"More spectres haunting Europe" (1949)

From the December 1949 issue of the Socialist Standard

Since the Communist Manifesto was written nearly a hundred years ago, spectres have not only been haunting Europe, but indeed the whole capitalist society. Since the beginning of the 20th Century Europe, as well as the capitalist world, has endured and suffered from these spectres. Since the end of the First World War, there was the economic blizzard of 1921, the rise and fall of the first Labour Government, which was followed by the so-called General Strike of 1926. Then there was the rise and fall of the second Labour Government in 1929 to 1931, and another economic blizzard. More spectres have been haunting Europe and capitalist society since then.

We have witnessed the rise of the Hitlerite regime in Germany in 1933, and culminating in the Second World War of 1939-1945. Now with the war hardly finished, there is yet another spectre haunting society, the prospect of yet another economic blizzard which may well surpass that of 1921 and 1931. The irony of it all is that the rulers of the great capitalist powers cannot exorcise these spectres, whether they have a holy or unholy alliance with each other or not. The mechanism of the capitalist system is beyond their control, and furthermore the ruling class do not understand the workings of their system.

Is there any way out? Yes there is only one way out. It is that the working-class, not only of Europe, but of the whole world; must thoroughly understand the real causes of these spectres of poverty, squalor and war. They must fully realise that no leader or groups of leaders, however well intentioned, can free us from these spectres. No Redeemer or Saviour can emancipate us from these spectres. In short it means, as laid down in Clause 5 of our Declarations of Principles, that the work of emancipating the working-class, must be that of the working-class itself. It means that the working-class must organize politically and consciously, to obtain possession of that piece of machinery known as the State. Then they must use it for their own ends, namely to dispossess the owning and ruling class of their ownership of the whole world and the fullness thereof. Likewise the working-class must take possession of the means of living, i.e. factories, railways, steamships, etc.

Instead of producing and distributing wealth for the benefit and profit for a few, then wealth will be produced for the benefit of the whole of society without distinction of colour or sex. When they commence to do these things, then they will cease to be a working- class. There will also cease to be what is known as a ruling or privileged class. Then those spectres described above will be exorcised and banished for ever and ever. The new social order will come into existence. It will be known throughout the world as Socialism.

N. Posner.