Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

YOUTH AGAINST FASCISM
consistently legitimized their existence and evolution through the rhetoric of peace.
Though they ultimately failed in their mission to avert two world wars, communist youth
played an active and vital role in the evolution of communism and the development of
inter-war youth radicalism.
Dimitrov's theory of fascism as an enemy of all facets of modern democratic life directed
communist youth to posit themselves as defenders, not opponents of the nation,
youth and democracy, enabling British and American youth to reconstruct their definitions
of fascism and democracy. The British and American YCLs reconstructed their
political identity by invoking symbols and traditions of their unique national democratic
heritages. The YCLs reconciled their communist identity with their native democratic
political institutions and national youth cultures by abandoning their traditional authoritarian
rhetoric centred on proletarian dictatorship. Popular Front rhetoric increasingly
contended that democracy and modernity were inseparable in the struggle against fascism.
The YCLs contended that fascism rejected youth modernity, seeking through
regimentation, authoritarianism and militarism to "imbue into youth the soul of slaves
and mercenaries." Communists countered this fascist demagogy by supporting modern
and democratic youth cultures that appealed to youth's "love of liberty and progress." 29
By embracing democracy and modern youth culture, young communists constructed a
new communist identity in Britain and the United States, distinct from their Leninist
heritage.
The re-conceptualization of the democratic experience in the struggle for peace led the
YCLs to begin asserting a native national path for developing socialism through the
extension of democracy. Popular Front theory utilized certain elements of Lenin's class
critiques of democracy, but completely revised his tactical positions against democracy.
For the Popular Front Generation, Leninist theory represented a method for analyzing the
modern world, but did not offer effective anti-fascist tactics with its consistent denunciations
of democracy. Gil Green contended that the YCL's revisionism was not a rejection
of Marxism. Green argued that the Popular Front program represented the "true spirit" of
Marxist analysis by changing communist tactics to deal with concrete changes in reality:
Conditions are changing and men are changing. What was correct yesterday may be incorrect
today. What was progressive yesterday may be reactionary today.... Today, the
situation in the world has greatly altered. Would it be Marxism, to repeat like parrots
what we said seventeen years ago It would not! It would be nothing more than a caricature
of Marxism. Marxism is not, and cannot be a dogma. It is a guide to action.... Our
task is to help youth interpret the changed world of 1939. And in this present-day world,
fascism, the aggressor, is out to wipe democracy from the face of the earth.... That is true
Marxism. That is creative Marxism. 30
Green's comments about the changing nature of the world, Marxism and the struggle for
democracy reflected a new dynamic in international communist theory and practice.
The Leninist Generation consciously based their practices on strict adherence to
Comintern dictates. The Comintern had posited that Leninism was a scientific blending
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