International Meeting of Communist Parties
on the Occasion of the Ninetieth Anniversary of the October Revolution
Minsk, November 2007
Contribution of the Communist Party of Ireland, presented by Seán Edwards
Comrades,
First I want to thank our hosts, the Communist Party of Belarus and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, for holding this important conference, and also our Greek and Portuguese comrades for their work in promoting discussion amongst our parties in recent years.
It is vitally important for us to celebrate the October Revolution, the greatest liberating event in human history, and to affirm that this is the tradition we come from, and that this is the struggle which we will continue.
In Ireland, as elsewhere, we have been deluged with propaganda denouncing the revolution and the entire historic experience of socialism. They tell us that socialism is a dead and irrelevant ideology—yet I think the spectre of communism is still disturbing their sleep.
The imperialist powers’ determination to destroy the Soviet Union never abated from the time they sent fifteen foreign armies to “strangle Bolshevism in its cradle.” Their toleration and even encouragement of fascism was motivated by anti-communism. It was for this reason they betrayed the Spanish Republic, whose only ally was the Soviet Union. Ultimately they were forced to ally themselves with the Soviet Union to defeat the monster they had unleashed. Still, it was the Soviet people who bore the major part of the war effort, nowhere more so than in Minsk, where we meet today.
The socialist society created by gigantic struggles had many great achievements, but it was no utopia. It had serious social weaknesses, which gave an opportunity to the enemies of socialism, both internal and external, to undermine the society and bring about its downfall.
Without the Soviet Union to contend with, triumphant imperialism dropped its “human face” and proclaimed the economic doctrine of neo-liberalism—that is, uncontrolled lawless capitalism—to be the only way. For countries in economic difficulties there was no Marshall Plan, only “shock therapy”—not so much to solve their economic problems as to soften them up for penetration by transnational corporations. Nationalised industries and natural resources, even water, were privatised, that is, plundered by criminal gangs calling themselves entrepreneurs.
The ex-colonial countries, whose struggle for independence had been championed by the Soviet Union, were obliged to follow economic policies drawn up by the International Monetary Fund.
The social gains of the working class, which had been won in the presence of the Soviet Union’s good example, are now under attack. The former social-democratic parties—New Labour, for example—are among the most enthusiastic champions of this policy. This is especially so in the countries of the European Union, whose decision-making bodies are guided by neo-liberal doctrines.
The imperialist nature of the European Union is becoming impossible to hide. In negotiating trade agreements with the poor countries it is no less ruthless than the United States. It increasingly avoids democratic accountability while holding regular meetings with representatives of big business. The EU constitution, rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands, has been repackaged as a “reform treaty.” It may be that Ireland will be the only country to hold a referendum on this issue—which places on us a great responsibility. Our party is engaged, along with others, in a campaign against this treaty.
Without the Soviet Union to restrain it, the United States considers itself entitled to wage war whenever and wherever it chooses, without any regard to international law. It has inflicted untold suffering on the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, and is threatening war on Iran. The Irish government, to its shame, facilitates the US military with the use of Shannon Airport.
Meanwhile America’s proxy, Israel, feels it has a licence to impose apartheid-like conditions on the people of Palestine.
I could give many more examples of how, since the destruction of the Soviet Union, imperialism has become more predatory, more lawless, and more brutal. However, it is not always succeeding in its aims, and cannot overcome its own contradictions.
Neo-liberalism was first imposed on Latin America, Uncle Sam’s back yard, most notoriously in Chile with the fascist coup d’état of 11 September 1973. So it is no accident that it is in Latin America that the resistance is greatest. With the heroic example of Cuba, which has defended its socialist gains and never yielded its independence, the peoples of Latin America have found new forms of struggle and won major victories. The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela has rallied the continent, has broken the isolation of Cuba, and has put socialism back on the agenda.
Our party held its commemoration of the revolution on 25 and 26 October. On that occasion we stated that the historical experience of the last ninety years confirms
—that class struggle, especially working-class struggle, is the engine of social change;
—that there is an absolute need for a party of the working class in the leadership of that struggle;
—that alliances have to formed involving all progressive and anti-imperialist forces;
—that democracy has to be fought for, defended and developed at all times;
—that power, both political and economic, must rest with working people;
—that international solidarity is an essential part of our struggle.
Comrades,
The struggle for socialism in the twenty-first century, if it is to succeed, must be based on the experience of socialism in the twentieth century, learning the lessons of its victories and defeats, its strengths and weaknesses—learning, that is, the lessons of October. |