Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

NATIONALISM
with chauvinism.... Communism [now] also has far greater opportunities for work among
the youth than formerly." 28 Though nationalism was a foreign tactic to Western YCLs,
the main focus of communist youth politics had always been the struggle against imperialist
war. For youth, nationalism was considered a necessary strategic tactic to continue
their struggle against imperialist war under the era of fascism.
Wolf Michal stressed to the YCI the importance of laying claim to their national historical
traditions. 29 Popular Front theory insisted fascism was the main enemy of the
nation and the youth. To combat fascism, young communists needed to rally youth
through patriotic and progressive nationalist appeals. National traditions and sentiment
were powerful weapons to draw the youth away from fascism:
An especially important phase of our work… is the proper utilization of the revolutionary
and democratic traditions of the people of each country. We must draw upon the rich
heritage which we have in common with the masses of youth. Every movement in the
history of the different nations, against repression, every revolt against slavery, every rebellious
spokesman for the people, should be studies and learned. In this way we will, in
advance, help cut the ground from under the very feet of the fascists who go to great
lengths to distort this heritage of the peoples of all countries for their own sinister aims. 30
Youth were often more susceptible to fascism's demagogic and nationalist appeals.
Michal stressed to the YCI delegates that by "utilizing the weapons of our enemy" young
communists would "be in a position to tear away the masses of the youth from fascism." 31
The British-American Context
Popular Front nationalism opened considerable opportunities but also new challenges for
communist youth in Britain and the United States. 32 The continued ascendancy of the
British Empire, even under successive Labour Governments, made reconciling internationalism
and socialist nationalism unattractive to the Leninist Generation in Britain. In
the US, the early YWL was made up primarily of immigrant youth who shared a "profound
alienation from American culture," making American nationalism an unattractive
and foreign conception to them. 33 Severe state persecution simply fuelled the YWL's
existing disposition against American nationalism. The continued anti-militarist content
of communist nationalist rhetoric smoothed the Popular Front transition for the youth.
While still critiquing the imperialist practices of their respective governments, the British
and American YCLs began propagating a nationalist line that identified their program of
anti-fascism with the progressive traditions of their nation. The British YCL posited that
Chamberlain's opponents represented "the Real Britain" while his administration and
supporters were deemed "enemies of the British youth." 34 In an opposing trend, as
Roosevelt's administration became more progressive domestically and internationally, the
American YCL deemed his opponents "enemies of the youth" and identified themselves
with the "progressive elements [of the nation] in the Democratic Party headed by Roosevelt."
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