Libsoc uprisings in the Warsaw Pact
Feb 2, 2016 23:54:22 GMT
arakhion, somethingimpromptu, and 1 more like this
Post by freetranshumanist on Feb 2, 2016 23:54:22 GMT
Most anarchists and libertarian socialists would know of the Free Territory of Ukraine, Spain under the CNT, EZLN in Mexico, Kronstadt in the RSFSR, and Rojava in Syria as examples of functioning
libertarian socialist/ anarchist societies. However, there are also examples of libertarian socialism/anarchism in action in the Warsaw Pact during the 1950s.
Uprising in East Germany, 1953
In 1953, low wages and demand to raise productivity by the Communist Party caused discontent among the working-class, leading to 300 construction workers conducting a strike in the city. Eventually, more workers joined, leading to a general strikes across the country. The demonstration that originally demanded better working conditions became political, with the demonstrators demanding the East German government to resign and the establishment of free democratic society with the workers in control. Unfortunately, the Soviet Army became involved, brutally cracking down on protesters, leading to the death of hundreds.
Poznań 1956 protests
Like the case in East Germany in 1953, factory workers took to the street in Poznan, Poland demanding better working conditions. Delegates of the workers went to the government to state their demand. When the demand was not met, the factory workers began establishing a worker council and called for all workers at nearby factories to march to the city square and stage a demonstration there. The demonstration escalated, with the protesters storming a prison, freeing prisoners and acquiring weapons, and seizing control of government buildings. The Soviet Army were involved and suppressed the uprising. Even though the uprising was suppressed, it led to creation of democratic workers councils and collectives across the country, leading to the reformation of the Polish government.
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
The more prominent uprising would be the Hungarian Revolution. Discontents with the poor working condition, Soviet's occupation of the country and the brutal government led to the workers uprisings in Hungary. It began with a student demonstration in Budapest, with over a hundred thousand in attendance. The demonstrators sent a delegation to a radio building guarded by the Hungarian police to broadcast a message. The delegation failed to return, leading the demonstrators to storm the building, causing the police to open fire against the demonstrators. The building was successfully occupied by the students, but news of the shooting caused workers across the country to take up arms and set up revolutionary councils calling for direct democracy and workers management in the workplace. With the Hungarian government collapsing, the Russians became involved once again leading to fierce fightings between them and the Hungarian revolutionaries. Unfortunately for the Hungarians, the revolution was crushed by the Soviet Union.
The uprisings show some aspects of libertarian socialism and anarchism, such as revolutionary workers councils, direct democracy, and workers' control and ownership of the means of production instead of the State. Even though these uprisings were suppressed, they would later contribute to the fall of the Eastern Bloc in the late 1980s.
libertarian socialist/ anarchist societies. However, there are also examples of libertarian socialism/anarchism in action in the Warsaw Pact during the 1950s.
Uprising in East Germany, 1953
In 1953, low wages and demand to raise productivity by the Communist Party caused discontent among the working-class, leading to 300 construction workers conducting a strike in the city. Eventually, more workers joined, leading to a general strikes across the country. The demonstration that originally demanded better working conditions became political, with the demonstrators demanding the East German government to resign and the establishment of free democratic society with the workers in control. Unfortunately, the Soviet Army became involved, brutally cracking down on protesters, leading to the death of hundreds.
Poznań 1956 protests
Like the case in East Germany in 1953, factory workers took to the street in Poznan, Poland demanding better working conditions. Delegates of the workers went to the government to state their demand. When the demand was not met, the factory workers began establishing a worker council and called for all workers at nearby factories to march to the city square and stage a demonstration there. The demonstration escalated, with the protesters storming a prison, freeing prisoners and acquiring weapons, and seizing control of government buildings. The Soviet Army were involved and suppressed the uprising. Even though the uprising was suppressed, it led to creation of democratic workers councils and collectives across the country, leading to the reformation of the Polish government.
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
The more prominent uprising would be the Hungarian Revolution. Discontents with the poor working condition, Soviet's occupation of the country and the brutal government led to the workers uprisings in Hungary. It began with a student demonstration in Budapest, with over a hundred thousand in attendance. The demonstrators sent a delegation to a radio building guarded by the Hungarian police to broadcast a message. The delegation failed to return, leading the demonstrators to storm the building, causing the police to open fire against the demonstrators. The building was successfully occupied by the students, but news of the shooting caused workers across the country to take up arms and set up revolutionary councils calling for direct democracy and workers management in the workplace. With the Hungarian government collapsing, the Russians became involved once again leading to fierce fightings between them and the Hungarian revolutionaries. Unfortunately for the Hungarians, the revolution was crushed by the Soviet Union.
The uprisings show some aspects of libertarian socialism and anarchism, such as revolutionary workers councils, direct democracy, and workers' control and ownership of the means of production instead of the State. Even though these uprisings were suppressed, they would later contribute to the fall of the Eastern Bloc in the late 1980s.
