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Communism: National & International
Communism: National & International addresses the old but controversial question about the extent of uniformity in world communism. Traditional themes like the general party line and the role of prominent personalities are examined from post Cold War perspectives. From political and organisational questions the approach is extended to ideological, cultural and social aspects.
Most thoroughly discussed here is the case of Finland, a peculiar country, where communism had deep domestic roots but also strong ties with the Soviets. Fresh insights are offered into Scandinavian countries, Britain, France, and Italy, into the Comintern, and into social democracy.
The cover, designed by Jukka Urho, shows the banner of a workers' association in Turku, Finland in the 1920s, now in the collections of Kansan Arkisto, Helsinki.
Communism: National & International" is number 58 in the "Studia Historica series."
Most thoroughly discussed here is the case of Finland, a peculiar country, where communism had deep domestic roots but also strong ties with the Soviets. Fresh insights are offered into Scandinavian countries, Britain, France, and Italy, into the Comintern, and into social democracy.
The cover, designed by Jukka Urho, shows the banner of a workers' association in Turku, Finland in the 1920s, now in the collections of Kansan Arkisto, Helsinki.
Communism: National & International" is number 58 in the "Studia Historica series."
348 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
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July 28, 2022
I stumbled upon this book by chance when browsing an antikvariaatti in Helsinki. Its subject matter is mostly Finland, Scandinavia (primarily Norway and Sweden), France, Italy, Britain, and the Comintern’s interactions with political parties in each of these countries, though some references to Germany and other places are made too. What disappointed me from the very start is how few of the essays contained within questioned usage of the term “socialism” in reference to the state capitalism that functioned in Soviet Russia beginning from 1921.
In fact, many of the works in Communism: National & International cover chiefly, some even exclusively, the communist/social-democrat organisations that had already been or were in the process of being Stalinised. A juxtaposition of the internationalism of actual communists (e.g. the PCInt in Italy or the Grzechists of the early KPRP in Poland) against the international/national politics of communists in name only (eventually almost all the “Communist” parties in the world) would have made for much more interesting reading material that could maybe cover some new ground as well.
Instead, many of the contributors focused on Stalinist power plays in overly bureaucratic political parties – many of which didn’t even shy away from taking part in elections. All of the material is very academic in nature, with one essay reaching that amusingly absurd point wherein the author refers to himself in the third person. Nevertheless, for the most part, this is a well-written and extensively researched book. Plus back in 1998, when it was first published and Russian government archives (including some on the Stalinist atrocities) were gradually becoming available, I imagine some of this material was more of a revelation rather than just depressing.
Moreover, there is still some truly fascinating stuff here about the history of working class movements. Particularly interesting to me were the sociological and linguistic insights into the Finnish labour movement and its participants, such as Red Memoirs from a ‘Black Time’ in Finland – Radical Working Class Reminiscences of the 1920s and 1930s by Ulla-Maija Peltonen. I just wish more of this book was like that: an analysis of communist workers’ organisations and individuals (especially during the 1917-1927 revolutionary wave), including those little everyday elements that Peltonen looks at.
In fact, many of the works in Communism: National & International cover chiefly, some even exclusively, the communist/social-democrat organisations that had already been or were in the process of being Stalinised. A juxtaposition of the internationalism of actual communists (e.g. the PCInt in Italy or the Grzechists of the early KPRP in Poland) against the international/national politics of communists in name only (eventually almost all the “Communist” parties in the world) would have made for much more interesting reading material that could maybe cover some new ground as well.
Instead, many of the contributors focused on Stalinist power plays in overly bureaucratic political parties – many of which didn’t even shy away from taking part in elections. All of the material is very academic in nature, with one essay reaching that amusingly absurd point wherein the author refers to himself in the third person. Nevertheless, for the most part, this is a well-written and extensively researched book. Plus back in 1998, when it was first published and Russian government archives (including some on the Stalinist atrocities) were gradually becoming available, I imagine some of this material was more of a revelation rather than just depressing.
Moreover, there is still some truly fascinating stuff here about the history of working class movements. Particularly interesting to me were the sociological and linguistic insights into the Finnish labour movement and its participants, such as Red Memoirs from a ‘Black Time’ in Finland – Radical Working Class Reminiscences of the 1920s and 1930s by Ulla-Maija Peltonen. I just wish more of this book was like that: an analysis of communist workers’ organisations and individuals (especially during the 1917-1927 revolutionary wave), including those little everyday elements that Peltonen looks at.
Displaying 1 of 1 review