The International Labour Movement [antikvár]

PREFACE 'T^HIS book is not a history of the international labour move-J- ment. It is mainly concerned with the situation of the movement during the period between the two wars and with its outlook for the future. International organisation in the labour movement began with the formation of the International Working Men's Association (the First International) in 1864. In course of time the international movement developed a political wing and an industrial wing. The British Labour Party, for example, has been associated internationally with Socialists and Social-Democrats in other countries, while the British Trades Union Congress has formed part of an international organisation with other 'trade union national centres'. Connected with these two main bodies have been a number of international associations and secretariats for special purposes. It is with this network of organisations that the present study is occupied. Throughout its existence the international labour movement has been an object of hopes and of fears. Both have often been exaggerated. In some countries and at some periods the workers have had an almost romantic belief in 'The International' as an instrument of universal emancipation. But others have feared it as a possible agent of world-wide revolution. In fact it has been neither. Many hoped after the slaughter of 1914-1918 that the international solidarity of labour would prevent the outbreak of another war—that the workers would take their lead from the International and refuse to follow their own Governments. This hope, too, was disappointed. But the failure of the international labour movement to unite^tne vi^orkers of the world, to achieve their complete emancipation, and to avoid the calamity of war, has not resulted in its death. The international idea is as much alive and as vigorous as ever. In spite of disappointments the task of building up an international labour movement will be continued with renewed enthusiasm. Critics of the International, both within the labour movement and outside it, have seized upon the obvious failures, but they were not always clear as to what they were criticising. Was it the international organisations or their constituent parts in the different countries ? Were the leaders at fault or was it the rank and file ? Sometimes the policy was wrong, sometimes the action was