Re: [Marxism] Fatal Flaw of Socialism

[Octob1917@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 9/5/2004 1:11:17 AM Pacific Standard Time,
doug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Finally, Lenin was upset when the German
Social-Democratic Party voted to give war credits to
their government during the "Great War". He felt
betrayed by the German socialists after the
International Congress adopted an anti-war policy. Can
socialism really work if the working classes keep
rallying to nationalism during times of their
country's national security? It seems this cycle of
progressive socialism and then imperialism is
neverending which may be the fatal flaw of
civilization. Lenin believed that socialism was the
final stage after capitalism had collapsed but it
seems we are stuck in the endless cycle of capitaist
greed and war. Socialism, in my opinion, can only work
if the working classes around the world are organized
and work in unity to bring about real change.

Others on this list have already posited good analyses as to why the expected
and hoped for revolution by the German proletariat never happened. Actually,
there was a revolution in Germany, only rather end in a socialist victory it
ushered in fascism. And if we are to believe that soldiers are 'workers in
uniform' then the fascists enjoyed substantial support from this important 
section
of the proletariat in fighting this revolution too. This revolution was
fought throughout the twenties, with the street battles and riots which 
occurred in
most German cities. The allied power's outrageous and unrealistic demands for
reparations plunged Germany into deep depression and created the conditions
for a socialist state. The German Communists were strong, they were militant,
but they suffered from poor leadership and factionalism. The Comintern's
instructions for them not to join in an alliance with the Social Democrats 
against
the Nazis proved fatal, which has led many to claim that Stalin purposely
sabotaged their revolution, as he did the Chinese in 1927, the Spanish in 1936 
and
the Greeks after the Second World War.

The Nazis, under Hitler's clever leadership, managed to win the vital support
of the German ruling class, who came to see them as the lesser of two evils
compared to the Communists, and who underestimated Hitler and his

It really is the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky which separated the
Bolsheviks from every other Communist movement in Europe back then. His vision,
analysis, daring and strength guided the Russian Revolution through a veritable 
maze
of danger and precariousness in those vital months and years after it began
in February 1917. Pulling out of the Constituent Assembly when he did,
concentrating on building an alliance with the peasantry rather than with the 
Social
Democrats, as the Mensheviks advocated, the Brest Litovsk Treaty, his absolute
insistence on discipline and unity within his party, these bold decisions and
his iron will made all the difference between the success of the Bolsheviks
and the defeat of other revolutionary movements throughout Europe and the world
around the same time.

The lesson to be gained from the defeat or failure of the German Communists
is that while the conditions for socialism will arise under capitalism,
especially post-war, it doesn't necesarily follow that socialism will take its 
place.
For that to happen requires a cohesive movement with a strong leadership
which does the right thing at the right time.

Finally, the power of patriotism and nationalism cannot be underestimated in
the battle for the hearts and minds of the workers, and especially the troops.
As the war in Iraq continues and more and more soldiers return from Iraq
angry and disillusioned, the potential for their conversion to socialism grows.
However, it is not an automatic process. Where is the strong cohesive movement
or party capable of appealing to them and their anger and disillusionment? I
hate to sound pessimistic, but it doesn't appear exist within the US at the
present time.  Perhaps this is testament to the effectiveness of the ruling 
class
in marginalising and demonising the very word socialism. Probably it is more
down to the fact that we seem obsessed with ideological purity at the expense
of unity and effectiveness.


JoeD
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