Reform, Revolution, and Opportunism : Debates in the Second International, 19001910

Omtale

An essential record from the Second International, assembled by Under the Socialist Banner editor Mike Taber. At its height, the Second (Socialist) International (1889-1914) represented the majority of organized workers in the world, with the revolutionary goal of overthrowing capitalism. Its major accomplishments—such as the eight-hour day and International Women’s Day—remain a testimony to its lasting influence around the world. In this important collection of debates at congresses of the Second International, Reform, Revolution, and Opportunism captures the International’s vibrancy and gives a snapshot of its strengths, weaknesses, and contradictions. Divergent perspectives on reform and revolution are expressed in these pages, as socialists debate topics that remain deeply contested today: militarism and war, immigration, colonialism and imperialism, women’s rights, and socialist participation in government. Reform, Revolution, and Opportunism—taken together with Under the Socialist Banner—offers a rounded view of the Second International and its legacy, showing it to be a living, breathing movement with valuable insights for activists today.