EP. 13 | A Frente Popular

Summary

This video explores the shift in communist strategy during the 1930s, as the Comintern, under Stalin's leadership, adopted a policy of forming 'popular fronts'—alliances between communist parties and the bourgeoisie. This move marked a drastic change from previous Marxist principles, which rejected collaboration with capitalist forces. The video critiques the betrayal of revolutionary ideals, highlighting the failure of this strategy in preventing the rise of fascism and its impact on the working class. Trotsky’s opposition to these alliances and his call for class independence and revolutionary action against bourgeois governments is emphasized throughout.

Takeaways

• 😀 The policy of governing with the bourgeoisie, which was unthinkable during Marx's time and for much of the history of the Second and Third Internationals, became a reality in 1935 with Stalin's adoption of the popular front strategy.
• 😀 The popular front policy marked a 180-degree shift from the ultra-leftist 'Third Period' approach, which had previously characterized the social democrats as 'social fascists' and rejected alliances with them to combat fascism.
• 😀 The popular front was seen as a strategy for cooperation with progressive sectors of the bourgeoisie, aiming to form governments that would preserve capitalism while being aligned with the Soviet Union.
• 😀 Historically, socialists, including Marx, Engels, and the Second International, rejected alliances with the bourgeoisie, considering them a betrayal of the working class.
• 😀 The international communist movement had consistently opposed participation in bourgeois governments, with the Stalinist turn of 1935 marking a major deviation from this tradition.
• 😀 Stalin's policy of class conciliation, previously attempted in China in 1927, escalated into an international approach, fostering alliances between communists and bourgeois parties worldwide.
• 😀 The theory behind the popular front was based on the idea of 'progressive bourgeois camps,' where the working class would align with sectors of the bourgeoisie to combat fascism or reactionary forces.
• 😀 The popular front was justified on the grounds of fascist threats, a lack of revolutionary preparedness within the working class, and a need to unite against common enemies like the fascist right wing.
• 😀 Trotsky vehemently opposed the popular front, arguing that it led to the demoralization of the working class, and betrayed socialist principles by supporting bourgeois governments.
• 😀 Trotsky advocated for the independence of the working class, stressing that revolutionaries should never support bourgeois governments, instead preparing the proletariat for socialist revolution, as seen in the Bolshevik example of 1917.
• 😀 The popular front strategy continues to be influential today, despite being historically rejected by revolutionary Marxists, with many modern leftist parties adopting similar alliances with bourgeois sectors, which Trotsky considered a betrayal of class struggle.

Q & A

What was the original stance of Marx and Engels on alliances with the bourgeoisie?

Marx and Engels, along with much of the early socialist movement, rejected alliances with the bourgeoisie, seeing it as a betrayal of the working class. They advocated for a revolutionary struggle to overthrow capitalism and establish a socialist society.

What significant political shift occurred at the 7th Congress of the Communist International in 1935?

At the 7th Congress of the Communist International in 1935, under Stalin's leadership, a major political shift occurred. The new policy advocated for 'Popular Fronts,' which involved alliances between communist parties and the so-called 'progressive bourgeoisie' to form governments that would preserve capitalism while aligning with the Soviet Union.

How did the policy of 'Popular Fronts' differ from previous communist strategies?

The policy of Popular Fronts marked a drastic shift from the earlier ultra-leftist policies of the 'Third Period' (1928), which viewed social democrats as allies of fascists. It also diverged from the previous Marxist position that rejected any collaboration with the bourgeoisie, instead opting to form alliances to oppose fascism and manage capitalism.

What criticism did Trotsky have regarding Stalin's policy of the Popular Front?

Trotsky strongly criticized the Popular Front policy, arguing that it led to a betrayal of the working class. He believed that it forced communist and socialist parties to abandon their socialist programs, as they were complicit in supporting capitalist governments, which ultimately weakened the working class and prevented revolutionary mobilization.

How did the Stalinist approach to class alliances differ from Marxist theory?

The Stalinist approach to class alliances, embodied in the theory of 'progressive bourgeois fields,' rejected the Marxist concept of class struggle. Instead of focusing on the conflict between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, Stalinism viewed society as divided into political fields, with a 'progressive' camp that included bourgeois sectors, which Marxism would have opposed.

What was the 'Social Fascism' theory, and why did it fail?

The 'Social Fascism' theory was an ultra-leftist stance promoted during the Third Period, which falsely equated social democracy with fascism. This view prevented communist parties from forming united fronts with social democrats to fight the rise of fascism, leading to the communist parties' isolation and failure to effectively oppose the growing fascist threat.

What did Trotsky propose as an alternative to the Popular Front strategy?

Trotsky proposed that the working class maintain its independence from both bourgeois and reformist parties. He advocated for the formation of a revolutionary workers' party, guided by Marxist principles, to prepare for and lead a socialist revolution rather than participate in bourgeois governments.

How did the Popular Front policy manifest in different countries?

The Popular Front policy took various forms in different countries, including the 'People's Front' in France (1936) and the 'Republican Front' in Spain. In these instances, communist parties formed alliances with bourgeois and socialist parties to fight against fascism, but the result was the reinforcement of capitalist structures.

What was Trotsky's assessment of the outcome of the Spanish Civil War in relation to the Popular Front?

Trotsky viewed the Spanish Civil War as a tragic example of the failure of the Popular Front strategy. He believed that the communist and socialist parties' collaboration with bourgeois elements undermined the revolutionary potential of the working class and led to the defeat of the Spanish revolution.

Why does the speaker argue it is important to reject the Popular Front strategy today?

The speaker argues that it is crucial to reject the Popular Front strategy because it compromises the class independence of the proletariat. The historical failures of the policy, such as its role in facilitating capitalist governments and undermining revolutionary movements, should serve as a warning for contemporary leftist movements to embrace a revolutionary strategy focused on the working class.