World Revolution, 1917–1936: The Rise and Fall of the Communist International (The C. L. R. James Archives)

Originally published in 1937, C. L. R. James's World Revolution is a pioneering Marxist analysis of the history of revolutions during the interwar period and of the fundamental conflict between Trotsky and Stalin. James, who was a leading Trotskyist activist in Britain, outlines Russia's transition from Communist revolution to a Stalinist totalitarian state bureaucracy. He also provides an account of the ideological contestations within the Communist International while examining its influence on the development of the Soviet Union and its changing role in revolutions in Spain, China, Germany, and Central Europe. Published to commemorate the centenary of the Russian Revolution, this definitive edition of World Revolution features a new introduction by Christian Høgsbjerg and includes rare archival material, selected contemporary reviews, and extracts from James's 1939 interview with Trotsky. Cover ......Page 1 Contents ......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 12 Editor’s Note......Page 14 Introduction ......Page 18 World Revolution, 1917–1936......Page 76 Preface......Page 80 Introductory......Page 82 1. Marxism......Page 92 2. The Forerunners of the Third International......Page 106 3. The War and the Russian Revolution......Page 131 4. The Failure of the World Revolution and the Foundation of the International......Page 152 5. Lenin and Socialism......Page 172 6. Stalin and Socialism......Page 191 7. Stalin Kills the 1923 Revolution......Page 209 8. The Kulak and the British General Council......Page 239 9. Stalin Ruins the Chinese Revolution......Page 260 10. The Platform and the Five-Year Plan......Page 293 11. Industry and the Plan......Page 311 12. “After Hitler, Our Turn”......Page 323 13. The Great Retreat......Page 366 14. The Revolution Abandoned......Page 378 15. A Fourth International the Only Hope......Page 404 Appendix on Sidney and Beatrice Webb’s Soviet Communism......Page 418 Notes......Page 424 Reviews of World Revolution......Page 440 “The Rise and Fall of the Communist International: James’s Book Reviewed by Fenner Brockway,” in New Leader......Page 442 Reply from C. L. R. James......Page 446 “Du Côté de Chez Trotsky,” in New Statesman, by Raymond Postgate......Page 447 “Communist” by J. R. Campbell......Page 449 “Trotskyist” by Harry Wicks......Page 451 “World Revolution,” in Fight, by H[arry] W[icks]......Page 453 “World Revolution 1917–36,” in Youth Militant, by H[ans] V[adja]......Page 455 “Communist Internationals: An Indictment of Stalin,” in the Times Literary Supplement......Page 457 “Betrayed Revolutions,” in Information Bulletin of the British Committee for the Defence of Leon Trotsky, by Charles Sumner [Hilary Sumner-Boyd]......Page 460 “Leninism Trotskified,” in Left Review, by R. F. Andrews [Andrew Rothstein]......Page 463 “The Retreat of Moscow,” in The Plebs, by Rowland Hill......Page 472 “World Revolution,” in International Affairs, by E. H. Carr......Page 475 “Communism in Theory and Practice,” in The Advertiser (Adelaide)......Page 477 “The Third International,” in Sydney Morning Herald......Page 478 “No Place for Communists,” in the Saturday Review, by Eugene Lyons......Page 480 “History of the CI,” in New International, by Joseph Carter [Joseph Friedman]......Page 482 “World Revolution,” in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, by Harry N. Howard......Page 486 Appendix A: C. L. R. James, Introduction to Red Spanish Notebook: The First Six Months of the Revolution and the Civil War by Mary Low and Juan Breá [1937]......Page 488 Appendix B: C. L. R. James, “Report on Activities in the Provinces” [1938] ......Page 490 Appendix C: Extracts from the Discussions between C. L. R. James and Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico, April 1939......Page 507 B......Page 524 C......Page 526 E......Page 528 F......Page 529 H......Page 530 I......Page 531 L ......Page 532 M ......Page 534 O ......Page 535 P ......Page 536 R......Page 537 S......Page 538 T......Page 540 V......Page 541 Z......Page 542 Cover 1 Contents 8 Abbreviations 12 Editor’s Note 14 Introduction 18 World Revolution, 1917–1936 76 Preface 80 Introductory 82 1. Marxism 92 2. The Forerunners of the Third International 106 3. The War and the Russian Revolution 131 4. The Failure of the World Revolution and the Foundation of the International 152 5. Lenin and Socialism 172 6. Stalin and Socialism 191 7. Stalin Kills the 1923 Revolution 209 8. The Kulak and the British General Council 239 9. Stalin Ruins the Chinese Revolution 260 10. The Platform and the Five-Year Plan 293 11. Industry and the Plan 311 12. “After Hitler, Our Turn” 323 13. The Great Retreat 366 14. The Revolution Abandoned 378 15. A Fourth International the Only Hope 404 Appendix on Sidney and Beatrice Webb’s Soviet Communism 418 Notes 424 Reviews of World Revolution 440 Selected Reviews of the Original British Edition 442 “The Rise and Fall of the Communist International: James’s Book Reviewed by Fenner Brockway,” in New Leader 442 Reply from C. L. R. James 446 “Du Côté de Chez Trotsky,” in New Statesman, by Raymond Postgate 447 “Lunacy or Logic? Two Views of One Book,” in Controversy 449 “Communist” by J. R. Campbell 449 “Trotskyist” by Harry Wicks 451 “World Revolution,” in Fight, by H[arry] W[icks] 453 “World Revolution 1917–36,” in Youth Militant, by H[ans] V[adja] 455 “Is There Real Democracy in Russia? Stalin and His Critics,” in Forward, by E[mrys] H[ughes] 457 “Communist Internationals: An Indictment of Stalin,” in the Times Literary Supplement 457 “Betrayed Revolutions,” in Information Bulletin of the British Committee for the Defence of Leon Trotsky, by Charles Sumner [Hilary Sumner-Boyd] 460 “Leninism Trotskified,” in Left Review, by R. F. Andrews [Andrew Rothstein] 463 “The Retreat of Moscow,” in The Plebs, by Rowland Hill 472 “World Revolution,” in International Affairs, by E. H. Carr 475 “Communism in Theory and Practice,” in The Advertiser (Adelaide) 477 “The Third International,” in Sydney Morning Herald 478 Selected Reviews of the Original American Edition 480 “No Place for Communists,” in the Saturday Review, by Eugene Lyons 480 “History of the CI,” in New International, by Joseph Carter [Joseph Friedman] 482 “World Revolution,” in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, by Harry N. Howard 486 Appendixes 488 Appendix A: C. L. R. James, Introduction to Red Spanish Notebook: The First Six Months of the Revolution and the Civil War by Mary Low and Juan Breá [1937] 488 Appendix B: C. L. R. James, “Report on Activities in the Provinces” [1938] 490 Appendix C: Extracts from the Discussions between C. L. R. James and Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico, April 1939 507 Index 524 A 524 B 524 C 526 D 528 E 528 F 529 G 530 H 530 I 531 J 532 K 532 L 532 M 534 N 535 O 535 P 536 R 537 S 538 T 540 U 541 V 541 W 542 Y 542 Z 542 Originally published in 1937, C. L. R. James's World Revolution is a pioneering Marxist analysis of the history of revolutions during the interwar period and of the fundamental conflict between Trotsky and Stalin. James, who was a leading Trotskyist activist in Britain, outlines Russia's transition from Communist revolution to a Stalinist totalitarian state bureaucracy. He also provides an account of the ideological contestations within the Communist International while examining its influence on the development of the Soviet Union and its changing role in revolutions in Spain, China, Germany, and Central Europe. Published to commemorate the centenary of the Russian Revolution, this definitive edition of World Revolution features a new introduction by Christian Hogsbjerg and includes rare archival material, selected contemporary reviews, and extracts from James's 1939 interview with Trotsky Originally published in 1937, C. L. R. James's World Revolution is a pioneering Marxist analysis of the revolutionary history in the interwar period, the fundamental conflict between Trotsky and Stalin, and the ideological contestations within the Communist International and its role in the Soviet Union and international revolution.