Re: [Marxism] New Marxists finding their own way

[<sobuadhaigh@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joonas, thank you for your notes on the political situation in 
Finland.
I especially enjoyed your summation of the vicissitudes of the 
communist movement and your report on the conference of the Marxist-
Leninist Society. As you probably know many of those Finnish 
immigrants to the US in the late 19th century become a significant 
force in the American  revolutionary movement. In fact, I would 
contend that despite the size and influence of the Communist Party 
USA in the depression era there were only two places where 
communists forged deep, continuing links with communities that 
survived the post WWII repression. Those were New York City and the 
iron range of northern Minnesota. The latter was due largely to 
Finlanders. 

I disagree with your comment that the communist movement in Finland 
is a "freak show." That is is fractured and has its share of 
ineffectual groups is as to be expected. The more I study the 
history of communism the more I realize that the domination of a 
single party flowed from an artificially imposed "unity" that could 
not be sustained no matter how large and powerful that party had 
become. It is no wonder than that the situation in Finland is as it 
it most other places where a wide range of parties contend and that 
some of these groups seem to exist primarily as an object lesson in 
what is not to be done.

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