Zimmerwald Echoes
A comprehensive exploration of the 1915 Conference, examining the socialist stance against World War I and its profound implications for international political movements.
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Historical Context
Socialist Internationalism Pre-War
Founded in 1889, the Second International championed proletarian internationalism, famously declaring "The workers have no Fatherland." Despite this ideal, the organization operated as a loose confederation of national parties, often prioritizing national interests. The International Socialist Bureau (ISB) managed affairs but struggled to forge a unified stance on critical issues, particularly concerning war and its relationship to capitalism and imperialism.
Debates on Resisting War
Socialist opposition to war was a core tenet, yet concrete strategies remained contentious. Proposals for general strikes or uprisings in the event of war were debated but largely unimplemented. The 1907 Stuttgart Congress and the 1912 Basel Congress highlighted deep divisions, particularly between revolutionary socialists advocating direct action and reformists prioritizing parliamentary means and national stability. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 exposed the fragility of these commitments.
The Collapse of the International
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered a rapid escalation into war. Contrary to socialist ideals, most major socialist parties across belligerent nations supported their governments, adopting policies of "civil truce" (Burgfrieden in Germany) or "sacred union" (union sacrée in France). This widespread support for war credits and national defense policies effectively shattered the Second International's anti-war platform and led to significant internal schisms.
Conference Preparations
Independent Initiatives
With the Second International paralyzed, socialist opposition to the war relied on independent efforts. Representatives from neutral countries met in Lugano (September 1914), Stockholm, and Copenhagen. The Lugano meeting, involving Swiss and Italian socialists, denounced the war's imperialist origins and called for the ISB's reactivation, laying groundwork for the Zimmerwald movement.
Building Bridges
Efforts to convene anti-war socialists intensified. Italian deputy Oddino Morgari, influenced by Menshevik Julius Martov and Leon Trotsky, advocated for a conference independent of the ISB. Meetings with French anti-war socialists and British groups like the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and British Socialist Party (BSP) confirmed widespread interest. Robert Grimm of the Swiss Social Democratic Party (SPS) became a key organizer, aiming for broad participation.
Strategic Planning
A preparatory conference in Bern (July 1915) brought together delegates from various socialist factions, including Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and Polish socialists. Debates arose over participation criteria, with Lenin advocating for a purely revolutionary left-wing focus, while others pushed for broader inclusion of centrists. Ultimately, the decision was made to invite all socialists opposing the war, leading to the formal scheduling of the Zimmerwald Conference for September 5.
Key Participants
National Representation
The conference convened 42 individuals representing 11 organizations. Notable attendees included delegates from Switzerland (Robert Grimm, Fritz Platten), Italy (Costantino Lazzari, Giacinto Serrati, Angelica Balabanova), France (Alphonse Merrheim, Albert Bourderon), and Germany (Georg Ledebour, Adolph Hoffmann). Russian delegates included Vladimir Lenin (Bolsheviks), Julius Martov (Mensheviks), Victor Chernov (Socialist Revolutionaries), and Leon Trotsky.
Factional Divisions
Participants coalesced into three main factions:
- The Left: Advocated for revolutionary struggle and the formation of a Third International. Key figures included Lenin, Grigory Zinoviev, and Karl Radek.
- The Center: Occupied a middle ground, seeking peace and a renewed Second International, but differing on specific tactics. Figures like Robert Grimm and Leon Trotsky were associated with this group.
- The Right: Favored a more moderate approach, focusing primarily on peace negotiations and maintaining the existing International structure.
Notable Absences
Several key figures and delegations could not attend. British delegates were denied passports by authorities. Karl Liebknecht, a prominent German anti-war socialist, was conscripted. Austrian socialists abstained to avoid exacerbating internal party divisions. The Dutch left also declined participation due to the inclusion of moderates.
Conference Sessions
September 5-6: Opening and Statements
The conference commenced in Zimmerwald, Switzerland, on September 5, 1915. Robert Grimm opened proceedings, emphasizing the goal of reviving the Second International. Delegates delivered opening statements detailing their national situations and perspectives on the war. Karl Liebknecht's letter, advocating "civil war, not civil peace," resonated strongly. Discussions revealed deep divisions, particularly between the French and German delegations regarding reconciliation and the war's origins.
September 7: Debating Peace Action
The core agenda item, "Peace Action by the Proletariat," sparked intense debate. Lenin and the Left argued that peace could only be achieved through revolution and called for the formation of a Third International. This stance was countered by centrists and the Right, who prioritized immediate peace and criticized the Left's revolutionary demands as sectarian or impractical. Debates focused on the manifesto's content, tactics like voting against war credits, and the degree of blame attributable to specific nations.
September 8: Manifesto and Resolutions
A commission, including representatives from various factions, drafted a manifesto reflecting a compromise. While denouncing the war's imperialist causes and criticizing socialist parties' support for it, the final text largely focused on achieving peace without annexations. Lenin's faction expressed reservations in an addendum, highlighting the manifesto's perceived weaknesses regarding revolutionary tactics and condemnation of opportunism. The conference established the International Socialist Commission (ISC) based in Bern to coordinate anti-war efforts, though its mandate remained limited.
The Zimmerwald Manifesto
Core Message
Addressed to the "Workers of Europe," the manifesto depicted World War I as a catastrophic outcome of modern capitalism and imperialism. It condemned the war's devastating effects—misery, privation, and intellectual desolation—and criticized socialist parties for abandoning their principles by supporting the war effort and voting for war credits. The document called for an end to hostilities through an irreconcilable class struggle, aiming for peace without annexations or reparations.
Factional Compromise
The manifesto represented a centrist viewpoint, incorporating elements acceptable to the Right while falling short of the Left's revolutionary demands. Lenin's faction, while signing the document, appended a statement criticizing its lack of clear anti-opportunist tactics and revolutionary strategy. The joint declaration by French and German delegates also addressed specific issues like Belgian neutrality, reflecting national concerns within the broader anti-war framework.
Dissemination and Impact
Despite censorship, the manifesto and conference proceedings were disseminated through socialist journals and leaflets. The Zimmerwald Conference provided a crucial psychological boost to anti-war socialists, fostering a sense of international solidarity. It marked a significant step in the ideological schism within the European labor movement, contributing to the eventual formation of communist parties and the Third International.
Enduring Legacy
Schism and New Movements
The Zimmerwald Conference was pivotal in formalizing the split between revolutionary and reformist wings of socialism. The Left, inspired by Lenin, gained momentum, leading to subsequent conferences at Kiental and Stockholm. This trajectory culminated in the formation of the Communist International (Comintern) in 1919, absorbing the Zimmerwald movement's revolutionary elements.
Historical Memory
In the Soviet Union and its sphere of influence, Zimmerwald was celebrated as a foundational event for the communist movement. The village of Zimmerwald itself became a symbolic site, albeit one initially downplayed by local authorities. The conference's legacy continues to be studied for its role in shaping 20th-century political ideologies and the trajectory of international socialism during a period of profound global conflict.
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References
References
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 16; Nation 1989, pp. 4â5, 7
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 21; Collart 1965, p. 439; Kirby 1986, p. 2
- Kirby 1986, pp. 1â2; Nation 1989, pp. 17â18
- Eley 2002, p. 127; Kirby 1986, pp. 49â50
- Kirby 1986, pp. 13â14; Nation 1989, pp. ixâx
- Collart 1965, p. 441; Degen & Richers 2015, p. 23
- Kirby 1986, p. 30; Nation 1989, p. 29
- Kirby 1986, p. 31; Nation 1989, pp. 22â23
- Kirby 1986, p. 29; Nation 1989, pp. 21â22
- Eley 2002, p. 128; Kirby 1986, pp. 45â46; Nation 1989, pp. 55â57; Service 1995, pp. 102â103
- Kirby 1986, p. 43; Nation 1989, pp. 52â53
- Kirby 1986, pp. 38â39; Nation 1989, p. 53
- Kirby 1986, p. 42; Nation 1989, pp. 30, 58â59
- Collart 1965, pp. 442â443; Gankin & Fisher 1940, p. 135; Nation 1989, p. 30
- Gautschi 1973, p. 140; Nation 1989, pp. 73â75
- Blänsdorf 1979, pp. 83, 212â213; Degen & Richers 2015, pp. 91â92; Nation 1989, pp. 76â77
- Degen & Richers 2015, pp. 92â94; Kirby 1986, p. 78; Nation 1989, pp. 79â80
- Gautschi 1973, p. 143; Senn 1971, p. 83
- Degen & Richers 2015, pp. 94, 96; Gankin & Fisher 1940, p. 320; Nation 1989, pp. 80, 85
- Nation 1989, p. 83; Senn 1971, p. 86
- Blänsdorf 1979, pp. 223â224; Degen & Richers 2015, p. 103; Nation 1989, p. 265
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 223; Degen & Richers 2015, p. 105; Nation 1989, p. 265
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 223; Degen & Richers 2015, p. 105; Nation 1989, pp. 46â47, 256
- Blänsdorf 1979, pp. 221â222; Degen & Richers 2015, p. 96; Gankin & Fisher 1940, p. 321
- Gautschi 1973, p. 150; Nation 1989, pp. 55, 86; Nishikawa 2010, p. 39
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 225; Nation 1989, p. 86
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 224; Nation 1989, p. 87
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 227; Nation 1989, p. 87
- Blänsdorf 1979, pp. 229â230; Nation 1989, p. 88; Senn 1971, p. 95
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 228; Nation 1989, p. 88; Senn 1971, p. 95
- Nation 1989, pp. 88â89; Senn 1971, pp. 96â97; Wohl 1966, p. 66
- Nation 1989, p. 89; Senn 1971, p. 100
- Degen & Richers 2015, p. 98; Gautschi 1973, p. 151; Senn 1971, p. 101
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 234; Degen & Richers 2015, p. 99; Nation 1989, pp. 90â91
- Nation 1989, p. 91; Senn 1971, p. 101
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 232; Gankin & Fisher 1940, pp. 329â330; Nation 1989, p. 89
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 232; Gankin & Fisher 1940, pp. 330â331
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 232; Gankin & Fisher 1940, p. 332
- Blänsdorf 1979, p. 233; Nation 1989, p. 90; Wohl 1966, p. 67
- Nation 1989, p. 92; Senn 1971, p. 101
- Degen & Richers 2015, p. 117; Eley 2002, p. 128; Nation 1989, p. 92; Wohl 1966, pp. 63â64
- Nation 1989, p. 93; Senn 1971, pp. 115â116
- Nation 1989, pp. 99â100, 105, 113; Senn 1971, pp. 127â128
- Gankin & Fisher 1940, p. 376; Nation 1989, pp. 134â136, 141
- Eley 2002, p. 129; Gankin & Fisher 1940, p. 376; Nation 1989, pp. 127, 141
- Kirby 2010, pp. 17, 23; Nation 1989, pp. 181â182
- Kirby 2010, pp. 15â16, 27; Nation 1989, pp. 217â221
- Collart 1965, pp. 434â435, 454; Nation 1989, pp. 91, 218â219
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