New source material Archives - John Riddell

New Book on Second International’s Marxist Years

John Riddell — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 19:03:54 +0000

Comments by Socialist Historians Haymarket Books has just published ‘Under the Socialist Banner: Resolutions of the Second International, 1889-1912’. Edited by Mike Taber, this book is the first collection ever assembled in English of all the resolutions adopted by the Second International during its Marxist Years. Despite weaknesses and contradictions that led to the Second […]

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First Formulations of the United Front

John Riddell — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:24:28 +0000

Seven Comintern Texts from 1921-23: Part 1 By John Riddell: Although the united front is today likely the most-discussed policy of the Communist International, no single Comintern text fully lays out its scope and significance. Instead, early presentations of this controversial policy are found scattered through many texts written over a two-year period. I am […]

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United Front: Elaboration and Implementation

John Riddell — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 13:31:02 +0000

The Comintern’s Initial Formulations: Part 3 The Communist International’s early presentations of united front policy are scattered through many texts written over a two-year period. I am posting seven of the most important such explanations in three parts. Here is Part Three: “Elaboration and Application.” CONTENTS Part 1: Leon Trotsky’s Overview Part 2: Introducing the […]

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Introduction to ‘The Communist Movement at a Crossroads,’ Part 1

John Riddell — Thu, 14 May 2020 20:35:13 +0000

Overview; First and Second Enlarged Plenums (Feb.–Mar. and June 1922) Editors’ Note: Posted here, in three installments, is the introduction to The Communist Movement at a Crossroads: Plenums of the Communist International’s Executive Committee, 1922-1923. Edited by Mike Taber and translated by John Riddell, the book is published by the Historical Materialism Book Series, and […]

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The Workers’ and Peasants’ Government

John Riddell — Fri, 17 May 2019 20:20:02 +0000

Text of the Communist International’s 1923 decision Reproduced below are a resolution and excerpts from a report adopted in June 1923 by the Communist International (Comintern). It took place at an enlarged meeting of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI). It is reprinted from The Communist Movement at a Crossroads: Plenums of the […]

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The Comintern debates the United Front

John Riddell — Sun, 05 May 2019 17:42:55 +0000

Excerpts from the original leadership debate, 1922 Introduction by Mike Taber: Below are excerpts from the February 1922 debate on the united front that took place at an enlarged meeting of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI). The speakers include Grigorii Zinoviev, Karl Radek, and Leon Trotsky. The excerpts are reprinted from The […]

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Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun

John Riddell — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:58:32 +0000

An exchange on ultraleftism at the 1921 Comintern Third Congress To read the speeches go to: ** Leon Trotsky, ‘Clear-headed revolutionary thinking is needed’ ** Béla Kun, ‘The French Communists are guilty of opportunist conduct’ ** V.I. Lenin, ‘Trotsky was a thousand times right’ The three speeches posted here constituted a turning point in efforts […]

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Leon Trotsky: ‘Clear-headed revolutionary thinking is needed’

John Riddell — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:52:26 +0000

Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun, part 1 See also: ** Béla Kun, “The French Communists are guilty of opportunist conduct” ** V,I. Lenin, “Trotsky was a thousand times right” ** “Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun” Leon Trotsky gave the speech on 16 June 1921 to the Communist […]

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Béla Kun: ‘The French Communists are guilty of opportunist conduct’

John Riddell — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:49:08 +0000

Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun, part 2 See also: ** Leon Trotsky, “Clear-headed revolutionary thinking is needed” ** V.I. Lenin, “Trotsky was a thousand times right” ** “Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun” Béla Kun, an exiled leader of the Hungarian communist movement and a leader of the […]

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V.I. Lenin: ‘Trotsky was a thousand times right’

John Riddell — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:46:19 +0000

Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun, part 3 See also: Leon Trotsky, “Clear-headed revolutionary thinking is needed” Béla Kun, “The French Communists are guilty of opportunist conduct” “Newly published speeches by Lenin, Trotsky, and Béla Kun” Lenin’s speech, given 17 June 1921 at the Communist International’s Third Congress, followed remarks by Trotsky […]

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