Comments on: Salvaging the socialist cause

By: Jorein Versteege

Jorein Versteege — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:57:34 +0000

As a former member of the Stalinist; Communist Party of Britain, Eric Hobsbawm is still poisoned by the flower that Stalin planted in the communist movement after 1924.

For him the USSR was a socialist state and he lost that idol after 1991. Many left-wing people lost their believes in a socialist world after the fall of Stalinism. But that is why we Marxists must look into the degeneration of the soviet revolution, which started in 1922 with Stalin becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Stalinism is not Leninism. Stalin build on the ruins of a destroyed nation, that was ruined by the civil war of 1917-1922. His bureaucracy destroyed Lenin’s dream and by 1924 he was in control of the USSR. The failure of Stalinism in Russia, China and Europe shows that a top-down bureaucracy cannot work. Eric Hobsbawm and many others believed in the Soviet Union. They were blinded by idealism and faith, unfortunately their ”socialist paradise” was corrupted long before most of them were born.

By: Michéal

Michéal — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:36:44 +0000

A very enjoyable review. I have read many of Hobsbawm’s books since first reading The Age Of Revolution at UCD in the early 70′s. Admittedly very little of his in later years.
I am intrigued by Gary’s remarks on Hobsbawm’s position in Irish Republicanism.It is something I missed and would like to read up on. Any links, etc.
Thanks in advance!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 May 2011 05:19:44 +0000

Well Richard

You are a lot softer on Hobsbawm than I would be. I particularly dislike his position on Irish Republicanism. His lectures on Irish Nationalism delivered at the height of British Imperialist oppression were unforgiveable IMHO. I recall as well a horrible piece he wrote in praise of Gorbachev. He was also like mega baaad on the student revolts of 68. And I don’t even want to think about his attitudes towards New Labour.

Still maybe I am being too much of a begrudger.

comradely

Gary

By: mike bryan

mike bryan — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:43:37 +0000

nice review Richard of the grand old man of Marxism.No matter what your view may be, he is a man who is always worth reading for his elegance of exposition,and his deep knowledge of the subject.I will always have a soft spot for Hobsbawm and E.P.Thompson,The Age of Capital and The Making Of The English Working Class were the first real books I ever read,and were the start of my adult education.Sorry to hesr that Eric believes Socialism is a doomed project,still we have you Richard. See you at Marxism 2011.