Communist Movements in Eastern Europe

[Apoi_Viitor]

There are a lot of opinion polls which seem to suggest that people in Eastern Europe think that "life was better under communism", etc. If these polls are genuine, why isn't there a large movement to overthrow the capitalist state?

[Искра]

It's quite easy to answer that question, especially when I'm coming from what you people call – Eastern Europe.

First, people always say that there was better before something, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll get active. Also, you forgot large amount of people who don’t think that it was better, because they think that creation of their national state is most important part of their countries history. Truth is that actually it was better, at least in ex-Yugoslav countries, but there are different reasons, concerning national and international economical relations, trends in capitalism etc.

Second, communism is delegitimized in Eastern Europe due state capitalist regimes and its repression. Also, new socialist movements in these countries have old fashion rhetoric which talks more about 1917 than about 2011 and that’s why nobody cares about them. Political regimes are mostly hostile towards communism, so people are afraid.

Third, if you want a job – you can’t be communist (well, you can be closet one), and above all – you don’t have a time to be a communist. If you consider unemployment rate here you’ll understand.

[The Idler]

How popular is anarchism and other non-leninist communism in eastern europe?

[Искра]

I'm not so familiar with movement outside of ex-Yugoslavia. I know that there are IWA’s sections in Russia (KRAS), Slovakia (Priama Akcia), Poland (ZSP) and Serbia (ASI). Also, I know for IAF’s sections in Czech Republic (CSAF) and Belarus. ICC also has members in Russia, at least to my knowledge.

Regarding ex-Yugoslavia in Slovenia there anarchist federation called FAO and there’s one autonomous Marxist group in Ljubljana. In Croatia there are 3 organisations: the biggest is anarcho-syndicalist organisation MASA (I used to be part of it), and there are Red Action (Marxist-Leninist) and Workers Struggle (Trotskyite in the line of “4th Internationale”), but those organisations are not so active and basically they only paint walls. Regarding Croatia it’s important to emphasize that there’s also big student movement and direct-democratic syndicate of professors. In Serbia there’s ASI and few anarchist collectives. There are also some crazy Marxist-Leninists and whole bunch of different Trotskyites – but I don’t care for them, because they are all invisible. In Bosnia there umbrella organisation called JOSD who’s against Marxism-Leninism. It’s quite big and it’s good and active. I don’t know much about Macedonia.

Before I end I wanted to say one thing I forgot. In Easter Europe only old people moan about “good old times” and “socialism”. Young people are mostly pro-EU and they have a different dream which is main reason why there are no big movements here. Young people are always those who move movements, because they are more idealistic then old people.

[tir1944]

Because you can lose your job if you're a communist,and you won't get another either.

[Искра]

I just worked my 11 hours and I was in Rosa Luxemburg's T-shirt. Do I still have a job - I do. So, your point is stupid, because of 2 reasons:
1) If you are a communist militant you'll get fired everywhere in the World.
2) People here are not communists because they are afraid that they won't get a job, but because that idea was defeated here when it was reduced to stalinism/titoism which people despise.

[tir1944]

I just worked my 11 hours and I was in Rosa Luxemburg's T-shirt.
Yes but don't assume that because of you got away with it 10 other people won't have repercussions.Also i doubt a lot of people here even know who R.Lux. was / can recognize her face.

Also who despises Titoism? In Macedonia or Slovenia Tito is still deeply respected and loved.

[Искра]

There's big red star on my back. And on my jacket. People are not blind. My points where lound and clear.

Who despises Titoism? Nationalists in Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. Bosnians and Macedonians like Tito because he gave them their countries. Still, the point was that most of the national elites created discurs in which Titoism is communism, and communism is a totaliran regime in which people die if Party doesn't like them. Because of that humanist communist ideas of Marx where reduced to faild state capitalist regimes marked by bloodbaths, gulags, starvation etc. That point is also quite clear.

[tir1944]

Yeah well try walking with a red star on your back in Hungary,Czechia or Slovakia and see how long it takes before you get arrested (or worse).


Who despises Titoism? Nationalists in Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia.
Yes,nationalists throughout the world despise anything that's left.They even despise liberals etc.

W

[Kamos]

Yeah well try walking with a red star on your back in Hungary,Czechia or Slovakia and see how long it takes before you get arrested (or worse).

Indeed, the red star is now illegal in Hungary. Then again, this here is also one of the most reactionary bourgeois democracies ever.

Communism in Eastern Europe is often seen as something that bought national greatness or a "place under the sun" of world politics instead of what it should be seen as - a movement for equality. This is why Nazbols exist and idolise Stalin.

[tir1944]

Communism in Eastern Europe is often seen as something that bought national greatness or a "place under the sun" of world politics instead of what it should be seen as - a movement for equality.
Well for the start communism isn't a "movement for equality".
Also back then we had much more equality.



This is why Nazbols exist and idolise Stalin.
Not only Nazbols do that,this is a really unfair "argument".

[Devrim]

ICC also has members in Russia, at least to my knowledge.

This isn't true. The ICC occasionally publishes in Russia, and distributes stuff there, but they have no members there.

Devrim

[Agent Equality]

Well for the start communism isn't a "movement for equality".
Also back then we had much more equality.


Not only Nazbols do that,this is a really unfair "argument".

Communism is a movement for equality get over yourself. Of course not only Nazbols do that. Stalinoids such as yourself do as well. Hence why no one on the left other than MLs and Maoists will ever take you seriously

[Искра]

This isn't true. The ICC occasionally publishes in Russia, and distributes stuff there, but they have no members there.

Devrim

Then there's some other leftcom group which I confused with ICC.