The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-10-14
BY CHARLES NovAk

the BOlSneVlSdtlOn OF the communist
Parties, require some explanations
which will enable us to see the aim
of our work more clearly.
Before we pass oneto the subject it.
self, it is advisable to briefly examine
the forces which have led the Com
mintern to make these decisions. This
is especially necessary in order to
eliminate all possible incorrect ideas
and interpretations on this significant
question for the future.
Now that we are faced with this
problem of Bolshevisation it is of ut
most Importance to know what is
meant by the slogan TO Bolshevise
our Party" If we do not know this
then any talk or action on this subject
is not only futile but also harmful. 1t
is therefore necessary to give a clear
and regular definition of this slogan.
IF we summarize the whole theory
and practice of Leninism then the
answer to that question can only be
the following: "To BolsheVise a party
means to construct it and to change
is theology so that It becomes a real
party Of revolution, a party Of the
masses and of action, a united irwin
chile and strongly disciplined force
which with wise politics, tactics and
strategy succeeds in enIisting the
great mass of the working class in the
struggle against capitalism and its al
lies: the opportunsts and social dem.
ocrats.
Presenting this definition we must,
in order to get a clear understanding,
point out the factors which led the
Commintern to formulate the policy
of Bolshevisation.
1t is known fact that the Com
munist international was organised
during a period of keen strife and
civil warfare. During the first few
days after its establishment and after
the victory of the Russian revolution
in all lands and particularly in those
of Europe, there existed a strong rev
dictionary enthusiasm. Great masses
of socialist workers and undetermined
elements began to join the newly or
ganised Communist Parties. The en-.
thusiasm for Communism was tremen-
dous, but it lacked real organised
structure, a firm discipline, and a still
firmer Communist theology without
which effective action is impossible.
The principal error of all newly
solmed Communist Parties was that
hey measured their strength by the
temporary disposition of the workers
and forgot the value of organizational
structure and consolidated forces.
They underestimated the strength of
their opponents and over-estimated
their own. At that time we were,
more or less, propaganda sect with
out any understanding of real Bolshe-
vik tactics and strategy. AS a con
sequence of these mistakes we have
experienced a number of defeats in
our fight against capitalism. The in.
stances of the Hungarian revolution
and the fall of the Soviet power in
Bavaria present us with the best
evidence.
MOT until the second congress OF
1 ' the Communist International were
the roots of this evil struck at and
thereby, the coming of the social pa
triots and centrist elements into ouI
ranks checked in advance. Neverthe
less this was not sufficient to safe
guard the c. l. against oportunism. II
had to continue its warfare against
opportunist tendencies, not only in
one, but in almost all of the Commu
mist Parties. The instances of Pau
Levi in Germany, Frossard in France
the errors of the Communist Party OF
Bulgaria June, 1929 and the defeat
in Germany October, 1929 etc, were
all noticeable manifestations of oppor
tunism in our ranks.
At almost every congress and pri
marily at the fourth and fifth con
crosses the Communist International
had to carry on war on two fronts;
against the opportunists and the re
formists of the right and against the
so-called ultra Left" or liquidators
of .revolutinary Marxism. Even dur
ing the life of the great genius Lenin
this strife assumed large proportions
After his death it was the most serious
problem of the whole International.
This was due to the fact that there
had crept into ranks of the Commin
tern various elements imbued with
social patriotic and petty bourgeois
theology. Even though there was
distinct differentiation between the c
|. and the social-democrats the c. I
could not save itself from absorbing
opportunist elements who had latel
appeared in various FORMS This stiff
led regular systematic work. Thii
lack of an exact estimate of the eco
nomic and political situations and o
proper adherence to Communist tactics
and principle by these elements wal
also no small contribution to the cause
Of our defeats.
After analysing all of these deficien
cies and mistakes the Fifth Congress
Of the Communist international bro