Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

YOUTH AGAINST FASCISM
Following the lead of the (Workers) Communist Party, the YWL spent most of the
twenties in a state of "isolation and destructive inner factionalism." 188 During the Popular
Front era the YCL adapted to the new conditions of American political culture becoming
one of "the most important radical youth organizations" in the United States. 189
The strict internationalist culture of the Leninist YCI hindered communist youth from
adopting distinct national strategies to maximize their political effectiveness. Internationalism
was a revolutionary tactic forged to advance revolution and combat the threat
of imperialist war. Fascism thrived on a rejection of internationalism and the manipulation
of national traditions to crush working-class organizations and advance threats of
war. As will be seen in the next chapter, the Great Depression and the rise of Nazi
fascism prompted communists to revise many of their traditional strategies, critiques and
their understanding of fascism. The Comintern's Popular Front line granted communist
youth much greater flexibility in their rhetoric and strategies. The distinct national
methods embraced by the Popular Front Generation of the British and American YCLs
forged a new communist youth identity intended to rally and organize youth against
fascism.
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