Communism in Britain

1. Communism in Britain Cate Rice

2. The History of mankind is the history of class struggle • Eventually the working class will rise up and overthrow the capitalist government • Transitional government What is Communism?

3. “It is being read at a University in Zimbabwe…they were surprised…that the talk of young communists was so idealistic and optimistic in those ancient days before a communist regime in Zimbabwe. They associated communism with self seeking and opportunism. It had not occurred to them that communism had begun as a genuine dream for a better world” (viii) • I think The Golden Notebook is a useful testament to it’s time now that communism is dead or dying everywhere, or changing its nature” (viii) Doris Lessing on Communism

4. Formed in 1920 • Unlike other communist parties it did not come from a major rift in the democratic party • Split off from a socialist sect in the Labour Party • While it was not a part of the Labour Party it controlled many sympathizers within it • Believed Britain would be one of the first countries to adopt communism • The party remained small but had a dedicated group of followers committed to doing the work to advance the cause The Great Britain Communist Party

5. “Mr. Gates your son’s up in the middle class now with us lot, and you won’t be speaking the same language. You know that, don’t you?” “It’s the way of the world,” he says. I said, “It’s not the way of the world at all, it’s the way of this damned class-ridden country.” He’s one of those bloody working class Tories Mr. Gates is, and he said: “It’s the way of the world Miss. Jacobs…” (9-10)

6. At first claimed the entire war was an imperialist struggle Communists should avoid • While Germany and the Soviets were allied the GBCP sided with them, claiming this was a minor concession to fascism in order to advance communism • When Germany attacked the Soviet Union the GBCP sided against Germany and urged it’s members to do everything possible to support the war effort • Despite the ever changing party line the communist party reached it’s height at over 55,000 members GBCP during WWII

7. The head of the body, proletarians were the heart • Bourgeoisie transcending class boundaries • Viewed with mistrust by working class communists • Pressure to show absolute commitment to party line Intellectuals in Communism

8. “Supposing the British Communist Party ever gets power, that document will be in the files and they want evidence to hang you, they’ve got it” (146) • “He was explaining first, why it was impossible that these men could be traitors to communism, Then he explained, with much political subtlety, why it was that the party should frame and hang innocent people” (151)

9. The Soviet Union was idealized by the GBCP • Many went to visit • Young communists competed for places at Lenin’s university • The GBCP refused to acknowledge the truth even after all of the facts were known Stalinism

10. “Comrade Stalin listened and smoked his pipe, nodding the while. When I hesitated he said more then once: “Please Continue, do not be afraid to speak exactly what is on your mind”” (290) • “I have come to tell you that I think you must look after your friend Harry, I think he is not well, he is over excited” (506) Harry and Ted

11. “Well, we are pleased he is dead. But when I was young and politically active he was a great man for me. He was a great man for all of us…After all, there’s nothing wrong, in itself, wanting there to be great men in the world”(154) • “We believed everything was going to be so wonderful and now we know it won’t.”