Leninist League (US)
Encyclopedia
The Leninist League was a communist political party
in the United States
. It published a newspaper, In Defense of Bolshevism.
Its origins lay in the Revolutionary Workers League
of Hugo Oehler
, which had originated in the Trotskyist movement, but rejected Trotskyism in 1937. A few members felt that it had not gone far enough, and, led by George Spiro (known as "Marlen", a portmanteau of Marx and Lenin), split in early 1938 to form the "Leninist League". The group was often referred to as the Marlenites after their leaders pseudonym.
Spiro aimed to destroy Trotskyism, calling Trotsky an agent of Stalin and claiming that even the Revolutionary Workers League was "an enemy of the international working class. It is a sabotaging agency in the struggle of exposure and destruction of the Stalinist reaction."
While initially a tiny group, a small degree of press attention enabled the League to grow slightly. It published several books, and remained hostile to other left-wing currents. Its 1937 publication, In defense of Bolshevism; behind the betrayal in Spain, declared that it was "against the policy of 'correcting' Stalinist reaction, the counter-revolutionary social democracy
, and also Lovestoneism
and Trotskyism which are separated from Leninism
by a narrow but very deep gulf!"
The League declared World War II
to be a "phony" war, obscuring the real war of Western capitalists
and Stalinist state capitalists against the proletariat
.
In 1946, the League renamed itself the Workers League for a Revolutionary Party, and its publication as the Bulletin. It became critical of both Leninism and Marxism
. Spiro began to focus his work on anti-semitism
among the left, and disagreement about its direction caused the group to dissolve itself in about 1950.
One person who was influenced by the Marlenites was a young Noam Chomsky
, who was introduced to the group, partly as a result of his uncle, Ellis Rivkin. He was impressed by their characterization of World War II
as a "phony war" instigated by both by Western capitalists and the Soviet Union.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It published a newspaper, In Defense of Bolshevism.
Its origins lay in the Revolutionary Workers League
Revolutionary Workers League (Oehlerite)
The Revolutionary Workers League was a radical left group in the United States. It was led by Hugo Oehler and published The Fighting Worker newspaper.-Origins:...
of Hugo Oehler
Hugo Oehler
-Biography:An active trade unionist, Oehler joined the Communist Party USA in its early days, and by 1927 was a district organizer for the party in Kansas...
, which had originated in the Trotskyist movement, but rejected Trotskyism in 1937. A few members felt that it had not gone far enough, and, led by George Spiro (known as "Marlen", a portmanteau of Marx and Lenin), split in early 1938 to form the "Leninist League". The group was often referred to as the Marlenites after their leaders pseudonym.
Spiro aimed to destroy Trotskyism, calling Trotsky an agent of Stalin and claiming that even the Revolutionary Workers League was "an enemy of the international working class. It is a sabotaging agency in the struggle of exposure and destruction of the Stalinist reaction."
While initially a tiny group, a small degree of press attention enabled the League to grow slightly. It published several books, and remained hostile to other left-wing currents. Its 1937 publication, In defense of Bolshevism; behind the betrayal in Spain, declared that it was "against the policy of 'correcting' Stalinist reaction, the counter-revolutionary social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, and also Lovestoneism
Jay Lovestone
Jay Lovestone was at various times a member of the Socialist Party of America, a leader of the Communist Party USA, leader of a small oppositionist party, an anti-Communist and Central Intelligence Agency helper, and foreign policy advisor to the leadership of the AFL-CIO and various unions...
and Trotskyism which are separated from Leninism
Leninism
In Marxist philosophy, Leninism is the body of political theory for the democratic organisation of a revolutionary vanguard party, and the achievement of a direct-democracy dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism...
by a narrow but very deep gulf!"
The League declared World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to be a "phony" war, obscuring the real war of Western capitalists
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and Stalinist state capitalists against the proletariat
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
.
In 1946, the League renamed itself the Workers League for a Revolutionary Party, and its publication as the Bulletin. It became critical of both Leninism and Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. Spiro began to focus his work on anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
among the left, and disagreement about its direction caused the group to dissolve itself in about 1950.
One person who was influenced by the Marlenites was a young Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
, who was introduced to the group, partly as a result of his uncle, Ellis Rivkin. He was impressed by their characterization of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a "phony war" instigated by both by Western capitalists and the Soviet Union.
Publications
- J C Hunter On the question of the workers state [U.S.? : Leninist League U.S.A., 1938
- After sixteen years of silence: (on Trotsky's article: "Did Stalin poison Lenin?"). New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- Trotsky and the suppression of Lenin's testament. New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- The case of Holland, Belgium and France. New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- J C Hunter The murder of Trotsky and the fight against Stalinism. New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- The split in the S.W.P. New York : The League, 1940
- Whither Shachtman New York : The League, 1940
- An explanation of the real meaning of Trotsky's article "Did Stalin poison Lenin?" New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- Did Trotsky collaborate with Stalin: a reply to J.R. Johnson of the Workers Party " New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- The Cannonites "answer" the Shachtmanites New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1940
- Pages from Trotsky's political history New York : Issued by the Bulletin, 1941
- The Trotsky school of falsification Vol. I New York City, The Bulletin 1942-1943
- The Trotsky school of falsification Vol. II New York City, The Bulletin 1942-1943
- Cannon's "Struggle for a proletarian party": an exposure of a political career New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1943
- Report and discussion on break with S.W.P. New York: Leninist League, U.S.A., 1947