The Fascist Offensive: And the Tasks of the Communist International in the Struggle of the Working Class against Fascism

by Georgi Dimitrov

"With the development of the very deep economic crisis, with the general crisis of capitalism becoming sharply accentuated and the mass of working people becoming revolutionized, fascism has embarked on a wide offensive."

Georgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov (1882 - 1949) was a Bulgarian Communist politician. He was the first Communist leader of Bulgaria, from 1946 to 1949.

Genres: Politics

128 pages, Paperback

Published March 14, 2012

About the author

Georgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov (Bulgarian: Георги Димитров Михайлов), also known as Georgi Mikhaylovich Dimitrov (Russian: Георгий Михайлович Димитров) and Georgi Dimitroff, was a Bulgarian communist politician. He was the first communist leader of Bulgaria, from 1946 to 1949. Dimitrov led the Communist International from 1934 to 1943.

Reviews

[Adam Marsan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly relevant in light of the present upsurge in fascism stoked by the xenophobic populism of Trump, Farage, Le Pen and co.; the successful, depraved, far-right anti-refugee anti-migrant racist messaging of Brexit on the back of massive predatorial and ongoing imperialist savagery inflicted on the people of Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and many more; the ubiquitous complicity of the media; and the self-serving hypocrisy, nihilism, opportunism, and moral bankruptcy of the western left. Important reminders regarding conflation of wish and fact, and "self-satisfied sectarianism" versus active, concrete "stubborn struggle in the very midst of the masses themselves to win their confidence".

[Nacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good set of strategies for countries with emerging fascist movement, and a clear exposition of the approach of the united front (in contrast with the previous theory of social fascism).

Only thing missing is a theoretical analysis of fascism: where it comes from, who it lures and how it develops. For that, I found Mendel's "Fascism" enlightening.

[Kyle Rutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel Dimitrov gives the best definition of fascism: "the open terrorist dictatorship of the most reactionary, most chauvinistic and most imperialist elements of finance capital."

With this definition we see that fascism birthed out of the capitalist mode of production only after finance capital has emerged.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best book I've read on the response to fascism. This isn't a text about fascism, though it does touch on the idea of fascism a lot. Rather, this is a book about how to best respond to fascism. Dimitrov gets his point across succinctly and in a clear manner. Each section gives the reader more to think about. A masterful speech turned into a great pamphlet.