Revolution & Counter-Revolution in Spain

by Felix Morrow, Ted Grant (Introduction)

Felix Morrow's book, written in the white heat of the struggle, remains a Marxist classic on the Spanish Civil War. The 1930s was a period of revolution and counter-revolution in which Spain was at the very epicenter of events. It remains the clearest account of the movement of the Spanish proletariat, which took power in Catalonia, but was betrayed by the Popular Front government. It describes the heroic struggles waged by the workers and peasants, which, in the words of Leon Trotsky could have carried through ten revolutions. Morrow describes in detail the failure of the anarchists, whose leaders entered the bourgeois government, as well as that of the POUM, the centrist party of the revolution. In particular, the book describes the role of the Stalinists, who under the orders of Moscow supported the bourgeois republic's suppression of the revolution. In the wake of the Moscow frame-up trials, the GPU, Stalin's secret police, sent agents to Spain to murder Spanish revolutionaries, which prepared the way for the eventual victory of Franco. Few books of the period have stood the test of time better than Morrow's, supplemented in this edition by an earlier article, The Civil War in Spain. We also include a foreword by Ted Grant written in 1973, which covers the same periods and provides a valuable addition to this work. A study of these tragic events will help arm a new generation of workers and youth with the lessons of the bitter defeats of the 1930s and equip them with the knowledge to finally carry through the struggle began so many years ago. In the great words of Spinoza, "ours is not to laugh or to weep, but to learn."

Genres: History, Politics, Spanish Civil War, Spain, Nonfiction

326 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1974

Reviews

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the right way to fights fascism, in Spain or anywhere else. To bring the workers over to your side you need to act now in concrete terms: land reform, workers control of industry, and freedom for all national minorities and colonies abroad. This book makes the perfect accompaniment to Ken Loach's magnificent film of the Spanish Civil War, LAND AND LIBERTY.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely outstanding book! Such political clarity, mixed with passion and lyricism, particularly in sections where Morrow is denouncing the unforgivable crimes of the Stalinists.

We live in a world where the far-right and fascism is once again on the rise, and also where there is a resurgence of interest in socialism. This book is invaluable for understanding the real, historic limitations of anarchy, failures of social democracy and treachery of Stalinism, and for helping to understand why revolutionary, internationalist socialism from below, in the tradition of Marx, Lenin, Luxemburg and Trotsky, is the only way of defeating fascism and fighting for an equal and just world.

[Irene Olano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro brutal sobre los primeros dieciséis meses de guerra civil. Con un contexto previo que se remonta a 1931 y una explicación muy rica en detalles de la política, no solo del Frente Popular, sino del PCE, la CNT-FAI, el POUM y demás grupos políticos, Morrow hace un recorrido histórico en el que muestra cómo lo que estaba en juego no era una defensa ambigua de la "democracia" frente al fascismo, sino la pelea por la revolución socialista. El libro acaba anticipando algunos elementos que parecen escritos con posterioridad a 1939, porque se cumplen al 100%. Me dejó con muchas ganas de seguir investigando, especialmente del periodo revolucionario de octubre de 1934, en el que se explaya poco.

El libro tiene una prosa brillante, es fácil de leer, es didáctico y no es fácil perderse en la sopa de siglas y nombres porque Morrow se detiene permanentemente a dar explicaciones sobre los interlocutores y los precedentes. Además, no se limita a dar cuenta de una explicación histórica "de libro", sino que plantea las principales conclusiones políticas de este período, los riesgos de confiar en la conciliación de clases con la burguesía, la falta de determinación del anarquismo en la toma del poder y la ausencia de una dirección revolucionaria que condujera a las masas a lo que podría haber sido una victoria (no de la democracia sin apellidos, sino de una verdadera democracia obrera). Muestra cómo los elementos de autoorganización, de nivel de conciencia social y de radicalidad política entre las masas estaban dados y cómo fueron sistemáticamente traicionados por sus direcciones políticas.

Me ha dejado con ganas de seguir leyendo otras aproximaciones a este periodo, lo cual viene facilitado por una documentación bibliográfica bastante completa que permite rastrear las referencias de Morrow.

En definitiva, un libro extraordinario para seguir el hilo rojo revolucionario en el Estado español y sacar lecciones.

[Matthew Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second time reading this. I think my opinion about this book is about the same as before, which is that: 1. It’s the best thing politically on the Spanish civil war, but 2. It’s not the best introduction to learning about the Spanish civil war. Partly because it was written before the civil war was even over, but mostly because it’s more a polemical than a historical work at heart. There’s a lot of assumed contextual knowledge Morrow takes for granted from a contemporary reader.

For example, Morrow skips even talking about a bunch of things, like the initial election of the Popular Front government, or explaining the theory and practice of the Popular Front abroad, and only touches on other important events when it’s relevant to an argument, without being a real “history” of them (like the siege of Madrid). Although the core arguments and clear and understandable, I remember feeling quite historically lost the first time I read this years ago, and it’s no surprise.

I think Pierre Broue’s book, despite its much greater length and detail, is actually probably a more comprehensible history if you have time for it. But paired with some shorter readings this is still perfectly useful, and it’s a great book anyway. 👍

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though a bit repetitive and in need of a glossary to help modern readers navigate the ins and outs of the discussion, this account of the political forces at play in the Spanish Civil War, written while the war was still in progress, is a perfect example of a Marxist analysis, and its implications are consistent with what eventually did come to pass.

Those interested in Marx will want to read this as an example of the application of dialectical reasoning in predicting the outcome of the interplay of political forces in this one discrete event, and for its ability to offer an effective prescriptive remedy to that outcome while those events were still unfolding. Here is proof that the civil war in Spain did not have to turn out the way it did and that ordinary people, given the right insight, can indeed affect the course of human events.

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

Morrow holds the actors of one of the most confusing wars of modern history to an infuriating black/ white standard, making the book hard to read- for all its insights into the multiple factions of the war.

[Luke Pickrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing and defintive take on the Spanish Revolution and Civil War. Morrow brings out the material history and development of the country ala Trotsky's 'History of the Russian Revolution' and Isaac's 'The Tradgedy of the Chinese Revolution', and sheds light on the victories and failures of Anarchism.

[Vendela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating treatment of the infighting among the left in Spain that prevented an efficient response to Franco. Decidedly partisan (on the anarchist side) but thorough in its evisceration of those groups as well. Really interesting.

[Jehiel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

very orthodox but very good arguments

[Tom Marciniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version of the book is a requirement to better understand the author's contemporary perspective on the events in Spain during its revolution and aftermath. Other versions of the book lack the chronology at the beginning of this one, which I consistently referred to for reminders of acronyms, names, dates, and events.

With that said, this book is an excellent first-hand recounting and analysis of Spain's modern revolution and counter-revolutionary forces. The lessons to be learned here depend on your political tendencies and other biases, but I found the theoretical and applicable concepts to be enlightening. For instance, the CNT and POUM's failure to maximize their opportunities to building a worker state resulted in the eventual defeat of the entire revolutionary project - due to largely anarchistic tendencies. If the political leaders of these organizations approached the dual power conditions with a revolutionary Marxist position, they could've easily challenged the capitalist state directly and outlived it through its democratic and worker-powered undergirding.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone interested in understanding the material and political conditions preceding and during a revolution. Spain was both a laboratory and a battleground between anarchistic and fascistic power, fomented by terrible exploitation, inequity, and capitulation to the wealthiest at the expense of the poorest.

[G Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read and a Marxist classic.

Recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about Spain in the 1930s - a stormy period revolution, counter-revolution and civil war.

This is also a must read for anyone unclear on the treacherous role Stalinism has played on workers movements internationally.

Morrow clearly highlights the limitations of the different workers organisations involved in this period, outlining the failures, betrayals and inaccuracies of the workers leadership.

However, above all it is clear the truly counter-revolutionary and reactionary role played by the Stalinists: “Having recruited most of its following under the People’s Front slogans since February, the Stalinist party can use them for the most shameless devotion to a bourgeois regime of which any proletarian party has ever been guilty”.

[Olivia Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would definitely recommend this to anybody with an interest in this period of history. An illuminating read that explained the politics of the civil war so well and opened my eyes to the true and treacherous nature of the Stalinist-Republican government. As a Spanish student this has been an incredibly useful source for my studies.

[Olive Rickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who had only a passing knowledge of Spain this was a great read which really brought out the key political lessons. An essential read for anyone looking to build a successful revolution in their own lifetime. Let Spain be a warning to all future generations of socialists.

[livres cam]

les anarchistes et les staliniens ont tellement fait n’importe quoi que je me retiens de crier à voix haute en lisant le bouquin

[Marc Lichtman · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may think that the Civil War in Spain was simply between "democracy" and "fascism." It was far more complex. "Democracy" doesn't exist in the abstract. To Marxists every state has a ruling class whose ideology dominates. We live under the dictatorship of capital and want to live (for starters) under the dictatorship of the proletariat. We view bourgeois democracy as providing much better conditions for the working class than a capitalist dictatorship of any sort, and fight for the preservation and extension of democratic rights.

(Today both major capitalist parties in the US support some variety of "cancel culture." They don't want you to read things they disagree with, and act so as to try to prevent it. I'm against any form of censorship, and there are few who agree with that at the moment).

Cold War ideology claimed that there were these people called "Communists" who for some inexplicable reason were trying to take our rights away. But as McCarthyism demonstrated it was really the capitalist rulers who were trying to take our rights away. Hubert Humphrey's method of combatting McCarthy was to offer up even more draconian legislation than McCarthy was advocating.

Stalinism, unlike the Bolshevism of Lenin and Trotsky, proclaimed "peaceful existence" with the US and other imperialism, thinking that "buffer zones" would protect them in the age of missiles. They were trying to prevent socialist revolutions but were not always successful at doing so. In the Spanish Civil War, they were successful in this, but the capitalist leaders still didn't trust them.

Genuine Marxists, at the time called Trotskyists, supported victory of the Republican side against the clerical-fascists in Spain, but that didn't mean suspending the class struggle as the Stalinists were attempting to do. There were a lot more workers and peasants than liberal bourgeois, so their policy was directed toward winning them. The only way to really defeat fascism was through a socialist revolution. The Stalinists tried to suppress a social revolution already in progress to win the support of the bourgeois democracies. The result was a victory for the fascists.

It's worth keeping in mind that the Kerensky regime that Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrew was a "popular front"--a coalition between workers parties and bourgeois parties.

Felix Morrow was a central leader of the Socialist Workers Party, whose newspaper at the time was "Socialist Appeal," soon to be replaced by the earlier name of "The Militant," which it still has today. He was a staff writer for the Appeal, and a defendant in the first Smith Act trials against leaders of the SWP and the Minneapolis Teamsters. He later developed differences and left.

For a fuller view, there is The Spanish Revolution, a collection of writings by Leon Trotsky. It's also worth reading George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia. He fought in Spain with the POUM, which was often characterized as "Trotskyist" although Trotsky saw it as centrist--as wavering between reform and revolution. Orwell was unfortunately unable to draw the full lessons of the defeat, but his journalism is valuable.

Trotsky wrote a large amount on popular fronts. Another book I would recommend is On France. In the United States, which has no mass Stalinist, social democratic, or labor party, the "American equivalent of the popular front" was outright support to Franklin Roosevelt; for this I suggest Labor's Giant Step: The First Twenty Years of the CIO: 1936-55.