The First Five Years of the Communist International I. [antikvár]

FOREWORD THE FIRST volume of Trotsky's writings and speeches for the Communist International covers the period of the first three Congresses when the post-war revolutionary upsurge reached its peak and then began to recede. It establishes without danger of contradiction the important role which he played in the foundation of this, the Third workers' international, and in the formation and early development of the French, German and Italian Communist Parties. At this time the theory of 'socialism in one country' had not been invented, and Joseph Stalin was still a second-line Bolshevik leader who played no part in the international movement which he was later to pervert and eventually destroy. The Communist International was identified in its early years with Lenin and Trotsky more than with any other leaders. Not only did they deliver many of the principal speeches and reports but they also wrote or contributed to the theses and resolutions which were discussed, amended and adopted by the regular Congresses held from 1919 onwards. Thus the manifesto of the Communist International to the Workers of the World was prepared by Trotsky and bears his stamp. It was Lenin or Trotsky whom the leaders of the young Communist Parties who came to Moscow for these gatherings were most anxious to hear and to consult. Of course, the Congresses, and the work of the International, did not revolve exclusively around two men, however powerful their contribution was. They were backed up by a team largely drawn from the Russian Bolshevik Party initially, among whom were Zinoviev and Bukharin:. One reason why the . Stalinized 'Communist' Parties scarcely ever refer to the early history of the Commnnist International is that they could not do so without