October 29, 2003
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War of Ideas
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently declared a “war of ideas.”
Here is some background– notes made to help clarify my own thoughts.
Today, the 22nd “Socialist International Conference,” held every 4 years, concludes. This is a non-communist gathering of various countries’ Social Democratic parties. It has been called a gathering of “dinosaurs” (rather like the Democratic Party in the United States, or Tony Blair).
More relevant is the following history:
The First International
1864-1876
Founded in London, led by Karl Marx.
The Second International
1889-1914
Founded at a Paris congress, collapsed with the outbreak of World War I.
The Third International
1919-1939
Founded by the Russian revolution, also known as the Comintern. Said to have ended with the Hitler-Stalin nonaggression pact, officially dissolved in 1943. Succeeded by a Stalinist, hence non-international, organization.
The Fourth International
Founded by Trotsky in 1938. Ended in various splinter groups after World War II.
The Fifth International
In process of formation.
See Movement for a Socialist Future and
The Fifth International?.
