By Mark Buckley
There are 3 reasons for studying the resolutions and proceedings of the 1907 Stuttgart conference of the Second International:
- It is our history, the history of the international labour movement when it was led by Marxists
- As part of the historical record of our movement, it stands in complete contrast to the revisionist position of modern social democracy and other left forces influenced by it
- This is equally true in relation to the specific issue which we want to address here; immigration, racism and chauvinism.
Naturally, the debate on immigration did not take place in a vacuum. The wider context was the growth of imperialism and its crisis, which provoked social crises, including the struggles against colonialism and for women’s suffrage. This crisis would quickly lead to the first World War. The wider context of the debate on immigration can be understood by reference to the entire proceedings of the Stuttgart conference.
The issue of immigration was somewhat different 120+ years ago to immigration as it has evolved subsequently. But the principles as stated in the resolutions of the Stuttgart conference have an enduring quality, setting out political principles which remain applicable.
In the historical setting, the sources of immigration discussed were primarily intra-European (people sent or invited to work in particular jobs) or the importation of strike-breakers, which was a common occurrence. The issue of mass, voluntary emigration was not initially addressed, until it was raised, in a negative and reactionary way by the US and British delegates.
Emigration to and from the colonial world was not much discussed. This was in common with the general perspective of the Second International, which was Eurocentric and focused primarily on the imperialist countries.
In modern times, the practice of importing workers to break strikes has largely been pushed back by the resistance of the labour movement both industrially and through the political struggle and legislation.
However, importing workers legally on far worse terms is now commonplace (Germany, Britain) or illegally (USA). That aside, immigration is now overwhelmingly mass emigration for work or forced migration. The UN reckons there are now just over 300 million migrants worldwide, of which 123 million have been forcibly displaced from their homes.
Therefore, these sections of the Stuttgart resolution remain extremely relevant.
On the resolution itself, it emphasises the role that the capitalists play in immigration to promote their interests, to drive down wages and introduce divisions. At the same time, the resolution rejects any and all measures to limit immigration at all or to adopt measures against migrant workers as “fruitless and reactionary.” Any exclusions or measures against migrant workers would be, “a policy that is in conflict with the principle of proletarian solidarity.” Everything that can be done must be done to protect the rights and well-being of the migrant workers, with no restrictions on their rights to move and work in their new host country. Trade unions must operate in this spirit and in the organisation of migrant workers on an equal basis.
Clearly, this approach is in complete contrast to the current policies and practices of the social democratic parties, and other forces influenced by them, which includes some communist parties. The social democrats frequently have no regard to our history, but communists – and others do.
Committed anti-racists on the left should also be regarded as potential allies in propagandising and popularising this history.
That should be our task. To make this history and these gains more widely known as part of the wider struggle to recover the international labour movement for the correct stance on the issues of immigration and emigration.
Notes
1) The resolutions of the Stuttgart Conference of the Socialist International can be read here:
https://www.marxists.org/history/international/social-democracy/second-international-resolutions-book/ch07.htm
2) Further reading on the Conference can be found here:
https://mronline.org/2022/01/27/mike-taber-ed-under-the-socialist-banner-resolutions-of-the-second-international-1889-1912/
Image: Garry Knight; March Against Racism on Saturday 18th March 2017; Public Domain.