Felix Morrow on Spanish Fascism

["Chris, London" <100423.2040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Louis 17th Jan:
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(quoting Morrow)

The Stalinists and social-democrats, seeking theoretical justification
for their collaboration with the liberal bourgeoisie, declare that he
roots of fascism in Spain are feudal.

Chris:
------
It is not necessary to seek a theoretical justification for a strategy
that seeks out any contradiction in the ruling class(es) to unite with
the more progressive wing, against the risk of fascist attacks on civil
rights.

The actual argument presented here however is a reminder of how interpenetrated
the landowning class and the capitalist class often are. 19th century England
was mainly run by the English landed class culture.

It is also a reminder how virtually no marxist ever refers to the fact
that Marx distinguished these two exploiting ruling classes, (see very
end of Capital Vol III) and had an extensive theory of ground rent.

Juan is the only contributor on this list that I ever recall referring to
this idea.

Morrow:
------

Spanish fascism is the weapon not of
'feudalism' but of capitalism. It can be fought successfully by the
working class and the peasantry, and by them alone."


Chris:
------

Quite possibly true, but that absolutely does not mean it can be fought
by them alone. The working class and the peasantry may be the main force
and the leading force in the struggle against fascism, but without an
overall political strategy that could be acceptable to 95% of the population,
fascism cannot be isolated and defeated.

It is not a question of adding the extra 15% to the 80% who are already
workers and peasants. It is a question of whether the forces that
the fascists can draw on are 5% or 20% of the population.

A ratio of 80:20 is very different from a ratio of 95:5 in the
relative strength of the numerically smaller portion.

Since the fascist wing of the bourgeoisie may already have access to
the armed forces this is vital, whether they have 3 times the amount of
people to draw on in the former case than the latter.

So whether there are just a few odd case of a catholic priest being
put to death by the popular forces,  or news stories every week about this,
is what seals the fate of the anti-fascist struggle.








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