[Marxism] Deaths under Stalin

["Charles Brown" <cbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

CB: "Betrayal" does not an accurate term for what you describe.

 The Chinese Communists were free to ignore this "instruction". He had no
means of enforcing it. The whole position has as a premise that the Chinese
Communists had no minds of their own, had not made an assessment of the
situation , did not make their own choice in tactics.

Also, the whole line of reasoning that "  he did so afraid that if the
Chinese Communists managed to prevail it would advance the cause of the Left
Opposition - led by Trotsky - within the Soviet Union ...etc. " is possible,
but pretty , I don't know, Soviet-internally- centered, speculative. There
are other basic facts that contradict it, such as another socialist country
in the world would help the Soviet Union in its defense against imperialism

It is equally plausible that it was a mistake, not a purposeful "betrayal".
On the other hand, they may have been massacred anyway , as they were
relatively small, I believe, and so the effort to unite might have been a
better tactic than fighting, although it too failed.
^^^^^^^^

Yes

He instructed them, through the Comintern, to merge forces with Chiang
Kai-Shek's nationalist KMT. This they did, albeit reluctantly, disarming in
the process, and they were subsequently massacred in Shanghai. Stalin's
motivation for doing so has been a source of debate on the Left since. Many
are of the opinion, and I am one, that he did so afraid that if the Chinese
Communists managed to prevail it would advance the cause of the Left
Opposition - led by Trotsky - within the Soviet Union and therefore threaten
his own position and that of his acolytes within the Politbureau, who were
intent at that time on solidifying power and privilege domestically rather
than spreading revolution abroad.

J



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