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bricolage
3rd July 2011, 20:16
It's generally accepted that class struggle fluctuates on a national level according to the nature of class struggle internationally. In turn it is possible to point to eras of militancy and intensified struggle, such as;
- Post WW1 (Russian Revolution, German Revolution, Biennio Rosso)
- Late 1960s/1970s (May 68, Winter of Discontent, Hot Autumn)

Note: I know these are very Eurocentric example, I'm confident there were strike waves and proto-revolutionary situations outside of Europe in this time period... I just don't know what they were :blushing: As a side note some of these examples would be great...

However what I really wanted to talk about was the late 19th Century, 1870s/1880s and so forth. Obviously this is the time period in which the First International is born (and subsequently dies) and of course features the Paris Commune, I also know it was when there was a series of mass strikes across the United States. That being said I'm wondering if anyone knows of heightened class struggle in this time period taking place in any other places?

Cheers.

Die Neue Zeit
3rd July 2011, 20:44
The pre-war SPD was the German working class for itself. The SFIO was the French working class for itself.

bricolage
4th July 2011, 07:58
Ahem, that's not really what I was after.

NoOneIsIllegal
4th July 2011, 08:09
The pre-war SPD was the German working class for itself.
A ghost party. Huge membership, insanely low number of activists. Plus, they were very "speak revolution, act reformist." If anything, they only provided a sub-culture of entertainment (picnics, choirs/bands/orchestras, festivals, etc.) It's surprising people like Luxemburg stuck with them as long as she did and provided teaching in their schools.

Die Neue Zeit
4th July 2011, 14:02
A ghost party. Huge membership, insanely low number of activists.

I'm pretty sure their party bureaucracy was much bigger than "insanely low," unless you don't count the full-time, paid officials as "activists."


Plus, they were very "speak revolution, act reformist."

I've contested this stereotypical portrayal before.