Epoch of reforms at an end¶
Core Argument¶
The chapter argues that the epoch of reformism in Britain has reached its terminal crisis, driven by the irreversible decay of British imperialism. The central narrative thrust is that the material basis for concessions to the working class—derived from the super-exploitation of colonial slaves—has been exhausted, and with it the foundation upon which the Labour bureaucracy maintained its stranglehold over the proletariat. The author points to a Gallup poll from June 1943 as concrete evidence of a shift in mass consciousness that Marxists had predicted: Labour already commands a majority of the voting population, and a historically high proportion of workers have moved toward “communism,” drawn overwhelmingly from the young and most active layers. A further section of youth, disgusted with both Labour’s betrayals and the caricature of Stalinism, remains apathetic but will be thrust into political life at the first serious shock.
The chapter draws heavily on the historical experience of the previous twenty-five years: two Labour governments, the betrayal of the general strike, and the present coalition government. These events have imbued the British proletariat with a deep scepticism toward the Labour leadership, even as they continue to support Labour for lack of an alternative. The author insists that this support does not signify confidence; never have the basic masses had less trust in their leaders. The strength of reformism today rests solely on the passivity of the proletariat. When events sweep the masses into action, the reformists will be put to the test and a rapid reorientation will follow.
A notable polemic is directed against the Beveridge report and similar schemes, which the author dismisses as meagre, illusory, and completely unrealisable—utopian post-war plans that cannot be delivered by a decaying British imperialism. The chapter also warns against the coming manoeuvres of the Labour “lefts,” who will swing left in words under the stress of future storms only to betray struggles more effectively. The author calls for preparation in advance, to expose these demagogues by demanding they match words with deeds.
Strategically, the Fourth Internationalists are to agitate for “End the truce! Labour to power!” This slogan is not an endorsement of reformism but a transitional demand designed to reassert the independence of labour from capital. A Labour government coming to power in conditions where the masses are already critical would either be forced to break with capitalism or be exposed in the attempt to resist, thereby accelerating the revolutionisation of the working class. The coalition cannot hold, the author concludes, because the pressure of the masses will inevitably break it.