article by Peter Taaffe, General Secretary of the Socialist Party (CWI in England and Wales)
Seventy years ago, was the largest living revolutionary of the time, Leon Trotsky, Josef Stalin murdered by assassin Ramon Mercader. Previously there had been several failed attempts on Trotsky, but this time destroyed a mortal blow with an "ice pick" successful "brain" of the working class and the symbol of implacable opposition to capitalism and totalitarian Stalinism. This event, that Stalin and the bureaucratic elite represented by him in the Kremlin celebrated, enjoyed the capitalist governments in Europe, America and around the world.
capitalists try literary murder of Trotsky's ideas
Robert Service, who killed again in his recently published "biography" of Trotsky, this time on a political and literary style, cited with approval the words of Winston Churchill to the Russian ambassador to Britain at the time of the infamous Moscow trials, laid the basis for the assassination of Trotsky: "I observe his activities for some time. He is the evil genius of Russia, it is very good that Stalin has settled with him. "
If Trotsky's murderer believed that they could destroy him with his ideas, they have erred seriously. have the most politically conscious layers of later generations, when they took up the struggle against capitalism and Stalinism, in Trotsky's works searched for explanations and suggestions. Even in the period of ideological counter-revolution after 1989, his ideas proved more attractive. Now, with the greatest economic crisis of capitalism since the 30s and the consequent inevitable following mass revolt the workers and poor people fear that the capitalist influence of Trotsky's ideas. Are you aware of or suspect at least the trigger in a period of mass revolt people like Che Guevara, who is a fighter for socialism and national liberation and opponents of bureaucracy, and Leon Trotsky interest. To the new generation block the way for a campaign to discredit Trotsky is necessary. This is the sense of books such as produced by Robert Service and others in the last year.
"Show me who your friends are and I'll show you who you are." Service is a "friend" of the current head of the Bank of England and butchers of the welfare state, Mervyn King. He wants to give the impression that implausible Trotsky, who was murdered by Stalin along with most of his family and the revolutionary generation, he represented, but a brother in the spirit of Stalin and the bureaucracy out of his system of terror was. Just as the ideas of Trotsky Stalinism are apparently an "outgrowth" of Bolshevism, which a totalitarian and authoritarian character is attributed. This is of course a nasty slander of the party led by Lenin, the Bolsheviks, the most democratic workers' party which led the Russian Revolution, the largest single event in the history of mankind. Stalinism was, with its totalitarian methods and the extinction of the Bolsheviks themselves, not the continuation of Bolshevism, but its negation.
Stalinism is no longer the pole of attraction, which he as in the 30s and to some extent in the period immediately after 1945, when the new generation entering into the battle of the crimes of Stalinism did mostly nothing. This is not the case today. Therefore, Trotsky show in the new explosive phase a way forward - through his fight for workers' democracy and its analysis is not only important issue of Stalinism, but also the struggles of the working class in general. This does not mean that Trotsky "infallible" was, just as Marx, Engels and Lenin. But his assessment of the major problems facing the working class has faced in his time were mostly correct. Particularly noteworthy is the huge contribution that he made in the 30s with his analysis of fascism. Even then he was ready to correct his earlier comments, which came from the 20's, when fascism was still a new phenomenon. At this time Trotsky was inclined to call in an imprecise use of the term dictatorial regime like that of Primo de Rivera in Spain as a fascist. Later he realized that this was a mistake and provided a more precise definition of fascism, the workers' organizations, destroyed Unlike Bonapartist military regime, although they were reactionary, but which was not all democratic rights and organizations to destroy.
Trotsky's ideas are not outdated
is often said that Trotsky's ideas were "obsolete". This explain professors and defenders of the existing system. In fact, "Trotskyism" a modern manifestation of the ideas of Marx. From the beginning, the followers of capitalism claim that he was not "democratic" societies applicable, especially after the experience of the 20th Jahrhunders. If Marxism as "obsolete", as was possible that we, the Marxists, the functioning of the capitalist system have understood better than the defenders of the system itself? They have declared through their spokesman Francis Fukuyama, the "end of history". The Wall Street Journal said in 1990 after the collapse of Stalinism "We [the capitalists] have won."
The Marxists realized of course that was the execution of the planned economy, the collapse of the totalitarian system was a historic defeat for the working class. At least in the economic field, the planned economies of Russia and eastern Europe - despite its burden of bureaucracy - A reference point, an indication of what's on the basis of a workers' democracy would have been possible. A hint of support for the achievements of the planned economy was found in the Guardian recently. The newspaper reported that the current Putin regime in Russia is planning to destroy for profit, the famous global seed bank in St. Petersburg. However, "died of starvation during the 900-day siege of Leningrad during World War II twelve Russian scientists rather than to eat the unique collection of seeds and plants to shield them for mankind." [9 August]
many "Marxists" denied either the giant Impact of the fall of Stalinism or fled from the battlefield. The CWI is understood that, while a defeat - a defeat primarily economic nature - but was not such a devastating disaster like the destruction of the labor organizations of fascism in the 30s. We predicted - with a few bourgeois economists like Nouriel Roubini, who arrived in an empirical way to the same key, virtually the only - that the methods that have fueled the capitalism would eventually have catastrophic effects on the system after the collapse of Stalinism. The colossal borrowing, fictitious capital, led to the biggest financial bubble history. We were then called "primitive Katastrophisten. On the contrary, we turned against those Marxists - some of them former members of Militant, the CWI in Britain - the predicted 1987, a major crisis. We explained that capitalism would find temporary basis by the use of the reserves of Germany and Japan a way out. 2007, however, we said that the system would fall into a deep crisis. That is what happened. Our analysis was different than that of economic charlatans of capitalism, not based on alchemy, but on a scientific analysis of their system. This in turn is based on the approach of Trotsky, on the Based methods of Marx. If an idea can explain the current situation correctly than others it is the best method available, no matter how "old" it is. Marxism has, after the prediction of events, the soothsayers of the propertied classes shown far superior.
Marx pointed out that the capitalist system of profit based ultimately on the production for a handful of millionaires, multimillionaires and billionaires - economic Polutokraten - based not on social needs. The basic contradiction of the system is that the working class do not have the full value of what they may have produced. This arises from the fact that the working class gets only part of the value they created in the form of wages, Marx described the rest as "unpaid work". The system can work as long as this surplus productive in industry, research and technology - is invested - the means of production. However, developing out of this situation at some point a crisis that leads to the overproduction of capital and consumer goods. The idea of "overproduction" would in itself have been considered in all pre-capitalist economic systems as absurd, in a grinding poverty and hardship dominated world. But the main driving force of this system is profit, not human need. The struggle for the surplus is the trigger for a program to reduce wages and to reduce the proportion of wealth that gets the working class.
economic hardship for millions
These theoretical ideas were of the socialists of the CWI, which are anchored in the historical analysis of Trotsky, even during the 90s and the beginning of this decade continues to be represented. Almost every day can be found in the press, evidence of the Marxist analysis. In July, the Financial Times has pointed out that since 2007 the factories in the U.S. 7 million workers were laid off. Officially, the U.S. 15 million People unemployed, but with the number of underemployed and those who have given up looking for work, the actual number at 30 million, 20% of able-bodied. In Europe, ten percent of the able-bodied unemployed. Simultaneously to the same article it was found that the profits of major U.S. companies have risen to astronomical 36%, a direct consequence of the release of millions of workers with all the resulting social misery. The result is the huge sum of $ 2 trillion to the accounts of large companies. And yet there is the United States, as we had expected, on the edge of a "double dip" recession.
Why is that? It are for the capitalists in a world in which it allegedly is just not "need", not "profitable" way out. Therefore they do not invest. Thus they betrayed their mission, as Marx put it. The only thing that can justify capitalism with its historical inequality and its barbaric character is the development of productive forces. And right now the capitalists apparently fail in this task. In Eastern Europe, were promised "flourishing landscapes", draws the same picture. For example, unemployment in Romania by just over 9 million workers, 1.2 million. In a similar rate, there is mass unemployment in Kazakhstan. It is not only mass unemployment, but persistent unemployment - Marx "supposedly refuted idea of a reserve army of unemployed - that is now even in some of the richer cities in Europe shows in Athens occupy groups of migrants and workers in any public place you have to do anything except.. to try to get hold of an hour or a day, a job, the fact that capitalism is still the environment is ruined underlined by the obscene spectacle greedy for money speculators who have sought the protection of the Moscow surrounding forest fires, in cooperation with a French company enforce lucrative construction project. Those who protest against the way the Russian members of the CWI to be attacked by fascist thugs and beaten hospital.
capitalism and war
is still the terrible threat of war on humanity. Afghanistan is unwinnable as the Vietnam War. In addition, the intervention of the United States now takes longer than the Vietnam War and is now no more than "Bush's folly" seen, but as Obama's war. Recently the story has made a terrible warning of what can happen if keep the representatives of capital control. Sixty years after the Korean War, in which are almost as many U.S. soldiers died as in the Vietnam War, are details of the confrontation between the U.S. and China from the public archives. Apparently, the U.S. General MacArthur not only a nuclear "preemptive strike" against threatened China, but also suggested that the proceeds of 30-50 nuclear bombs! He was dismissed by President Truman. But how many more "MacArthur" is in the camp of the privileged and capitalist classes, if their interests are threatened not shy away from the threat of nuclear "shock"?
Marx's critique of capitalism, Trotsky defended resolutely, was very simple. If the system jobs, housing, food, can achieve the abolition of war and racism, the extension of national borders on wine, etc., it is preserved. But the essence of the current situation of world capitalism is that it is unable to meet even the most basic needs of humanity, especially for the two-thirds living in the neo-colonial countries. This was shown by the Haitian President Aristide, who vowed to "obscene poverty" in his country to eliminate it when he was in power, but by "acceptable poverty" replaced! Not even that was achieved, as the situation proves to the earthquake in Haiti today. Trotsky's idea of permanent revolution is still relevant for the countries of the neo-colonial world. It says that the democratic revolution in modern times can not be carried out by the capitalists. The objectives of land reform, genuine parliamentary democracy, and freedom from economic and political chains of imperialism can be of the weak ruling classes in these countries and regions impossible to achieve. Only the working class can perform together with the poor farmers, the national democratic revolution. But it needs to secure their victory, while passing on the tasks of socialism, both national and international level. This was the result of the Russian revolution, the large estates and capitalism removed and worldwide sparked a revolutionary wave.
The Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism
But cynics say the inside "it will end up as some kind of bloody dictatorship" in Russia. That is a lie, Russia in 1917 not only a beacon for planning and socialism, but also for the dissemination of workers' democracy to the masses worldwide. Stalinism was not from the beginning of the period of the Russian Revolution, but from their isolation. Some, such as service claim that Trotsky had he prevailed over Stalin the same "personal power" as he had established. Here is the question whether Trotsky, in view of the isolation of the Russian Revolution, the rise of the bureaucracy and the destruction of workers' democracy could take place without Stalin his democratic and socialist program for Russia and violate international. Incredibly, some go further today and Marxists believe that Trotsky would have the power to take when it was offered to him in the 20's by Antonov Ovseenko, the chief commissioner of the Red Army. Finally, at the time Trotsky had enormous authority in the Red Army - much more than Stalin - not only among soldiers but also among the senior officers with him in the civil war had fought and defeated the 21 armies of imperialism. Trotsky was, however, that he if he had "power" from the same source ultimately accepted a prisoner of a perhaps even worse "military bureaucracy" have had, would have become inevitable in view of the former isolation of the Russian Revolution.
This proves that Trotsky had understood as well as Marx, Engels and Lenin, that socialism and Marxism will not grow through maneuvers, cliques or coups. Only as we begin the consciousness of the working class - their political understanding at the stage - and try it with a clear advance program, slogans and organization can actually grow socialism and Marxism. The CWI has suffered after the collapse of Stalinism, and especially with the development of the planned economy a setback. It could not be otherwise, given the capitalist propaganda orgy that followed from the development. Those who tried to ignore the reality was difficult because of the objective situation which existed broken at this time. Many refused to recognize the situation, some of them little known even as a "victory" because of Stalinism itself was broken down. They did not say that his demise was accompanied by the abolition of Planwitschaft. The Socialist Party and the CWI were further the democratic, socialist Trotsky's banner high.
workers go into battle
It remained opportunistic or ultra-left divisions are not enough. In a period like the one we have experienced is not unusual. Lenin and Trotsky led the 1907-1911 phase of similar struggles. But as we have seen before, capitalism is plunged into crisis, and has opened a new period. Political struggle is not only during the peak periods of movements of the working class is necessary, but also in withdrawal periods to prepare for future violent events. The great movement of Greek Workers and the upcoming fights in Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Italy are only the beginning of the political awakening of the working class. Northern Europe will also be affected. The general strike in India in July, despite its limited nature, a sign of what lies ahead in the neo-colonial world, as the crisis intensified load is pushed to the working class and the poor. All capitalist governments of Europe, from the strongest and "most", as in Germany, to the poorest in Greece, Portugal and Spain in the south, try the wage earners to impose austerity programs. Resistance is inevitable. But resistance is not enough: we need a clear Program, the correct policy, tactical improvisation and clear slogans at each stage of the struggle. Trotsky stressed this again and again and again.
He has many times shown the working class, sometimes even "spontaneously", tried to change society. In the English revolution, four fifths of power in Spain have been taken over by the working class, what the original coup of Franco's fascists in 1936 was crushed. But was without a clear mass workers' party set up the alternative worker democratic state of the working class power was removed again. A similar pattern characterized the events in France in 1968, in Portugal 1974-75 and in many cases.
fight for the program of Marxism
What are the lessons for today? It is urgent to build a new ground force that can unite the struggles of the working class in the economic field and in the political arena. This will require the "double duty" that has made the CWI in the early 90's: Fight for the rehabilitation of the ideas of socialism for the mass movement and to maintain clear program of Marxism-Trotskyism.
We are located in one of the most explosive periods of history. Once the economic crisis as "contagious" is presented and has spread in ever more countries, as will widely spread of socialism? Globalization has created the basis for such an extent that could not even imagine Marx. In the Vietnamese revolution, imperialism developed the theory of the "domino effect", which assumed that if a country would collapse lost to capitalism, capitalism in Southeast Asia would. To some extent this has confirmed. A victory in the advanced industrialized countries, even in a semi-industrial country such as Greece, have powerful implications for Europe and the world. Greece had been a colossal political effect Despite the fact that it contributes only 0.5% of world gross domestic product. It is the struggle of the working class takes up the to defend themselves against the attacks of capital and to overcome them - represented by six general strikes, which looks at the working class in the world.
These events show that has begun for the working class in Europe and the world a new chapter. Trotsky, whom his opponents have declared a political non-person, will appear in the coming period as a great personality not only in the labor movement, but in the struggle of the whole mankind.
