The following text was presented online by Michael Konashev from the Association Soviet Union on the Occasion of the EEK’s (Workers’ Revolutionary Party) 17th summer camp.
I heartily greet those gathered in 19th International Marxist Camping at Karystos, the southern port of the island Evia, in front of the Aegean Sea!
First of all, many thanks to the organizers for inviting me to participate in this very important event. Unfortunately, due to the lack of time and a number of other reasons, neither I nor any of my young comrades were able to come from Russia this time. Well, as we say in Russia, the first pancake is lumpy. But I hope that next year will be more successful, and in the future there will be a constant exchange of young comrades, who will actually have to pave the difficult road to world communism.
Now about today, a very disturbing and extremely dangerous day, which tomorrow may become deadly for everyone living on earth.
The reason for this deadly danger is obvious to all Marxists, both "hard" and "soft": this, as stated, in particular, on August 20, 2020 in the statement "DIP statement on the 80th anniversary of Trotsky's assassination: Return to Trotsky's via Lenin!” on the RedMed website, the crisis of degrading, regressing capitalism which has reached a stage where war is almost the only means of salvation for it.
And this is despite, and in a certain sense due to, the destruction of the Soviet Union from outside and inside almost a quarter of a century ago. A paradox? Only at first glance. At that time, the capitalists, especially in the United States, were triumphant: they sincerely and to a certain extent rightly thought that they had won the Cold War over the USSR and, thus, over communism. But they were mistaken, because they decided that this was the final victory. In fact, a very important battle was lost, but only one. Let me make a comparison with Soviet history. The Fascist generals, when the troops of Nazi Germany were in the beginning of December 1942 only 29 kilometers from Moscow, also thought that they had won and would be in the communist capital tomorrow. They thought they were winning at Stalingrad. But first, it was at Stalingrad that the first defeat awaited them, and then the Red Army came to Berlin, the red flag was hoisted over the Reichstag, and they had to sign the surrender.
Yes, figuratively speaking, today we are probably near Moscow. And not everything is in our power, but first of all it depends on us where we will be tomorrow, and when the red flag will fly over the Reichstag again, but now also over the Eiffel Tower and the Capitol!
Capitalism is at a dead end. That's true, but it's abstract, too general.
But what is needed, according to Lenin, is a concrete historical and logical analysis. Constant, day after day. Today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. At the same time, it is twofold: the essence of this impasse, the modern stage of decaying and stinking capitalism, i.e. modern “Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism” is needed; and an analysis of the specific current situation is needed, the same as Lenin and Trotsky did in February 1917, then in April 1917, and finally in October 1917.
Such an analysis has yet to be done, but something can be clearly stated now.
Capitalism, especially in the United States, is still very strong. But the cracks of its destruction, including self-destruction, are clearly visible today even to the capitalists themselves. It is important to determine exactly at what point in the trajectory of the stage of decline and decay this capitalism is at the moment, and at what point it is likely to be tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, what are the trends of its regressive evolution, and the tempo of its decomposition. Including what they are like in the center, in the USA, in Europe, in particular in Greece and Turkey, and in other geographical regions.
It is very important to give a correct assessment of the informational and manipulative capabilities of capitalism, the means available to it to influence the masses, especially the proletariat, and the parties and social movements of the left side of the political spectrum.
In connection with this assessment, it is extremely important to assess these parties and social movements, especially their theoretical level and fighting spirit.
We must look directly into the eyes of danger and understand that approaching the Third World War actually objectively and subjectively means the inexorable unfolding of the World Civil War, which is likely to become the prelude to the World Socialist Revolution. In this global civil war, an unconditional victory on the information front can and should be the key to the ultimate victory.
I'll finish where I started. Let a new "summer" International begin here at Karystos!
Our demands:
- 5 percent is not for war, but for peace: for healthcare, education, pensions!
- People have the right to decide! The referendum on 5 percent is not for war, but for peace!
- International democracy: United Nations United Nations of People!