The current Revolutionary movement has taken the form of strikes, in a great many industrialized countries of the world. This is most encouraging, an indication that the World Socialist Revolution is on the horizon.
Yet for the purposes of this article, I have chosen to focus on the country of France. There is a reason for this. It was Engels who stated, in his introduction to the third edition of the book by Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire, that:
‘’France is the land where, more than anywhere else, the historical class struggles were each time fought out to a decision, and where, consequently, the changing political forms within which they occur and in which their results are summarized have likewise been stamped with the sharpest outlines. The centre of feudalism in the Middle Ages, the model country of centralized monarchy resting on estates since the Renaissance, France has demolished feudalism in the Great Revolution and established the unalloyed rule of the bourgeoisie in a classical purity unequalled by any other European land. And the struggle of the upward striving proletariat against the ruling bourgeoisie also appeared here in an acute form unknown elsewhere’’.
Writing years later, in 1917, Lenin was of the opinion that: ‘’The last sentence is out of date, inasmuch as a lull has occurred in the revolutionary struggle of the French proletariat since 1871; although, long as this lull may be, it does not preclude the possibility that, in the coming proletarian revolution, France may once again reveal itself as the classical land of the class struggle to a conclusion’’.
Now that the ‘’lull’’ is over, it is very likely that France will ‘’once again reveal itself as the classical land of the class struggle to a conclusion’’. The current class struggle is between the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, and the common people, mainly the proletariat, although there are a considerable number of farmers, referred to as les paisans, as well as a sizeable middle class, la petite bourgeoisie. These ‘’lower classes’’ are quite well united against the plan of the current French government to raise the retirement age by two years, from sixty two to sixty four.
The government of Macron says that the plan to raise the retirement age is ‘’non negotiable’’. Yet the French working people are not negotiating. They are taking action.
The trade unions are leading the struggle against the capitalists, with a series of strikes. On January 19, the press reports that all the unions went on strike, so that ‘’all local and national transport across the country was severely disrupted’’. The journalists estimate that more than one million people took part in demonstrations, on that day alone.
The crowds were especially large in Paris, with a combination of young and old, complete with ‘’singing and dancing, a festive atmosphere, defiant, high morale, some people from far away, all determined to enact change’’.
Other protests take the form of ‘’Robin Hood operations’’, in that workers give away free petrol and electricity to schools, universities and low income households. Even some police are reported to be on strike!
The French bakers, those who are mainly la petite bourgeoisie, small business owners, are also on strike. They are being strangled by the high prices of electricity, as well as the prices of flour, sugar, butter and other ingredients.
The CGT Union, Confederation Generale du Travail, which represents transport workers, has called for refinery workers and other staff on the petrol sector to strike for 48 hours, from February 6. Similar strikes in 2022 saw petrol stations run dry and drivers waiting hours to fill up their tanks. As well, mass strikes are being encouraged by French unions on Tuesday, February 7, and Saturday, February 11. The worst ‘’disruption’’ is anticipated to be on February 7, and could ‘’spill over’’ into February 8.
The press is also reporting that the SNCF, Societe National des Chemins de Fer Francais, plan strikes on February 7, 8, and 11. The journalists quite helpfully point out that we can expect ‘’train circulation in France to be very disrupted’’. That is the general idea!
There is a reason that Marxists, true Communists, consider these strikes to be of the utmost importance. In the early stages of capitalism, they start out as the natural result of large scale factory production, in that workers are forced to fight for better wages and working conditions. But as the class struggle approaches the point of Revolution, the strikes assume a political character.
This requires a little explanation.
Capitalism is the name of the social system under which we all live, at least for now. This is to say that society is split up into classes. The monopoly capitalists, or billionaires, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie, own almost all the factories, mines, mills, railroads, airlines, banks and communication networks. In fact, they own or control almost everything of any great value. Although few in number, because of their wealth, they have great power.
The rest of the population have very little, some with next to nothing. Those who have nothing are referred to as workers, or proletarians. They are reduced to selling themselves, by the hour, to the capitalists. Of course, these workers always try to secure the highest possible wages.
By contrast, the capitalists are focused on paying their workers as little as possible, in order to achieve the highest possible profit.
To the surprise of absolutely no one, the result is that of conflict, in that the workers are constantly trying to secure higher wages and working conditions, and the capitalists are constantly trying to reduce wages. This is referred to as ‘’class struggle’’, at least by the social scientists. Most working people simply refer to this as a normal situation: War!
At first, a more advanced worker generally notices that there is strength in numbers. This worker then usually becomes a leader, bringing together as many workers as possible, in order to make demands upon the capitalist. A revolt takes place. The result is then a work stoppage, a strike. Workers then lash out in anger and frustration, as they are not aware of that which they are trying to achieve. They simply smash the machines and destroy the factories.
At that stage, as Lenin phrased it, ‘’They merely want to display their wrath to the factory owners; they are trying out their joint strength in order to get out of an unbearable situation, without yet understanding why their position is so hopeless and what they should strive for’’.
Yet at some point, cooler heads prevail. They realize that destroying machines and factories may be gratifying, but fails to put money in their pocket. Instead, occupying the factories as a group, or union, and demanding better wages, before returning to work, is the answer. In this way the working class advances.
As Lenin stated, ‘’The slaves begin to put forward the demand to become masters, not to work and live as the landlords and capitalists want them to, but as the working people themselves want to. Strikes, therefore, always install fear into the capitalists, because they begin to undermine their supremacy…The wheel of this machine is set in motion by the worker…When the workers refuse to work, the entire machine threatens to stop. Every strike reminds the capitalists that it is the workers and not they who are the real masters…Every strike reminds the workers that their position is not hopeless, that they are not alone.’’ (italics by Lenin)
Even though strikes mean great hardships for the workers, those who take part in the strikes receive great respect from the workers of neighbouring factories. They too are inspired, receive renewed courage. Such strikes tend to spread to neighbouring factories.
More importantly, according to Lenin, ‘’Every strike brings thoughts of socialism very forcibly to the worker’s mind, thoughts of the struggle of the entire working class for emancipation from the oppression of capital.’’
Remarkably enough, even the capitalists are aware of this! It is with good reason that a certain German minister proclaimed, ‘’Behind every strike lurks the hydra (monster) of revolution’’! The capitalists have every reason to be afraid of strikes! We have every reason to use strikes to raise the level of awareness of the working class!
It is up to Marxists, Communists, to get in touch with the people who are protesting, in France. Without doubt, they are discussing socialism. They must be encouraged to become aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Now that we have the Internet, this is not at all difficult. It just requires people to send them emails, in the French language, of course.
Feel free to remind them of their proud revolutionary history, and not only the Revolution of 1789. Also the Paris Commune of 1871, which established the first Workers Republic. It is very likely that the French government would like to forget about that, especially as the Commune was crushed, by the capitalists, with the utmost brutality. Yet it was the Paris Commune that provided Marx with the information he needed. It displayed the structure of the first socialist republic in the world. The heroism and sacrifice of the Communards will never be forgotten! We can only hope that the current French protesters will be inspired by the example of their glorious ancestors! Feel free to honour their memory by following in their footsteps! Establish another Commune, but this time not only in Paris!
Further, the manner in which the Commune was crushed, by the capitalists, should dispel all doubts concerning the attitude of the current French capitalists! They too are butchers! They must be overthrown, their state apparatus must be smashed, and then they must in turn be crushed, by the Dictatorship of the Proletariat! Do not make the mistake of the Paris Communards! Do not be merciful to the capitalists! The Communards made that mistake, and paid for it with their lives! Take the advice of Marx! Learn from the mistakes of the Communards!
We can only hope that the French strikers and protesters will download revolutionary literature from the Internet, such as the Communist Manifesto. I also recommend essential works of Lenin, such as What Is To Be Done?, State and Revolution, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. Such works may have to be ordered online. Rest assured, they are well worth the money.
Bear in mind that the Paris Commune was crushed, for a number of reasons. The Communards made a few mistakes. Not the least of these mistakes was in not following the advice of Marx!
The world is watching. Feel free to honour the memory of your ancestors by following the advice of Marx and Lenin. Walk in the footsteps of your heroic ancestors, and take a step beyond the Paris Commune:
Create a France Commune!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 