54. Marxism, Fascism, and the Second World War │ C. L. R. James

On this weeks show Jack and Dan read two essays written by C. L. R. James. James analyses the rise and historic significance of Nazi fascism from a Marxist perspective. He makes the case for seeing Nazism, not as a unique political and economic system in contrast to a broader European political economy, but instead reads it as an outgrowth and extension of broader capitalist society. German fascism is presented as a reaction to the crisis of capitalism, a response of the capitalist class to the threat posed by the workers movement. Hitler is presented as being enabled by the German bourgeoisie, and the appeasement of the western not a product of cowardice but a response of tacit acquiescence to the new regime in Berlin. The lads use James’ analysis to inform their ongoing considerations on revolutionary defeatism and the stratigraphic questions that result from the realities of capitalist wars. Was there a revolutionary moment that coincided with WW2 or was the necessity to defeat fascism the sole imperative that precluded the possibility of a proletarian class independent response. Reading: Capitalist Society and the War (1940) and The Lesson of Germany (1945) by C,L,R,James. https://www.marxists.org/archive/james-clr/works/1940/07/capitalism-war.htm https://www.marxists.org/archive/james-clr/works/1945/05/lesson-germany.htm