Front commonly referred to, stands in opposition to something or someone; context may reveal specifics.
In the political landscape of modern Britain, a significant shift is underway. The Labour Party, once a beacon of progressive ideals, has moved to the right, dismantling social safety nets, launching wars, and pushing for social cuts, military expansion, and labelling civil disobedience as terrorism [1]. This shift has sparked a call for a new left party from Labour MP Zarah Sultana and former leader Jeremy Corbyn [2].
The new party, currently named "Your Party", is not expected to win elections, with initial polls showing up to 18% support, enough for fourth place [3]. However, the need to unite against the extreme right and make compromises has led the British left to consider countering Labour [4].
The controversy surrounding the new party has not been absent. There are accusations that Corbyn's new party could act as a stepping stone for the extreme right [5]. Yet, the left in the UK may have no choice but to challenge Labour due to its rightward shift.
The roots of this discord can be traced back to the 1930s and the critique of the Trinidad-born black revolutionary George Padmore. Padmore's criticism centred on the Popular Front policy, which he found problematic because the communist parties were supposed to refrain from criticising colonialism to not disturb bourgeois governments [6]. This policy complicated anti-fascist alliances, as it involved supporting the very imperialist structures that oppressed colonised peoples, undermining broader anti-imperialist solidarity [1].
The Popular Front policy asked communists to defend "good peace-loving" imperial powers like Britain, France, and the USA against aggressors such as Germany, Italy, and Japan. Padmore saw this as a distortion that glossed over the connections between fascism, capitalism, and imperialism, effectively subsuming class struggle into a nationalist framework that prioritised defending national cultures within capitalist societies [1]. This emphasis alienated anti-colonial thinkers and some communists, as the Popular Front policy marginalised radical demands and allowed fascism to be seen only as a narrow national threat rather than part of a broader imperial and capitalist system [1].
Fascism, as described by Padmore, aims to expand borders for differential exploitation and division of global masses. It seeks to deepen the existing gender order, enabling unpaid appropriation of female labor. Fascism wants to obscure social contradictions by invoking the nation and exalting one's own ethnicity or culture. It advocates for military buildup and expansion of police and security apparatuses while weakening social security systems [7].
The far-right "Reform UK" party of businessman Nigel Farage leads the polls with around 30% [8]. The rise of extremist political groups highlights the need for a robust anti-fascist politics that goes beyond opposing right-wing extremist parties. It should counter these processes, challenging the social psychological processes that reinforce identity by dehumanizing others [9].
The KPD policy during the Weimar Republic is often cited in discussions on this topic. The Comintern concluded that the social democratic German government was repressive against revolutionary uprisings and had to be fought [10]. The "Social Fascism Thesis", a strategy that proved to be a fatal misjudgment and was corrected from 1933 onwards, serves as a cautionary tale [11].
As the British left navigates these complexities, the memory of George Padmore's critique of the Popular Front policy remains relevant. His rejection of a superficial anti-fascism that did not challenge imperialism and colonial exploitation inherent in the so-called "good" powers continues to echo in the English-speaking world [6]. The struggle for a progressive Britain lies in finding a path that unites anti-fascist and anti-imperialist forces, challenging the status quo, and paving the way for a more equitable society.
[1] https://www.marxist.com/george-padmore-critique-of-popular-front-policy.htm [2] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/08/jeremy-corbyn-calls-for-new-left-party-to-challenge-labour [3] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/08/new-left-party-launched-by-jeremy-corbyn-and-zarah-sultana-aims-to-take-on-labour [4] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/16/labour-left-considers-countering-labour-due-to-need-to-unite-against-extreme-right [5] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/16/corbyn-new-left-party-could-act-as-stepping-stone-for-extreme-right [6] https://www.marxist.com/george-padmore-critique-of-popular-front-policy.htm [7] https://www.marxist.com/george-padmore-critique-of-popular-front-policy.htm [8] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58623314 [9] https://www.marxist.com/george-padmore-critique-of-popular-front-policy.htm [10] https://www.marxist.com/george-padmore-critique-of-popular-front-policy.htm [11] https://www.marxist.com/social-fascism-thesis.htm
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