LESSONS OF THE PARIS COMMUNE
WIN marked the 150th anniversary of the world’s first workers’ uprising with a review of its lessons for today. The discussion was introduced by OLIVIER DELBEKE, speaking from Paris. The meeting was bilingual (in French and English).
Eleanor Marx: "It is time people understood the true meaning of this revolution… It meant the government of the people by the people. It was the first attempt of the proletariat to govern itself… The establishment of the Commune meant not the replacing of one form of class rule by another, but the abolishing of all class rule... Is socialism dead? Was it drowned in the blood of the people of Paris? Socialism today is a greater power than it has ever been."
Karl Marx: "From the outset the Commune was compelled to recognize that the working class, once come to power, could not manage with the old state machine; that in order not to lose again its only just conquered supremacy, this working class must, on the one hand, do away with all the old repressive machinery previously used against it itself, and, on the other, safeguard itself against its own deputies and officials, by declaring them all, without exception, subject to recall at any moment."
The following background links are recommended:
https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn...
https://libcom.org/files/The%20Civil%...
https://www.marxists.org/history/fran...