Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

UNITY OF YOUTH
strating that if "our youth could have a greater say in Government, there would be an
enormous change for the better for the whole population." 113 The YCL believed that the
open "democratic discussion" of the Youth Parliament could be developed to mobilize
anti-fascist sentiment and activities among the entire youth. 114
One of the main focuses of Popular Front activities and rhetoric was the peace movement
that arose out of the 1934 British "Peace Ballot" initiative. 115 Gollan contended that
in Britain, peace was the vital issue that could facilitate broad youth unity. 116 In 1935 the
British Youth Peace Assembly (BYPA) was established, bringing together youth of
diverse political, religious and philosophical backgrounds. Leninist YCL rhetoric would
have condemned this venture as opportunistic. A 1935 Challenge article instead praised
this initiative of British youth:
The important organizations of Britain's Youth have decided to establish an Assembly of
Youth for peace.... Representatives were present from the following organisations, some
of them as observers: Younger Generation Movement, Student Christian Youth Movement,
Young Communist League, Young Liberals, Young Conservatives, British Federation
of Co-operative Youth, National Union of Students, Boy Scouts' Association,
Girl Guides, YWCA, Labour League of Youth, League of Nations Youth, University
Labour Federation, Fabian Nursery, Young Theosophists, Holiday Fellowship, Christian
Endeavour, International Friendship League... The Assembly is to discuss questions relating
to peace and to agree upon common action for the maintenance of peace.... In a
situation as exists to-day, this historic coming together of the Youth bodies will contribute
much to the preservation of world peace. 117
The BYPA held common perspectives with the YCL on peace and anti-fascism. The
BYPA identified both "the threat of warmongers at home and abroad," highlighting the
connections between domestic and international policies that threatened the youth with
war. 118 Communists contended this common sentiment could inspire mass actions against
the National Government. One YCL statement argued, "Youth wants work, peace and a
future. Baldwin's National Government denies these things. Prepare now… away with
the enemies of youth!" 119 Instead of investing in the future of British youth, the YCL
contended Baldwin was directing precious government investments into war; Baldwin
offered youth "a larger Army and a larger Navy and a fifty per cent increase in our
chance of dying young." 120 As the BYPA developed, the YCL found fresh allies in
struggles for collective security, support of Spain and their continued campaigns against
the National Government.
The YCLUSA was transformed from a small propagandist sect into one of the most
influential American youth organizations of the inter-war era. 121 During the twenties,
both the YWL and the YPSL were small organizations with little political influence. 122
The Leninist Generation's strict oppositional culture and factional splits marginalized
revolutionary youth, retarding the popularization of socialism among young American
workers. The YWL rejected coalition politics, insisting the workers' struggle could only
"go onward under the revolutionary banner of the hope of the proletarian masses of the
world, the Communist International!" 123 Unity rhetoric was focussed internally on
91