The Second International, 1889-1914

by James Joll

First published in 1955 to wide acclaim, James Joll's introduction to the history and development of International Socialism before the First World War is of crucial importance for understanding the development of Left-wing movements in the 20th the difficulties posed by prominent anarchist groups, the ambiguities of the scope of revolutionary activity, and the challenges posed by the rise of nationalism. Incorporating insightful research into the international links and the ideological structure of socialism, as well as on the structure of individual parties and the actual nature of their working-class support, The Second International 1889-1914 is a valuable resource for political historians and students of socialist thought alike.

Genres: History, Politics

213 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

ames Bysse Joll FBA (21 June 1918 – 12 July 1994) was a British historian and university lecturer whose works included The Origins of the First World War and Europe Since 1870. He also wrote on the history of anarchism and socialism.

Life and career
Joll was born on 21 June 1918 in Bristol[1] and was educated at Winchester, the University of Bordeaux and New College, Oxford. He left to join the British Army in 1940, eventually serving in the Special Operations Executive. He returned to Oxford after World War II, completed his studies, and became an instructor there. He was a Fellow and Tutor in Politics from 1947 until 1950. He then transferred to St Antony's College. In 1955 he met the painter and art historian John Golding;[2] the two men formed a long relationship which lasted until Joll's death.[3]

While at Oxford, Joll wrote a book on the Second International (1955) and a book on Léon Blum, Walter Rathenau, and Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, called Intellectuals in Politics (1960). In 1964 he published The Anarchists, which showed his intertwined interests in the culture, events, political philosophy, and individual personalities forming the history of a Leftist movement.

In 1967 Joll left St Antony's, Oxford to teach at the London School of Economics, as the Stevenson Professor of International History.[1] His best known work was Europe Since 1870: an International History, which appeared in 1973. He returned to biography in 1977, with his book on Italian Marxist intellectual Antonio Gramsci; he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in the same year. Several prizes in the Department of International History at the London School of Economics remain named in his honour. Later, he gave refuge to Anthony Blunt, Golding's colleague at the Courtauld Institute and former teacher, after Blunt's exposure as a former Soviet spy, for which Joll was attacked in the press.[2]

Following his retirement in 1981, he became Emeritus Professor of the University of London.

Joll died 12 July 1994 from the cancer of the larynx.[1] In his obituary notice for The Independent newspaper, the historian Sir Michael Howard, noted:

Joll's real focus was the history of ideas broadly conceived – philosophical, ethical and aesthetic, as well as political – and the interface between this and the political history of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. He firmly believed that history was made by people rather than by dispassionate forces. But he also believed that one could not understand why people act as they do unless one also understands the influences that moulded their minds.[2]

Reviews

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice companion piece to Kolakowski’s vol II on the Second International (1889-1914). Though much shorter and less dense, it contains some fine broad sketches — though too much time is spent on the minutes of meetings whose significance has now thoroughly evaporated. Joll’s book on the Origins of World War I is far more brilliant. Still, worth the effort for those interested in the topic.

[Justin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfectly solid, and very nicely written, but a little too short to really do the topic justice. Cole's volume on the era gives thanks to Joll's book (which hadn't been published), but Cole > Joll. That said, this is a great introductory text.

[David Hayter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good discussion of some of the major players in the early years of the French & German parties. The author presupposes a fair amount of knowledge of European politics though - Karl Kautsky just appears, for example, without the same introduction given as Bebel, Liebknecht, etc. I think this dates the book a bit as well, perhaps the knowledge presupposed in 1966 was a bit different. The secondary scholarship is also of course necessarily outdated e.g. the only referenced biography of Rosa Luxemberg is by Frölich from 1928.

Also the last paragraph is idiotic cold war showboating about "personal liberty" vis a vis Marxism, and does not accurately reflect the author's previous arguments regarding the shortcomings of the European SD parties. It's the most ridiculous closing line of a history book possibly ever. Makes the author seem legit stupid even though I know he wasn't.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a detailed account of the institutional life of the 2nd International and the surrounding events that shaped those times. While most attention is given to the main parties, the French and German, because they (particularly the German) set the tone, the viewpoints of minor players also come up.

At the end of the day, much as they may have theoretically wished to follow the Manifesto’s call to unite in internationalism, bickering and ultimately the inability to overcome the sectarianism of nationalism brought them to an irreconcilable end.

[Mikaellyng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the history if you disregard the conclusion.

[Nathan Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Distorted often by its open hostility, but nonetheless occasionally appropriately sobering. Can be read profitably if sufficiently inured to such things.

[Loppe Daer · Rating 4 out of 5]

neat

[Stanley Sharpey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banger book Mr Joll