing the conditions (hich led to it# and thoro$ghl, disc$ssing the

-eans of correcting it @@ that is the ear-ar* of a serio$s part,= that is the (a, it sho$ld perfor- its

d$ties# that is the (a, it sho$ld ed$cate and train the #lass# and then the masses. ;, failing to f$lfil this

d$t,# %, failing to gi"e the $t-ost attention# care and consideration to the st$d, of their o%"io$s -ista*e#

the :Lefts: in ?er-an, 3and in &olland# ha"e pro"ed that the, are not a a!t+ of t%e #lass# %$t a circle#

not a a!t+ of t%e masses# %$t a gro$p of intellect$als and of a fe( (or*ers (ho i-itate the (orst

feat$res of intellect$alis-.

Secondl,# in the sa-e pa-phlet of the Fran*f$rt gro$p of :Lefts: that (e ha"e alread, cited in detail#

(e read8

:. . . The -illions of (or*ers (ho still follo( the polic, of the +entre: 3the +atholic :+entre: Part,

:are co$nter@re"ol$tionar,. The r$ral proletarians pro"ide the legions of co$nter@re"ol$tionar, troops.:

3Page of the pa-phlet.

E"er,thing goes to sho( that this state-ent is -$ch too s(eeping and e!aggerated. ;$t the %asic fact

set forth here is incontro"erti%le# and its ac*no(ledge-ent %, the :Lefts: is partic$larl, clear e"idence

of their -ista*e. &o( can one sa, that :parlia-entaris- is pilitricall, o%solete#: (hen :-illions: and

:legions: of !oleta!ians are not onl, still in fa"o$r of parlia-entaris- in general# %$t are do(nright

:co$nter@re"ol$tionar,:D +learl,# parlia-entaris- in ?er-an, is not +et politicall, o%solete. +learl,#

the :Lefts: in ?er-an, ha"e -ista*ent%ei! esi!e# their political@ideological attit$de# for o%Becti"e

realit,. That is the -ost dangero$s -ista*e for re"ol$tionaries. In 2$ssia @@ (here# o"er a partic$larl,

long period and in partic$larl, "aried for-s# the e!tre-el, fierce and sa"age ,o*e of tsardo- prod$ced

re"ol$tionaries of di"erse shades# re"ol$tionaries (ho displa,ed astonishing de"otion# enth$sias-#

herois- and strength of (ill @@ in 2$ssia (e ha"e o%ser"ed this -ista*e of the re"ol$tionaries "er,

closel,# (e ha"e st$died it "er, attenti"el, and ha"e first@hand *no(ledge of it= and (e can therefore

notice it especiall, clearl, in others. Parlia-entaris-# of co$rse# is :politicall, o%solete: for the

+o--$nists in ?er-an,= %$t @@ and that is the (hole point @@ (e -$st not regard (hat is o%solete fo!

us as %eing o%solete fo! t%e #lass# as %eing o%solete fo! t%e masses. &ere again (e find that the :Lefts:

do not *no( ho( to reason# do not *no( ho( to act as the part, of the #lass# as the part, of the masses.

o$ -$st not sin* to the le"el of the -asses# to the le"el of the %ac*(ard strata of the class. That is

incontesta%le. o$ -$st tell the- the %itter tr$th. o$ -$st call their %o$rheois@de-ocratic and

parlia-entar, preB$dices @@ preB$dices. ;$t at the sa-e ti-e ,o$ -$st so)e!l+ follo( the a#tual state of

class conscio$sness and preparedness of the (hole class 3not onl, of its +o--$nist "ang$ard# of all the

toiling masses 3not onl, of their ad"anced ele-ents.

E"en if not :-illions: and :legions#: %$t onl, a fairl, large mino!it+ of ind$strial (or*ers follo( the



+atholic priests @@ and a si-ilar -inorit, of r$ral (or*ers follo( the landlords and *$la*s

3!oss)aue!n @@ it unou)tel+ follo(s that parlia-entaris- in ?er-an, is not ,et politicall, o%solete#

that participation in parlia-entar, elections and in the str$ggle on the parlia-entr, rostr$-

is o)ligato!+ for the part, of the re"ol$tionar, eroletariat !e#isel+ for the p$rpose of ed$cating the

%ac*(ard strata of its o(n #lass# precisel, for the p$rpose of a(a*ening and enlightening the

$nde"eloped# do(ntrodden# ignorant r$ral masses. <s long as ,o$ are $na%le to disperse the %o$rgeois parlia-ent and e"er, other t,pe of reactionar, instit$tion# ,o$ must (or* inside the- !e#isel+ %eca$se

there ,o$ (ill still find (or*ers (ho are doped %, priests and the dreariness of r$ral life= other(ise ,o$

ris* %eco-ing -ere %a%%lers.

Thirdl,# the :Left: +o--$nists ha"e a great deal to sa, in praise of $s ;olshe"i*s. 4ne so-eti-es

feels li*e telling the- to praise $s less and tr, to $nderstand the tactics of the ;olshe"i*s -ore# to

fa-iliarie the-sel"es (ith the- -oreD e too* part in the elections to the 2$ssian %o$rgeois

parlia-ent# the +onstit$ent <sse-%l,# in Septe-%er o"e-%er 1917. ere o$r tactics correct or not If

not# then this sho$ld %e clearl, stated and pro"ed# for it is essential in (or*ing o$t correct tactics for

international +o--$nis-. If the, (ere correct# then (e -$st dra( certain concl$sions. 4f co$rse# therecan %e no $estion of regarding conditions in 2$ssia on a par (ith conditions in estern E$rope. ;$t as

regards the special $estion of the -eaning of the concept that :parlia-entaris- has %eco-e politicall,

o%solete#: it is essential to ta*e caref$l acco$nt of o$r e!perience# for $nless concrete e!perience is ta*en

into acco$nt s$ch concepts "er, easil, t$rn into e-pt, phrases. Cid not (e# the 2$ssian ;olshe"i*s#

ha"e -ore right in Septe-%er o"e-%er 1917 than an, estern +o--$nists to consider that

parlia-entaris- (as politicall, o%solete in 2$ssia 4f co$rse (e did# for the point is not (hether

parlia-ents ha"e e!isted for a long ti-e or a short ti-e# %$t ho( far the %road -asses of the (or*ing

people are !ea!e! 3ideologicall,# politicall, and practicall, to accept the So"iet s,ste- and to

disperse the %o$rgeois@de-ocratic parlia-ent 3or allo( it to %e dispersed. That# o(ing to a n$-%er of

special conditions# the $r%an (or*ing class and the soldiers and peasants of 2$ssia (ere in Septe-%er@

o"e-%er 1917 e!ceptionall, (ell prepared to accept the So"iet s,ste- and to disperse the -ost

de-ocratic of %o$rgeois parlia-ents# is an a%sol$tel, incontesta%le and f$ll, esta%lished historical fact.

e"ertheless# the ;olshe"i*s did not %o,cott the +onstit$ent <sse-%l,# %$t too* part in the elections

%oth %efore the proletariat con$ered political po(er and afte! . That these elections ,ielded e!ceedingl,

"al$a%le 3and for the proletariat# highl, $sef$l political res$lts I ha"e pro"ed# I -a*e %old to hope# in

the a%o"e@-entioned article# (hich anal,es in detail the fig$res of the elections to the +onstit$ent

<sse-%l, in 2$ssia.

The concl$sion (hich follo(s fro- this is a%sol$tel, in contro"erti%le= it has %een pro"ed that participation in a %o$rgeois@de-ocratic parlia-ent e"en a fe( (ee*s %efore the "ictor, of a So"iet

rep$%lic# and e"en afte! s$ch a "ictor,# not onl, does not har- the re"ol$tonar, proletariat# %$t act$all,

helps it to !o&e to the %ac*(ard -asses (h, s$ch parlia-ents deser"e to %e dispersed= it %els their

s$ccessf$l dispersal# and helps to -a*e %o$rgeois parlia-entaris- :politicall, o%solete.: To ref$se to

heed this e!perience# and at the sa-e ti-e to clai- affiliation to the +o--$nist Inte!national # (hich

-$st (or* o$t its tactics inte!nationall+ 3not as narro( or one@sided national tactics# %$t as international

tactics# is to co--it the gra"est %l$nder and act$all, to retreat fro- internationalis- (hile recogniing



it in (ords.

o( let $s e!a-ine the :C$tch@Left: arg$-ents in fa"o$r of nonparticipation in parlia-ents. The

follo(ing is the te!t of the -ost i-portant of the a%o"e@-entioned :C$tch: theses# Thesis o. 8

:hen the capitalistic s,ste- of prod$ction has %ro*en do(n# and societ, is in a state of re"ol$tion#

parlia-entar, acti"it, grad$all, loses i-portance as co-pared (ith the action of the -asses the-sel"es.

hen then# parlia-ent %eco-es the centre and organ of the co$nter@re"ol$tion (hilst on the other hand#the la%o$ring class %$ilds $p the instr$-ents of its po(er in the So"iets# it -a, e"en pro"e necessar, to

a%stain fro- all and an, participation in parlia-entar, action.:

The first sentence is o%"io$sl, (rong# since the action of the -asses @@ a %ig stri*e# for instance @@ is

-ore i-portant than parlia-entar, acti"it, at all ti-es# and not onl, d$ring a re"ol$tion or in a

re"ol$tionar, sit$ation. This o%"io$sl, $ntena%le and historicall, and politicall, incorrect arg$-ent onl,

"er, clearl, sho(s that the a$thors a%sol$tel, ignore %oth the general E$ropean e!perience 3the French

e!perience %efore the re"ol$tions of 1AA and 1A70= the ?er-an e!perience of 1A7A@90# etc. and the

2$ssian e!perience 3see a%o"e as to the i-portance of #om)ining legal (ith illegal str$ggle. This

$estion is of i--ense i-portance in general# and in partic$lar# %eca$se in all ci"ilied and ad"anced

co$ntries the ti-e is rapidl, approaching (hen s$ch a co-%ination (ill -ore and -ore %eco-e @@ in part

it has alread, %eco-e @@ o%ligator, for the part, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat o(ing to the fact that

ci"il (ar %et(een the proletariat and the %o$rgeoisie is -at$ring and approaching# o(ing to the fierce

persec$tion of the +o--$nists %, rep$%lican go"ern-ents and %o$rgeois go"ern-ents generall,# (hich

resort to an, "iolation of legalit, 3(itness the e!a-ple of <-erica aloneD# and so on. This "er,

i-portant $estion the C$tch# and the Lefts in general# ha"e $tterl, failed to $nderstand.

<s for the second sentence# in the first place it is (rong historicall,. e ;olshe"i*s participated in the

-ost co$nter@re"ol$tionar, parlia-ents# and e!perience has sho(n that this participation (as not onl,

$sef$l %$t essential for the part, of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat precisel, after the first %o$rgeois

re"ol$tion in 2$ssia 31905 in order to prepare the (a, for the second %o$rgeois re"ol$tion 3Fe%r$ar,

1917# and then or the socialist re"ol$tion 34cto%er 1917. In the second place# this sentence is

a-aingl, illogical. If parlia-ent %eco-es an organ and a :centre: 3in realit, it ne"er has %een and

ne"er can %e a centre#: %$t that %, the (a, of co$nter@re"ol$tion# (hile the (or*ers are %$ilding $p

instr$-ents of their po(er in the for- of So"iets# it follo(s that the (or*ers -$st prepare @@

ideologicall,# politicall, and technicall, @@ for the str$ggle of the So"iets against parlia-ent# for the

dispersal of parlia-ent %, the So"iets. ;$t it does not follo( that this dispersal is hindered# or is not

facilitated# %, the presence of a So"iet opposition (it%in the co$nter@re"ol$tionar, parlia-ent. In the

co$rse of o$r "ictorio$s str$ggle against Cen*in and >olcha*# (e ne"er fo$nd that the e!istence of a

So"iet# proletarian opposition in their ca-p (as i--aterial to o$r "ictories. e *no( perfectl, (ell that

the dispersal of the +onstit$ent <sse-%l, on Jan$ar, 5# 191A# far fro- %eing hindered# (as act$all,

facilitated %, the fact that (ithin the co$nter@re"ol$tionar, +onstit$ent <sse-%l, a%o$t to %e dispersed

there (as a consistent# ;olshe"i*# as (ell as an inconsistent# Left Socialist@2e"ol$tionar,# So"iet

opposition. The a$thors of the theses are $tterl, conf$sed and ha"e forgotten the e!perience of -an,# if

not all# re"ol$tions# (hich sho(s ho( "er, $sef$l d$ring a re"ol$tion is the co-%ination of -ass action



o$tside the reactionar, parlia-ent (ith an opposition s,-pathetic to 3or# %etter still# directl, s$pporting

the re"ol$tion inside it. The C$tch# and the :Lefts: in general# arg$e li*e doctrinaire re"ol$tionaries (ho

ha"e ne"er ta*en part in a real re"ol$tion# or (ho ha"e ne"er deepl, pondered o"er the histor, of

re"ol$tions# or (ho ha"e nai"el, -ista*en the s$%Becti"e :reBection: of a certain reactionar, instit$tion

for its act$al destr$ction %, the co-%ined action of a n$-%er of o%Becti"e factors.

The s$rest (a, of discrediting and da-aging a ne( political 3and not onl, political idea is to red$ceit to a%s$rdit, on the plea of defending it. For e"er, tr$th# if :o"erdone: 3as Cietgen senior p$t it# if

e!aggerated# if carried %e,ond the li-its of its act$al applica%ilit,# can %e red$ced to a%s$rdit,# and is

e"en %o$nd to %eco-e an a%s$rdit, $nder these conditions. That is B$st the *ind of %ac*handed ser"ice

the C$tch and ?er-an Lefts are rendering the ne( tr$th that the So"iet for- of go"ern-ent is s$perior

to %o$rgeois@de-ocratic parlia-ents. It stands to reason that an,one (ho s$%scri%ed to the old "ie(# or

in general -aintained that ref$sal to participate in %o$rgeois parlia-ents is i-per-issi%le $nder an,

circ$-stances# (o$ld %e (rong. I cannot atte-pt to for-$late here the conditions $nder (hich a %o,cott

is $sef$l# for the o%Bect of this pa-phlet is far -ore -odest# na-el,# to st$d, 2$ssian e!perience in

connection (ith certain topical $estions of international co--$nist tactics. 2$ssian e!perience hasgi"en $s one s$ccessf$l and correct 31905 and one incorrect 31906 e!a-ple of the application of the

%o,cott %, the ;olshe"i*s. <nal,ing the first case (e see that (e s$cceeded in !e&enting t%e

#on&o#ation of a reactionar, parlia-ent %, a reactionar, go"ern-ent in a sit$ation in (hich e!tra@

parlia-entar,# re"ol$tionar, -ass action 3stri*es in partic$lar (as -o$nting (ith e!ceptional rapidit,#

(hen not a single section of the proletariat and of the peasantr, co$ld s$pport the reactionar,

go"ern-ent in an, (a,# (hen the re"ol$tionar, proletariat (as ac$iring infl$ence o"er the %road#

%ac*(ard -asses thro$gh the stri*e str$ggle and the agrarian -o"e-ent. It is $ite o%"io$s that

t%is e!perience is not applica%le to present@da, E$ropean conditions. It is li*e(ise $ite o%"io$s @@ and

the foregoing arg$-ents %ear this o$t @@ that the ad"ocac,# e"en if (ith reser"ations# %, the C$tch and

other :Lefts: of ref$sal to participate in parlia-ents is f$nda-entall, (rong and detri-ental to the ca$se

of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat.

In estern E$rope and <-erica parlia-ent has %eco-e especiall, a%horrent to the ad"anced

re"ol$tionar, -e-%ers of the (or*ing class. That is incontesta%le. It is $ite co-prehensi%le# for it is

diffic$lt to i-agine an,thing -ore "ile# a%o-ina%le and treachero$s than the %eha"io$r of the "ast

-aBorit, of the Socialist and Social@Ce-ocratic parlia-entar, dep$ties d$ring and after the (ar. ;$t it

(o$ld %e not onl, $nreasona%le# %$t act$all, cri-inal to ,ield to this -ood (hen deciding %o( this

generall, recognied e"il sho$ld %e fo$ght. In -an, co$ntries of estern E$rope the re"ol$tionar,

-ood# (e -ight sa,# is at present a :no"elt,#: or a :rarit,#: (hich had %een all too long (aited for "ainl,and i-patientl,= and perhaps that is (h, the -ood is so easil, s$cc$-%ed to. +ertainl,# (itho$t a

re"ol$tionar, -ood a-ong the -asses# and (itho$t conditions facilitating the gro(th of this -ood#

re"ol$tionar, tactics (o$ld ne"er %e con"erted into action= %$t (e in 2$ssia ha"e %eco-e con"inced %,

"er, long# painf$l and %lood, e!perience of the tr$th that re"ol$tionar, tactics cannot %e %$ilt on

re"ol$tionar, -oods alone. Tactics -$st %e %ased on a so%er and strictl, o%Becti"e appraisal of all the

class forces of the partic$lar state 3and of the states that s$rro$nd it# and of all states the (orld o"er as

(ell as of the e!perience of re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ents. To sho( ho( :re"ol$tionar,: one is solel, %,



h$rling a%$se at parlia-entar, opport$nis-# solel, %, rep$diating participation in parlia-ents# is "er,

eas,= %$t B$st %eca$se it is too eas,# it is not the sol$tion for a diffic$lt# a "er, diffic$lt pro%le-. It is

-$ch -ore diffic$lt to create a reall, re"ol$tionar, parlia-entar, gro$p in a E$ropean parlia-ent than it

(as in 2$ssia. 4f co$rse. ;$t that is onl, a partic$lar e!pression of the general tr$th that it (as eas, for

2$ssia# in the specific# historicall, "er, $ni$e sit$ation of 1917# to sta!t the socialist re"ol$tion# %$t it

(ill %e -ore diffic$lt for 2$ssia than for the E$ropean co$ntries to #ontinue the re"ol$tion and %ring itto its cons$--ation. I had occasion to point this o$t alread, at the %eginning of 191A# and o$r

e!perience of the past t(o ,ears has entirel, confir-ed the correctness of this "ie(. +ertain specific

conditions# "i.# 1 the possi%ilit, of lin*ing $p the So"iet re"ol$tion (ith the ending# as a conse$ence

of this re"ol$tion# of the i-perialist (ar# (hich had e!ha$sted the (or*ers and peasants to an incredi%le

degree= ) the possi%ilit, of ta*ing ad"antage for a certain ti-e of the -ortal conflict %et(een t(o

(orld@po(erf$l gro$ps of i-perialist ro%%ers# (ho (ere $na%le to $nite against their So"iet ene-,=

the possi%ilit, of end$ring a co-parati"el, length, ci"il (ar# partl, o(ing to the enor-o$s sie of the

co$ntr, and to the poor -eans of co--$nication= the e!istence of s$ch a profo$nd %o$rgeois@

de-ocratic re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ent a-ong the peasantr, that the part, of the proletariat (as a%le to

ta*e the re"ol$tionar, de-ands of the peasant part, 3the Socialist@2e"ol$tionar, Part,# the -aBorit, of

the -e-%ers of (hich (ere definitel, hostile to ;olshe"is- and realie the- at once# than*s to the

con$est of political po(er %, the proletariat @@ these specific conditions do not e!ist in estern E$rope

at present= and a repetition of s$ch or si-ilar conditions (ill not co-e so easil,. That# %, the (a,# apart

fro- a n$-%er of other ca$ses# is (h, it (ill %e -ore diffic$lt for estern E$rope to sta!t a socialist

re"ol$tion than it (as for $s. To atte-pt to :circ$-"ent: this diffic$lt, %, :s*ipping: the diffic$lt Bo% of

$tiliing reactionar, parlia-ents for re"ol$tionar, p$rposes is a%sol$tel, childish. o$ (ant to create a

ne( societ,# ,et ,o$ fear the diffic$lties in"ol"ed in for-ing a good parlia-entar, gro$p# -ade $p of

con"inced# de"oted# heroic +o--$nists# in a reactionar, parlia-entD Is that not childish If >arl

Lie%*necht in ?er-an, and N. &gl$nd in S(eden (ere a%le# e"en (itho$t -ass s$pport fro- %elo(# to

set e!a-ples in the tr$l, re"ol$tionar, $tiliation of reactionar, parlia-ents# ho( can one sa, that a

rapidl, gro(ing re"ol$tionar,# -ass part,# in the -idst of the post(ar disill$sion-ent and e-%itter-ent

of the -asses# cannot %amme! out a co--$nist gro$p in the (orst of parlia-entsD Precisel, %eca$se

the %ac*(ard -asses of the (or*ers and @@ to an e"en greater degree @@ of the s-all peasants are in

estern E$rope -$ch -ore i-%$ed (ith %o$rgeois@de-ocratic and parlia-entar, preB$dices than the,

(ere in 2$ssia# precisel, %eca$se of that# it is onl+ fro- (ithin s$ch instit$tions as %o$rgeois

parlia-ents that +o--$nists can 3and -$st (age a long and persistent str$ggle# $nda$nted %, an,

diffic$lties# to e!pose# dissipate and o"erco-e these preB$dices.

The ?er-an :Lefts: co-plain a%o$t %ad :leaders: in their part,# gi"e (a, to despair# and go to the

a%s$rd length of :rep$diating: :leaders.: ;$t (hen conditions are s$ch that it is often necessar, to hide

:leaders: $ndergro$nd# the e&eloment of good# relia%le# e!perienced and a$thorati"e :leaders: is a

"er, diffic$lt -atter# and these diffic$lties #annot %e s$ccessf$ll, o"erco-e (itho$t co-%ining legal and

illegal (or*# and (it%out testing t%e "leae!s#: among ot%e! (a+s# in the parlia-entar, arena as (ell .

+riticis- @@ the *eenest# -ost r$thless and $nco-pro-ising criticis- G -$st %e directed# not against

parlia-entaris- or parlia-entar, acti"ities# %$t against those leaders (ho are $na%le @@ and still -ore



against those (ho are un(illing @@ to $tilie parlia-entar, elections and the parlia-entar, tri%$ne in a

re"ol$tionar,# co--$nist -anner. 4nl, s$ch criticis- @@ co-%ined of co$rse# (ith the e!p$lsion of

incapa%le leaders and their replace-ent %, capa%le ones @@ (lll constit$te $sef$l and fr$itf$l

re"ol$tionar, (or* that (ill si-$ltaneo$sl, train the :leaders: to %e (orth, of the (or*ing class and of

the toiling -asses# and train the -asses to %e a%le properl, to $nderstand the political sit$ation and the

often "er, co-plicated and intricate tas*s that spring fro- that sit$ation.H

H I ha"e had too little opport$nit, to ac$aint -,self (ith :Left@(ing: +o--$nis- in Ital,. +o-rade

;ordiga and his faction of :+o--$nist ;o,cottists: 3Comunista astensionista are certainl, (rong in

ad"ocating non@participation in parlia-ent. ;$t on one point# it see-s to -e# +o-rade ;ordiga is right

@@ as far as can %e B$dged fro- t(o iss$es of his paper# Il So&iet 3os. and # Jan$ar, 1A and Fe%r$ar,

1# 19)0# fro- fo$r iss$es of +o-rade Serratis e!cellent periodical# Comunismo 3os. 1@# 4cto%er 1@

o"e-%er 0# 1919# and fro- isolated iss$es of Italian %o$rgeois papers (hich I ha"e co-e across.

+o-rade ;ordiga and his faction are right in attac*ing T$rati and his follo(ers# (ho re-ain in a part,

(hich has recognied So"iet po(er and the dictatorship of the proletariat# ,et contin$e their for-er

pernicio$s and opport$nist polic, as -e-%ers of parlia-ent. 4f co$rse# in tolerating this# +o-rade

Serrati and the (hole Italian Socialist Part,/$1 are co--itting a -ista*e (hich threatens to do as -$ch

har- and gi"e rise to the sa-e dangers as it did in &$ngar,# (here the &$ngarian T$ratis sa%otaged %oth

the Part, and So"iet go"ern-ent fro- (ithin. S$ch a -ista*en# inconsistent# or spineless attit$de

to(ards the opport$nist parlia-entarians gi"es rise to :Left@(ing: +o--$nis-# on the one hand# and to

a certain e!tent B$stifies its e!istence# on the other. +o-rade Serrati is o%"io$sl, (rong (hen he acc$ses

Cep$t, T$rati of %eing :inconsistent: 3Comunismo# o. # for it is precisel, the Italian Socialist Part,

itself that is inconsistent in tolerating s$ch opport$nist parlia-entarians as T$rati and +o.

VIII

NO COMPROMISES?

In the $otation fro- the Fran*f$rt pa-phlet (e sa( ho( e-phaticall, the :Lefts: ad"ance this

slogan. It is sad to see people (ho do$%tless consider the-sel"es 'ar!ists and (ant to %e 'ar!ists

forgetting the f$nda-ental tr$ths of 'ar!is-. This is (hat Engels @@ (ho# li*e 'ar!# (as one of those

rarest of a$thors (hose e"er, sentence in e"er, one of their great (or*s contains re-ar*a%l, profo$nd

-eaning @@ (rote in 1A7 in opposition to the -anifesto of the thirt,@three ;lan$ist +o--$nards 8/$$

:e are +o--$nists 3(rote the ;lan$ist +o--$nards in their -anifesto# %eca$se (e (ant toattain o$r goal (itho$t stopping at inter-ediate stations# (itho$t an, co-pro-ises# (hich onl, postpone

the da, of "ictor, and prolong the period of sla"er,.

:The ?er-an +o--$nists are +o--$nists %eca$se thro$gh all the inter-ediate stations and all

co-pro-ises# created# not %, the-# %$t %, the co$rse of historical de"elop-ent# the, clearl, percei"e

and constantl, p$rs$e the final ai-# "i.# the a%olition of classes and the creation of a societ, in (hich

there (ill no longer %e pri"ate o(nership of land or of the -eans of prod$ction. The thirt,@three

;lan$ists are +o--$nists %eca$se the, i-agine that -erel, %eca$se the, (ant to s*ip the inter-ediate







stations and co-pro-ises# that settles the -atter# and if it %egins in the ne!t fe( da,s @@ (hich the, ta*e

for granted @@ and the, co-e to the hel-# +o--$nis- (ill %e introd$ccd the da, after to-orro(. If that

is not i--ediatel, possi%le# the, are not +o--$nists.

:hat childish innocence it is to present i-patience as a theoreticall, con"incing arg$-entD: 3Fr.

Engels# :Progra- of the ;lan$ist +o--$nards#/$% fro- the ?er-an Social@Ce-ocratic

ne(spaper /ol$sstaat # 1A7# o. 7# gi"en in the 2$ssian translation of 2!ti#les# 4564-4567# Petrograd# # pp. 5)@5.

In the sa-e article# Engels e!presses his profo$nd estee- for Vaillant# and spea*s of the :$ndenia%le

-erits: of the latter 3(ho# li*e ?$esde# (as one of the -ost pro-inent leaders of international Socialis-

$p to <$g$st 191# (hen the, %oth t$rned traitor to Socialis-. ;$t Engels does not allo( an o%"io$s

-ista*e to pass (itho$t a detailed anal,sis. 4f co$rse# to "er, ,o$ng and ine!perienced re"ol$tionaries#

as (ell as to pett,@%o$rgeois re"ol$tionaries# of e"en a "er, respecta%le age and "er, e!perienced# it

see-s e!ceedingl, :dangero$s#: inco-prehensi%le and incorrect to :allo( co-pro-ises.: <nd -an,

sophists 3%eing $n$s$all, or e!cessi"el, :e!perienced: politicians reason e!actl, in the sa-e (a, as the

;ritish leaders of opport$nis- -entioned %, +o-rade Lans%$r,8 :If the ;olshe"i*s -a, -a*e a certainco-pro-ise# (h, -a, (e not -a*e an, *ind of co-pro-ise: ;$t proletarians schooled in n$-ero$s

stri*es 3to ta*e onl, this -anifestation of the class str$ggle $s$all, $nderstand $ite (ell the "er,

profo$nd 3philosophical# historical# political and ps,chological tr$th e!po$nded %, Engels. E"er,

proletarian has %een thro$gh stri*es and has e!perienced :co-pro-ises: (ith the hated oppressors and

e!ploiters# (hen the (or*ers had to go %ac* to (or* either (itho$t ha"ing achie"ed an,thing or

agreeing to onl, a partial satisfaction of their de-ands. E"er, proletarian @@ o(ing to the conditions of

the -ass str$ggle and the sharp intensification of class antagonis-s in (hich he li"es @@ notices the

difference %et(een a co-pro-ise enforced %, o%Becti"e conditions 3s$ch as lac* of stri*e f$nds# no

o$tside s$pport# e!tre-e h$nger and e!ha$stion# a co-pro-ise (hich in no (a, di-inishes the

re"ol$tionar, de"otion and readiness for f$rther str$ggle on the part of the (or*ers (ho ha"e agreed to

s$ch a co-pro-ise# and a co-pro-ise %, traitors (ho tr, to ascri%e to o$tside ca$ses their o(n

selfishness 3stri*e@%rea*ers also enter into :co-pro-ises:D# co(ardice# desire to toad, to the capitalists#

and readiness to ,ield to inti-idation# so-eti-es to pers$asion# so-eti-es to sops# and so-eti-es to

flatter, on the part of the capitalists. 3The histor, of the ;ritish la%o$r -o"e-ent offers especiall, -an,

instances of s$ch treachero$s co-pro-ises %, ;ritish trade $nion leaders# %$t# in one for- or another#

nearl, all (or*ers in all co$ntries ha"e (itnessed the sa-e sort of thing.

at$rall,# there are indi"id$al cases of e!ceptional diffic$lt, and intricac, (hen the real character of

this or that :co-pro-ise: can %e correctl, deter-ined onl, (ith the greatest diffic$lt,= B$st as there arecases of ho-icide (here it is %, no -eans eas, to decide (hether the ho-icide (as f$ll, B$stified and

e"en necessar, 3as# for e!a-ple# legiti-ate self@defence# or d$e to $npardona%le negligence# or e"en to

a c$nningl, e!ec$ted perfidio$s plan. 4f co$rse# in politics# (here it is so-eti-es a -atter of e!tre-el,

co-plicated @@ national and international @@ relations %et(een classes and parties# "er, -an, cases (ill

arise that (ill %e -$ch -ore diffic$lt than the $estions of a legiti-ate :co-pro-ise: in a stri*e# or the

treachero$s :co-pro-ise: of a stri*e@%rea*er# traitor leader# etc. It (o$ld %e a%s$rd to for-$late a recipe

or general r$le 3:o +o-pro-isesD: to ser"e all cases. 4ne -$st $se ones o(n %rains and %e a%le to





find ones %earings in each separate case. That# in fact# is one of the f$nctions of a part, organiation and

of part, leaders (orth, of the title# na-el,# thro$gh the prolonged# persistent# "ariegated and

co-prehensi"e efforts of all thin*ing representati"es of the gi"en class#/) to e"ol"e the *no(ledge# the

e!perience and @@ in addition to *no(ledge and e!perience @@ the political instinct necessar, for the

speed, and correct sol$tion of intricate political pro%le-s.

ai"e and $tterl, ine!perienced people i-agine that it is s$fficient to ad-it the per-issi%ilit, ofco-pro-ises in gene!al in order to o%literate the di"iding line %et(een opport$nis-# against (hich (e

(age and -$st (age an irreconcila%le str$ggle# and re"ol$tionar, 'ar!is-# or +o--$nis-. ;$t if s$ch

people do not ,et *no( that all di"iding lines in nat$re and in societ, are -$ta%le and to a certain e!tent

con"entional @@ the, cannot %e assisted other(ise than %, a long process of training# ed$cation#

enlighten-ent# and %, political and e"er,da, e!perience. It is i-portant to single o$t fro- the practical

$estions of the politics of each separate or specific historical -o-ent those (hich re"eal the principal

t,pe of i-per-issi%le# treachero$s co-pro-ises# co-pro-ises e-%od,ing the opport$nis- that is fatal

to the re"ol$tionar, class# and to e!ert all efforts to e!plain the- and co-%at the-. C$ring the

i-perialist (ar of 191@1A %et(een t(o gro$ps of e$all, predator, and rapacio$s co$ntries# the prin@

H ithin e"er, class# e"en in the conditions pre"ailing in the -ost enlightened co$ntries# e"en (ithin

the -ost ad"anced class# and e"en (hen the circ$-stances of the -o-ent ha"e ro$sed all its spirit$al

forces to an e!ceptional degree# there al(a,s are @@ and ine"ita%l, (ill )e as long as classes e!ist# as long

as classless societ, has not f$ll, entrenched and consolidated itself# and has not de"eloped on its o(n

fo$ndations @@ representati"es of the class (ho do not thin* and are incapa%le of thin*ing. ere this not

so# capitalis- (o$ld not %e the oppressor of the -asses it is principal# f$nda-ental t,pe of opport$nis-

(as social@cha$"inis-# that is# s$pport of :defense of the fatherland#: (hich# in su#% a (ar# (as reall,e$i"alent to defense of the predator, interests of ones :o(n: %o$rgeoisie. <fter the (ar# the defense of

the ro%%er :Leag$e of ations#: the defense of direct or indirect alliances (ith the %o$rgeoisie of ones

o(n co$ntr, against the re"ol$tionar, proletariat and the :So"iet: -o"e-ent# and the defence of

%o$rgeois de-ocrac, and %o$rgeois parlia-entaris- against :So"iet po(er: %eca-e the principal

-anifestations of those i-per-issi%le and treachero$s co-pro-ises# the s$- total of (hich constit$ted

the opport$nis- that is fatal to the re"ol$tionar, proletariat and its ca$se.

:. . . 4ne -$st e-phaticall, reBect all co-pro-ise (ith other parties . . . all polic, of -ane$"ering

and co-pro-ise#:

(rite the ?er-an Lefts in the Fran*f$rt pa-phlet.

It is a (onder that# holding s$ch "ie(s# these Lefts do not e-phaticall, conde-n ;olshe"is-D For the

?er-an Lefts -$st *no( that the (hole histor, of ;olshe"is-# %oth %efore and after the 4cto%er

2e"ol$tion is f$ll of instances of -anoe$"ring# te-poriing and co-pro-ising (ith other parties#

%o$rgeois parties incl$dedD

To carr, on a (ar for the o"erthro( of the international %o$rgeoisie# a (ar (hich is a h$ndred ti-es





-ore diffic$lt# protracted and co-plicated than the -ost st$%%orn of ordinar, (ars %et(een states# and

to ref$se %eforehand to -anoe$"re# to $tilie the conflict of interests 3e"en tho$gh te-porar, a-ong

ones ene-ies# to ref$se to te-porie and co-pro-ise (ith possi%le 3e"en tho$gh te-porar,# $nsta%le#

"acillating and conditional allies @@ is not this ridic$lo$s in the e!tre-e Is it not as tho$gh# (hen

-a*ing a diffic$lt ascent of an $ne!plored and heretofore inaccessi%le -o$ntain# (e (ere to ref$se

%eforehand e"er to -o"e in igags# e"er to retrace o$r steps# e"er to a%andon the co$rse once selectedand to tr, others <nd ,et (e find that people so i--at$re and ine!perienced 3if ,o$th (ere the

e!planation# it (o$ld not %e so %ad= ,o$ng people are ordained %, god hi-self to tal* s$ch nonsense for

a period -eet (ith the s$pport @@ (hether direct or indirect# open or co"ert# (hole or partial# does not

-atter @@ of so-e -e-%ers of the +o--$nist Part, of &ollandDD

<fter the first socialist re"ol$tion of the proletariat# after the o"erthro( of the %o$rgeoisie in one

co$ntr,# the proletariat of that co$ntr, fo! a long time re-ains (ea$e! than the %o$rgeoisie# si-pl,

%eca$se of the latters e!tensi"e international connections# and also %eca$se of the spontaneo$s and

contin$o$s restoration and regeneration of capitalis- and the %o$rgeoisie %, the s-all co--odit,

prod$cers of the co$ntr, (hich has o"erthro(n the %o$rgeoisie. The -ore po(erf$l ene-, can %e"an$ished onl, %, e!erting the $t-ost effort# and(it%out fail # -ost thoro$ghl,# caref$ll,# attenti"el,

and s*ilf$ll, $sing e"er,# e"en the s-allest# :rift: a-ong the ene-ies# of e"er, antagonis- of interest

a-ong the %o$rgeoisie of the "ario$s co$ntries and a-ong the "ario$s gro$ps or t,pes of %o$rgeoisie

(ithin the "ario$s co$ntries# and also %, ta*ing ad"antage of e"er,# e"en the s-allest# opport$nit, of

gaining a -ass all, e"en tho$gh this all, %e te-porar,# "acillating# $nsta%le# $nrelia%le and conditional.

Those (ho fail to $nderstand this# fail to $nderstand e"en a particle of 'ar!is-# or of scientific# -odern

Socialis- in gene!al . Those (ho ha"e not pro"ed %, ees o"er a fairl, considera%le period of ti-e# and

in fairl, "aried political sit$ations# their a%ilit, to appl, this tr$th in practice ha"e not ,et learned to

assist the re"ol$tionar, class in its str$ggle to e-ancipate all toiling h$-anit, fro- the e!ploiters. <nd

this applies e$all, to the period ) e f o ! e and a f t e ! the proletariat has con$ered political po(er.

4$r theor, is not a dog-a# %$t a guie to a#tion#/$& said 'ar! and Engels= and it is the greatest

-ista*e# the greatest cri-e on the part of s$ch :patented: 'ar!ists as >arl >a$ts*,# 4tto ;a$er# etc.# that

the, ha"e not $nderstood this# ha"e %een $na%le to appl, it at cr$cial -o-ents of the proletarian

re"ol$tion. :Political acti"it, is not the pa"e-ent of the e"s*, Prospect:/$5 3the clean# %road# s-ooth

pa"e-ent of the perfectl, straight principal street of St. Peters%$rg @@ . ?. +hern,she"s*,# the great

2$ssian Socialist of the pre@'ar!ian period# $sed to sa,. Since +hern,she"s*,s ti-e 2$ssian

re"ol$tionaries ha"e paid the price of n$-ero$s sacrifices for ignoring or forgetting this tr$th. e -$st

stri"e at all costs to !e&ent the Left +o--$nists and the est@E$ropean and <-erican re"ol$tionaries(ho are de"oted to the (or*ing class pa,ing as ea!l+ for the assi-ilation of this tr$th as the %ac*(ard

2$ssians did.

The 2$ssian re"ol$tionar, Social@Ce-ocrats repeatedl, $tilied the ser"ices of the %o$rgeois li%erals

prior to the do(nfall of tsardo-# that is# the, concl$ded n$-ero$s practical co-pro-ises (ith the-= and

in 1901@0)# e"en prior to the appearance of ;olshe"is-# the old editorial %oard of Is$!a 3consisting of

Ple*hano"# <!elrod# Nas$lich# 'arto"# Potreso" and -,self concl$ded 3not for long# it is tr$e a for-al







political alliance (ith Str$"e# the political leader of %o$rgeois li%eralis-# (hile at the sa-e ti-e it (as

a%le to (age an $nre-itting and -ost -erciless ideological and political str$ggle against %o$rgeois

li%eralis- and against the slightest -anifestation of its infl$ence in the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent.

The ;olshe"i*s ha"e al(a,s adhered to this polic,. ;eginning (ith 1905# the, s,ste-aticall, ad"ocated

an alliance %et(een the (or*ing class and the peasantr, against the li%eral %o$rgeoisie and tsardo-#

ne"er# ho(e"er# ref$sing to s$pport the %o$rgeoisie against tsardo- 3for instance# d$ring second ro$ndsof elections# or d$ring second %allots and ne"er ceasing their relentless ideological and political str$ggle

against the %o$rgeois re"ol$tionar, peasant part,# the :Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries#: e!posing the- as

pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrats (ho falsel, descri%ed the-sel"es as Socialists. C$ring the C$-a elections in

1907# the ;olshe"i*s for a %rief period entered into a for-al political %loc (ith the :Socialist@

2e"ol$tionaries.: ;et(een 190 and 191) there (ere periods of se"eral ,ears in (hich (e (ere

for-all, $nited (ith the 'enshe"i*s in one Social@Ce-ocratic Part,= %$t (e ne&e! ceased o$r

ideological and political str$ggle against the- as opport$nists and "ehicles of %o$rgeois infl$ence

a-ong the proletariat. C$ring the (ar (e concl$ded certain co-pro-ises (ith the :>a$ts*,ites#: (ith

the Left 'enshe"i*s 3'arto"# and (ith a section of the :Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries: 3+herno" and atanson= (e (ere together (ith the- at Ni--er(ald and >ienthal and iss$ed Boint -anifestoes= %$t

(e ne"er ceased and ne"er rela!ed o$r ideological and political str$ggle against the :>a$ts*,ites#:

'arto" and +herno" 3atanson died in 1919 a :2e"ol$tionar, +o--$nist: arodni*# he (as "er, close

to and al-ost in agree-ent (ith $s. <t the "er, -o-ent of the 4cto%er 2e"ol$tion (e entered into an

infor-al %$t "er, i-portant 3and "er, s$ccessf$l political %loc (ith the pett,@%o$rgeois peasantr, %,

adopting the So#ialist-Re&olutiona!+ agrarian progra- in its enti!et+# (itho$t a single alteration @@ that is#

(e effected an $n$estiona%le co-pro-ise in order to pro"e to the peasants that (e did not (ant to

:stea-@roller: the-# %$t to reach agree-ent (ith the-. <t the sa-e ti-e (e proposed 3and soon after

effected a for-al political %loc# incl$ding participation in the go"ern-ent# (ith the :Left Socialist@

2e"ol$tionaries#: (ho dissol"ed this %loc after the concl$sion of the ;rest@Lito"s* Peace and then# in

J$l, 191A# (ent to the length of ar-ed re%ellion# and s$%se$entl, of ar-ed str$ggle# against $s.

It is therefore $nderstanda%le (h, attac*s of the ?er-an Lefts on the +entral +o--ittee of the

+o--$nist Part, of ?er-an, for entertaining the idea of a %loc (ith the :Independents: 3the

:Independent Social@Ce-ocratic Part, of ?er-an,#: the >a$ts*,ites appear to $s to %e $tterl, fri"olo$s

and a clear proof that the :Lefts: are in the (rong. e in 2$ssia also had 2ight 'enshe"i*s 3(ho

participated in the >erens*, go"ern-ent# corresponding to the ?er-an Scheide-anns# and Left

'enshe"i*s 3'arto"# corresponding to the ?er-an >a$ts*,ites# (ho (ere in opposition to the 2ight

'enshe"i*s. < grad$al shift of the (or*er -asses fro- the 'enshe"i*s to the ;olshe"i*s (as to %eclearl, o%ser"ed in 19178 at the First <ll@2$ssian +ongress of So"iets# held in J$ne 1917# (e had onl,

1 per cent of the "otes= the Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries and the 'enshe"i*s had the -aBorit,. <t the

Second +ongress of So"iets 34cto%er )5# 1917 (e had 51 per cent of the "otes. h, is it that in

?er-an, the sa-e a%sol$tel, identical -o"e-ent of the (or*ers fro- 2ight to Left did not i--ediatel,

strengthen the +o--$nists# %$t first strengthened the inter-ediate :Independent: part,# altho$gh this

part, ne"er had independent political ideas or an independent polic,# and onl, (a"ered %et(een the

Scheide-anns and the +o--$nists



E"identl,# one of the reasons (as the mista$en tactics of the ?er-an +o--$nists# (ho -$st

fearlessl, ad-it this -ista*e and learn to rectif, it. The -ista*e la, in their denial of the need to ta*e

part in the reactionar, %o$rgeois parlia-ents and in the reactionar, trade $nions= the -ista*e la, in

n$-ero$s -anifestations of that :Left: infantile disorder (hich has no( co-e to the s$rface and (ill

conse$entl, %e c$red -ore thoro$ghl,# -ore $ic*l, and (ith greater %enefit to the organis-.

The ?er-an :Independent Social@Ce-ocratic Part,: is o%"io$sl, not a ho-ogeneo$s %od,8 alongsidethe old opport$nist leaders 3>a$ts*,# &ilferding and# to a considera%le e!tent# apparentl,# +rispien#

Lede%o$r and others @@ (ho ha"e de-onstrated their ina%ilit, to $nderstand the significance of So"iet

po(er and the dictatorship of the proletariat# their ina%ilit, to lead the re"ol$tionar, str$ggle of the

proletariat @@ there has arisen in this part, a Left# proletarian (ing (hich is gro(ing (ith re-ar*a%le

rapidit,. &$ndreds of tho$sands of -e-%ers of this part, 3(hich# it see-s# has so-e three@$arters of a

-illion -e-%ers are proletarians (ho are a%andoning Scheide-ann and are rapidl, going to(ards

+o--$nis-. This proletarian (ing has alread, proposed @@ at the Leipig 31919 +ongress of the

Independents @@ i--ediate and $nconditional affiliation to the Third International. To fear a

:co-pro-ise: (ith this (ing of the part, is positi"el, ridic$lo$s. 4n the contrar,# it is o)ligato!+ for the+o--$nists to see* an to fin a s$ita%le for- of co-pro-ise (ith the-# s$ch a co-pro-ise as# on the

one hand# (o$ld facilitate and accelerate the necessar, co-plete f$sion (ith this (ing and# on the other#

(o$ld in no (a, ha-per the +o--$nists in their ideological and political str$ggle against the

opport$nist 2ight (ing of the :Independents.: It (ill pro%a%l, not %e eas, to de"ise a s$ita%le for- of

co-pro-ise @@ %$t onl, a charlatan co$ld pro-ise the ?er-an (or*ers and ?er-an +o--$nists an

:eas,: road to "ictor,.

+apitalis- (o$ld not %e capitalis- if the :p$re: proletariat (ere not s$rro$nded %, a large n$-%er of

e!ceedingl, -otle, t,pes inter-ediate %et(een the proletariat and the se-i@proletarian 3(ho earns his

li"elihood in part %, the sale of his la%o$r po(er# %et(een the se-i@proletarian and the s-all peasant3and pett, artisan# handicraft (or*er and s-all -aster in general# %et(een the s-all peasant and the

-iddle peasant# and so on# and if the proletariat itself (ere not di"ided into -ore de"eloped and less

de"eloped strata# if it (ere not di"ided according to territorial origin# trade# so-eti-es according to

religion# and so on. <nd fro- all this follo(s the necessit,# the a%sol$te necessit,# for the "ang$ard of

the proletariat for its class@conscio$s section# for the +o--$nist Part,# to resort to -anoe$"res#

arrange-ents and co-pro-ises (ith the "ario$s gro$ps of proletarians# (ith the "ario$s parties of the

(or*ers and s-all -asters. The (hole point lies in $no(ing %o( to appl, these tactics in order to !aise#

and not lo(er# the gene!al le"el of proletarian class conscio$sness# re"ol$tionar, spirit# and a%ilit, to

fight and (in. Incidentall,# it sho$ld %e noted that the "ictor, of the ;olshe"i*s o"er the 'enshe"i*sde-anded the application of tactics of -ane$"ers# arrange-ents and co-pro-ises not onl, %efore )ut

also afte! the 4cto%er 2e"ol$tion of 1917# %$t s$ch -ane$"ers and co-pro-ises# of co$rse# as (o$ld

assist# accelerate# consolidate and strengthen the ;olshe"i*s at the e!pense of the 'enshe"i*s. The

pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrats 3incl$ding the 'enshe"i*s ine"ita%l, "acillate %et(een the %o$rgeoisie and

the proletariat# %et(een %o$rgeois de-ocrac, and the So"iet s,ste-# %et(een refor-is- and

re"ol$tionis-# %et(een lo"e@for@the@(or*ers and fear of proletarian dictatorship# etc. The proper tactics

for the +o--$nists -$st %e to utili.e these "acillations# not to ignore the-= and $tiliing the- calls for



concessions to those ele-ents (hich are t$rning to(ards the proletariat @@ (hene"er and to the e!tent

that the, t$rn to(ards the proletariat @@ in addition to fighting those (ho t$rn to(ards the %o$rgeoisie.

The res$lt of the application of correct tactics is that 'enshe"is- has disintegrated# and is disintegrating

-ore and -ore in o$r co$ntr,# that the st$%%ornl, opport$nist leaders are %eing isolated# and that the

%est of the (or*ers and the %est ele-ents a-ong the pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrats are %eing %ro$ght into

o$r ca-p. This is a long process# and the hast, :decision: @@ :o co-pro-ises# no -anoe$"res: @@ canonl, inB$re the (or* of strengthening the infl$ence of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat and enlarging its

forces.

Lastl,# one of the $ndo$%ted -ista*es of the :Lefts: in ?er-an,s their o$tright insistence on non@

recognition of the Versailles Peace. The -ore :(eightil,: and :po-po$sl,#: the -ore :e-phaticall,:

and dog-aticall, this "ie(point is for-$lated 3%, >. &orner# for instance# the less sensi%le does it

appear. It is not eno$gh# $nder the present conditions of the international proletarian re"ol$tion# to

rep$diate the prepostero$s a%s$rdities of :ational ;olshe"is-: 3La$ffen%erg and others# (hich has

gone to the length of ad"ocating a %loc (ith the ?er-an %o$rgeoisie for a (ar against the Entente. 4ne

-$st $nderstand that the tactics of not ad-itting that it (o$ld %e i-perati"e for a So"iet ?er-an, 3if a?er-an So"iet rep$%lic (ere to arise soon to recognie the Versailles Peace for a ti-e and to s$%-it to

it are f$nda-entall, (rong. It does not follo( fro- this that the :Independents: @@ at a ti-e (hen the

Scheide-anns (ere in the go"ern-ent# (hen So"iet go"ern-ent in &$ngar, had not ,et %een

o"erthro(n# and (hen the possi%ilit, of a So"iet re"ol$tion in Vienna s$pporting So"iet &$ngar, (as

not ,et precl$ded @@ (ere right in p$tting for(ard# une! t%ose #i!#umstan#es# the de-and that the

Versailles Peace %e signed. <t that ti-e the :Independents: tac*ed and -anoe$"red "er, cl$-sil,# for

the, -ore or less accepted responsi%ilit, for the Scheide-ann traitors and -ore or less san* fro- the

le"el of ad"ocating a -erciless 3and -ost cold@%looded class (ar against the Scheide-anns to the le"el

of ad"ocating a :classless: or :a%o"e@class: standpoint.

;$t the position is no( o%"io$sl, s$ch that the ?er-an +o--$nists sho$ld not tie their hands and

pro-ise positi"el, and categoricall, to rep$diate the Versailles Peace in the e"ent of the "ictor, of

+o--$nis-. That (o$ld %e st$pid. The, -$st sa,8 The Scheide-anns and the >a$ts*,ites ha"e

perpetrated a n$-%er of acts of treacher, (hich hindered 3and in part directl, r$ined the chances of an

alliance (ith So"iet 2$ssia and So"iet &$ngar,. e +o--$nists (ill do all (e can

to fa#ilitate and a&e t%e (a+ for s$ch an alliance= and (e are %, no -eans o%liged to rep$diate the

Versailles Peace# co-e (hat -a,# and# -oreo"er# i--ediatel,. The possi%ilit, of rep$diating it (ith

s$ccess (ill depend not onl, on the ?er-an# %$t also on the international s$ccesses of the So"iet

-o"e-ent. The Scheide-anns and >a$ts*,ites ha-pered this -o"e-ent= (e are helping it. That is thes$%stance of the -atter# that is (here the f$nda-ental difference lies. <nd if o$r class ene-ies# the

e!ploiters and their lac*e,s# the Scheide-anns and >a$ts*,ites# ha"e -issed -an, an opport$nit, for

strengthening %oth the ?er-an and the international So"iet -o"e-ent# of strengthening %oth the

?er-an and the international So"iet re"ol$tion# the, are to %la-e. The So"iet re"ol$tion in ?er-an,

(ill strengthen the international So"iet -o"e-ent# (hich is the strongest %$l(ar* 3and the onl, relia%le#

in"inci%le and (orld@(ide %$l(ar* against the Versailles Peace and against international i-perialis- in

general. To gi"e pri-e place a%sol$tel,# categoricall, and i--ediatel, to li%eration fro- the Versailles



Peace# to gi"e it precedence o"er the $estion of li%erating other co$ntries oppressed %, i-perialis-

fro- the ,o*e of i-perialis-# is philistine nationalis- 3(orth, of >a$ts*,# &ilferding# 4tto ;a$er and

+o. and not re"ol$tionar, internationalis-. The o"erthro( of the %o$rgeoisie in an, of the large

E$ropean co$ntries# incl$ding ?er-an,# (o$ld %e s$ch a gain to the international re"ol$tion that for its

sa*e one can# and if necessar, sho$ld# tolerate a mo!e !olonge eisten#e of t%e /e!sailles Pea#e. If

2$ssia# %, herself# co$ld end$re the ;rest@Lito"s* Peace for se"eral -onths to the ad"antage of there"ol$tion# there is nothing i-possi%le in a So"iet ?er-an,# allied (ith So"iet 2$ssia# end$ring the

e!istence of the Versailles Peace for a longer period to the ad"antage of the re"ol$tion.

The i-perialists of France# England# etc.# are tr,ing to pro"o*e the ?er-an +o--$nists and to la, a

trap for the-8 :Sa, that ,o$ (ill not sign the Versailles PeaceD: <nd the Left +o--$nists childishl, fall

into the trap laid for the- instead of s*ilf$ll, -anoe$"ring against the craft, and# at t%e !esent moment #

stronger ene-,# and instead of telling hi-8 :o( (e (ill sign the Versailles Peace.: To tie o$r hands

%eforehand# openl, to tell the ene-,# (ho is at present %etter ar-ed than (e are# (hether (e shall fight

hi-# and (hen# is st$pidit, and not re"ol$tionis-. To accept %attle at a ti-e (hen it is o%"io$sl,

ad"antageo$s to the ene-, and not to $s is a cri-e= and the political leader of the re"ol$tionar, class(ho is $na%le to :tac*# -anoe$"re# and co-pro-ise: in order to a"oid an o%"io$sl, disad"antageo$s

%attle# is a%sol$tel, (orthless.

I#

"LEFT-WING" COMMUNISM

IN GREAT BRITAIN

There is no +o--$nist Part, in ?reat ;ritain ,et# %$t there is a fresh# %road# po(erf$l and rapidl,gro(ing co--$nist -o"e-ent a-ong the (or*ers (hich B$stifies the %rightest hopes. There are se"eral

political parties and organiations 3the ;ritish Socialist Part,#/$! the Socialist La%o$r Part,# the So$th

ales Socialist Societ,# the or*ers Socialist Federation /$7 (hich desire to for- a +o--$nist Part,

and are alread, negotiating a-ong the-sel"es to this end. The Wo!$e!s' !eanoug%t # the (ee*l, organ

of the last of the organiations -entioned# in its iss$e of Fe%r$ar, )1# 19)0# Vol. VI# o. A# contains an

article %, the editor# +o-rade S,l"ia Pan*h$rst# entitled :To(ards a +o--$nist Part,.: The article

o$tlines the progress of the negotiations %et(een the fo$r organiations -entioned for the for-ation of a

$nited +o--$nist Part,# on the %asis of affiliation to the Third International# the recognition of the

So"iet s,ste- instead of parlia-entaris-# and the dictatorship of the proletariat. It appears that one ofthe greatest o%stacles to the i--ediate for-ation of a $nited +o--$nist Part, is the disagree-ento"er

the $estion of participation in parlia-ent and o"er the $estion (hether the ne( +o--$nist Part,

sho$ld affiliate to the old# trade $nionist# opport$nist and social@cha$"inist La%o$r Part,# (hich consists

-ostl, of trade $nions. The or*ers Socialist Federation and the Socialist La%o$r Part,/) are opposed

to ta*ing part in parlia-entar, elections and in parlia-ent# and the, are opposed to affiliation to the

La%o$r Part,= and in this the, disagree (ith all# or (ith the -aBorit,# of the -e-%ers of the ;ritish

Socialist Part,# (hich the, regard as the :2ight (ing of the +o--$nist Parties: in ?reat ;ritain. 3Page









5# S,l"ia Pan*h$rsts article.

Th$s# the -ain di"ision is the sa-e as in ?er-an,# not(ithstanding the enor-o$s difference in the

for- in (hich the disagree-ents -anifest the-sel"es 3in ?er-an, the for- is -ore analogo$s to the

:2$ssian: than it is in ?reat ;rit ain and in a n$-%er of other things. Let $s e!a-ine the arg$-ents of

the :Lefts.:

4n the $estion of participation in parlia-ent# +o-rade S,l"ia Pan*h$rst refers to an article in the

sa-e iss$e %, +o-rade . ?allacher# (ho (rites in the na-e of the Scottish or*ers +o$ncil in

?lasgo(.

:The a%o"e co$ncil#: he (rites# :is definitel, anti@parlia-entarian# and has %ehind it the Left (ing of

the "ario$s political %odies. e represent the re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ent in Scotland# stri"ing contin$all,

to %$ild $p a re"ol$tionar, organiation (ithin the ind$stries# and a +o--$nist Part,# %ased on social

co--ittees# thro$gho$t the co$ntr,. For a considera%le ti-e (e ha"e %een sparring (ith the official

parlia-entarians. e ha"e not considered it necessar, to declare open (arfare on the-# and the,

are af!ai to open an attac* on $s. :;$t this state of affairs cannot long contin$e. e are (inning all along the line.

H I %elie"e this part, is opposed to affiliation to the La%o$r Part, %$t not all its -e-%ers are opposed

to participation in parlia-ent.

:The ran* and file of the I.L.P. in Scotland is %eco-ing -ore and -ore disg$sted (ith the tho$ght of

Parlia-ent# and So"iets 3the 2$ssian (ord transliterated into English is $sed or (or*ers co$ncils are

%eing s$pported %, al-ost e"er, %ranch. This is "er, serio$s# of co$rse# for the gentle-en (ho loo* to

politics for a profession# and the, are $sing an, and e"er, -eans to pers$ade their -e-%ers to co-e

%ac* into the parlia-entar, fold. 2e"ol$tionar, co-rades must not 3all italics are the a$thors gi"e an,

s$pport to this gang. 4$r fight here is going to %e a diffic$lt one. 4ne of the (orst feat$res of it (ill %e

the treacher, of those (hose personal a-%ition is a -ore i-pelling force than their regard for the

re"ol$tion. <n, s$pport gi"en to parlia-entaris- is si-pl, assisting to p$t po(er into the hands of o$r

;ritish Scheide-anns and os*es. &enderson# +l,nes and +o. are hopelessl, reactionar,. The official

I.L.P. is -ore and -ore co-ing $nder the control of -iddle class Li%erals# (ho . . . ha"e fo$nd their

spirit$al ho-e in the ca-p of 'essrs. 'acConald# Sno(den and +o. The official I.L.P. is %itterl,

hostile to the Third International# the ran* and file is for it. <n, s$pport to the parlia-entar,

opport$nists is si-pl, pla,ing into the hands of the for-er. The ;.S.P. doesnt co$nt at all here. . . . hat

is (anted here is a so$nd re"ol$tionar, ind$strial organiation# and a +o--$nist Part, (or*ing along

clear# (ell@defined# scientific lines. If o$r co-rades can assist $s in %$ilding these# (e (ill ta*e their

help gladl,= if the, cannot# for ?ods sa*e let the- *eep o$t altogether# lest the, %etra, the re"ol$tion %,

lending their s$pport to the reactionaries# (ho are so eagerl, cla-o$ring for parlia-entar, hono$rs 3

3the $er, -ar* is the a$thors and (ho are so an!io$s to pro"e that the, #an !ule as effecti"el, as the



%oss class politicians the-sel"es.:

This letter# in -, opinion# e!cellentl, e!presses the te-per and point of "ie( of the ,o$ng

+o--$nists# or of ran*@and file (or*ers (ho are onl, B$st co-ing to +o--$nis-. This te-per is

highl, gratif,ing and "al$a%le= (e -$st learn to "al$e it and to s$pport it# for (itho$t it# it (o$ld %e

hopeless to e!pect the "ictor, of the proletarian re"ol$tion in ?reat ;ritain# or in an, other co$ntr, for

that -atter. People (ho can gi"e e!pression to this te-per of the -asses# (ho can ro$se s$ch a te-per3(hich is "er, often dor-ant# $nrealied and $naro$sed a-ong the -asses# -$st %e "al$ed and e"er,

assistance -$st %e gi"en the-. <nd at the sa-e ti-e (e -$st openl, and fran*l, tell the- that

te-per alone is not eno$gh to lead the -asses in a great re"ol$tionar, str$ggle# and that s$ch and s$ch

-ista*es that "er, lo,al adherents of the ca$se of the re"ol$tion are a%o$t to co--it# or are co--itting#

-a, da-age the ca$se of the re"ol$tion. +o-rade ?allachers letter $ndo$%tedl, %etra,s the ger-s

of all the -ista*es that are %eing co--itted %, the ?er-an :Left: +o--$nists and that (ere co--itted

%, the 2$ssian :Left: ;olshe"i*s in 190A and 191A.

The (riter of the letter is i-%$ed (ith a no%le# proletarian hatred for the %o$rgeois :class politicians:

3a hatred $nderstood and shared# ho(e"er# not onl, %, the proletarian %$t %, all (or*ing people# %, all

:s-all fol*#: to $se a ?er-an e!pression. This hatred of a representati"e of the oppressed and e!ploited

-asses is "eril, the :%eginning of all (isdo-#: the %asis of e"er, socialist and co--$nist -o"e-ent

and of its s$ccess. 3;$t the (riter apparentl, does not appreciate that politics is a science and an art that

does not drop fro- the s*ies# that it is not o%tained gratis# and that the proletariat# if it (ants to con$er

the %o$rgeoisie# -$st train its o(n# proletarian :class politicians#: and s$ch as (ill %e no (orse than the

%o$rgeois politicians.

The (riter of the letter is perfectl, clear in the point that onl, (or*ers So"iets# and not parlia-ent#

can %e the instr$-ent (here%, the ai-s of the proletariat (ill %e achie"ed. <nd# of co$rse# those (ho

ha"e failed to $nderstand this $p to no( are in"eterate reactionaries# e"en if the, are -ost highl,

ed$cated people# -ost e!perienced politicians# -ost sincere Socialists# -ost er$dite 'ar!ists# and -ost

honest citiens and fa-il, -en. ;$t the (riter of the letter does not e"en as*# it does not occ$r to hi- to

as*# (hether it is possi%le to %ring a%o$t the "ictor, of the So"iets o"er parlia-ent (itho$t getting pro@

So"iet politicians into parlia-ent# (itho$t disintegrating parlia-entaris- fro- (it%in# (itho$t (or*ing

(ithin parlia-ent for the s$ccess of the So"iets in their forthco-ing tas* of dispersing parlia-ent. <nd

,et the (riter of the letter e!presses the a%sol$tel, correct idea that the +o--$nit Part, in ?reat ;ritain

-$st act on s#ientifi# principles. Science de-ands# firstl,# that the e!perience of other co$ntries %e ta*en

into acco$nt# especiall, if these other# also capitalist# co$ntries are $ndergoing# or ha"e recentl,

$ndergone# a "er, si-ilar e!perience= secondl,# it de-ands that acco$nt %e ta*en of all the forces#

gro$ps# parties# classes and -asses operating in the gi"en co$ntr,# and that polic, sho$ld not %e

deter-ined onl, %, the desires and "ie(s# %, the degree of class conscio$sness# and the readiness for

%attle of onl, one gro$p or part,.

That the &endersons# the +l,nes# the 'acConalds and the Sno(dens are hopelessl, reactionar, is

tr$e. It is e$all, tr$e that the, (ant to ta*e po(er in their o(n hands 3tho$gh the, prefer a coalition

(ith the %o$rgeoisie# that the, (ant to :r$le: on the old %o$rgeois lines# and that (hen the, do get into



po(er the, (ill $nfailingl, %eha"e li*e the Scheide-anns and os*es. <ll that is tr$e. ;$t it %, no

-eans follo(s that to s$pport the- is treacher, to the re"ol$tion# %$t rather that in the interests of the

re"ol$tion the (or*ing@class re"ol$tionaries sho$ld gi"e these gentle-en a certain a-o$nt of

parlia-entar, s$pport. To e!plain this idea I shall ta*e t(o conte-porar, ;ritish political doc$-ents8 1

the speech deli"ered %, the Pri-e 'inister# Llo,d ?eorge# on 'arch 1A# 19)0 3reported in

the 8an#%este! ua!ian of 'arch 19# 19)0 and ) the arg$-ents of a :Left: +o--$nist# +o-radeS,l"ia Pan*h$rst# in the article -entioned a%o"e. <rg$ing against <s$ith 3(ho (as especiall, in"ited

to this -eeting %$t declined to attend and against those Li%erals (ho (ant not a coalition (ith the

+onser"ati"es# %$t closer relations (ith the La%o$r Part, 3+o-rade ?allacher# in his letter# also points to

the fact that Li%erals are Boining the Independent La%o$r Part,# Llo,d ?eorge said that a coalition# and

a close coalition at that# %et(een the Li%erais and +onser"ati"es (as essential# other(ise there -ight %e

a "ictor, for the La%o$r Part,= (hich Llo,d ?eorge :prefers to call: Socialist and (hich is stri"ing for

the :collecti"e o(nership: of the -eans of prod$ction. :In France this (as called +o--$nis-#: the

leader of the ;ritish %o$rgeoisie said# p$tting it pop$larl, for his a$ditors# the Li%eral -e-%ers of

Parlia-ent# (ho pro%a%l, had not *no(n it %efore# :in ?er-an, it (as called Socialis-# and in 2$ssia it

is called ;olshe"is-.: To Li%erals this is $naccepta%le on principle# e!plained Llo,d ?eorge# %eca$se

the, stand in principle for pri"ate propert,. :+i"iliation is in danger#: declared the spea*er# and#

therefore# the Li%erals and the +onser"ati"es -$st $nite. . . .

:. . . If ,o$ go to the agric$lt$ral areas#: said Llo,d ?eorge# :I agree that ,o$ ha"e the old part,

di"isions as strong as e"er. The, are re-o"ed fro- the danger. It does not (al* their lanes. ;$t (hen

the, see it the, (ill %e as strong as so-e of those ind$strial constit$encies are no(. Fo$r@fifths of this

co$ntr, is ind$strial and co--ercial= hardl, one@fifth is agric$lt$ral. It is one of the things I ha"e

constantl, in -, -ind (hen I thin* of the dangers of the f$t$re here. In France the pop$lation is

agric$lt$ral# and ,o$ ha"e a solid %od, of opinion (hich does not -o"e "er, rapidl,# and (hich is not

"er, easil, e!cited %, re"ol$tionar, -o"e-ents. That is not the case here. This co$ntr, is -ore top@

hea", than an, co$ntr, in the (orld# and if it %egins to roc*# the crash here# for that reason# (ill %e

greater than in an, land.:

Fro- this the reader (ill see that 'r. Llo,d ?eorge is not onl, a "er, cle"er -an# %$t that he has also

learned a great deal fro- the 'ar!ists. It (o$ld %e no sin for $s to learn so-ething fro- Llo,d ?eorge.

It is interesting to note the follo(ing episode (hich occ$rred in the co$rse of the disc$ssion that

follo(ed Llo,d ?eorges speech8

: 8!9 Walla#e# 89P98 I sho$ld li*e to as* (hat the Pri-e 'inister considers the effect -ight %e in theind$strial constit$encies $pon the ind$strial (or*ers# so -an, of (ho- are Li%erals at the present ti-e

and fro- (ho- (e get so -$ch s$pport. o$ld not a possi%le res$lt %e to ca$se an i--ediate

o"er(hel-ing accession of strength to the La%o$r Part, fro- -en (ho at present are o$r cordial

s$pporters

:T%e P!ime 8iniste! 8 I ta*e a totall, different "ie(. The fact that Li%erals are fighting a-ong

the-sel"es $ndo$%tedl, dri"es a "er, considera%le n$-%er of Li%erals in despair to the La%o$r Part,#

(here ,o$ get a considera%le %od, of Li%erals# "er, a%le -en# (hose %$siness it is to discredit the



?o"ern-ent. The res$lt is $ndo$%tedl, to %ring a good accession of p$%lic senti-ent to the La%o$r

Part,. It does not go to the Li%erals (ho are o$tside# it goes to the La%o$r Part,# the %,@elections sho(

that.:

It -a, %e said in passing# that this arg$-ent sho(s in partic$lar ho( -$ddled e"en the cle"erest

-e-%ers of the %o$rgeoisie ha"e %eco-e and ho( the, cannot help co--itting irrepara%le st$pidities.

That in fact (ill ca$se the do(nfall of the %o$rgeoisie. ;$t o$r people -a, co--it st$pidities3pro"ided# of co$rse# that the, are not too serio$s and are rectified in ti-e and ,et in the long r$n co-e

o$t the "ictors.

The second political doc$-ent is the follo(ing arg$-ent ad"anced %, a :Left: +o--$nist# +o-rade

S,l"ia Pan*h$rst8

:. . . +o-rade In*pin 3the ?eneral Secretar, of the ;ritish Socialist Part, refers to the La%o$r Part,

as the -ain %od, of the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent. <nother co-rade of the ;ritish Socialist Part,# at the

conference of the Third International# B$st held# p$t the ;ritish Socialist Part, position -ore strongl,. &e

said8 e regard the La%o$r Part, as the organied (or*ing class. :e do not ta*e this "ie( of the La%o$r Part,. The La%o$r Part, is "er, large n$-ericall,# tho$gh its

-e-%ership is to a great e!tent $iescent and apathetic# consisting of -en and (o-en (ho ha"e Boined

the trade $nions %eca$se their (or*-ates are trade $nionists# and to share the friendl, %enefits.

:;$t (e recognie that the great sie of the La%o$r Part, is also d$e to the fact that it is the creation of

a school of tho$ght %e,ond (hich the -aBorit, of the ;ritish (or*ing class has not ,et e-erged# tho$gh

great changes are at (or* in the -ind of the people (hich (ill presentl, alter this state of affairs. . . .

:The ;ritish La%o$r Part,# li*e the social patriotic organiations of other co$ntries# (ill# in the nat$ral

de"elop-ent of societ,# ine"ita%l, co-e into po(er. It is for the +o--$nists to %$ild $p the forces that(ill o"erthro( the social patriots# and in this co$ntr, (e -$st not dela, or falter in that (or*.

:e -$st not dissipate o$r energ, in adding to the strength of the La%o$r Part,= its rise to po(er is

ine"ita%le. e -$st concentrate on -a*ing a co--$nist -o"e-ent that (ill "an$ish it. The La%o$r

Part, (ill soon %e for-ing a go"ern-ent= the re"ol$tionar, opposition -$st -a*e read, to attac* it. . . .:

Th$s the li%eral %o$rgeoisie is a%andoning the historical s,ste- of :t(o parties: 3of e!ploiters (hich

has %een hallo(ed %, age@long e!perience and (hich has %een e!tre-el, ad"antageo$s to the e!ploiters#

and considers it necessar, to $nite their forces to co-%at the La%o$r Part,. < n$-%er of the Li%erals are

deserting to the La%o$r Part, li*e rats fro- a sin*ing ship. The Left +o--$nists %erle"e that the

transfer of po(er to the La%o$r Part, is ine"ita%le and ad-it that at present it has the s$pport of the

-aBorit, of the (or*ers. Fro- this the, dra( the strange concl$sion (hich +o-rade S,l"ia Pan*h$rst

for-$lates as follo(s8

:The +o--$nist Part, -$st not co-pro-ise. . . . The +o--$nist Part, -$st *eep its doctrine p$re#

and its independence of refor-is- in"iolate= its -ission is to lead the (a,# (itho$t stopping or t$rning#

%, the direct road to the co--$nist re"ol$tion.:



4n the contrar,# fro- the fact that the -aBorit, of the (or*ers in ?reat ;ritain still follo( the lead of

the ;ritish >erens*,s or Scheide-anns and ha"e not ,et had the e!perience of a go"ern-ent co-posed

of these people# (hich e!perience (as re$ired in 2$ssia and ?er-an, to sec$re the -ass passage of

the (or*ers to +o--$nis-# it $n do$%tedl, follo(s that the ;ritish +o--$nists s%oul participate in

parlia-entar, action# that the, sho$ld# fro- (it%in parlia-ent# help the -asses of the (or*ers to see theres$lts of a &enderson and Sno(den go"ern-ent in practice# that the, sho$ld help the &endersons and

Sno(dens to defeat the $nited forces of Llo,d ?eorge and +h$rchill. To act other(ise (o$ld -ean

placing diffic$lties in the (a, of the re"ol$tion= for re"ol$tion is i-possi%le (itho$t a change in the

"ie(s of the -aBorit, of the (or*ing class# and this change is %ro$ght a%o$t %, the political e!perience

of the -asses# and ne"er %, propaganda alone. :To lead the (a, (itho$t co-pro-ises# (itho$t stopping

or t$rning: @@ if this is said %, an o%"io$sl, i-potent -inorit, of the (or*ers (hich *no(s 3or at all

e"ents sho$ld *no( that if &enderson and Sno(den gain the "ictor, o"er Llo,d ?eorge and +h$rchill#

the -aBorit, (ill in a %rief space of ti-e %eco-e disappointed in their leaders and (ill %egin to s$pport

+o--$nis- 3or at all e"ents (ill adopt an attit$de of ne$tralit,# and for the -ost part of %ene"olentne$tralit,# to(ards the +o--$nists# then this slogan is o%"io$sl, -ista*en. It is B$st as if 10#000

soldiers (ere to fling the-sel"es into %attle against 50#000 ene-, soldiers# (hen the thing to do (o$ld

ha"e %een to :stop#: to :t$rn#: or e"en to effect a :co-pro-ise: to gain ti-e $ntil the arri"al of the

100#000 reinforce-ents (hich (ere on their (a, %$t (hich co$ld not go into action i--ediatel,. That is

the childishness of the intellect$al and not the serio$s tactics of a re"ol$tionar, class.

The f$nda-ental la( of re"ol$tion# (hich has %een confir-ed %, all re"ol$tions# and partic$larl, %,

all three 2$ssian re"ol$tions in the t(entieth cent$r,# is as follo(s8 it is not eno$gh for re"ol$tion that

the e!ploited and oppressed -asses sho$ld $nderstand the i-possi%ilit, of li"ing in the old (a, and

de-and changes= it is essential for re"ol$tion that the e!ploiters sho$ld not %e a%le to li"e and r$le in theold (a,. 4nl, (hen the :lo(e! #lasses : o not (ant the old (a,# and (hen the :$pper classes: #annot

#a!!+ on in t%e ol (a+ @@ onl, then can re"ol$tion tri$-ph. This tr$th -a, %e e!pressed in other (ords8

re"ol$tion is i-possi%le (itho$t a nation@(ide crisis 3affecting %oth the e!ploited and the e!ploiters. It

follo(s that for re"ol$tion it is essential# first# that a -aBorit, of the (or*ers 3or at least a -aBorit, of the

class@conscio$s# thin*ing# politicall, acti"e (or*ers sho$ld f$ll, $nderstand that re"ol$tion is necessar,

and %e read, to sacrifice their li"es for it= secondl,# that the r$ling classes sho$ld %e passing thro$gh a

go"ern-ental crisis# (hich dra(s e"en the -ost %ac*(ard -asses into politics 3a s,-pto- of e"er, real

re"ol$tion is a rapid# tenfold and e"en h$ndredfold increase in the n$-%er of -e-%ers of the toiling and

oppressed -asses @@ hitherto apathetic @@ (ho are capa%le of (aging the political str$ggle# (ea*ens thego"ern-ent and -a*es it possi%le for the re"ol$tionaries to o"erthro( it rapidl,.

In ?reat ;ritain# as can %e seen# a-ong other things# fro- Llo,d ?eorges speech# %oth conditions for

a s$ccessf$l proletarian re"ol$tion are clearl, -at$ring. <nd the -ista*es of the Left +o--$nists are

partic$larl, dangero$s at the present ti-e precisel, %eca$se certain re"ol$tionaries are not displa,ing a

s$fficientl, tho$ghtf$l# s$fficientl, attenti"e# s$fficientl, intelligent and s$fficientl, shre(d interest in

each of these conditions. If (e are the part, of the re"ol$tionar,#lass# and not a re"ol$tionar, gro$p# if



(e (ant the masses to follo( $s 3and $nless (e do# (e stand the ris* of re-aining -ere (ind%ags# (e

-$st# firstl,# help &enderson or Sno(den to %eat Llo,d ?eorge and +h$rchill 3or# rather# co-pel the

for-er to %eat the latter# %eca$se the for-er a!e af!ai of t%ei! &i#to!+ D= secondl,# (e -$st help the

-aBorit, of the (or*ing class to con"ince the-sel"es %, their o(n e!perience that (e are right# that is#

that the &endersons and Sno(dens are a%sol$tel, $ns$ita%le# that the, are pett, %o$rgeois and

treachero$s %, nat$re# and that their %an*r$ptc, is ine"ita%le= thirdl,# (e -$st %ring nearer the -o-ent(hen# on t%e )asis of the disappoint-ent of the -aBorit, of the (or*ers in the &endersons# it (ill %e

possi%le (ith serio$s chances of s$ccess to o"erthro( the go"ern-ent of the &endersons at once#

%eca$se if that -ost ast$te and solid %ig %o$rgeois# not pett, %o$rgeois# Llo,d ?eorge# is %etra,ing $tter

consternation and is -ore and -ore (ea*ening hi-self 3and the %o$rgeoisie as a (hole %, his :friction:

(ith +h$rchill one da, and his :friction: (ith <s$ith the ne!t# ho( -$ch greater (ill %e the

consternation of a &enderson go"ern-ent.

I (ill p$t it -ore concretel,. In -, opinion# the ;ritish +o--$nists sho$ld $nite their fo$r 3all "er,

(ea*# and so-e "er,# "er, (ea* parties and gro$ps into a single +o--$nist Part, on the %asis of the

principles of the Third International and of o)ligato!+ participation in parlia-ent. The +o--$nist Part,sho$ld propose a :co-pro-ise: to the &endersons and Sno(dens# an election agree-ent8 let $s together

fight the alliance of Llo,d ?eorge and the +onser"ati"es# let $s di"ide the parlia-entar, seats in

proportion to the n$-%er of "otes cast %, the (or*ers for the La%o$r Part, and for the +o--$nist Part,

3not at the elections# %$t in a special "ote# and let $s retain #omlete li)e!t+ of agitation# propaganda and

political acti"it,. itho$t this latter condition# of co$rse# (e cannot agree to a %loc# for it (o$ld %e

treacher,= the ;ritish +o--$nists -$st a%sol$tel, insist on and sec$re co-plete li%ert, to e!pose the

&endersons and the Sno(dens in the sa-e (a, as 3 fo! fifteen +ea!s# 190@17 the 2$ssian ;olshe"i*s

insisted on and sec$red it in relation to the 2$ssian &endersons and Sno(dens# i.e.# the 'enshe"i*s.

If the &endersons and the Sno(dens consent to a %loc on these ter-s# (e shall %e the gainers# %eca$sethe n$-%er of parlia-entar, seats is of no i-portance to $s= (e are not o$t for seats# (e (ill ,ield on

this point 3the &endersons# on the other hand# and partic$larl, their ne( friends @@ or ne( -asters @@ the

Li%erals (ho ha"e Boined the Independent La%o$r Part, are -ost an!io$s to get seats. e shall %e the

gainers# %eca$se (e shall carr, o$r agitation a-ong the -asses at a ti-e (hen Llo,d ?eorge hi-self has

:incensed: the-# and (e shall not onl, help the La%o$r Part, to esta%lish its go"ern-ent -ore $ic*l,#

%$t also help the -asses to $nderstand -ore $ic*l, the co--$nist propaganda that (e shall carr, on

against the &endersons (itho$t an, c$rtail-ent or o-ission.

If the &endersons and the Sno(dens reBect a %loc (ith $s on these ter-s (e shall gain still -ore# for

(e shall ha"e at once sho(n the masses 3note that e"en in the p$rel, 'enshe"i* and $tterl, opport$nist

Independent La%o$r Part, the masses are for So"iets that the &endersons prefer their close relations

(ith the capitalists to the $nit, of all the (or*ers. e shall i--ediatel, gain in the e,es of

the masses (ho# partic$larl, after the %rilliant# highl, correct and highl, $sef$l 3for +o--$nis-

e!planations gi"en %, Llo,d ?eorge# (ill s,-pathie (ith the idea of $niting all the (or*ers against the

Llo,d ?eorge@+onser"ati"e alliance. e shall gain i--ediatel, %eca$se (e shall ha"e de-onstrated to

the -asses that the &endersons and the Sno(dens are afraid to %eat Llo,d ?eorge# are afraid to ta*e



po(er alone# and are stri"ing se#!etl+ to sec$re the s$pport of Llo,d ?eorge# (ho is oenl+ e!tending

his hand to the +onser"ati"es against the La%o$r Part,. It sho$ld %e noted that in 2$ssia# after the

re"ol$tion of Fe%r$ar, )7# 1917 3old st,le the propaganda of the ;olshe"i*s against the 'enshe"i*s

and Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries 3i.e.# the 2$ssian &endersons and Sno(dens %enefited precisel, %eca$se

of a circ$-stance of this *ind. e said to the 'enshe"i*s and the Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries8 ta*e o"er

the entire po(er (itho$t the %o$rgeoisie# %eca$se ,o$ ha"e a -aBorit, in the So"iets 3at the First <ll@2$ssian +ongress of So"iets# in J$ne 1917# the ;olshe"i*s had onl, 1 per cent of the "otes. ;$t the

2$ssian &endersons and Sno(dens feared to ta*e po(er (itho$t the %o$rgeoisie# and (hen the

%o$rgeoisie dela,ed the elections to the +onstit$ent <sse-%l,# *no(ing perfectl, (ell that the elections

(o$ld gi"e a -aBorit, to the Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries and the 'enshe"i*sH 3(ho had a close

H The res$lt of the elections to the +onstit$ent <sse-%l, in 2$ssia in o"e-%er 1917# %ased on

ret$rns e-%racing o"er 6#000#000 "oters# (ere as follo(s8 the ;olshe"i*s o%tained )5 per cent of the

"otes# the "ario$s parties of the landlords and %o$rgeoisie o%tained 1 per cent# and the pett,@%o$rgeois

de-ocratic parties# i.e.# the Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries# 'enshe"i*s and a n$-%er of s-all *indred

gro$ps# o%tained 6) per cent.

political %loc and act$all, represented one an t%e same pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrac,# the Socialist@

2e"ol$tionaries and 'enshe"i*s (ere $na%le energeticall, and consistentl, to oppose these dela,s.

If the &endersons and the Sno(dens reBect a %loc (ith the +o--$nists# the +o--$nists (ill gain

i--ediatel, as regards (inning the s,-path, of the -asses and discrediting the &endersons and

Sno(dens= and if as a res$lt (e do lose a fe( parlia-entar, seats# it is a -atter of no i-portance to $s.

e (o$ld p$t $p o$r candidates in a "er, fe( %$t a%sol$tel, safe constit$encies# na-el,# constit$encies

(here p$tting $p o$r candidate (o$ld not gi"e the seat to the Li%eral and lose it for the La%o$r

candidate. e (o$ld ta*e part in the election ca-paign# distri%$te leaflets in fa"o$r of +o--$nis-#

and# in all constit$encies (here (e ha"e no candidates# (e (o$ld $rge the electors to &ote fo! t%e

La)ou! #aniate an against t%e )ou!geois #aniate. +o-rades S,l"ia Pan*h$rst and ?allacher are

-ista*en in thin*ing that this is a %etra,al of +o--$nis-# or a ren$nciation of the str$ggle against the

social traitors. 4n the contrar,# the ca$se of co--$nist re"ol$tion (o$ld $ndo$%tedl, gain %, it.

<t present the ;ritish +o--$nists "er, often hnd it hard to approach the -asses and e"en to get a

hearing fro- the-. If I co-e o$t as a +o--$nist and call $pon the (or*ers to "ote for &enderson

against Llo,d ?eorge# the, (ill certainl, gi"e -e a hearing. <nd I (ill %e a%le to e!plain in a pop$lar

-anner not onl, (h, So"iets are %etter than parlia-ent and (h, the dictatorship of the proletariat is

%etter than the dictatorship of +h$rchill 3disg$ised %, the sign%oard of %o$rgeois :de-ocrac,:# %$t also

that I (ant (ith -, "ote to s$pport &enderson in the sa-e (a, as the rope s$pports a hanged -an @@

that the i-pending esta%lish-ent of a go"ern-ent of &endersons (ill pro"e that I a- right# (ill %ring

the -asses o"er to -, side# and (ill hasten the political death of the &endersons and the Sno(dens B$st

as (as the case (ith their *indred spirits in 2$ssia and ?er-an,.

<nd if the o%Bection is raised that these tactics are too :s$%tle#: or too co-plicated# that the -asses



(ill not $nderstand the-# that these tactics (ill split and scatter o$r forces# (ill pre"ent $s concentrating

the- on the So"iet re"ol$tion# etc.# I (ill repl, to the :Lefts: (ho raise this o%Bection8 dont ascri%e ,o$r

doctrinairis- to the -assesD The -asses in 2$ssia are pro%a%l, no %etter ed$cated than the -asses in

England= if an,thing# the, are less so. et the -asses $nderstood the ;olshe"i*s= and the fact that on t%e

e&e of the So"iet re"ol$tion# in Septe-%er 1917# the ;olshe"i*s p$t $p their candidates for a %o$rgeois

parlia-ent 3the +onstit$ent <sse-%l, and on t%e mo!!o( of the So"iet re"ol$tion# in o"e-%er 1917#too* part in the elections to this +onstit$ent <sse-%l,# (hich the, dispersed on Jan$ar, 5# 191A @@ this

did not ha-per the ;olshe"i*s# %$t on the contrar,# helped the-.

I cannot deal here (ith the second point of disagree-ent a-ong the ;ritish +o--$nists @@ the

$estion of affiliating or not affiliating to the La%o$r Part,. I ha"e too little -aterial at -, disposal on

this $estion# (hich is a partic$larl, co-ple! one in "ie( of the $ite $ni$e character of the ;ritish

La%o$r Part,# the "er, str$ct$re of (hich is so $nli*e the political parties co--on to the +ontinent. It is

%e,ond do$%t# ho(e"er# first# that on this $estion# too# those (ho tr, to ded$ce the tactics of the

re"ol$tionar, proletariat fro- principles li*e8 :The +o--$nist Part, -$st *eep its doctrine p$re# and its

independence of refor-is- in"iolate= its -ission is to lead the (a,# (itho$t stopping or t$rning# %, thedirect road to the co--$nist re"ol$tion: @@ (ill ine"ita%l, fall into error. For s$ch principles are -erel,

a repetition of the -ista*es co--itted %, the French ;lan$ist +o--$nards# (ho# in 1A7#

:rep$diated: all co-pro-ises and all inter-ediate stations. Secondl,# it is %e,ond do$%t that in this

$estion too# as al(a,s# the tas* is to learn to appl, the general and %asic principles of +o--$nis- to

the e#ulia! relations %et(een classes and parties# to the e#ulia! featu!es of the o%Becti"e de"elop-ent

to(ards +o--$nis- (hich are characteristic of each co$ntr, and (hich -$st %e st$died# disco"ered#

di"ined.

;$t this -$st %e disc$ssed not in connection (ith ;ritish +o--$nis- alone# %$t in connection (ith

the general concl$sions concerning the de"elop-ent of +o--$nis- in all capitalist co$ntries. e shallno( proceed to deal (ith this the-e.

#

SOME CONCLUSIONS

The 2$ssian %o$rgeois re"ol$tion of 1905 re"ealed a "er, pec$liar t$rn in (orld histor,8 in one of the

-ost %ac*(ard capitalist co$ntries the stri*e -o"e-ent attained a %readth and po(er (itho$t precedent

an,(here in the (orld. In the fi!st mont% of 4:;7 alone the n$-%er of stri*ers (as o"er ten ti-es

the annual a"erage for the pre"io$s ten ,ears 31A95@190= and fro- Jan$ar, to 4cto%er 1905 stri*es

gre( contin$o$sl, and reached enor-o$s di-ensions. Knder the infl$ence of a n$-%er of entirel,

$ni$e historical conditions# %ac*(ard 2$ssia (as the first to sho( the (orld not onl, the gro(th# %,

leaps and %o$nds# of the independent acti"it, of the oppressed -asses in ti-e of re"ol$tion 3this had

occ$rred in all great re"ol$tions# %$t also a significance of the proletariat infinitel, e!ceeding the

n$-erical ratio of the latter to the total pop$lation# a co-%ination of the econo-ic stri*e and the



political stri*e# the transfor-ation of the latter into ar-ed $prising# and the %irth of a ne( for- of -ass

str$ggle and -ass organiation of the classes oppressed %, capitalis-# "i.# the So"iets.

The re"ol$tions of Fe%r$ar, and 4cto%er 1917 led to the all@ro$nd de"elop-ent of the So"iets on a

national scale# and to their "ictor, in the proletarian# socialist re"ol$tion. <nd in less than t(o ,ears

there %eca-e re"ealed the international character of the So"iets# the spread of this for- of str$ggle and

organiation to the (orld (or*ing@class -o"e-ent# and the historical -ission of the So"iets as thegra"e@digger# heir and s$ccessor of %o$rgeois parlia-entaris-# and of %o$rgeois de-ocrac, in general.

'ore. The histor, of the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent no( sho(s that in all co$ntries it is a%o$t to

e!perience 3and has alread, %eg$n to e!perience a str$ggle %et(een +o--$nis-# (hich is gro(ing#

gaining strength and -arching to(ards "ictor,# and# first and fore-ost# its o(n 3in each co$ntr,

:'enshe"is-#: i.e.# opport$nis- and social@cha$"inis-# and# secondl, @@ as a s$pple-ent so to sa, @@

:Left@(ing: +o--$nis-. The for-er str$ggle has de"eloped in all co$ntries# apparentl, (itho$t a

single e!ception# as a str$ggle %et(een the Second International 3alread, "irt$all, *illed and the Third

International. The latter str$ggle can %e o%ser"ed in ?er-an,# ?reat ;ritain# Ital,# <-erica 3at an, rate#

a certain se#tion of the Ind$strial or*ers of the orld and the anarcho@s,ndicalist trends $phold the

errors of Left@(ing +o--$nis- side %, side (ith an al-ost $ni"ersal and $ndi"ided acceptance of the

So"iet s,ste- and France 3the attit$de of a section of the for-er s,ndicalists to(ards the political part,

and parlia-entaris-# again side %, side (ith the acceptance of the So"iet s,ste-# in other (ords# the

str$ggle is $ndo$%tedl, %eing (aged not onl, on an international# %$t e"en on a (orld@(ide scale.

;$t (hile the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent is e"er,(here passing thro$gh (hat is act$all, the sa-e *ind

of preparator, school for "ictor, o"er the %o$rgeoisie# it is in each co$ntr, achie"ing this de"elop-ent

in its o(n (a+. The %ig# ad"anced capitalist co$ntries are -arching along this road mu#% mo!e

!ail+ than did ;olshe"is-# (hich histor, granted fifteen ,ears to prepare itself# as an organied

political trend# for "ictor,. In the short space of one ,ear# the Third International has alread, scored a

decisi"e "ictor,= it has defeated the Second# ,ello(# social@cha$"inist International# (hich onl, a fe(

-onths ago (as inco-para%l, stronger than the Third International# see-ed to %e sta%le and po(erf$l

and enBo,ed the all@ro$nd s$pport @@ direct and indirect# -aterial 3+a%inet posts# passports# the press and

ideological @@ of the (orld %o$rgeoisie.

The (hole point no( is that the +o--$nists of e"er, co$ntr, sho$ld $ite conscio$sl, ta*e into

acco$nt %oth the -ain f$nda-ental tas*s of the str$ggle against opport$nis- and :Left: doctrinairis-

and the se#ifi# featu!es (hich this str$ggle ass$-es and ine"ita%l, -$st ass$-e in each separate

co$ntr, in confor-it, (ith the pec$liar feat$res of its econo-ics# politics# c$lt$re# national co-position3Ireland# etc.# its colonies# religio$s di"isions# and so on and so forth. E"er,(here (e can feel that

dissatisfaction (ith the Second International is spreading and gro(ing# %oth %eca$se of its opport$nis-

and %eca$se of its ina%ilit,# or incapacit,# to create a reall, centralied# a reall, leading centre that (o$ld

%e capa%le of directing the international tactics of the re"ol$tionar, proletariat in its str$ggle for a (orld

So"iet rep$%lic. e -$st clearl, realie that s$ch a leading centre cannot $nder an, circ$-stances %e

%$ilt $p on stereot,ped# -echanicall, e$alied and identical tactical r$les of str$ggle. <s long as

national and state differences e!ist a-ong peoples and co$ntries @@ and these differences (ill contin$e to



e!ist for a "er, long ti-e e"en after the dictatorship of the proletariat has %een esta%lished on a (orld

scale @@ the $nit, of international tactics of the +o--$nist (or*ing class -o"e-ent of all co$ntries

de-ands# not the eli-ination of "ariet,# not the a%olition of national differences 3that is a foolish drea-

at the present -o-ent# %$t s$ch an application of the funamental principles of +o--$nis- 3So"iet

po(er and the dictatorship of the proletariat as (ill #o!!e#tl+ moif+ these principles in

certain a!ti#ula!s# correctl, adapt and appl, the- to national and national@state differences. In"estigate#st$d,# see*# di"ine# grasp that (hich is pec$liarl, national# specificall, national in the #on#!ete

manne! in (hich each co$ntr, approaches the f$lfill-ent of the single international tas*# in (hich it

approaches the "ictor, o"er opport$nis- and :Left: doctrinairis- (ithin the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent#

the o"erthro( of the %o$rgeoisie# and the esta%lish-ent of a So"iet rep$%lic and a proletarian

dictatorship @@ s$ch is the -ain tas* of the historical period thro$gh (hich all the ad"anced co$ntries

3and not onl, the ad"anced co$ntries are no( passing. The -ain thing @@ not e"er,thing %, a "er, long

(a,# of co$rse# %$t the -ain thing @@ has alread, %een achie"ed in that the "ang$ard of the (or*ing class

has %een (on o"er# in that it has ranged itself on the side of So"iet go"ern-ent against parlia-entaris-#

on the side of the dictatorship of the proletariat against %o$rgeois de-ocrac,. o( all efforts# all

attention# -$st %e concentrated on the net step @@ (hich see-s# and fro- a certain standpoint reall, is @@

less f$nda-ental# %$t (hich# on the other hand# is act$all, closer to the practical carr,ing o$t of the tas*#

na-el,8 see*ing the for-s of t!ansition or a!oa#% to the proletarian re"ol$tion.

The proletarian "ang$ard has %een (on o"er ideologicall,. That is the -ain thing. itho$t this not

e"en the first step to(ards "ictor, can %e -ade. ;$t it is still a fairl, long (a, fro- "ictor,. Victor,

cannot %e (on (ith the "ang$ard alone. To thro( the "ang$ard alone into the decisi"e %attle# %efore the

(hole class# %efore the %road -asses ha"e ta*en $p a position either of direct s$pport of the "ang$ard# or

at least of %ene"olent ne$tralit, to(ards it# and one in (hich the, cannot possi%l, s$pport the ene-,#

(o$ld %e not -erel, foll, %$t a cri-e. <nd in order that act$all, the (hole class# that act$all, the %road

-asses of the (or*ing people and those oppressed %, capital -a, ta*e $p s$ch a position# propaganda

and agitation alone are not eno$gh. For this the -asses -$st ha"e their o(n political e!perience. S$ch is

the f$nda-ental la( of all great re"ol$tions# no( confir-ed (ith astonishing force and "i"idness not

onl, in 2$ssia %$t also in ?er-an,. ot onl, the $nc$lt$red# often illiterate# -asses of 2$ssia# %$t the

highl, c$lt$red# entirel, literate -asses of ?er-an, had to realie thro$gh their o(n painf$l e!perience

the a%sol$te i-potence and spinelessness# the a%sol$te helplessness and ser"ilit, to the %o$rgeoisie# the

$tter "ileness of the go"ern-ent of the *nights of the Second International# the a%sol$te ine"ita%ilit, of a

dictatorship of the e!tre-e reactionaries 3>ornilo" in 2$ssia# >app and +o. in ?er-an, as the onl,

alternati"e to a dictatorship of the proletariat# in order to t$rn the- resol$tel, to(ard +o--$nis-.

The i--ediate tas* that confronts the class@conscio$s "ang$ard of the international la%or -o"e-ent#

i.e.# the +o--$nist parties# gro$ps and trends# is to %e a%le to lea the %road -asses 3no(# for the -ost

part# sl$-%ering# apathetic# %o$nd %, ro$tine# inert and dor-ant to their ne( position# or# rather# to %e

a%le to lead not onl+ their o(n part,# %$t also these -asses# in their approach# their transition to the ne(

position. hile the first historical tas* 3that of (inning o"er the class@conscio$s "ang$ard of the

proletariat to So"iet po(er and the dictatorship of the (or*ing class co$ld not %e acco-plished (itho$t

a co-plete ideological and political "ictor, o"er opport$nis- and social cha$"inis-# the second tas*#



(hich no( %eco-es the i--ediate tas*# and (hich consists in %eing a%le to lead the masses to the ne(

position that can ens$re the "ictor, of the "ang$ard in the re"ol$tion @@ this i--ediate tas* cannot %e

acco-plished (itho$t eli-inating Left doctrinairis-# (itho$t co-pletel, o"erco-ing and eli-inating

its -ista*es.

<s long as the $estion (as 3and in so far as it still is one of (inning o"er the "ang$ard of the

proletariat to +o--$nis-# so long# and to that e!tent# propaganda (as in the forefront= e"en propagandacircles# (ith all the defects of the circle spirit# are $sef$l $nder these conditions and prod$ce fr$itf$l

res$lts. ;$t (hen it is a $estion of practical action %, the -asses# of the disposition# if one -a, so

e!press it# of "ast ar-ies# of the align-ent of all the class forces of the gi"en societ, fo! t%e final an

e#isi&e )attle# then propaganda ha%its alone# the -ere repetition of the tr$ths of :p$re: +o--$nis-#

are of no a"ail. In these circ$-stances one -$st not co$nt in tho$sands# as the propagandist does (ho

%elongs to a s-all gro$p that has not ,et gi"en leadership to the -asses= in these circ$-stances one -$st

co$nt in -illions and tens of -illions. In these circ$-stances (e -$st not onl, as* o$rsel"es (hether

(e ha"e con"inced the "ang$ard of the re"ol$tionar, class# %$t also (hether the historicall, effecti"e

forces of all classes @@ positi"el, of all the classes of the gi"en societ, (itho$t e!ception @@ are aligned ins$ch a (a, that e"er,thing is f$ll, ripe for the decisi"e %attle= in s$ch a (a, that 1 all the class forces

hostile to $s ha"e %eco-e s$fficientl, entangled# are s$fficientl, at loggerheads (ith each other# ha"e

s$fficientl, (ea*ened the-sel"es in a str$ggle (hich is %e,ond their strength= that ) all the "acillating#

(a"ering# $nsta%le# inter-ediate ele-ents @@ the pett, %o$rgeoisie and the pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrats as

distinct fro- the %o$rgeoisie @@ ha"e s$fficientl, e!posed the-sel"es in the e,es of the people# ha"e

s$fficientl, disgraced the-sel"es thro$gh their practical %an*r$ptc,= and that a-ong the proletariat a

-ass senti-ent in fa"o$r of s$pporting the -ost deter-ined# s$pre-el, %old# re"ol$tionar, action

against the %o$rgeoisie has arisen and %eg$n "igoro$sl, to gro(. Then re"ol$tion is indeed ripe= then#

indeed# if (e ha"e correctl, ga$ged all the conditions indicated and %riefl, o$tlined a%o"e# and if (e

ha"e chosen the -o-ent rightl,# o$r "ictor, is ass$red.

The di"ergences %et(een the +h$rchills and the Llo,d ?eorges @@ (ith insignificant national

differences these political t,pes e!ist in all co$ntries @@ on the one hand# and %et(een the &endersons

and the Llo,d ?eorges on the other# are $ite -inor and $ni-portant fro- the standpoint of p$re# i.e.#

a%stract +o--$nis-# i.e.# +o--$nis- that has not ,et -at$red to the stage of practical# -ass# political

action. ;$t fro- the standpoint of this practical action %, the -asses# these differences are "er,# "er,

i-portant. To ta*e acco$nt of these differences# to deter-ine the -o-ent (hen the ine"ita%le conflicts

%et(een these :friends: (hich (ea*en and enfee%le all t%e : f!iens : ta$en toget%e! (ill ha"e

co-pletel, -at$red @@ that is the cr$! of the -atter# the (hole tas* of the +o--$nist (ho (ants to %enot -erel, a class@conscio$s and con"inced propagandist of ideas# %$t a practical leader of the masses in

the re"ol$tion. The strictest de"otion to the ideas of +o--$nis- -$st %e co-%ined (ith the a%ilit, to

effect all the necessar, practical co-pro-ises# to -anoe$"re# to -a*e agree-ents# igags# retreats and

so on# in order to accelerate the co-ing to# and loss of# political po(er %, the &endersons 3the heroes of

the Second International# if (e are to spea* not of indi"id$als# the representati"es of pett,@%o$rgeois

de-ocrac, (ho call the-sel"es Socialists= to accelerate their ine"ita%le %an*r$ptc, in practice# (hich

(ill enlighten the -asses precisel, in the spirit of o$r ideas# in the direction of +o--$nis-= to



accelerate the ine"ita%le friction# $arrels# conflicts and $tter discord %et(een the &endersons# the Llo,d

?eorges and the +h$rchills 3the 'enshe"i*s and Socialist@2e"ol$tionaries# the +onstit$tional@

Ce-ocrats and the -onarchists the Scheide-anns# the %o$rgeoisie and the >appists# etc.# and to select

the proper -o-ent (hen the discord a-ong these :pillars of sacred pri"ate propert,: is at its height# in

order# %, a deter-ined offensi"e of the proletariat# to defeat the- all and capt$re political po(er.

&istor, generall,# and the histor, of re"ol$tions in partic$lar# is al(a,s richer in content# -ore "aried#-ore -an, sided# -ore li"el, and :s$%tle: than e"en the %est parties and the -ost class@conscio$s

"ang$ards of the -ost ad"anced classes i-agine. This is $nderstanda%le# %eca$se e"en the %est

"ang$ards e!press the class conscio$sness# (ill# passion and i-agination of tens of tho$sands= (hereas

re"ol$tions are -ade# at -o-ents of partic$lar $ps$rge and the e!ertion of all h$-an capacities# %, the

class conscio$sness# (ill# passion and i-agination of tens of -illions# sp$rred on %, a -ost ac$te

str$ggle of classes. Fro- this follo( t(o "er, i-portant practical concl$sions8 first# that in order to f$lfil

its tas* the re"ol$tionar, class -$st %e a%le to -aster all for-s# or aspects# of social acti"it, (itho$t an,

e!ception 3co-pleting# after the capt$re of political po(er# so-eti-es at great ris* and "er, great

danger# (hat it did not co-plete %efore the capt$re of po(er= second# that the re"ol$tionar, class -$st %e read, to pass fro- one for- to another in the $ic*est and -ost $ne!pected -anner.

E"er,one (ill agree that an ar-, (hich does not train itself to (ield all ar-s# all the -eans and

-ethods of (arfare that the ene-, possesses or -a, possess# %eha"es in an $n(ise or e"en in a cri-inal

-anner. ;$t this applies to politics e"en -ore than it does to (ar. In politics it is e"en harder to forecast

(hat -ethods of (arfare (ill %e applica%le and ad"antageo$s to $s $nder specific f$t$re conditions.

Knless (e -astor all -eans of (arfare# (e -a, s$ffer gra"e# often e"en decisi"e# defeat if changes

%e,ond o$r control in the position of the other classes %ring to the forefront for-s of acti"it, in (hich

(e are partic$larl, (ea*. If# ho(e"er# (e -aster all -eans of (arfare# "ictor, (ill %e certain# %eca$se

(e represent the interests of the reall, fore-ost ancd reall, re"ol$tionar, class# e"en if circ$-stances donot per-it $s to %ring into pla, the (eapons that are -ost dangero$s to the ene-,# (eapons that deal the

s(iftest -ortal %lo(s. Ine!perienced re"ol$tionaries often thin* that legal -ethods of str$ggle are

opport$nist %eca$se in this field the %o$rgeoisie has especiall, fre$entl, 3partic$larl, in :peacef$l#:

non@re"ol$tionar, ti-es decei"ed and fooled the (or*ers# and that illegal -ethods of str$ggle are

re"ol$tionar,. ;$t that is not tr$e. hat is tr$e is that those parties and leaders are opport$nists and

traitors to the (or*ing class (ho are $na%le or $n(illing 3dont sa, ,o$ cannot# sa, ,o$ (ill notD to

appl, illegal -ethods of str$ggle in conditions s$ch as those (hich pre"ailed# for e!a-ple# d$ring the

i-perialist (ar of 191@1A# (hen the %o$rgeoisie of the freest de-ocratic co$ntries decei"ed the

(or*ers in the -ost insolent and %r$tal -anner# for%idding the tr$th to %e told a%o$t the predator,character of the (ar. ;$t re"ol$tionaries (ho are $na%le to co-%ine illegal for-s of str$ggle

(ith e&e!+ for- of legal str$ggle are poor re"ol$tionaries indeed. It is not diffic$lt to %e a re"ol$tionar,

(hen re"ol$tion has alread, %ro*en o$t and is at its height# (hen e"er,%od, is Boining the re"ol$tion

B$st %eca$se the, are carried a(a,# %eca$se it is the fashion# and so-eti-es e"en o$t of careerist

-oti"es. <fter its "ictor,# the proletariat has to -a*e -ost stren$o$s efforts# to s$ffer the pains of

-art,rdo-# one -ight sa,# to :li%erate: itself fro- s$ch pse$do re"ol$tionaries. It is far -ore diffic$lt @@

and of far greater "al$e @@ to %e a re"ol$tionar, (hen the conditions for direct# open# reall, -ass and



reall, re"ol$tionar, str$ggle o not +et eist # to %e a%le to cha-pion the interests of the re"ol$tion 3%,

propaganda# agitation and organiation in non@re"ol$tionar, %odies and often eno$gh in do(nright

reactionar, %odies# in a non@re"ol$tionar, sit$ation# a-ong -asses (ho are incapa%le of i--ediatel,

appreciating the need for re"ol$tionar, -ethods of action. To %e a%le to find# to pro%e for# to correctl,

deter-ine the specific path or the partic$lar t$rn of e"ents that (ill lea the -asses to the real# last#

decisi"e# and great re"ol$tionar, str$ggle @@ s$ch is the -ain tas* of +o--$nis- in estern E$rope and<-erica toda,.

?reat ;ritain offers an e!a-ple. e cannot tell# and no one can tell %eforehand# ho( soon a real

proletarian re"ol$tion (ill flare $p there# and (%at immeiate #ause (ill -ost ser"e to ro$se# *indle# and

i-pel into the str$ggle the "er, (ide -asses (ho are at present dor-ant. &ence# it is o$r d$t, to carr,

on all o$r preparator, (or* in s$ch a (a,# as to %e (ell shod on all fo$r feet 3as the late Ple*hano"#

(hen he (as a 'ar!ist and re"ol$tionar,# (as fond of sa,ing. It is possi%le that the :%reach: (ill %e

forced# :the ice %ro*en: %, a parlia-entar, crisis# or %, a crisis arising o$t of the colonial and i-perialist

contradictions# (hich are hopelessl, entangled and are %eco-ing increasingl, painf$l and ac$te# or

perhaps %, so-e third ca$se# etc. e are not disc$ssing the *ind of str$ggle that (ill ete!mine the fateof the proletarian re"ol$tion in ?reat ;ritain 3not a single +o--$nist has an, do$%t on that score= for all

of $s this $estion is settled# and settled definitel,= (hat (e are disc$ssing is the immeiate #ause that

(ill %ring into -otion the at present dor-ant proletarian -asses and lead the- directl, to re"ol$tion. Let

$s not forget that in the French %o$rgeois rep$%lic# for e!a-ple# in a sit$ation (hich fro- %oth the

international and national aspect (as a h$ndred ti-es less re"ol$tionar, than the present# s$ch an

:$ne!pected: and :pett,: i--ediate ca$se as one of the -an, tho$sands of fra$d$lent tric*s of the

reactionar, -ilitar, caste 3the Cre,f$s case/$(# (as eno$gh to %ring the people to the "erge of ci"il

(arD

The +o--$nists in ?reat ;ritain sho$ld constantl,# $nre-ittingl, and $nde"iatingl, $tilie parlia-entar, elections and all the "icissit$des of the Irish# colonial and (orld i-perialist polic, of the

;ritish go"ern-ent# and all other fields# spheres and facets of p$%lic life# and (or*# in all of the- in a

ne( (a,# in a co--$nist (a,# in the spirit of the Third# and not of the Second# International. I ha"e

neither the ti-e nor the space here to descri%e the :2$ssian#: :;olshe"i*: -ethods of participation in

padia-entar, elections and in the parlia-entar, str$ggle= %$t I can ass$re the foreign +o--$nists that it

(as totall, $nli*e the $s$al est@E$ropean parlia-entar, ca-paigns. Fro- this the concl$sion is often

dra(n8 :ell# that (as in 2$ssia= in o$r co$ntr, parlia-entaris- is different.: < (rong concl$sion. ;$t

it is B$st (h, +o--$nists# adherents of the Third International in all co$ntries e!ist @@ to #%ange# all

along the line# in all spheres of life# the old socialist# trade $nionist# s,ndicalist# parlia-entar, (or*into ne( (or*# co--$nist (or*. In 2$ssia# too# there (as al(a,s a great deal of opport$nist and p$rel,

%o$rgeois co--ercialis- and capitalist s(indling in the elections. The +o--$nists in estern E$rope

and <-erica -$st learn to create a ne(# $n$s$al# non@opport$nist# non@careerist parlia-entaris-= the

+o--$nist parties -$st iss$e their slogans= real proletarians# (ith the help of the $norganied and

do(ntrodden poor# sho$ld scatter and distri%$te leaflets# can"ass (or*ers ho$ses and the cottages of the

r$ral proletarians and peasants in the re-ote "illages 3fort$natel, there are -an, ti-es less re-ote

"illages in E$rope than in 2$ssia# and in England the n$-%er is "er, s-all= the, sho$ld go into the





-ost co--on ta"erns# penetrate into the $nions# societies and cas$al -eetings (here the co--on

people gather# and tal* to the people# not in learned 3and not in "er, parlia-entar, lang$age= the,

sho$ld not at all stri"e to :get seats: in parlia-ent# %$t sho$ld e"er,(here stri"e to ro$se the -inds of

the -asses and dra( the- into the str$ggle# to hold the %o$rgeoisie to its (ord and $tilie the apparat$s

it has set $p# the elections it has appointed# the appeals it has -ade to the (hole people# and to tell the

people (hat ;olshe"is- is in a (a, that has ne"er %een possi%le 3$nder %o$rgeois r$le o$tside ofelection ti-es 3not co$nting# of co$rse# ti-es of %ig stri*es# (hen# in 2$ssia# a simila! apparat$s for

(idespread pop$lar agitation (or*ed e"en -ore intensi"el,. It is "er, diffic$lt to do this in estern

E$rope and <-erica# "er,# "er, diffic$lt= %$t it can and -$st %e done# for the tas* of +o--$nis-

cannot %e f$lfilled (itho$t effort= and o$r efforts -$st %e de"oted to f$lfilling !a#ti#al tas*s# e"er -ore

"aried# e"er -ore closel, connected (ith all %ranches of social life# (inning %ranch after %ranch and

sphere after sphere f!om t%e )ou!geoisie.

In ?reat ;ritain# f$rther# the (or* of propaganda# agitation and organiation a-ong the ar-ed forces

and a-ong the oppressed and $nfranchised nationalities in ones :o(n : state 3Ireland# the colonies -$st

also %e ta*en $p in a ne( (a, 3not in a socialist# %$t a co--$nist (a,# not in a refor-ist# %$t are"ol$tionar, (a,. ;eca$se in the era of i-perialis- generall,# and especiall, no(# after the (ar# (hich

(as a tor-ent to the peoples and $ic*l, opened their e,es to the tr$th 3"i.# that tens of -illions (ere

*illed and -ai-ed onl, for the p$rpose of deciding (hether the ;ritish or the ?er-an pirates sho$ld

pl$nder the largest n$-%er of co$ntries# all these spheres of social life are %eing especiall, charged (ith

infla--a%le -aterial and are creating n$-ero$s ca$ses of conflicts# crises and the accent$ation of the

class str$ggle. e do not and cannot *no( (hich spar* @@ of the inn$-era%le spar*s that are fl,ing

aro$nd in all co$ntries as a res$lt of the econo-ic and political (orld crisis @@ (ill *indle the

conflagration# in the sense of speciall, ro$sing the -asses# and (e -$st# therefore# (ith the aid of o$r

ne(# co--$nist principles# set to (or* to :stir $p: all and s$ndr,# e"en the oldest# -$stiest and

see-ingl, hopeless spheres# for other(ise (e shall not %e a%le to cope (ith o$r tas*s# (e shall not %e

co-prehensi"el, prepared# (e shall not -aster all ar-s and (e shall not prepare o$rsel"es to achie"e

either the "ictor, o"er the %o$rgeoisie 3(hich arranged all sides of social life @@ and has no( disarranged

the- @@ in its %o$rgeois (a, or the i-pending co--$nist reorganiation of e"er, sphere of life after

that "ictor,.

<fter the proletarian re"ol$tion in 2$ssia and its "ictories on an international scale# (hich (ere

$ne!pected for the %o$rgeoisie and the philistines# the (hole (orld has changed# and the %o$rgeoisie has

changed e"er,(here too. It is terrified of :;olshe"is-#: incensed (ith it al-ost to the point of fren,#

and# precisel, for that reason# it is# on the one hand# accelerating the progress of e"ents and# on the other#concentrating attention on the s$ppression of ;olshe"is- %, force# and there%, (ea*ening its position in

a n$-%er of other fields. The +o--$nists in all ad"anced co$ntries -$st ta*e into acco$nt %oth these

circ$-stances in their tactics.

hen the 2$ssian +adets and >erens*, la$nched a f$rio$s ca-paign against the ;olshe"i*s @@

especiall, after <pril 1917# and -ore partic$larl, in J$ne and J$l, 1917 @@ the, :o"erdid: it. 'illions of

copies of %o$rgeois papers# shrie*ing in e"er, *e, against the ;olshe"i*s# helped to ind$ce the -asses to



appraise ;olshe"is-= and# apart fro- the ne(spapers# all p$%lic life (as %eing per-eated (ith

disc$ssions a%o$t ;olshe"is- B$st %eca$se of the :eal: of the %o$rgeoisie. o( on an international

scale the -illionaires of all co$ntries are %eha"ing in a (a, that deser"es o$r heartiest than*s. The, are

ho$nding ;olshe"is- (ith the sa-e eal as did >erens*, and +o.= the,# too# are :o"erdoing: it

and %eling $s B$st as >erens*, did. hen the French %o$rgeoisie -a*es ;olshe"is- the central iss$e at

the elections# and acc$ses the co-parati"el, -oderate or "acillating Socialists of %eing ;olshe"i*s=(hen the <-erican %o$rgeoisie# ha"ing co-pletel, lost its head# seies tho$sands and tho$sands of

people on s$spicion of ;olshe"is-# creates an at-osphere of panic and %roadcasts stories of ;olshe"i*

plots= (hen the ;ritish %o$rgeoisie @@ the -ost :solid: in the (orld @@ despite all its (isdo- and

e!perience# co--its incredi%le follies# fo$nds richl, endo(ed :anti@;olshe"i* societies#: creates a

special literat$re on ;olshe"is-# and hires an e!tra n$-%er of scientists# agitators and parsons to co-%at

it @@ (e -$st %o( and than* the capitalist gentr,. The, are (or*ing for $s. The, are helping $s to get the

-asses interested in the nat$re and significance of ;olshe"is-. <nd the, cannot do other(ise= for the,

ha"e al!ea+ failed to stifle ;olshe"is-# to :ignore: it.

;$t at the sa-e ti-e# the %o$rgeoisie sees practicall, onl, one side of ;olshe"is-# "i.# ins$rrection#"iolence# terror= it therefore stri"es to prepare itself for resistance and opposition partic$larl, in this

field. It is possi%le that in certain in stances# in certain co$ntries# and for certain %rief periods# it (ill

s$cceed in this. e -$st rec*on (ith s$ch a possi%ilit,# and there (ill %e a%sol$tel, nothing terri%le for

$s if it does s$cceed. +o--$nis- :springs: fro- positi"el, e"er, sphere of p$%lic life= its shoots are to

%e seen literall, e"er,(here. The :contagion: 3to $se the fa"o$rite -etaphor of the %o$rgeoisie and the

%o$rgeois police# the one -ost :pleasant: to the- has "er, thoro$ghl, per-eated the organis- and has

co-pletel, i-pregnated it. If special efforts are -ade to :stop $p: one of the channels# the :contagion:

(ill find another# so-eti-es a "er, $ne!pected channel. Life (ill assert itself. Let the %o$rgeoisie ra"e#

(or* itself into a fren,# go to e!tre-es# co--it follies# ta*e "engeance on the ;olshe"i*s in ad"ance#

and endea"o$r to *ill off 3in India# &$ngar,# ?er-an,# etc. -ore h$ndreds# tho$sands# and h$ndreds of

tho$sands of ,esterda,s and to-orro(s ;olshe"i*s. In acting th$s# the %o$rgeoisie is acting as all

classes doo-ed %, histor, ha"e acted. +o--$nists sho$ld *no( that the f$t$re in an, case %elongs to

the-= therefore# (e can 3and -$st co-%ine the -ost intense passion in the great re"ol$tionar, str$ggle

(ith the coolest and -ost so%er esti-ation of the frenied ra"ings of the %o$rgeoisie. The 2$ssian

re"ol$tion (as cr$ell, defeated in 1905= the 2$ssian ;olshe"i*s (ere defeated in J$l, 1917= o"er

15#000 ?er-an +o--$nists (ere *illed as a res$lt of the (il, pro"ocation and c$nning -anoe$"res of

Scheide-ann and os*e (or*ing hand in glo"e (ith the %o$rgeoisie and the -onarchist generals= hite

terror is raging in Finland and &$ngar,. ;$t in all cases and in all co$ntries +o--$nis- is %eco-ing

steeled and is gro(ing= its roots are so deep that persec$tion does not (ea*en it# does not de%ilitate it#

%$t strengthens it. 4nl, one thing is lac*ing to ena%le $s to -arch for(ard -ore confidentl, and fir-l,

to "ictor,# na-el,# the $ni"ersal and thoro$ghl, tho$ght@o$t appreciation %, all +o--$nists in all

co$ntries of the necessit, of displa,ing the $t-ost flei)ilit+ in their tactics. The co--$nist -o"e-ent#

(hich is de"eloping -agnificentl,# especiall, in the ad"anced co$ntries# no( lac*s this appreciation and

the a%ilit, to appl, it in practice.

hat happened to s$ch leaders of the Second International# s$ch highl, er$dite 'ar!ists de"oted to



Socialis- as >a$ts*,# 4tto ;a$er and others# co$ld 3and sho$ld ser"e as a $sef$l lesson. The, f$ll,

appreciated the need for fle!i%le tactics= the, learned the-sel"es and ta$ght others 'ar!ist dialectics

3and -$ch of (hat the, ha"e done in this respect (ill fore"er re-ain a "al$a%le contri%$tion to socialist

literat$re= %$t in t%e ali#ation of these dialectics the, co--itted s$ch a -ista*e# or pro"ed in practice

to %e so undialectical# so incapa%le of ta*ing into acco$nt the rapid change of for-s and the rapid

ac$iring of ne( content %, the old for-s# that their fate is not -$ch -ore en"ia%le than that of&,nd-an# ?$esde and Ple*hano".

The principal reason for their %an*r$ptc, (as that the, (ere :enchanted %, one definite for- of

gro(th of the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent and Socialis-# the, forgot all a%o$t the one@sidedness of this

for-# the, (ere afraid of seeing the sharp %rea* (hich o%Becti"e conditions -ade ine"ita%le# and

contin$ed to repeat si-ple# ro$tine# and# at a first glance# in contesta%le tr$ths# s$ch as8 :three is -ore

than t(o.: ;$t politics is -ore li*e alge%ra than arith-etic= and still -ore li*e higher -athe-atics than

ele-entar, -athe-atics. In realit,# all the old for-s of the socialist -o"e-ent ha"e ac$ired a ne(

content# and# conse$entl,# a ne( sign# the :-in$s: sign# has appeared in front of all the fig$res= %$t o$r

(iseacres st$%%ornl, contin$ed 3and still contin$e to pers$ade the-sel"es and others that :-in$s three:is -ore than :-in$s t(o:D

e -$st see to it that +o--$nists do not -a*e the sa-e -ista*e# onl, the other (a, ro$nd= or#

rather# (e -$st see to it that the same mista$e# onl, the other (a, ro$nd# -ade %, the :Left:

+o--$nists# is corrected as soon as possi%le and o"erco-e as $ic*l, and painlessl, as possi%le. It is

not onl, 2ight doctrinairis- that is a -ista*e= Left doctrinairis- is also a -ista*e. 4f co$rse# the

-ista*e of Left doctrinairis- in +o--$nis- is at present a tho$sand ti-es less dangero$s and less

significant than the -ista*es of 2ight doctrinairis- 3i.e.# social@cha$"inis- and >a$ts*,is-= %$t# after

all# that is onl, d$e to the fact that Left +o--$nis- is a "er, ,o$ng trend# is onl, B$st co-ing into

%eing. It is onl, for this reason that# $nder certain conditions# the disease can %e easil, c$red= and (e-$st set to (or* to c$re it (ith the $t-ost energ,.

The old for-s ha"e %$rst as$nder# for it has t$rned o$t that their ne( content @@ an anti@proletarian and

reactionar, content @@ had attained inordinate de"elop-ent. Toda, o$r (or* has# fro- the standpoint of

the de"elop-ent of in ternational +o--$nis-# s$ch a d$ra%le# strong and po(erf$l content 3for So"iet

po(er# for the dictatorship of the proletariat that it can and -$st -anifest itself in e"er, for-# %oth ne(

and old# it can an must regenerate# con$er and s$%B$gate all for-s# not onl, the ne(# %$t also the old @@

not for the p$rpose of reconciling itself (ith the old# %$t for the p$rpose of -a*ing all and e"er, for- @@

ne( and old @@ a (eapon for the co-plete# final# decisi"e and irre"oca%le "ictor, of +o--$nis-.

The +o--$nists -$st e!ert e"er, effort to direct the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent and social

de"elop-ent in general along the straightest and $ic*est road to the $ni"ersal "ictor, of So"iet po(er

and the dictatorship of the proletariat. That is an incontesta%le tr$th. ;$t it is eno$gh to ta*e one little

step f$rther @@ a step that -ight see- to %e in the sa-e direction @@ and tr$th %eco-es error. e ha"e

onl, to sa,# as the ?er-an and ;ritish Left +o--$nists sa,# that (e recognied onl, one road# onl, the

direct road# that (e (ill not per-it tac*ing# -anoe$"ring# co-pro-ising @@ and it (ill %e a -ista*e

(hich -a, ca$se# and in part has alread, ca$sed# and is ca$sing# "er, serio$s har- to +o--$nis-.



2ight doctrinairis- persisted in recogniing onl, the old for-s# and %eca-e $tterl, %an*r$pt# for it did

not percei"e the ne( content. Left doctrinairis- persists in the $nconditional rep$diation of certain old

for-s# failing to see that the ne( content is forcing its (a, thro$gh all and s$ndr, for-s# that it is o$r

d$t, as +o--$nists to -aster all for-s# to learn ho(# (ith the -a!i-$- rapidit,# to s$pple-ent one

for- (ith another# to s$%stit$te one for another# and to adapt o$r tactics to e"er, s$ch change called

forth not %, o$r class# nor %, o$r efforts. orld re"ol$tion has recei"ed s$ch a po(erf$l i-pet$s and acceleration fro- the horrors# atrocities

and a%o-inations of the (orld i-perialist (ar and fro- the hopelessness of the sit$ation it created @@

this re"ol$tion is de"eloping in %readth and depth (ith s$ch -agnificent rapidit,# (ith s$ch a splendid

"ariet, of changing for-s# (ith s$ch an instr$cti"e# practical ref$tation of all doctrinairis-# that there is

e"er, gro$nd for hoping for a rapid and co-plete reco"er, of the international co--$nist -o"e-ent

fro- the infantile disorder of :Left (ing: +o--$nis-.

<pril )7# 19)0

2PPENI<

;efore p$%lishing ho$ses in o$r co$ntr, @@ (hich has %een pl$ndered %, the i-perialists of the (hole

(orld in re"enge for the proletarian re"ol$tion# and (hich is still %eing pl$ndered and %loc*aded %,

the- regardless of all pro-ises the, -ade to their (or*ers @@ had s$cceeded in getting o$t -, pa-phlet#

additional -aterial arri"ed fro- a%road. itho$t clai-ing to present in -, pa-phlet an,thing -ore than

the c$rsor, notes of a p$%licist# I shall to$ch %riefl, $pon a fe( points.

I

THE SPLIT AMONG THE GERMAN COMMUNISTS

The split a-ong the +o--$nists in ?er-an, has %eco-e an acco-plished fact. The :Lefts#: or the

:opposition on principle#: ha"e for-ed a separate :+o--$nist La%o$r Part,#: as distinct fro- the

:+o--$nist Part,.: <pparentl,# a split is also i--inent in Ital, @@ I sa, apparentl,# as I ha"e onl, t(o

additional iss$es 3os. 7 and A of the Left ne(spaper# Il So&iet # in (hich the possi%ilit, and necessit, of

a split is openl, disc$ssed# and -ention is also -ade of a congress of the :<%stentionist: faction 3or the

%o,cottists# i.e.# opponents of participation in parlia-ent# (hich faction is still a part of the Italian

Socialist Part,.

There is reason to fear that the split (ith the :Lefts#: the anti@parlia-entarians 3in part also anti@

politicals# the opponents of a political part, and of (or* in the trade $nions (ill %eco-e an

international pheno-enon# li*e the split (ith the :+entrists: 3or >a$ts*,ites# Long$etites#

:Independents#: etc.. ;e it so. <t all e"ents# a split is %etter than conf$sion (hich i-pedes the

ideological# theoretical and re"ol$tionar, gro(th and -at$ring of the part, and its har-onio$s# reall,

organied practical (or* (hich act$all, pa"es the (a, for the dictatorship of the proletariat.



Let the :Lefts: p$t the-sel"es to a practical test on a national and international scale= let the- tr, to

prepare for 3and then realie the dictatorship of the proletariat (itho$t a strictl, centralied part, (ith

an iron discipline# (itho$t the a%ilit, to -aster e"er, sphere# e"er, %ranch# e"er, "ariet, of political and

c$lt$ral (or*. Practical e!perience (ill soon -a*e the- (iser.

;$t e"er, effort -$st %e -ade to pre"ent the split (ith the :Lefts: fro- i-peding# or to see that it

i-pedes as little as possi%le# the necessar, a-alga-ation into a single part, @@ (hich is ine"ita%le in thenear f$t$re @@ of all those in the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent (ho sincerel, and conscientio$sl, stand for

So"iet go"ern-ent and the dictatorship of the proletariat. It (as the e!ceptional fort$ne of the

;olshe"i*s in 2$ssia to ha"e fifteen ,ears in (hich to (age a s,ste-atic and thoro$gh str$ggle %oth

against the 'enshe"i*s 3that is# the opport$nists and :+entrists: and against the :Lefts#: long %efore the

direct -ass str$ggle for the dictatorship of the proletariat %egan. In E$rope and <-erica the sa-e (or*

has to %e done no( %, :forced -arches.: +ertain indi"id$als# especiall, a-ong the $ns$ccessf$l

clai-ants to leadership# -a, 3if the, lac* proletarian discipline and are not :honest (ith the-sel"es:

persist in their -ista*es for a long ti-e= %$t (hen the ti-e is ripe the -asses of the (or*ers (ill easil,

and $ic*l, $nite the-sel"es and $nite all sincere +o--$nists to for- a single part, capa%le ofesta%lishing the So"iet s,ste- and the dictatorship of the proletariat.H

H ith regard to the $estion of the f$t$re a-alga-ation of the :Left: +o--$nists# the anti@

parlia-entarians# (ith the +o--$nists in general# I (o$ld -a*e the follo(ing additional re-ar*s. <s

far as I ha"e %een a%le to fa-iliarie -,self (ith the ne(spapers of the :Left: +o--$nists and (ith

those of the +o--$nists in general in ?er-an,# I find that the for-er ha"e the ad"antage of %eing %etter

a%le to carr, on agitation a-ong the -asses than the latter. I ha"e repeatedl, o%ser"ed so-ething si-ilar

to this in the histor, of the ;olshe"i* Part,# tho$gh on a s-aller scale and in indi"id$al localorganiations and not on a national scale. For instance# in 1907@0A the :Left: ;olshe"i*s on certain

occasions and in certain places carried on -ore s$ccessf$l agitation a-ong the -asses than (e did. This

-a, %e partl, d$e to the fact that at a re"ol$tionar, -o-ent# or at a ti-e (hen re"ol$tionar,

recollections are still fresh# it is easier to approach the -asses (ith tactics of :-ere: negation. This#

ho(e"er# is not an arg$-ent pro"ing the correctness of s$ch tactics. <t all e"ents there is not the least

do$%t that a +o--$nist Part, (hich (ishes to %e the real "ang$ard# the ad"anced detach-ent of the

re"ol$tionar, class# the proletariat# and (hich# in addition# (ishes to learn to lead the %road -asses @@

not onl, the proletarian# %$t also the non@proletarian -asses of toilers and e!ploited @@ -$st *no( ho(

to cond$ct propaganda# ho( to organie# and ho( to carr, on agitation in a -anner -ost accessi%le#

-ost co-prehensi%le# -ost clear and "i"id %oth to the $r%an# factor, -asses and to the r$ral -asses.

II

THE COMMUNISTS AND THE INDEPENDENTS

IN GERMAN!



I ha"e e!pressed the opinion in this pa-phlet that a co-pro-ise %et(een the +o--$nists and the

Left (ing of the Independents is necessar, and $sef$l to +o--$nis-# %$t that it (ill not %e eas, to

effect. The ne(spapers (hich I ha"e s$%se$entl, recei"ed ha"e confir-ed this opinion on %oth

points. o. ) of T%e Re 3lag # the organ of the +entral +o--ittee of the +o--$nist Part, of ?er-an,

3 ie Rote 3a%ne# Nentralorgan der >o--$nistischen Partei Ce$tsch lands @@ Spartac$s%$nd @@ of 'arch

)6# 19)0# p$%lished a :state-ent: of this +entral +o--ittee on the >app@L$tt(it -ilitar, p$tsch/$9 3conspirac,# ad"ent$re and on the :socialist go"ern-ent.: This state-ent is $ite correct

%oth as to its %asic pre-ise and its practical concl$sions. The %asic pre-ise is that at the present -o-ent

there is no :o%Becti"e %asis: for the dictatorship of the proletariat %eca$se :the -aBorit, of the $r%an

(or*ers: s$pport the Independents. The concl$sion is @@ a pro-ise to %e a :lo,al opposition: 3i.e.#

ren$nciation of preparations for a :"iolent o"erthro(: to a :socialist go"ern-ent if it e!cl$des

%o$rgeois@capitalist parties.:

Kndo$%tedl,# these tactics are in the -ain correct. <nd tho$gh there is no need to d(ell on -inor

ine!actit$des of for-$lation# (e cannot refrain fro- sa,ing that a go"ern-ent of social traitors cannot

%e descri%ed 3in an official state-ent of the +o--$nist Part, as a :socialist: go"ern-ent= that onecannot spea* of the e!cl$sion of :%o$rgeois capitalist parties#: (hen the parties %oth of the

Scheide-anns and of 'essrs. the >a$ts*,s and +rispiens are pett, %o$rgeois@de-ocratic parties= that it

is i-per-issi%le to (rite s$ch things as are contained in paragraph of the state-ent# (hich reads8

:. . . For the f$rther (inning of the proletarian -asses for +o--$nis-# a state of things (here

political freedo- co$ld %e $tilied (itho$t restraint# and (here %o$rgeois de-ocrac, co$ld not -anifest

itself as a dictatorship of capital is of the greatest i-portance fro- the standpoint of the de"elop-ent of

the proletarian dictatorship. . . .:

S$ch a state of things is i-possi%le. Pett,@%o$rgeois leaders# the ?er-an &endersons 3Scheide-anns

and Sno(dens 3+rispiens# do not and cannot go %e,ond the %o$nds of %o$rgeois de-ocrac,# (hich# in

its t$rn# cannot %$t %e the dictatorship of capital. There (as no need at all to (rite s$ch things# (hich are

(rong in principle and har-f$l politicall,# for the attain-ent of the practical res$lts for (hich the

+entral +o--ittee of the +o--$nist Part, had %een $ite rightl, stri"ing. It (o$ld ha"e %een s$fficient

to sa, 3if one (ished to o%ser"e parlia-entar, a-enities that as long as the -aBorit, of the $r%an

(or*ers follo( the Independents# (e +o--$nists -$st do nothing to pre"ent these (or*ers o"erco-ing

their last philistine@de-ocratic 3i.e.# also :%o$rgeois@capitalist: ill$sions %, going thro$gh the

e!perience of ha"ing their :o(n: go"ern-ent. That is s$fficient gro$nd for a co-pro-ise (hich is

reall, necessar,# and sho$ld consist in reno$ncing for a certain period all atte-pts at the "iolent

o"erthro( of a go"ern-ent (hich enBo,s the confidence of a -aBorit, of the $r%an (or*ers. ;$t in e"er,

da, -ass agitation# in (hich one is not %o$nd %, official parlia-entar, a-enities# one -ight# of co$rse#

add8 Let rascals li*e the Scheide-anns# and philistines li*e the >a$ts*,s and +rispiens re"eal %, their

deeds ho( the, ha"e %een fooled the-sel"es and ho( the, are fooling the (or*ers= their :clean:

go"ern-ent (ill itself do the :cleanest: Bo% of a ll in :cleaning: the <$gean sta%les/%0 of Socialis-#

Social Ce-ocrac, and other for-s of social treacher,.

The real nat$re of the present leaders of the Independent Social@Ce-ocratic Part, of ?er-an, 3those







of (ho- it is (rongl, said that the, ha"e alread, lost all infl$ence# (hereas# in realit,# the, are e"en

-ore dangero$s to the proletariat than the &$ngarian Social@Ce-ocrats (ho st,led the-sel"es

+o--$nists and pro-ised to :s$pport: the dictatorship of the proletariat (as re"ealed once again

d$ring the ?er-an >ornilo" affair# i.e.# the >app@L$tt(it) p$tsch./) < s-all %$t stri*ing ill$stration is

afforded %, t(o %rief articles @@ one %, >arl >a$ts*, entitled :Cecisi"e &o$rs: 3:Entschei dende

St$nden: in 3!ei%eit 3 3!eeom# the organ of the Independents of 'arch 0# 19)0# and the other %,<rth$r +rispien entitled :4n the Political Sit$ation: 3in this sa-e ne(spaper# iss$e of <pril 1# 19)0.

These gentle-en are a%sol$tel, incapa%le of thin*ing and reasoning li*e re"ol$tionaries. The, are

sni"elling philistine de-ocrats# (ho %eco-e a tho$sand ti-es -ore dangero$s to the proletariat (hen

the, clai- to %e s$pporters of So"iet go"ern-ent and of the dictatorship of the proletariat# %eca$se

act$all, (hene"er a diffic$lt and dangero$s sit$ation arises the, are s$re to co--it treacher, . . . (hile

:sincerel,: %elie"ing that the, are helping the proletariatD Cid not the &$ngarian Social@Ce-ocrats#

ha"ing rechristened the-sel"es +o--$nists# also (ant to :help: the proletariat (hen# o(ing to their

co(ardice and spinelessness# the, considered the sit$ation of

H Incidentall,# this has %een dealt (ith in an e!ceptionall, clear concise# e!act and 'ar!ist (a, in the

e!cellent organ of the <$strian +o--$nist Part,# T%e Re 3lag # of 'arch )A and 0# 19)0 3 ie Roto

3a%ne# ien# 19)0# os. )66 and )67= L.L.8 :Ein ne$er <%schnitt der de$tschen 2e"ol$tion: /:< e(

Stage of thc ?er-an 2e"ol$tion:.

the So"iet s,ste- in &$ngar, hopeless and (ent sni"elling to the agents of the Entente capitalists and

the Entente hang-en

III

TURATI AND CO$ IN ITAL!

The iss$es of the Italian ne(spaper Il So&iet referred to a%o"e# f$ll, confir- (hat I ha"e said in the

pa-phlet a%o$t the error co--itted %, the Italian Socialist Part, in tolerating s$ch -e-%ers and e"en

s$ch a gro$p of parlia-entarians in its ran*s. It is still f$rther confir-ed %, s$ch an o$tside o%ser"er as

the 2o-e correspondent of the English %o$rgeois@li%eral ne(spaper# the 8an#%este! ua!ian (hose

inter"ie( (ith T$rati is p$%lished in that paper on 'arch 1)# 19)0. This correspondent (rites8

:. . . Signor T$ratis opinion is that the re"ol$tionar, peril is not s$ch as to ca$se $nd$e an!iet, in

Ital,. The 'a!i-alists are fanning the fire of So"iet theories onl, to *eep the -asses a(a*e and e!cited.

These theories are# ho(e"er# -erel, legendar, notions# $nripe progra-s incapa%le of %eing p$t to

practical $se. The, are li*el, onl, to -aintain the (or*ing classes in a state of e!pectation# The "er,

-en (ho $se the- as a l$re to dale proletarian e,es find the-sel"es co-pelled to fight a dail, %attle

for the e!tortion of so-e often trifling econo-ic ad"antages so as to dela, the -o-ent (hen the

(or*ing classes (ill lose their ill$sions and faith in their cherished -,ths. &ence a long string of stri*es





of all sies and (ith all prete!ts $p to the "er, latest one in the -ail and rail(a, ser"ices @@ stri*es (hich

-a*e the alread, hard conditions of the co$ntr, still (orse. The co$ntr, is irritated o(ing to the

diffic$lties connected (ith its <driatic pro%le-# is (eighed do(n %, its foreign de%t and %, its inflated

paper circ$lation# and ,et it is still far fro- realiing the necessit, of adopting that discipline of (or*

(hich alone can restore order and prosperit,. . . .:

It is clear as da,light that this English correspondent has %l$rted o$t the tr$th# (hich is in all

pro%a%ilit, %eing concealed and glossed o"er %, T$rati hi-self and his %o$rgeois defenders#

acco-plices and inspirers in Ital,. This tr$th is that the ideas and political acti"ities of 'essrs. T$rati#

Tre"es# 'odigliani# C$goni and +o. are reall, and precisel, s$ch as are descri%ed %, the English

correspondent. It is do(nright social treacher,. J$st loo* at this ad"ocac, of order and discipline a-ong

the (or*ers# (ho are (age sla"es toiling to enrich the capitalistsD <nd ho( fa-iliar to $s 2$ssians all

these 'enshe"i* speeches areD hat a "al$a%le ad-ission it is that the -asses are fo! So"iet

go"ern-entD &o( st$pid and "$lgarl, %o$rgeois is the fail$re to $nder stand the re"ol$tionar, role of

spontaneo$sl, spreading stri*esD es# indeed# the correspondent of the English %o$rgeois@li%eral

ne(spaper has rendered a %ac*handed ser"ice to 'essrs. T$rati and +o.# and has e!cellentl, confir-ed

the correctness of the de-and of +o-rade ;ordiga and his friends of Il So&iet # (ho are insisting that the

Italian Socialist Part,# if it reall, (ants to %e fo! the Third International# sho$ld dr$- 'essrs. T$rati and

+o. o$t of its ran*s and %eco-e a +o--$nist Part, %oth in na-e and in deeds.

IV

INCORRECT CONCLUSIONS

FROM CORRECT PREMISES

;$t +o-rade ;ordiga and his :Left: friends dra( fro- their correct criticis- of 'essrs. T$rati and

+o. the (rong concl$sion that participation in parlia-ent is har-f$l in general. The Italian :Lefts:

cannot ad"ance e"en a shado( of serio$s arg$-ent in s$pport of this "ie(. The, si-pl, do not *no( 3or

tr, to forget the international e!a-ples of reall, re"ol$tionar, and co--$nist $tiliation of %o$rgeois

parlia-ent (hich has %een of $n$estiona%le "al$e in preparing for the proletarian re"ol$tion. The,

si-pl, cannot concei"e of a :ne(: (a, of $tiliing parlia-ent# and *eep sho$ting and endlessl,

repeating the-sel"es a%o$t the :old#: non ;olshe"i* (a,.

This is precisel, (here their f$nda-ental -ista*e lies. ot onl, in the parlia-entar, field# %$tin all fields of acti"it, +o--$nis- must int!ou#e 3and (itho$t long# persistent and st$%%orn effort it

(ill %e una)le to introd$ce so-ething ne( in principle that (ill represent a radical %rea* (ith the

traditions of the Second International 3(hile retaining and de"eloping (hat (as good in the latter.

Let $s ta*e# sa,# Bo$rnalistic (or*. e(spapers# pa-phlets and leaflets perfor- a necessar, (or* of

propaganda# agitation and organiation. ot a single -ass -o"e-ent in an, at all ci"ilied co$ntr, can

dispense (ith a Bo$rnalistic apparat$s. o o$tcries against :leaders#: no sole-n "o(s to preser"e the



p$rit, of the -asses fro- the infl$ence of leaders (ill o%"iate the necessit, of $tiliing for this (or*

people (ho co-e fro- a %o$rgeois intellect$al en"iron-ent or (ill get rid of the %o$rgeois@de-ocratic#

:pri"ate propert,: at-osphere and en"iron-ent in (hich this (or* is perfor-ed $nder capitalis-. E"en

t(o and a half ,ears after the o"erthro( of the %o$rgeoisie# after the con$est of political po(er %, the

proletariat# (e still ha"e this at-osphere aro$nd $s# this -ass 3peasant# artisan en"iron-ent of

%o$rgeois@de-ocratic pri"ate@propert, relations. Parlia-entaris- is one for- of acti"it,# Bo$rnalis- is another. The content of %oth can %e co--$nist#

and it sho$ld %e co--$nist if those engaged in %oth spheres are real +o--$nists# are real -e-%ers of a

proletarian -ass part,. et# in neither sphere @@ nor in an+ ot%e! s%e!e of a#ti&it+ $nder capitalis- and

d$ring the period of transition fro- capitalis- to Socialis- @@ is it possi%le to a"oid those diffic$lties

(hich the proletariat -$st o"erco-e# those special pro%le-s (hich the proletariat -$st sol"e in order to

$tilie for its o(n p$rposes the ser"ices of those (ho ha"e co-e fro- the ran*s of the %o$rgeoisie# in

order to gain the "ictor, o"er %o$rgeois intellect$al preB$dices and infl$ences# in order to (ea*en the

resistance of 3and# $lti-atel,# co-pletel, to transfor- the pett,@%o$rgeois en"iron-ent.

Cid (e not# %efore the (ar of 191@1A# (itness in all co$ntries an e!traordinar, a%$ndance of

instances of e!tre-e :Left: anarchists# s,ndicalists and others f$l-inating against parlia-entaris-#

deriding %o$rgeois@"$lgaried parlia-entar, Socialists# castigating their careeris-# and so on and so

forth# and ,et the-sel"es -a*ing the same $in of %o$rgeois career t%!oug% Bo$rnalis-

and t%!oug% (or* in the s,ndicates 3trade $nions <re not the e!a-ples of 'essrs. Jo$ha$! and

'errhei-# to li-it oneself to France# t,pical

The childishness of those (ho :rep$diate: participation in parlia-ent consists precisel, in the fact that

the, thin* it possi%le to : sol&e : the diffic$lt pro%le- of co-%ating %o$rgeois@de-ocratic

infl$ences (it%in the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent %, s$ch a :si-ple#: :eas,#: s$pposedl, re"ol$tionar,

-ethod# (hen in realit, the, are onl, r$nning a(a, fro- their o(n shado(# onl, closing their e,es to

diffic$lties and onl, tr,ing to %r$sh the- aside (ith -ere (ords. The -ost sha-eless careeris-#

%o$rgeois $tiliation of parlia-entar, seats# glaring refor-ist per"ersion of parlia-entar, acti"it,#

"$lgar# pett,@%o$rgeois ro$tine are all $n$estiona%l, co--on and pre"alent characteristic feat$res that

are engendered %, capitalis- e"er,(here# not onl, o$tside %$t also inside the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent.

;$t then capitalis-# and the %o$rgeois en"iron-ent it creates 3(hich disappears "er, slo(l, e"en after

the o"erthro( of the %o$rgeoisie# for the peasantr, constantl, regenerates the %o$rgeoisie# gi"e rise to

(hat is also essentiall, %o$rgeois careeris-# national cha$"inis-# pett,@%o$rgeois "$lgarit,# etc.# onl,

"ar,ing insignificantl, in for- @@ in positi"el, e"er, sphere of acti"it, and life.

o$ thin*# -, dear %o,cottists and anti@parlia-entarians# that ,o$ are :terri%l, re"ol$tionar,#: %$t in

realit, +ou a!e f!ig%tene %, the co-parati"el, s-all diffic$lties of the str$ggle against %o$rgeois

infl$ences (ithin the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent# (hereas ,o$r "ictor, @@ i.e.# the o"erthro( of the

%o$rgeoisie and the con$est of political po(er %, the proletariat @@ (ill create t%ese &e!+

same diffic$lties on a still larger# an infinitel, larger scale. Li*e children# ,o$ are frightened %, a s-all

diffic$lt, (hich confronts ,o$ toda,# not $nderstanding that to-orro( and the da, after ,o$ (ill ha"e to

learn B$st the sa-e# and learn thoro$ghl,# to o"erco-e the sa-e diffic$lties# onl, on an i--eas$ra%l,



greater scale.

Knder So"iet r$le# ,o$r proletarian part, and o$rs (ill %e in"aded %, a still larger n$-%er of

%o$rgeois intellect$als. The, (ill (or- their (a, into the So"iets# the co$rts# and the ad-inistration# for

+o--$nis- cannot %e %$ilt other(ise than (ith the aid of the h$-an -aterial created %, capitalis-#

and the %o$rgeois intellect$als cannot %e e!pelled and destro,ed# %$t -$st %e "an$ished# re-o$lded#

assi-ilated and re@ed$cated# B$st as (e -$st @@ in a protracted str$ggle (aged on the %asis of thedictatorship of the proletariat @@ re@ed$cate the proletarians the-sel"es# (ho do not a%andon their pett,@

%o$rgeois preB$dices at one stro*e# %, a -iracle# at the %ehest of the Virgin 'ar,# at the %ehest of a

slogan# resol$tion or decree# %$t onl, in the co$rse of a long and diffic$lt -ass str$ggle against -ass

pett,@%o$rgeois infl$ences. Knder So"iet r$le these sa-e pro%le-s# (hich the anti@parlia-entarians are

no( so pro$dl,# so ha$ghtil,# so lightl, and so childishl, %r$shing aside (ith a (a"e of the hand @@ t%ese

&e!+ same pro%le-s are arising ane( (it%in the So"iets# (ithin the So"iet ad-inistration# a-ong the

So"iet :attorne,s: 3in 2$ssia (e ha"e a%olished# and ha"e rightl, a%olished# the %o$rgeois legal %ar# %$t

it is re"i"ing again $nder the g$ise of the :So"iet: attorne,s/%1. <-ong the So"iet engineers# the

So"iet schoolteachers and the pri"ileged# i.e.# the -ost highl, s*illed and %est sit$ated# (o!$e!s in theSo"iet factories# (e o%ser"e a constant re"i"al of a%sol$tel, all the negati"e traits pec$liar to %o$rgeois

parlia-entaris-# and (e are con$ering this e"il @@ grad$all, @@ onl, %, tireless# constant# prolonged and

persistent str$ggle# proletarian organiation and discipline.

4f co$rse# $nder the r$le of the %o$rgeoisie it is "er, :diftic$lt: to eradicate %o$rgeois ha%its fro- o$r

o(n# i.e.# the (or*ers part,= it is :diffic$lt: to e!pel fro- the Part, the ha%it$al parlia-entar, leader

(ho has %een hopelessl, corr$pted %, %o$rgeois preB$dices= it is :diffic$lt: to s$%Bect to proletarian

discipline the a%sol$tel, essential 3e"en if "er, li-ited n$-%er of people co-ing fro- the ran*s of the

%o$rgeoisie= it is :diffic$lt: to for- in a %o$rgeois parlia-ent a co--$nist gro$p f$ll, (orth, of the

(or*ing class= it is :diffic$lt: to ens$re that the co--$nist parlia-entarians do not pla, the %o$rgeois parlia-entar, ga-e of s*ittles# %$t concern the-sel"es (ith the "er, $rgent (or* of propaganda#

agitation and organiation a-ong the -asses. <ll this is :diffic$lt#: to %e s$re= it (as diffic$lt in 2$ssia#

and it is inco-para%l, -ore diffic$lt in estern E$rope and <-erica# (here the %o$rgeoisie is far

stronger# (here %o$rgeois@de-ocratic traditions are stronger# and so on.

et all these :diffic$lties: are -ere childs pla, co-pared (ith precisel, t%e same so!t of pro%le-s

(hich in an, e"ent the proletariat (ill ine"ita%l, ha"e to sol"e in order to achie"e "ictor,# %oth d$ring

the proletarian re"ol$tion and after the sei$re of po(er %, the proletariat. +o-pared (ith t%ese tr$l,

gigantic pro%le-s of re@ed$cating# $nder the proletarian dictatorship# -illions of peasants and s-all

-asters# h$ndreds of tho$sands of office e-plo,ees# officials and %o$rgeois intellect$als# of

s$%ordinating the- all to the proletarian state and to proletarian leadership# of "an$ishing their

%o$rgeois ha%its and traditions @@ co-pared (ith these gigantic pro%le-s it is childishl, eas, to

esta%lish# $nder the r$le of the %o$rgeoisie# in a %o$rgeois parlia-ent# a reall, co--$nist gro$p of a real

proletarian part,.

If o$r :Left: and anti@parlia-entarian co-rades do not learn to o"erco-e e"en s$ch a s-all diffic$lt,

no(# (e -a, safel, assert that either the, (ill pro"e incapa%le of achie"ing the dictatorship of the





proletariat# (ill %e $na%le to s$%ordinate and re-o$ld the %o$rgeois intellect$als and %o$rgeois

instit$tions on a (ide scale# or the, (ill ha"e to #omlete t%ei! eu#ation in g!eat %aste# and %, this

haste (ill do a great deal of har- to the ca$se of the proletariat# the, (ill co--it -ore errors than

$s$al# (ill -anifest -ore than the a"erage (ea*ness and inefficienc,# and so on and so forth.

<s long as the %o$rgeoisie has not %een o"erthro(n# and after that as long as s-all@scale econo-, and

s-all co--odit, prod$ction ha"e not entirel, disappeared# the %o$rgeois at-osphere# proprietar, ha%itsand pett,@%o$rgeois traditions (ill ha-per proletarian (or* %oth o$tside and inside the (or*ing@class

-o"e-ent# not onl, in one field of acti"it,# parlia-entar,# %$t ine"ita%l, in e"er, field of social acti"it,#

in all c$lt$ral and political spheres (itho$t e!ception. <nd the atte-pt to %r$sh aside# to fence oneself

off fro- one of the :$npleasant: pro%le-s or diffic$lties in one sphere of acti"it, is a profo$nd -ista*e#

(hich (ill later -ost certainl, ha"e to %e paid for. e -$st st$d, and learn ho( to -aster e"er, sphere

of (or* and acti"it, (ith o$t e!ception# to o"erco-e all diffic$lties and all %o$rgeois ha%its# c$sto-s

and traditions e"er,(here. <n, other (a, of presenting the $estion is B$st trifling# B$st childishness.

'a, 1)# 19)0

V

In the 2$ssian edition of this %oo* I so-e(hat incorrectl, descri%ed the cond$ct of the +o--$nist

Part, of &olland as a (hole in the sphere of international re"ol$tionar, polic,. I therefore a"ail -,self

of the present opport$nit, to p$%lish a letter fro- o$r C$tch co-rades on this $estion and to correct the

e!pression :C$tch Tri%$nists#: (hich I $sed in the 2$ssian te!t# and for (hich I no( s$%stit$te the

(ords :so-e -e-%ers of the +o--$nist Part, of &olland.:

N . Lenin

LETTER FROM W!NKOOP

'osco(# J$l, 0# 19)0

Cear +o-rade Lenin#

Than*s to ,o$r *indness# (e -e-%ers of the C$tch delegation to the Second +ongress of the

+o--$nist International (ere a%le to read ,o$r "Left-Wing" Communism, an Infintile iso!e! : prior to

its p$%lication in the E$ropean lang$ages. In se"eral places in the %oo* ,o$ e-phasie ,o$r disappro"al

of the part pla,ed %, so-e -e-%ers of the +o--$nist Part, of &olland in international politics.e feel# ne"ertheless# that (e -$st protest against ,o$r la,ing the responsi%ilit, for their actions on

the +o--$nist Part,. This is e!tre-el, inacc$rate. 'ore# it is $nB$st# %eca$se these -e-%ers of the

+o--$nist Part, of &olland ta*e little or no part in the Part,s c$rrent acti"ities and are endea"o$ring#

directl, or indirectl,# to i-ple-ent in the +o--$nist Part, of &olland opposition slogans against (hich

the Part, and all its organs ha"e (aged# and contin$e to (age to this da,# a -ost energetic str$ggle.

Fraternall, ,o$rs#



3on %ehalf of the

C$tch delegation

9 I9 W+n$oo

W!itten in 2!il-8a+ 4:=;

3i!st u)lis%e in am%let

fo!m in >une 4:=;

NOTES

/1 Lenin (rote "Left-Wing" Communism, an Infantile iso!e! in <pril 19)0 and the <ppendi! on

'a, 1)# 19)0. The pa-phlet appeared in 2$ssian# J$ne A@10# 19)0# and then in ?er-an# French and

English in J$l,. Lenin personall, read the pa-phlets page proofs and -achine proofs to ens$re p$%lication in ti-e for the Second +ongress of the +o--$nist International. The pa-phlet (as

circ$lated to all the +ongress delegates. ;et(een J$l, and o"e-%er 19)0# a ?er-an edition appeared

in Leipig# a French edition in Paris# and an English one in London.

The -an$script of "Left-Wing" Communism %ore the s$%@title8 :Pop$lar E!position of 'ar!ist

Strateg, and Tactics#: (hich (as o-itted in all the editions %ro$ght o$t d$ring Lenins lifeti-e. The

present translation follo(s the first 2$ssian edition# the proofs of (hich (ere chec*ed %, Lenin. /p.1

/) The reference is to the shooting of the (or*ers of the Lena gold fields in Si%eria %, tsarist troops in

<pril 191). The Lena (or*ers had gone on stri*e in protest against %r$tal e!ploitation %, the

-anage-ent. or*ers in all parts of 2$ssia replied to the Lena shooting %, -ass political stri*es andde-onstrations (hich $shered in a ne( po(erf$l rise of the re"ol$tionar, (or*ing@class -o"e-ent.

/p.1$

/ Longuetism @@ a +entrist trend (ithin the French Socialist Part, headed %, Jean Long$et.

The Long$etites too* a social@pacifist stand in the First orld ar. Follo(ing the "ictor, of the ?reat

4cto%er Socialist 2e"ol$tion in 2$ssia# the, proclai-ed their s$pport for the dictatorship of the

proletariat# %$t in act$al fact re-ained hostile to it# contin$ing their polic, of reconciliation (ith the

social@cha$"inists and s$pporting the predator, Peace of Versailles. In Cece-%er 19)0 the Long$etites#

together (ith the a"o(ed refor-ists# %ro*e a(a, fro- the French Socialist Part, and affiliated to the so@

called T(o@and@a@&alf International# and after the disintegration of that %od, ret$rned to the Second

International. /p.1%

/ T%e Ineenent La)ou! Pa!t+ (as for-ed in 1A9 and (as led %, >eir &ardie# 2a-sa,

'acConald# and others. It clai-ed to %e politicall, independent of the %o$rgeois parties= act$all, it (as

:independent of Socialis-# %$t dependent $pon li%eralis-: 3Lenin. /p.1%

/5 3a)ians @@ -e-%ers of the refor-ist and opport$nist Fa%ian Societ,# for-ed %, a gro$p of ;ritish

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%o$rgeois intellect$als in 1AA. The societ, too* its na-e fro- the 2o-an ?eneral Fa%i$s +$nctator

3the :Cela,er:# fa-o$s for his procrastinating tactics and a"oidance of decisi"e %attles. The Fa%ian

Societ, represented# as Lenin p$t it# :the -ost finished e!pression of opport$nis- and li%eral@la%o$r

politics.: The Fa%ians so$ght to deflect the proletariat fro- the class str$ggle and ad"ocated the

possi%ilit, of a peacef$l# grad$al transition fro- capitalis- to socialis- %, -eans of refor-s. C$ring the

i-perialist (orld (ar 3191@1A the Fa%ians too* a social@cha$"inist stand. For a characteriation of theFa%ians# see Lenins :Preface to the 2$ssian Edition of Lette!s )+ >9 P9 Be#$e! # >9 iet.gen# 39 Engels# 19

8a! an Ot%e!s to P9 29 So!ge an Ot)e!s : 3V. I. Lenin# 8a!-Engels-8a!ism# 'osco(# 195# pp.

)5@6# :The <grarian Progra- of Social@Ce-ocrac, in the 2$ssian 2e"ol$tion 3Colle#te Wo!$s# th

2$ss. ed.# Vol. OV# p. 15# and :English Pacifis- and English Cisli*e of Theor,: 3i)i .# Vol. OOI# p.

). /p.1%

/6 T%e e!man Ineenent So#ial-emo#!ati# Pa!t+ @@ a +entrist part, for-ed in <pril 1917.

The part, split at its &alle +ongress in 4cto%er 19)0# and in Cece-%er of that ,ear a considera%le

part of its -e-%ership $nited (ith the +o--$nist Part, of ?er-an,. The 2ight (ing for-ed a separate

part, (hich e!isted $nder the old na-e# Independent Social@Ce-ocratic Part,# $ntil 19))# (hen the:Independents: reBoined the ?er-an Social@Ce-ocratic Part,. /p.1&

/7 See Lenins article :hat Sho$ld ot ;e I-itated in the ?er-an La%o$r 'o"e-ent: 3 Sele#te

Wo!$s# Eng. ed.# e( or*# 19# Vol. IV# pp. @A. /p.19

/A Sa!ta#ists @@ the -e-%ers of the Spartac$s Leag$e# for-ed d$ring the First orld ar# in Jan$ar,

1916. <t the %eginning of the (ar the ?er-an Left Social@Ce-ocrats for-ed the :International: gro$p

led %, >arl Lie%*necht# 2osa L$!e-%$rg# Fran 'ehring# +lara Net*in and others. It also called itself

the :Spartac$s Leag$e.: The Spartacists cond$cted re"ol$tionar, propaganda a-ong the -asses against

the i-perialist (ar and e!posed the predator, polic, of ?er-an i-perialis- and the treacher, of theopport$nist Social@Ce-ocratic leaders. ;$t the Spartacists failed to free the-sel"es of se-i@'enshe"i*

fallacies on cardinal $estions of theor, and polic,. < criticis- of the -ista*es of the ?er-an Lefts is

gi"en in Lenins :T*+ ,/ P23*4+: 3Colle#te Wo!$s# th 2$ss. ed.# Vol. OOII# pp. )91@05# :A

C6/6+ 8 M6:/2 ; 'I23+6/4/ E882/2<' : 3i)i .# Vol. OOIII# pp. 16@6 and other (or*s and

in Stalins letter to the editorial %oard of P!oleta!s$a+a Re&olutsia :So-e $estions +oncerning the

&istor, of ;olshe"is-: 3Wo!$s# Eng. ed.# 'osco(# 1955# Vol. OIII# pp. A6@10. In 1917 the Spartacists

affiliated to the +entrist Independent Social@Ce-ocratic Part, of ?er-an, retaining their organiational

independence (ithin it. <fter the re"ol$tion in ?er-an, in o"e-%er 191A# the, %ro*e (ith the

:Independents: and in Cece-%er of the sa-e ,ear for-ed the +o--$nist Part, of ?er-an,. /p.19

/9 ;, La%o$rites Lenin -eant the -e-%ers of the ;ritish La%o$r Part, (hich (as for-ed in 1900 as

an affiliation of (or*ing@class organiations @@ trade $nions and socialist parties and gro$ps @@ for the

p$rpose of sec$ring the election of (or*ers representati"es to parlia-ent 3hence its original na-e8

La%o$r 2epresentation +o--ittee. It ass$-ed the na-e of La%o$r Part, in 1906. E!tre-el,

opport$nistic# :%o$rgeois thro$gh and thro$gh: 3Lenin# in its ideolog, and tactics# the La%o$r Part,

p$rs$ed a polic, of class colla%oration (ith the %o$rgeoisie. /p.$%




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/10 1e!ens$+ @@ Pri-e 'inister of the %o$rgeois Pro"isional ?o"ern-ent of 2$ssia (hich (as

o"erthro(n %, the ?reat 4cto%er Socialist 2e"ol$tion.

1ol#%a$ and eni$in co--anded the co$nter@re"ol$tionar, ar-ies (hich# (ith the s$pport of foreign

inter"ention forces# (aged ci"il (ar against the So"iet 2ep$%lic. /p.$5

/11 Caets 3Constitutional-emo#!ati# Pa!t+ @@ the principal %o$rgeois part, in 2$ssia# the part, of

the li%eral@-onarchist %o$rgeoisie. It (as fo$nded in 4cto%er 1905. Knder the cloa* of pse$do

de-ocrac, and calling the-sel"es the part, of :peoples freedo-#: the +adets tried to (in the peasantr,

to their side. The, stro"e to preser"e tsaris- in the for- of a constit$tional -onarch,. S$%se$entl,# the

+adets %eca-e the part, of the i-perialist %o$rgeoisie. <fter the "ictor, of the 4cto%er Socialist

2e"ol$tion# the +adets organied co$nter@re"ol$tionar, conspiracies and re"olts against the So"iet

2ep$%lic. /p.$5

/1) /ola0$ @@ an artificial lang$age# de"ised %, a so$th ?er-an# Johann 'artin Schle,er in 1A79. It

did not gain pop$larit,. /p.$9

/1 ut#% "T!i)unists: @@ the na-e gi"en %, Lenin to -e-%ers of the +o--$nist Part, of &olland.

The Tri%$nists originall, -ade $p the Left (ing of the Social@Ce-ocratic La%o$r Part, of &olland#

ta*ing their na-e fro- the ne(spaper e T!i)une# fo$nded in 1907. E!pelled fro- the Social@

Ce-ocratic La%o$r Part, in 1909# the, organied their o(n independent part,# the Social@Ce-ocratic

Part, of &olland. The Tri%$nists represented the Left (ing of the (or*ing@class -o"e-ent in &olland

%$t (ere ne"er a consistentl, re"ol$tionar, part,. In 191A the, too* part in the for-ation of the

+o--$nist Part, of &olland. /p.$9

/1 &orner# the pse$don,- of <nton Pane*oe*. /p.%1

/15 1ommunistis#)e 2!)eite!.eitung @@ organ of a pett,@%o$rgeois# anarcho@s,ndicalist gro$p of :Left:

+o--$nists (ho %ro*e a(a, fro- the +o--$nist Part, of ?er-an, 3Spartacists in 1919. The paper

appeared fro- 1919 to 19)7. The ?er-an :Left: +o--$nists failed to carr, o$t the decision of the

Third +ongress of the +o--$nist International (hich called on the- to a%andon their sectarian tactics

and Boin the +o--$nist Part, of ?er-an, and (ere therefore e!pelled fro- the +o--$nist

International. Later the top leadership of the :Left: +o--$nists degenerated into co$nter@

re"ol$tionaries. /p.%1

/16 T!uo&i$ @@ a gro$p of pett,@%o$rgeois de-ocrats for-ed in <pril 1906 of peasant -e-%ers of the

first State C$-a. The Tr$do"i*i gro$p e!isted in all fo$r C$-as. C$ring the (orld i-perialist (ar of

191@1A the Tr$do"i*i too* a cha$"inist stand# and follo(ing the %o$rgeois@de-ocratic re"ol$tion of

Fe%r$ar, 1917# e!pressed the interests of the *$la*s and sided (ith the co$nter@re"ol$tion. /p.%&

/17 The Part, -e-%ership changed as follo(s in the period after the Fe%r$ar, 2e"ol$tion of 1917 and

$p to the close of 19198 A0#000 at the ti-e of the Se"enth 3<pril <ll@2$ssian +onference of the

2.S.C.L.P. 3;. in 1917# a%o$t )0#000 at the ti-e of the Si!th 2.S.C.L.P. 3;. +ongress in J$l,@<$g$st

1917= no less than )70#000 at the ti-e of the Se"enth 2.+.P. 3;. +ongress in 'arch 191A# and 1#766

at the ti-e of the Eighth 2.+.P. 3;. +ongress in 'arch 1919. /p.%7



















/1A V. I. Lenin# Colle#te Wo!$s# th 2$ss. ed.# Vol. OOO# pp. )0@51. /p.&%

/19 See >arl 'ar! and Frederic* Engels# Sele#te Co!!esonen#e# International P$%lishers. e(

or*# 19)# pp. 115@16. /p.&&

/)0 Inust!ial Wo!$e!s of t%e Wo!l 3 I9W9W9 @@ an <-erican la%o$r organiation fo$nded in 1905. Its

acti"ities (ere -ar*ed %, prono$nced anarcho@s,ndicalist traits8 it did not recognie the necessit, of political str$ggle %, the proletariat# denied the leading role of the proletarian

part,# the need for an ar-ed $prising to o"erthro( capitalis- and the str$ggle for the dictatorship of the

proletariat. The I... ref$sed to (or* in the <-erican Federation of La%o$r $nions and s$%se$entl,

degenerated into a sectarian anarcho@s,ndicalist gro$p e!erting no infl$ence (hatsoe"er on the (or*ers.

/p.&!

/)1 T%e Italian So#ialist Pa!t+ (as fo$nded in 1A9) $nder the na-e of the Italian or*ers Part, and

rena-ed Italian Socialist Part, in 1A9. The Left (ing gained strength follo(ing the 4cto%er Socialist2e"ol$tion in 2$ssia# and in Jan$ar, 19)1# at the Li"orno +ongress# the Lefts %ro*e (ith the part,#

con"ened a congress of their o(n and fo$nded the +o--$nist Part, of Ital,.

<n infl$ential Left (ing de"eloped (ithin the Socialist Part, d$ring the ,ears of fascist dictatorship#

and in 19 the part, concl$ded an agree-ent on $nited action (ith the +o--$nist Part, of Ital,. The

agree-ent (as the %asis for co@operation %et(een the t(o parties d$ring and after the Second orld

ar. < 2ight@(ing gro$p led %, Saragat# (hich ser"ed the interest of <-erican i-perialis-# (ithdre(

fro- the Socialist Part, in Jan$ar, 197 and for-ed the Socialist Part, of Italian or*ers. /p.!1

/)) The Blan*uists (ere follo(ers of the French re"ol$tionar, Lo$is <$g$ste ;lan$i 31A05@A1. The

classics of 'ar!is-@Leninis-# (hile regarding ;lan$i as an o$tstanding re"ol$tionar, and adherent of

socialis-# criticied hi- for his sectarianis- and conspiratorial -ethods of acti"it,. :;lan$is-#: (rote

Lenin# :is a theor, that rep$diates the class str$ggle. ;lan$is- e!pects that -an*ind (ill %e

e-ancipated fro- (age sla"er,# not %, the class str$ggle of the proletariat# %$t thro$gh a conspirac, of a

s-all -inorit, of intellect$als: 3see V. I. Lenin# :The +ongress S$--ed Kp#: Colle#te Wo!$s# th

2$ss. ed.# Vol.#O# p. 60. /p.!$

/) Frederic* Engels# :E-igrQ Literat$re. II. The Progra- of the ;ian$ist E-igrQ fro- the

+o--$ne: 3>arl 'ar! and Frederic* Engels# Colle#te Wo!$s# ?er. ed.# ;erlin# Vol. OVIII# p. 5.

/p.!%

/) Lenin is referring to the passage in Engels letter to P. <. Sorge dated o"e-%er )9# 1AA6# (hich

criticies the ?er-an Social@Ce-ocratic e-igrants in <-erica on the gro$nd that for the- theor, :is a

credo /creed and not a g$ide to action: 3>arl 'ar! and Frederic* Engels# Sele#te Co!!esonen#e#

International P$%lishers# e( or*# 19)# p. 50. /p.!(

/)5 . ?. +hern,she"s*,# Sele#te E#onomi# W!itings# 2$ss. ed.# 19A# Vol. II# p. 550. /p.!(



















/)6 T%e B!itis% So#ialist Pa!t+ (as for-ed in 1911. It cond$cted 'ar!ist propaganda and agitation and

(as descri%ed %, Lenin as :not opport$nist#: and as :!eall+ independent of the Li%erals.: Its s-all

-e-%ership and isolation fro- the -asses lent the part, a so-e(hat sectarian character.

C$ring the first (orld i-perialist (ar# t(o trends (ere re"ealed in the Part,8 one openl, social@

cha$"inist# headed %, &enr, &,nd-an# and the other internationalist# headed %, <l%ert In*pin and

others. In <pril 1916 a split too* place. &,nd-an and his s$pporters fo$nd the-sel"es in the -inorit,and (ithdre( fro- the part,. Fro- that -ornent the internationalists ass$-ed the leadership of the

;ritish Socialist Part,# (hich later initiated the for-ation of the +o--$nist Part, of ?reat ;ritain in

19)0. /p.77

/)7 T%e So#ialist La)ou! Pa!t+ (as organied in 190 %, a gro$p of Left Social@Ce-ocrats (ho %ro*e

a(a, fro- the Social@Ce-ocratic Federation. T%e Sout% Wales So#ialist So#iet+ @@ a s-all gro$p -ade

$p predo-inantl, of elsh -iners. T%e Wo!$e!s' So#ialist 3ee!ation @@ a s-all organiation (hich

gre( o$t of the o-ens S$ffrage Leag$e and (as -ade $p -ainl, of (o-en.

These :Left: organiations ref$sed to Boin the +o--$nist Part, of ?reat ;ritain (hen it (as fo$nded

3the ina$g$ral congress (as held on J$l, 1@<$g$st 1# 19)0# %eca$se its progra- incl$ded a cla$se

calling for participation in parlia-entar, elections and affiliation to the La%o$r Part,. The So$th ales

Socialist Societ, and the or*ers Socialist Federation 3(hich had changed their na-es to +o--$nist

La%o$r Part, and +o--$nist Part, respecti"el, -erged (ith the +o--$nist Part, of ?reat ;ritain at

the latters congress in Jan$ar, 19)1# and the part, too* the na-e of Knited +o--$nist Part, of ?reat

;ritain. The leadership of the Socialist La%o$r Part, ref$sed to Boin. /p.77

/)A T%e !e+fus #ase @@ the fra-ed@$p trial organied in 1A9 %, the reactionar,@ro,alist -ilitar, cli$e

in France against Cre,f$s# a Je(ish officer of the French ?eneral Staff. Cre,f$s (as sentenced to life

i-prison-ent on false charges of espionage and high treason. The (idespread p$%lic ca-paign for

re"ision of the "erdict (as -ar*ed %, a %itter str$ggle %et(een the rep$%licans and ro,alists and res$lted

in Cre,f$s ac$ittal in 1906. /p.10%

/)9 T%e 1a-Lutt(it. uts#% @@ an atte-pt at a co$nter@re"ol$tionar, co$p detat in ?er-an,#

$nderta*en %, >app# L$tt(it and other -onarchists in 'arch 19)0. The plot (as cr$shed (ithin a fe(

da,s than*s to the energetic action of the ;erlin (or*ers. /p.115

/0 2ugean sta)le -eans a place -ar*ed %, a staggering acc$-$lation of corr$ption and filth.

<ccording to a ?ree* legend the sta%le of <$geas (as left $nclean for 0 ,ears $ntil &erc$les cleaned it

in one da,. /p.117

/1 :So&iet : :atto!ne+s: @@ collegi$-s of attorne,s for-ed $nder the So"iets of or*ers# Soldiers#












Left Wing Infantile Disorder by Lenin_f

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