The Internationale [antikvár]

PREFACE One hundred years ago the First International or International Working Men's Association was founded. The guidance and leadership of Marx inspired its work throughout, and laid the foundations of the modern working class movement and international communism. During this century international communism has advanced from a handful of tiny groups to embrace one third of mankind. At the moment of this centenary stormy controversies are raging in the international communist movement, affecting even the relations of the most powerful socialist states, and bringing threats of splits. At such a moment critics might judge it inappropriate to celebrate this centenary or speak of the advance of a century of international communism. On the contrary. It is more appropriate than ever today to recall the record and the lessons of these hundred years. The most violent controversies, conflicts, crises, sharp turns, breaks and renewals have characterised this record of one hundred years. The path has been no easy broad road of automatic progress, but precipitous and arduous throughout, full of pitfalls and explosions and dangers of wrecking the whole caravan. But through it all the international communist movement has always emerged in the end, stronger and more united, to go forward to new triumphs. Today more than ever it is necessary to learn the lessons of this record. The immediate outcome is never guaranteed. The 7