Deutscher's speculations on the reasons for Russian internationalist idealism during WW1 (p.321): "Parliamentarianism, & the institutions for social conciliation & arbitration which cluster around it, had taken no roots in Russian soil. Class struggle, in violent and undisguised form, had been raging from one end of the empire to the other; and Tsardom had not left the workers and peasants even the illusion that it was allowing them any influence on the nation’s destinies." #socialistbookclub

Deutscher's speculations on the reasons for Russian internationalist idealism during WW1 (p.321): "Parliamentarianism, & the institutions for social conciliation & arbitration which cluster around it, had taken no roots in Russian soil. Class struggle, in violent and undisguised form, had been raging from one end of the empire to the other; and Tsardom had not left the workers and peasants even the illusion that it was allowing them any influence on the nation’s destinies." #socialistbookclub

"I can find no other name for the machine of government that cuts into pieces the living flesh of our people. And if you tell me that the pogroms, the arson, the violence… if you tell me that Kishinev, Odessa, Bialystok represent the form of government of the Russian Empire, then—yes, then I recognize, together with the prosecution, that in October and November we were arming ourselves against the form of government of the Russian Empire."
#socialistbookclub

"I can find no other name for the machine of government that cuts into pieces the living flesh of our people. And if you tell me that the pogroms, the arson, the violence… if you tell me that Kishinev, Odessa, Bialystok represent the form of government of the Russian Empire, then—yes, then I recognize, together with the prosecution, that in October and November we were arming ourselves against the form of government of the Russian Empire."
#socialistbookclub

"I am prepared to admit this charge, but on one condition only. I do not know whether the prosecution and the court will agree to this condition. I am asking you: What exactly does the prosecution mean by ‘form of government’ ? Do we live under any form of government at all? The government has long since broken with the nation. … What we possess is not a national governmental force but an automaton for mass murder..." (continued)
#socialistbookclub

"I am prepared to admit this charge, but on one condition only. I do not know whether the prosecution and the court will agree to this condition. I am asking you: What exactly does the prosecution mean by ‘form of government’ ? Do we live under any form of government at all? The government has long since broken with the nation. … What we possess is not a national governmental force but an automaton for mass murder..." (continued)
#socialistbookclub

some more #socialistbookclub for you from The Prophet. Here's Trotsky rising to his own defense at trial for his leadership of the first Soviet in 1905. The parallels to #PhilandoCastile and so many others are intense.

"The prosecution is asking you to recognize that the Soviet armed the workers for the direct struggle against the existing ‘form of government’. If I were asked categorically ‘Was this so?’, I would answer: Yes! … " (continued)

some more #socialistbookclub for you from The Prophet. Here's Trotsky rising to his own defense at trial for his leadership of the first Soviet in 1905. The parallels to #PhilandoCastile and so many others are intense.

"The prosecution is asking you to recognize that the Soviet armed the workers for the direct struggle against the existing ‘form of government’. If I were asked categorically ‘Was this so?’, I would answer: Yes! … " (continued)

"Here on the barricade, for the first time in his life, the soldier hears honest, courageous words, a fraternal appeal, the voice of the people’s conscience; and, as a consequence of this contact between soldiers and citizens, in the atmosphere of revolutionary enthusiasm, the bonds of the old military discipline snap."
#socialistbookclub

"Here on the barricade, for the first time in his life, the soldier hears honest, courageous words, a fraternal appeal, the voice of the people’s conscience; and, as a consequence of this contact between soldiers and citizens, in the atmosphere of revolutionary enthusiasm, the bonds of the old military discipline snap."
#socialistbookclub

"’For only when the masses show readiness to die on the barricades can they win over the army, on which the old régime relies. The barricade does not play in revolution the part which the fortress plays in regular warfare. It is mainly the physical and moral meeting-ground between people and army. ‘It serves the insurrection, because, by hampering the movement of troops it brings these into close contact with the people." #socialistbookclub

"’For only when the masses show readiness to die on the barricades can they win over the army, on which the old régime relies. The barricade does not play in revolution the part which the fortress plays in regular warfare. It is mainly the physical and moral meeting-ground between people and army. ‘It serves the insurrection, because, by hampering the movement of troops it brings these into close contact with the people." #socialistbookclub

More from "The Prophet"! Trotsky's tactics for winning over the military (p.251): "no matter how important weapons may be, it is not in them that great power resides. No! Not the ability of the masses to kill others, but their great readiness themselves to die, this secures in the last instance the victory of the popular rising. … "
#socialistbookclub

More from "The Prophet"! Trotsky's tactics for winning over the military (p.251): "no matter how important weapons may be, it is not in them that great power resides. No! Not the ability of the masses to kill others, but their great readiness themselves to die, this secures in the last instance the victory of the popular rising. … "
#socialistbookclub

the panicked willingness among the WW1 allies to believe any conspiracy that would explain the Bolshevik victories in Russia is, as the French would say, "reminiscent as fuck" of our present moment.

not that the right-wing crime syndicate currently ruling the US has anything in common with the Bolshevik revolution in terms of form, but in function....

#socialistbookclub

the panicked willingness among the WW1 allies to believe any conspiracy that would explain the Bolshevik victories in Russia is, as the French would say, "reminiscent as fuck" of our present moment.

not that the right-wing crime syndicate currently ruling the US has anything in common with the Bolshevik revolution in terms of form, but in function....

#socialistbookclub

Finally, a short one. During the first Soviet uprising, how did the revolutionaries get access to printing facilities for their newspapers? (p.210) "The Soviet’s Izvestya appeared at irregular intervals and was produced with naïve bravado. Each copy was set in the printing shop of another extreme right-wing newspaper, which a Soviet squad raided and requisitioned for the occasion."
#socialistbookclub
#makenazispublishyourblogpost

Finally, a short one. During the first Soviet uprising, how did the revolutionaries get access to printing facilities for their newspapers? (p.210) "The Soviet’s Izvestya appeared at irregular intervals and was produced with naïve bravado. Each copy was set in the printing shop of another extreme right-wing newspaper, which a Soviet squad raided and requisitioned for the occasion."
#socialistbookclub
#makenazispublishyourblogpost

The struggle against liberalism (p.189): "Professor, if the revolution does not ebb, the victorious revolution will throw you overboard … and if the revolution is defeated, Tsardom will have no use for liberalism. You propose not to be disturbed by the voices from the right & the left. The revolution lowers the edge of its knife over the head of absolutism. Let the wiseacres of liberalism beware of putting their hands under the glittering steel blade." #socialistbookclub

The struggle against liberalism (p.189): "Professor, if the revolution does not ebb, the victorious revolution will throw you overboard … and if the revolution is defeated, Tsardom will have no use for liberalism. You propose not to be disturbed by the voices from the right & the left. The revolution lowers the edge of its knife over the head of absolutism. Let the wiseacres of liberalism beware of putting their hands under the glittering steel blade." #socialistbookclub