Book Review: The Future of Revolution: Communist Prospects from the Paris Commune to the George Floyd Uprising

A review of, The Future of Revolution: Communist Prospects from the Paris Commune to the George Floyd Uprising, by Jasper Bernes; Published by Verso

Recent months have seen the Trump Regime launching military occupations of Washington DC, Los Angeles to be followed by Chicago, with plans for similar occupations of other major cities controlled by the Democrats. Obviously in line with preparation to suppress any uprising against Trump's accelerated neo liberal push and the roll back of the gains secured by the working class since the Roosevelt Govt. “New Deal” of the 1930's. Trump has now also been talking up plans for establishing a “Dictatorship.” These latest new moves have been preceded by ICE agent raids on immigrants likely a precursor for dragnets against various opponents of the Trump Regime.

The book under review focuses on a range of uprisings, revolts and revolutions from the Paris Commune of 1871 to the George Floyd Uprising of 2020. Including the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917, the German Revolution of 1918-23, the Spanish Revolution and Civil War of 1936-39, Hungary 1956, the France May 1968 General Strike and factory and university/schools occupations, the Portugese upheaval of 1974 and others. The author focuses on a range of theoreticians and “ultra left” groups which have promoted Mass/General Strikes/Workers Councils/Workers Self Management of industry/communities over the period under discussion. Particularly the Marxist theorists Rosa Luxemburg and Amadeo Bordiga, Cornelius Castoradius and Claude Lefort of the Socialism ou Barbarie group and the International Workers' Correspondence Committee, Guy Debord and the Situationist International, Root and Branch journal, CLR James and Raya Dunayevskaya of the Johnston Forest tendency, amongst others.

The Murky Origins of the First Russian Soviet

A problem with the author's discussion of the first workers' soviet or council of delegates which occurred in the 1905 Russian revolution, is that he fails to grasp the murky aspects of its very early days. He fails to consider the account of the Russian Anarchist Voline who played a key role in its emergence, observations in his book “The Unknown Revolution”. In particular how workers who had been delegates of the Gaponist union (police created union headed by Police Agent, the Russian Orthodox Priest Georgy Gapon) resorted to duplicity with the appointment of the officials of the Soviet. The Soviet was created at a secret meeting to avoid police surveillance attended by the delegates and Voline. Particularly they provided a certain Nossar/Khrustalev, a legal clerk with contacts with wealthy opponents of the Czarist regime who helped fund major general strikes against the Czarist regime with an identity card as a factory delegate. So he could become the first President of the St. Petersburg Soviet. After his arrest, they gave a similar bogus credential to Leon Trotsky, at that time a Social Democratic Labor Party member and journalist. This resort to duplicity by these workers shows a lack of workers' self confidence in running their own workers' organisations. The delegates were also not strictly mandated and revocable. (1)

It provides an important back drop to understand the degeneration of the Soviets particularly in the 1905 revolution and the much more rapid degeneration in the subsequent 1917 revolution which the author does a better job at sketching. Particularly how the Soviets in the largest cities in 1917 from the beginning were effectively mini Parliaments established and dominated by political parties. Then later a launching pad for Lenin and the Bolshevik Party's seizure of power in October 1917 and the subsequent establishment of a Dictatorship playing a key role in the counter revolution. Another key factor contributing to this degeneration of the Soviets and the subsequent Bolshevik Dictatorship was the absence of experienced mass anarcho-syndicalist style industrial unions. Particularly the lack of the syndicalisation/co-ordinated/federated workers committees/councils in workplaces within industries linking up with federations of community associations/councils contributed to the industrial chaos and shortages. It massively contributed to such dictatorial policies of the early Bolshevik regime such as the imposing “one man management” of factories. Leading down the slippery slope to Central Planning, State Capitalism and the Stalin Regime.

The Betrayal of the Spanish Revolution

The author's analysis of the failure of the emergence of workers councils/Soviets during the Spanish Revolution/Civil War of 1936-39 and the associated collaboration of the CNT (National Confederation of Labour) (Anarcho-Syndicalist union confederation) and the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation) in the Republican/Popular Front Government/State with members of the highest committees and CNT/FAI Government Ministers being drawn into the counter revolution is very inadequate. The author fails to examine the impact of the “Insurrectionary Cycle” of the early 1930's which the CNT was drawn into by a minority of anarchist groups in the FIA and those who just “identified with it” who had secured control of key mass circulation CNT/FAI newspapers and important CNT committees inciting the insurrections in various towns. The subsequent massive state repression led to an unfavourable climate within the CNT/FAI for the discussion and adoption of a more realistic revolutionary strategy than the CNT being self sufficient for a revolutionary takeover. Such as a “Workers' Councils” State model. This concept was becoming very influential amongst many in the international anarcho-syndicalist movement particularly in the highest committees of the IWA (International Workers Association – international anarcho-syndicalist union organisation).

Another problem with the author's discussion of the role of the CNT and FAI in the Spanish revolution is his ignoring the influence of Spanish nationalism. Prior to the Civil War there was no focus by the CNT on materially assisting other anarcho-syndicalist style movements in other countries which had been hard hit by the rise of mass Stalinism, Fascism and military dictatorships, particularly in Latin America. Some prominent figures in the international anarcho-syndicalist movement accused the CNT of being affected by a “national socialism” orientation. This orientation contributed to the isolation of the Spanish revolution and success of the counter revolution in the Republican zone and Franco's forces.

Unraveling the Riddle of the France May 1968 Events

In the author's discussion of the France May 1968 near revolution, he over emphasises the “spontaneous” spread of the strike wave across French industry, following the student protests and university occupations. He fails to adequately consider the important role of the Socialisme Ou Barbarie Group in the prelude to the May 68 events. Particularly with its role in the publication of the work place paper “Tribune Ouvrerire” at Renault Billancourt in Paris the largest factory in France employing 30,000 workers. It was launched in the early 1950's associated with one of its members Daniel Mothe and a group of other plant workers involved in a wildcat strike in 1947. In the late 1950's it inspired and linked up with similar workplace papers in other factories and firms. Facilitating an anti-Stalinist/union hierarchy pole of attraction, which played a crucial role in the spread of the strike wave and occupations across industry. However, even in the case of Renault Billancourt during the May events, Stalinist CGT (General Confederation of Labour controlled by the Communist Party) union reps prevented revolutionary students such as those led by Daniel Cohn-Bendit to enter this factory complex and others to agitate amongst workers for a revolutionary push and workers' councils. However the existence of mass anarcho-syndicalist unions in the lead up to the May events certainly would have the potential to push the events in a revolutionary direction with the establishment of workers councils. Associated with the 1947 strike wave, the prospects for establishing mass anarcho-syndicalist unions looked promising associated with the ballooning membership of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT-F (National Confederation of Labour - France) and many major splits from the CGT. However due to the onset of the Cold War and a major rightward split from the CGT to form the CGT-Force Ouvrerire engineered by the CIA, these prospects of a revival of mass anarcho-syndicalist unionism was massively stymied.(2)

The “Corporate Unionism” Challenge

In the author's discussion of the type of uprisings which have erupted after the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 in numerous countries and associated movements such as the Estalliso Social in Chile, the gilets jaunes in France, the Arab Spring, Podemos in Spain, George Floyd Uprising amongst many others he argues these struggles have emerged largely eccentric to production and industry. Despite the author squandering a large chunk of the book from page 81 to 128 on an arcane discussion of value in Marxist Economic theory, with Part 2 of the book entitled “The Test of Communism,” he neglects to analyse the development of the crucial “corporate unionism” phenomena. Together with other strategies of Agencies of ruling classes in various countries to counter the radical upsurge of the “long 1960's”.

The emergence of “Corporate Unionism” in Australia was associated with the ALP/ACTU Prices (Australian Labor Party/Australian Council of Trade Unions) and Wages Accord and then the subsequent “un-Official Accord” years associated with “enterprise bargaining” and the implementation of the Neo Liberal agenda. With the Previous reformist/bureaucratic unions becoming integrated at the top levels in the Corporate set up through a myriad of connections with the Corporate set up and the alleged rigging of union elections and enterprise agreements ballots via ALP networks in the AEC (Australian Electoral Commission). Established in 1984 by the Hawke ALP Govt. as an “unofficial” part of the Accord. Many leftist parties and some attracted to Red and Black colour schemes and A in the Circle which have taken a rightward shift in the years of the “unofficial Accord” are also involved in facilitating the “smoke and mirrors” performances of the corporate union bosses associated with enterprise bargaining. Particularly with usually ineffectual or half hearted “community” picket lines and industrial campaigns set up to fail. The corporate union bosses often engage in highly sophisticated manipulation techniques much superior to the previous bureaucratic reformist union officials, emphasising their close connections with the corporate media and likely CIA training via the Harvard Trade Union Officials Training Course. (3)

Deep State/Corporate Agency “Identity Politics” Strategy

Another strategy has been the promotion of the divisive and dangerous “identity” politics particularly the so called “women's movement”. It was part of the CIA's “Operation Chaos,” parallel to the FBI's COINTELPRO to disrupt New Left groups in the wake of 1968 which were playing an important role in the USA facilitating a wildcat strike movement and industrial insurgencies. Together with the corporate media/bourgeois educational and cultural system promotion of identity politics which continues up to today. The CIA has also been exposed by researchers as playing a key role in disrupting New Left groups and encouraging the hippy phenomena with the production and distribution of LSD in the 60's and 70's. This “social engineering” was also facilitated by the Deep State created pop groups such as the Beatles manufactured by the Deep State connected UK based “Tavistock Institute” particularly with the group's “psychedelic and mystical” phases. (4)

The author is clear about the need for future uprisings to spread across both communities and industry with the launching of soviets/workers councils. However he presents no realistic strategy for the industrial front. He just talks about the need for “Workers' Inquiries” analyses, support for “Base Unions” and work place committees. If he means “base unions” which have formed in the UK such as the IWW-WIES (Industrial Workers of the World - Wales, Ireland, England & Scotland), it has been drawn into the orbit of the corporate unions. As it's registered with the UK Industrial Relations system as a union and so restricted from waging direct action due to heavy fines. It also supports regional nationalism which is in breach of the key syndicalist principle of internationalism. Lately it seems to have lost much of the initial dynamism of its earlier days. (5) While a “base union” which did defy the industrial relations system would face a major State attack and isolation and sabotage from the corporate unions and a hostile corporate media. Unless it developed in the context of a strike/direct action wave movement across industry with associated major syndicalist union breakaways from the corporate unions.

In conclusion, the author's discussion of these mass/general strikes, uprisings, near revolutions and revolutions over emphasises spontaneity in line with his “council communist” viewpoint. He neglects to adequately discuss the importance of building mass experienced anarcho-syndicalist style unions prior to these upheavals. Failing to adequately analyse the reasons for the failure of mass anarcho-syndicalist unionism during the Spanish Revolution/Civil War. He largely ignores the role of key corporate agencies strategies such as “Corporate Unionism” to stymie revolutionary pushes particularly after the Long 1960's. He fails to present a realistic strategy on the key industrial front for today to build self managed workers' economic combative organisations and organs of revolutionary power. Wasting a huge amount of his book on arcane Marxist economic theory discussion.

M.

Notes

1. See 'The Unknown Revolution 1917-1921' by Voline, published by Black & Red.
2. See 'Socialisme Ou Barbarie' A Revolutionary Group on Libcom.org
3. See 'From Corporate Bureaucratic Unionism to Grass Roots Controlled Direct Action Unionism: Activity & Perspectives for Australia, Today' in RW Vol.41 No.3 (235) Dec.2023 to Jan. 2024 on archive section www.rebelworker.org and libcom.org
4. See on the Internet “Gloria Steinem, the CIA & The Women's Movement”. “Acid Dreams: LSD, The CIA and the Sixties Rebellion.” See Mike Williams's web site “Sage of Quay” and his research into various Albums, Performances and Phases in the Careers of the Beatles.”
5. See 'Discussion on Libcom.org 'Are Anarchist Organisations in Decline?'