ITHECRISISOFMODERNCIVILISATION Moderncivilisationhasbaseditsspecificfoundationontheprincipleoflibertywhichstates thatmanisnotamereinstrumenttobeusedbyothersbutratheramainautonomouslivingbeing.

Looking back at this definition all those aspects of social life that were not respectful of this principlehavebeenplacedontrial,inagreathistoricalprocess. 1)Allnationshavebeenrecognisedtheequalrighttoorganisethemselvesintoindependent States.Allpeoples,definedbyethnic,geographic,linguisticandhistoricalcharacteristics,wereto find,withintheStateorganisationcreatedaccordingtotheirownparticularconceptofpoliticallife, thatinstrumentbestsuitedtotheirownneeds,withoutanyoutsideintervention.Theideologyof nationalindependencewasapowerfulstimulustoprogress.Ithelpedovercomenarrowminded parochialismandgeneratedadeepersenseofsolidarityagainstforeignoppression.Iteliminated many of theobstaclesthathinderedthecirculationof peopleandmerchandiseand,within the territoryofeachnewState,itextendedtheinstitutionsandsystemsofmoreadvancedsocietiesto lessdevelopedpopulations.Unluckily,however,theseedsofcapitalistimperialismhaveexpanded tothepointofformingtotalitarianStatesandtotheunleashingofworldwarsandourgeneration hasbeenwitness. Nowthenationisnolongerregardedasthehistoricalproductofcommunitiesofmenthat,as theresultofalengthyprocess,haveincreasedsimilaritiesofcustomsandaspirationsandconsider theirStateasthemosteffectiveorganisationofcollectivelifewithintheframeworkofthewhole humansociety.Ithas,onthecontrary,becomeadivineentity,anorganismthathastoconsideronly itsownexistence,itsowndevelopment,withouttheleastregardforthedamagethismightcauseto others. TheabsolutesovereigntyofnationalStateshasgiveneachofthemthedesiretodominate, sinceeachonefeelsthreatenedbythestrengthoftheothers,andconsiders,asitslivingspace,an increasinglyvastterritorywhereinitwillhavetherighttofreemovementandcanrelyonitself withoutanyotherhelp.Thisdesiretodominatecannotbeplacatedexceptbythepredominanceof thestrongestStateoveralltheothers. Asaconsequenceofallthis,theStateisnolongertheguardianofcivillibertybutithasbeen transformedintothemasterofvassalsboundtoservitude,anditholdswithinitspowerallthe facultiesneededtoachievethemaximumwarefficiency.Evenduringpeacetime,consideredtobea pause during which to prepare for subsequent, inevitable wars, by now the military class predominatesoverciviliansocietyinmanycountries,bymakingmoreandmoredifficultthegood workingoffreepoliticalsystems.Expressionsofcivilpolicy,therefore,suchasschools,research, productivity.administrations,actwithdifficultyandaremainlydirectedtowardsincreasingmilitary strength.Womenareconsideredmerelyasproducersofsoldiersandareawardedprizesinmuch thesamewayasprolificcattle.Sincetheveryearliestage,childrenhavebeentaughttohandle weaponsandtohateforeigners.Individuallibertyisalmostannihilatedsinceeveryoneispartofthe militaryestablishmentandconstantlysubjecttobecalledinonthearmedforces.Repeatedwars forcementoabandonfamilies,jobs,property,oftendemandingtheultimatesacrificeforreasonsof whichnoonecanreallyunderstandthevalue.Ittakesjustafewdaystodestroytheresultsof decadesofcommoneffortmadeinordertoincreasethegeneralwellbeing. TotalitarianStatesarethosethathavemostcoherentlyachievedtheunificationofallforces, byeffectingthegreatestconcentrationandthehighestdegreeofautarky.Theseorganisationshave

provedtobetheonesmostsuitedtothecurrentinternationalenvironment.Shouldonenationmove asteptowardsmoreaccentuatedtotalitarianism,itwouldimmediatelybefollowedbytheothers, drawnthroughtheverysamefurrowbytheirwilltosurvive. 2)TheequalrightofallcitizenstoparticipateintheprocessofestablishingtheState'swill has been recognised. This should have been the synthesis of the freely expressed, changeable economicandideologicalneedsofallthesocialgroups.Suchapoliticalorganisationhasallowed the correctionoratleasttheminimisingofmanyof themostjarringinjusticesinherited from previousregime.Butfreedomofthepress,ofassembly,andtheincreasingextensionofsuffrage, madethedefenceofoldprivilegesmoreandmoredifficult,whilemaintainingarepresentative systemofgovernment. Thepoorslowlylearnedhowtousetheseinstrumentstofightfortherightsacquiredbythe privilegedclasses.Taxesonunearnedincomeandinheritances,increasingdutiestobepaidon largerincomes,taxexemptionsforlowincomesandindispensablegoods;freepublicschooling; increasedsocialsecurityspending;landreforms;controloffactoriesandmanufacturingplantsall ofthemwerenowthreateningtheprivilegedclassesintheirwellfortifiedcitadels. Eventheprivilegedclasseswhohadconsentedtotheequalityofpoliticalrights,couldnot accept the fact that the underprivileged took advantage of it in order to achieve a concrete economicandsocialequalitythatwouldhavegivenmeaningfulsignificancetotherealliberty.At theendoftheFirstWorldWar,thethreatbecametooserious;itwasonlynaturalthattheseclasses warmlywelcomedandsupportedthebirthofdictatorshipsthattooklegalinstrumentsawayfrom theiradversaries. On otherhand,the birth of immense industrial andbanking groups, and of trade unions includingwholearmiesofworkers,groupsandunionspressingthegovernmentinordertoobtain policiesclearlyfavourabletotheirparticularinterests,threatenedtodissolvetheStateintosomany economicbaronies,bitterlyfightingagainsteachother:Liberal,democraticsystemsbecamethe toolsthesegroupsusedtoexploitallofsocietyevenmore,andconsequentlylosttheirprestige.In thiswaytheyweremoreandmoreconvincedthatonlyatotalitarianState,inwhichindividual libertieswerealsoabolished,couldsomehowresolvetheconflictsofinterestthatexistingpolitical institutionswereunabletocontrol. Asamatterof fact,thetotalitarianregimesconsolidated,generallyspeaking,thevarious socialcategoriesatthoselevelstheyhadgraduallyreachedbyusingpolicecontrolofeveryaspect ofcitizen'slife,andbyviolentlygettingridofalldissentingvoices,theseregimeshavebarred every legal possibility of further correction of the present situation. This ensured, then, the existenceofathoroughlyparasiticclassofabsenteelandownersandenjoyersofanincomewho contributed to social productivity only by cutting the coupons off their stocks; the monopoly holders and thechainstoresthatexploittheconsumersandmakethesums setapartbysmall investorstovanish;theplutocratshiddenbehindthescenes,pullingthepoliticians'stringsand runningtheStatemachineryfortheirownexclusiveadvantage,pretendingtobeinterestedinhigher nationalinterests.Thecolossalfortunesofaveryfewhavebeenpreserved,andthemiseryofthe massesaswell,excludedfromenjoymentofthefruitsofmodernculture.Theyhavesubstantially preservedaneconomicregimeinwhichmaterialresourcesandlabour,whichoughttobeappliedto thesatisfactionoffundamentalneedsforthedevelopmentofvitalhumanenergies,areinstead addressedtothesatisfactionofthemostfutilewishesofthosecapableofpayingthehighestprices; aneconomicregimeinwhich,throughtherightofinheritance,thepowerofmoneyisperpetuated

inthesameclass,andistransformedintoaprivilegewithoutanycorrespondencetothesocialvalue oftheservicesrendered.Thefieldofproletarianpossibilitiesissosmallthatinordertomakea living,workersareoftenforcedtoacceptexploitationbyanyonewhooffersajob. Inordertokeeptheworkingclassesimmobilisedandsubjugated,thetradeunionshavebeen transformed,fromthefreeorganisationsofstruggletheywere,directedbyindividualswhoenjoyed thetrustoftheirassociates,intoorgansforpolicesurveillancerunbyemployeeschosenbythe rulingclassandresponsibleonlytothem.Ifimprovementsaremadeinthiseconomicregime,they aresimplyandonlydictatedbythemilitaryneeds,thattogetherwiththereactionaryambitionsof privilegedclasseshavegivenrisetoandstrengthentotalitarianStates. 3) The permanent value of the spirit of criticism has been asserted against authoritarian dogmatism. Everything that was affirmed had to be truthful and verifiable, or disappear. The greatestachievementsofoursocietyineveryfieldareduetothemethodicalnessofthisopen mindedattitude.ButthisspirituallibertydidnotsurvivethecrisescreatedbythetotalitarianStates. Newdogmastobeacceptedlikearticlesoffaith,orhypocritically,aretakingoverallfieldsof knowledge. Thoughnooneknowswhataraceis,andthemostelementarynotionsofhistoryemphasise theabsurdityofthestatement,physiologistsarerequiredtobelieve,demonstrateandconvincethat peoplebelongtoachosenrace,simplybecausethismythisneededbyimperialismtoexcitethe massestohateandpride.Themostevidentconceptsofeconomicsciencemustbeconsideredas anathemaiftheautarchicpolicy,tradebalancesandotheroldchestnutsofmercantilismcanbe presentedasextraordinarydiscoveriesofourtimes.Becauseoftheeconomicinterdependenceofall parts of theworld,thevitalspaceneededbymanypopulationthatwantstomaintainaliving standardconsonantwithmoderncivilisation,canonlybetheentireglobe.Butthepseudoscience ofgeopoliticshasbeencreated,anditsaimistodemonstratethevalidityofthetheoryofliving spaces,inordertolegitimatetheoreticalcovertotheimperialistdesiretooverpower. Historyisfalsifiedinitsessentialdata,intheinterestsoftherulingclasses.Librariesand bookshopsareclearedawayofallworksthatarenorconsideredtobeorthodox.Theshadowsof obscurantismoveragainthreatentosuffocatethehumanspirit.Thesocialethicof liberty and equalityisundermined.MenarenolongerconsideredfreecitizenswhocanusetheStateinorderto reachcollectivepurposes.Theyare,instead,servantsoftheState,whichdecidestheirgoalsandthe willofthosewhoholdthepowerismaskedbehindthewilloftheState.Menarenolongersubjects oflaw;theyarearrangedhierarchicallyandexpectedtoobeyalltheirsuperiors,whoseleadersisa suitable deified Leader, without discussion. The regime, built on castes, springs up again irresistible,outofitsownashes. This reactionary, totalitarian civilisation, after triumphing in a series of countries, finally found, in Nazi Germany, the power that was thought to be capable of drawing the final consequences.Aftermeticulouspreparation,boldlyandunscrupulouslytakingadvantagefromthe rivalries, egoism, stupidity of others, carrying other European vassal States among which primarilyItaly andbecomingalliedwithJapanthatisaimingattheverysamegoalsinAsia, Germany has launcheditselfinacampaignofoverpowering.Itsvictorywouldmeanthefinal consolidationoftotalitarianismintheworld.Allitscharacteristicswouldbeexasperatedtothe greatestdegree,andprogressiveforceswouldbecondemnedformanyyearstotheroleofsimple negativeopposition. ThetraditionalarroganceandintoleranceoftheGermanmilitaryclassescangiveusanidea

ofwhattheirdominancewouldhavebeenlike,afteravictoriouswar.Inordertocommand,the victoriousGermansmightevenconcedefiveyearsofgenerositytowardsotherEuropeanpeoples, formallyrespectingtheirterritoriesandtheirpoliticalinstitutions,satisfyingatthesametimethe falsesentimentofpatriotismofthosewhoconsiderthecoloursoftheboundaryfence,andthe nationalityoftheprominentpoliticiansasbeingmoreimportantthantheratioofpowerandthe effectivecontentoftheStateinstitutions.Howevercamouflaged,therealityisalwaysthesame:a newdivisionofhumanityintoSpartansandHelots. Evenacompromisesolutionbetweenthetwostrugglingsideswouldbeonemorestepahead fortotalitarianism;infactalltogethercountrieswhichwereabletoeludeGermany'sgraspwould beforcedtoadoptthesameformsofpoliticalorganisation,inordertobeadequatelypreparedfor thewartocome. ButifHitler'sGermanydidsucceedinfellingtheminorStatesonebyone,thisactionhas forcedincreasinglypowerfulforcestojoinbattle.ThecourageousfightingspiritofGreatBritain, eveninthatmostcriticalmomentwhenitwastheonlyonetofacetheenemycausedtheGermans tocollideagainstthevaliantresistanceoftheRussianArmy,andgaveAmericathetimeitneeded to mobilise its infinite productive resources. And this struggle against German imperialism is closelylinkedtotheChinesepeople'sagainstJapaneseimperialism. Largemassesofmenandwealtharealreadydrawnupagainsttotalitarianpowerswhose strengthhasalreadyreacheditspeakandcanonlygraduallyconsumeitself.Theopposingforces, onthecontrary,havealreadyovercometheirworstmomentandarenowonthewayup. DayafterdaythewaroftheAlliesawakensthedesireforliberationmoreforcefully,evenin thosecountrieswhichhadsubmittedtoviolenceandhadlosttheirwayowingtotheblowthey received.AndithasevenreawakenedthisdesireintheveryAxispopulationswhorealisethey havebeendraggedintoadesperatesituation,simplytosatisfytheirrulers'lustforpower. Theslowprocess,duetowhichinfinitemassesofmenpassivelyletthemselvesbeshapedby thenewregime,adjustedtoitandevencontributedtoitsconsolidation,hascometoahalt.Andthe oppositeprocesshasbegun.Withinthishugewave,slowlygatheringmomentumthereareincluded alltheprogressiveforces,themostenlightenedgroupsoftheworkingclassesthathavenotlet themselvesbeswayed,eitherbytheterrororbyflattery,fromtheirambitiontoachieveabetter qualityofliving;themostconsciouselementsoftheintellectualclasses,offendedbytheforced degradationofhumanintelligence;businessmenandinvestorswho,beingabletoundertakenew initiatives, wanttofreethemselvesof thetrappingsof bureaucracyandnationalautarchy, that encumberalltheirmovements;andalltheotherswho,thankstoaninnatesenseofdignity,willnot bebentbythehumiliationofservitude. Today,thesalvationofourcivilisationisentrustedtotheseforces. IIPOSTWARDUTIESEUROPEANUNITY Germany'sdefeatwouldnotautomaticallyleadtothereformationofEuropeaccordingtoour idealofcivilisation. Inthebrief,intenseperiodofgeneralcrises(duringwhichtheStateswillliebroken,during whichthepopularmassesareanxiouslyawaitingforanewmessageandwill,meanwhile,like moltenmatter,burn,beingeasilypouredintonewmoulds,capableofwelcomingtheguidanceof seriousinternationalists)theclasseswhichwerethemostprivilegedundertheoldnationalsystems

willattempt,underhandedorviolently,tomoderatethefeelings,theinternationalistpassionsand theywillostentatiouslybeginthereconstructtheold,Stateinstitutions.AndtheEnglishleaders, perhapsinagreementwiththeAmericans,maytrytopushthingsinthisdirection,inorderto restorethepolicyofthebalanceofpower,intheapparentandimmediateinterestsoftheirempires. Theconservativeforces,thatis:thedirectorsofthebasicinstitutionsofthenationalStates; the topranking officers in the armed forces up to, where possible, monarchies; the groups of monopolistic capitalism that have bound their profits to the fortunes of the States; the big landowners and the ecclesiastical hierarchy,who can expect their parasitical income only in a stable,conservativesociety;andfollowingthese,theinterminablebandofpeoplewhodependon themorwhoaresimplymisledbytheirtraditionalpower.Allthesereactionaryforcesalreadyfeel thestructureiscreaking,andaretryingtosavetheirskins.Acollapsewoulddeprivethemallofa suddenofalltheguaranteestheyhaveenjoyeduptonow,andwouldexposethemtotheattackof theprogressiveforces. Therevolutionarysituation:oldandnewtrends Thefallofthetotalitarianregimeswillhavethesentimentalmeaning,forentirepopulations, asthecomingof"freedom";allrestrictionswilldisappearand,automatically,completefreedomof speechandofassemblywillreignsupreme.Itwillbethetriumphofdemocratictendencies.These tendencies have countless shades and nuances, stretching from very conservative liberalism to socialismandanarchy.Theybelieveinthe"spontaneousgeneration"ofeventsandinstitutionsand intheabsolutegoodnessofimpulsesfromthelowerclasses.Theydonotwanttoforcethehandof "history",or"thepeople",or"theproletariat",orwhateverothernametheygivetheirGod.They hopefortheendofdictatorships,imaginingthisastherestorationtothepeopleoftheirinalienable rights to selfdetermination. Their crowing dream is a constitutional assembly, elected by the broadestsuffrageandwiththemostscrupulousrespectoftherightsoftheelectors,whomust decideupontheconstitutiontheywant.Ifthepopulationisimmature,theconstitutionwillnotbea goodone;butitcanbecorrectedonlythroughconstanteffortsofpersuasion. Thedemocraticfactionsdonotdenyviolenceonprinciple,buttheywishtouseitonlywhen the majority is convinced it is indispensable, that is, when it is little more than an almost superfluous "dot" over an "i". They are, then, useful leaders only in times of ordinary administration,duringwhichalmostallpopulationis(generally)convincedofthevalidityofthe basic institutions that they are to be modified, only in relatively secondary aspects. During revolutionarytimes,whentheinstitutionsmustnotsimplybeadministrated,butrathercreated, democraticproceduresfailclamorously.Thepitifulimpotenceofdemocraticfactionduringthe Russian,German,Spanishrevolutionsarethethreemostrecentexamples.Inthesesituations,once theoldstateapparatushadfallen,alongwithitslawsanditsadministration,thereisanimmediate flourishing of assemblies and popular delegations in which all the progressive socialist forces converge and agitate, either pretending tobe respectful of former legality,or scorningit. The populationdoeshavesomefundamentalneedstosatisfy,butitdoesnotknowexactlywhatitwants orhowtoact.Athousandbellsringinitsears.Withitsmillionsofminds,itcannotorientateitself, anditbreaksupinanumberoftendencies,currentsandfactions,strugglingwithoneother. Intheverymomentinwhichthegreatestdecisivenessandboldnessisneeded,thedemocrats losetheirway,nothavingthebackingofspontaneouspopularapproval,butratheragloomytumult

of passions. They think it is their duty to realise a consensus and they present themselves as exhortatorypreachers,whereinsteadthereisaneedforleadersabletoknowwhattheywantthey aregoing.Theymisschancesthatwouldbefavourabletoconsolidatinganewregimeandeventry tomakecertainbodiesthatneedalongerpreparationandtheywouldinanycasebemoresuitable ofrelativetranquillitytoworkimmediately.Theygivetheiradversariesarmswhichareusethento overthrowthem.Theyrepresent,intheirthousandtendencies,notonlythewillforrenewal,butthe confusedwhimsanddesiresfoundineverymindthat,becomingparalysed,theyactuallyprepare theterrainforthegrowthofthereaction.Democraticpoliticalmethodsareadeadweightduring revolutionarycrises. Asthedemocratsweardowntheirinitialpopularityasassertorsoflibertybytheirendless polemics, and in the absence of any serious political and social revolution, the pretotalitarian political institutions will inevitably be reconstituted, and the struggle would again develop followingalongthelinesoftheoldclassopposition. Theprincipleaccordingtowhichtheclassstruggleistheconditiontowhichallpolitical problemsarereconducted,hasbecomethefundamentallineespeciallyamongfactoryworkers,and hasgivenconsistencytotheirpoliticsaslongasfundamentalinstitutionswerenotquestioned.But itbecomesaninstrumenttoisolatetheproletariat,whentheneedtotransformtheentiresocial organisationisimposed.Theworkers,educatedintheclasssystem,cannotseebeyondtheclaimsof theirparticularclass,orevencategory,withoutworryingabouthowtoconnectthesewith the interestsofothersocialstrata.Ortheyaspiretoaunilateraldictatorshipoftheproletariatinorderto achievetheutopiancollectivisationofallthematerialmeansofproduction,indicatedbycenturies ofpropagandaasthepanaceaforallevils.Thispolicyattractsnootherstrata,buttheworkers,who thusdeprivetheotherprogressiveforcesoftheirsupport,oritleavesthematthemercyofthe cleverlyorganisedreactionsoastobreakuptheworker'smovement. Amongthevariousproletariantendencies,followersoftheclassistpoliticsandcollectivist ideal,thecommunistsearlyrecognizedthedifficultyofobtainingasufficientfollowingtoassure victory.Theythereforeorganizedthemselves,differentlyfromtheotherpopularpartiesintoa rigidlydisciplinedmovement.IthasexploitedtheRussianmythinordertoorganisetheworkers, but it does not accept their word as law and it does use the workers in the most disparate manoeuvres. This attitude makes the Communists,duringrevolutionary crises, more efficient than the democrats. But their maintaining the workers separate as much as they can from the other revolutionaryforcesbypreachingtothemthattheir"real"revolutionisyettocometurnsthem intoasectarianelementwhich,indecisivemoments,weakensthesumoftheprogressiveforces. Besidesthis,theirabsolutedependenceupontheRussianState,whichhasrepeatedlyusedthemin pursuingitsnationalpolicies,preventsthisPartyfromundertakingpoliticalactivitywithcontinuity. They always need to hide behind a Karoly, a Blum, a Negrin, and then to go along towards ruinationwiththedemocraticpuppetsthathadbeenused.Powerisattainedandismaintained,not simplythroughcunning,butwiththecapacityofrespondingtotheneedsofmodernsocietyinan organicandvitalmanner. Shouldthestruggleremainlimitedwithinthetraditionalnationalboundaries,itwouldbevery difficulttoavoidtheolduncertainties.ThenationalStates,infact,havesodeeplyplannedtheir respectiveeconomies,thatthemainquestionwouldsoonbewhicheconomicgroup,thatis,which class,shouldtohandlethecontrolsoftheplan.Theprogressivefrontwouldbequicklyshatteredin

the brawl between economic classes and categories. The most probable result is that the reactionarieswouldbenefitmorethananyoneelse. Arealrevolutionarymovementmustrisefromamongthosewhowereabletocriticisethe old,politicalstatements;itmustknowhowtocollaboratewithdemocraticandwithcommunist forcesaswellaswithallthosewhoworkforthebreakupoftotalitarianism,withoutbecoming ensnaredbythepoliticalpracticesofanyofthese. Thereactionaryforceshavecapablemenandofficerswhohavebeentrainedtocommandand who will fight ruthlessly to preserve their supremacy. When circumstances are very hard, deceitfullytheywillshowthemselvesastheloversofliberty,ofpeace,ofgeneralwellbeing,ofthe poorerclasses. Already in the past we have seen how they made use of popular movements, and they paralysed,deflectedandtransformedthemintoexactlytheoppositeofwhattheywere.Nodoubt theywillbethemostdangerousforcedtobefaced. ThepointtheywillseektoexploitistherestorationofthenationalState.Thustheywillbe abletograspthemostwidespreadofpopularfeelings,mostdeeplyoffendedbyrecentevents,most easilyhandledtoreactionarypurposes:thepatrioticsentiment.Inthiswaytheycanalsohopeto confuse their adversaries' ideas more easily, since for the popular masses, the only political experienceacquireduptothistimehasbeenwithinthenationalcontext,itisthereforefairlyeasyto directthemandtheirmoreshortsightedleaderstowardsthereconstructionoftheStates"felled"by thetempest. Ifthispurposeweretobereached,thereactionwouldhavewon.Inappearance,theseStates mightwellbebroadlydemocraticandsocialist;itwouldonlybeaquestionoftimebeforepower returnedintothehandsofthereactionaries.Nationaljealousieswouldagaindevelop,andeachState wouldagainexpressitssatisfactiononlyinitsarmedstrength.Inamoreorlessbriefspaceoftime their most important duty would be to convert populations into armies. Generals would again command,themonopolyholderswouldagaindrawprofitsfromautarkies,thebureaucracywould continuetoswell,thepriestswouldkeepthemassesdocile.Alltheinitialconquestswouldshrivel intonothing,incomparisontothenecessityofpreparingforwaroncemore. Thequestionwhichmustberesolvedfirstfailingwhichprogressisbutmereappearance,is definitive abolition of division of Europe into national, sovereign States. The collapse of the majorityoftheStatesonthecontinentunderGermansteamrollerhasalreadyplacedthedestinies oftheEuropeanpopulationsoncommonground:eitheralltogethertheywillsubmittoHitler's dominion,orafterhisfall,alltogethertheywillenterarevolutionarycrisis,andtheywillnotfind themselvesadamantlydistinctinsolid,Statesstructures.Thegeneralspirittodayisalreadyfar more disposed than it was in the past towards a federal reorganisation of Europe. The hard experienceofthelastdecadeshasopenedtheeyesevenofthosewhorefusedtosee,andhas maturedmanycircumstancesfavourabletoourideal. All reasonable men recognise that is impossible to maintain a balance of power among EuropeanStateswithmilitaristGermanyenjoyingequalconditions,norcanGermanybebrokenup intopiecesoronceitisconquered.WehaveseenademonstrationthatnocountrywithinEurope canstayonthesidelineswhiletheothersbattle:Declarationofneutralityandnonaggressionpacts cometonought.Theuselessness,evenharmfulness,oforganisationsliketheLeagueofNationshas been demonstrated: they pretended to guarantee an international law without a military force capableofimposingitsdecision,byrespectingtheabsolutesovereigntyofthememberStates.The

principleofnoninterventionturnedouttobeabsurd.Accordingtoiteachpopulationshouldbeleft freetochoosethedespoticgovernmentitthoughbest,asiftheconstitutionofeachofthesingle StateswerenotaquestionofvitalinterestforalltheotherEuropeannations.Themultipleproblems whichpoisoninternationallifeonthecontinenthaveprovedtobeinsoluble:tracingboundaries throughareasinhabitedbymixedpopulations,defenceofalienminorities,seaportsforlandlocked countries,theBalkanQuestion,theIrishproblem,andsoon.Allthesematterswouldfindeasy solutionsintheEuropeanFederation,justascorrespondingproblems,sufferedbythesmallStates whichbecamepartofavasternationalunity,losttheirharshnessastheyweretransformedinto problemsregardingrelationshipbetweenvariousprovinces. Ontheotherhand,theendofthesenseofsecurity,inspiredbyanunassailableGreatBritain whichadvised"splendidisolation"totheBritish;theFrenchdissolutionarmyandthedisintegration oftheRepublicatthefirstseriouscollisionwiththeGermanyforces(aresultwhich,andwehope so,mighthavelessenedthechauvinisticattitudeofabsoluteGallicsuperiority);andparticularlythe risk of total enslavement are all circumstances that are favouring the constitution of a federal regime,whichwillplaceanendtothecurrentanarchy.AndthefactthatEnglandhasacceptedthe principle of Indian Independence; and that France has potentially lost its entire empire in recognisingitsdefeat,makeiteasiertofindabasisofagreementforaEuropeanarrangementof colonialpossessions. Toallofthismustbeaddedthedisappearanceofsomeofthemostimportantdynasties,and thefragilityofthebaseswhichsustaintheonesthatsurvive.Itmustbetakenintoaccountthatthese dynasties,byconsideringthevariouscountriesastheirowntraditionalperquisites,togetherwiththe powerfulinterestsbackingthem,representedaseriousobstacletotherationalorganisationofthe UnitedStatesofEurope,whichcanonlybebasedontherepublicanconstitutionofthefederates countries.And,oncethehorizonoftheOldContinentispassedbeyond,andallthepeoplewho make up humanity join together for a common plane, it will have to be recognised that the EuropeanFederationistheonlyconceivableguaranteethatrelationshipswithAmericanandAsiatic peoplescanexistonthebasisofpeacefulcooperation,whileawaitingamoredistantfuture,when thepoliticalunityoftheentireglobebecomesapossibility. Thedividinglinebetweenprogressiveandreactionarypartiesnolongerfollowstheformal lineofgreaterorlesserdemocracy,orofmoreorlesssocialismtobeinstituted;ratherthedivision fallsalongtheline,verynewandsubstantial,thatseparatesthepartymembersintotwogroups.The firstismadeupofthosewhoconceivetheessentialpurposeandgoalofstruggleastheancientone, thatis,theconquestofnationalpoliticalpowerandwho,althoughinvoluntarily,playintothe handsofreactionaryforces,lettingtheincandescentlavaofpopularpassionssetintheoldmoulds, andthusallowingoldabsurditiestoariseonceagain.Thesecondarethosewhoseethecreationofa solidinternationalStateasthemainpurpose;theywilldirectpopularforcestowardthisgoal,and, having won national power, will use it first and foremost as an instrument for achieving internationalunity. Throughpropagandaandaction,seekingtoestablishineverypossiblewayagreementsand linksamongthesinglemovementswhicharecertainlybeingformedinthevariouscountries,the foundationmustbebuiltnowforamovementthatknowshowtomobiliseallforcesforthebirthof theneworganismwhichwillbethegrandestcreation,andthenewest,thathasoccurredinEurope forcenturies;andtheconstitutionofasteadyfederalState,thatwillhaveanEuropeanarmed serviceinsteadofnationalarmiesatitsdisposal;thatwillbreakdecisivelyeconomicautarchies,the

backboneoftotalitarianregimes;thatwillhavesufficientmeanstoseethatitsdeliberationsforthe maintenanceofcommonorderareexecutedinthesinglefederalStates,whileeachStatewillretain theautonomyitneedsforaplasticarticulationanddevelopmentofapoliticallifeaccordingtothe particularcharacteristicsofthevariouspeople. IfasufficientnumberofmeninthemostimportantEuropeancountriesunderstandsthis,then thevictorywillshortlybeathand,asboththesituationandthespiritwillbefavourabletotheir project.Theywillhavebeforethempartiesandfactionsthathavealreadybeendisqualifiedbythe disastrousexperienceofthelasttwentyyears.Itwillbethemomentofnewactionanditwillalso bethemomentfornewmen:theMOMENTFORAFREEANDUNITEDEUROPE. IIIPOSTWARDUTIESTHEREFORMOFSOCIETY AfreeandunitedEuropeisthenecessarypremisetothestrengtheningofmoderncivilisation, that has been temporarily halted the totalitarian era. By the end of this era immediately the historicalprocessofthestruggleagainstsocialinequalitiesandprivilegeswillreviveinfull.Allthe oldconservativestructureswhichhavehinderedthisprocesswilleitherhavecollapsedorwillbein astateofcollapse.Thiscrisismustbeexploited,withdecisionandcourage. Inordertorespondtoourneeds,theEuropeanrevolutionmustbesocialist,thatisitsgoal must be the emancipation of the working classes and the realisation of more humane living conditionsforthem.Theorientationtobechosenforthestepstotakecannot,however,depend solelyonthepurelydoctrinaireprinciplewhichstatesthatprivateownershipofthematerialmeans ofproductionmust,asageneralrule,beabolished,andonlytemporarilytoleratedwhenthereisno otherchoicetobemade.Thegeneralstatecontroloftheeconomywasthefirst,utopian,formin which the working classes imagined their liberation from the yoke of capitalism. Once it is achieved,however,itdoesnotproducethehopedresults:onthecontrary,aregimecomesinto existenceinwhichtheentirepopulationissubjecttoarestrictedclassofbureaucratswhorunthe economy. The truly fundamental principle of socialism, in which the general collectivisation was nothing more than a hurried and erroneous deduction, is the principle which states that the economicforcesmustnotdominateman,butratherliketheforcesofNaturetheymustbe subjecttoman,guidedandcontrolledbyhiminthemostrationalway,sothatthebroadeststrataof thepopulationwillnotbecometheirvictims. Thegiganticforcesofprogressthatspringfromindividualinterests,mustnotbeslakedbythe greydullnessofroutine.Otherwise,thesameinsolubleproblemwillarise:howtostimulatethe spiritofinitiativeusingsalarylevelsandotherprovisionofthesamekind.Theforcesofprogress mustbeextolledandextended,andfindincreasingrangesfordevelopmentandutilisation;atthe sametime,thebarriersguidingtheseforcestowardsobjectivesofthegreatestadvantageforall society,mustbestrengthenedandperfected. Privatepropertymustbeabolished,limited,corrected,extended:accordingtothedifferent situations and not according to principle. This guideline is easily inserted into the process of formingaEuropeaneconomiclifefreedfromnightmaresofmilitarismornationalbureaucratism. Therationalsolutionmustreplacetheirrationaloneevenintheconsciousnessoftheworkingclass. In order to describethecontentofthisguideline,ingreaterdetail,whilepointingoutthat the convenienceofeachpointintheprogram,andthewayitistobeeffected,mustalwaysbejudgedin

relationtotheindispensablepremise:Europeanunity,wewouldliketoemphasisethefollowing aspects: a)Thoseenterpriseswhichconductanecessarilymonopolisticactivity,andthatcantherefore exploitthemassofconsumers,mustnolongerbeleftinthehandsofprivateownership;electricity industries,forexample,orthoseoneswhichmustsurviveforthecommongoodbutthatneed customsprotection,subsidies,preferentialorders,etc.(themostvisibleexampleofthiskindupto now in Italy is the steel industry); those enterprises which owing to the size of the capital investmentandthenumberofworkersemployed,ortheimportanceofthesectorinvolved,can blackmailvariousStateorgans,imposinguponthemtheirpoliciesthatwouldbeadvantageousto themselves(forexample,miningindustries,bankinginstitutes,armsmanufacturers).Inthisfield, nationalisationmustundoubtedlytakeplaceonavastscale,bearinginnoregardacquiredrights. b)Thecharacteristicsprivatepropertyandtherightofsuccessionhadinthepastpermitted theaccumulationintherichhandsofafew,privilegedmembersofsociety.Inarevolutionarycrisis itwouldbeproperlydistributedinanegalitarianmanner,inordertoeliminatetheparasiticclasses andtogivetheworkersthemeansofproductionthattheyneed,soastoimprovetheireconomic conditionsandletthemreachgreaterindependence.Wecanthiswaythinkofanagrarianreformby distributing the lands directly to farmers, the number of landowners is going to increase enormouslyandanindustrialreformwhichwouldextendworkers'ownershipinnonnationalised sectors,throughcooperativemanagement,employeeprofitsharing.etc. c)Youngpeoplearetobeassistedwithallthenecessaryprovisionsinordertoreducethegap betweenthestartingpositionsinthelongstruggleaheadofthem.Inparticular,Stateschoolsought to offer the effective possibility of continuing their studies up to the highest level to the best studentsnotonlytothewealthyones;andineachbranchofstudy,tradeschools,semiprofessional schools as well as in the liberal arts and sciences, it should prepare a number of students correspondingtothemarketdemand,sothattheaveragesalariesareaboutthesameforallthe professionalcategories,eventhoughwithineachcategorytheremaybedifferences,depending uponindividualcapacities. d)Thealmostunlimitedpotentialityofmassproductionofessentialgoodsthankstomodern technology, will allow everyone to be guaranteed, at relatively low social cost, food, lodging, clothing and that minimum of comfort needed to preserve a sense of human dignity. Human solidaritytowardsthosewhosuccumbintheeconomicbattleoughtnot,therefore,beshownwith the samehumiliatingformsofcharitythatproducetheverysameevils theyvainlyattemptto remedy: ratheritoughttotakeaseriesofmeasures whichunconditionallyguaranteeadecent standardoflivingforeveryone,withoutlesseningthestimulustoworkandtosave.Inthissituation, noonewouldanylongerbeforcedbymiserytoacceptunfairworkcontracts. e) Workingclass libertycanonly be conqueredafter theconditionsdescribedhave been fulfilled.Theseclassesmustnotbelefttothemercyoftheeconomicpoliciesofmonopolistictrade unionsthatsimplytranslatethesameoverpoweringmethodsofbigcapitalintotheworkingworld. Theworkersmustonceagainbefreetochoosetheirownemissarieswhere,incollectivebargaining sessions,aredefiningtheconditionsunderwhichtheywillagreetowork,andtheStatemustgive theme the legal means to guarantee the observation of the terms agreed to. All monopolistic tendenciescanbeefficaciouslyfacedoncethesesocialtransformationshavebeenachieved. Thesearethechangesneededtocreateabroadgroupofcitizensinterestedintheneworder andwillingtostruggleforitspreservation,andtogivethepoliticallifethesolidstampofliberty

basedonastrongsenseofsocialsolidarity.Basedontheseprinciplespoliticallibertiescantruly havenotonlyaformalmeaning,butarealmeaningforeverybody,sincethatmassofcitizenswill beindependent,andwillbesufficientlyinformedastobeabletoexertcontinuousandefficacious controloverthegoverningclass. Itwouldbesuperfluoustodwellatlengthontheconstitutionalinstitutions;infactnotbeing abletoforeseetheconditionsinwhichtheywillbedrawnupandwillhavetoregulate,wecoulddo morethanrepeatwhathasalreadybeensaidtheneedforrepresentativebodies,theformationof thelaw,theindependenceofthemagistracythatwillbesubstitutethepresentoneinordertoapply impartially the laws handed down by higher authorities and the freedom of the press and of assemblysothatpublicopinioncanbeenlightenedandallcitizenscaneffectivelyparticipateinthe life of the State. Only two questions demand further and deeper definition because of their particularimportanceforourcountryinthismoment:therelationshipbetweenChurchandState; thequalityofpoliticalrepresentation. a) The Treaty, which concluded the Vatican's alliance with the Fascism in Italy must absolutelybeabolishedinordertoassertthepurelylaycharacteroftheStateanddeterminethe unequivocalsupremacyoftheStateincivilmatters.Allreligiousfaithsaretobeequallyrespected, buttheStatemustnolongerstrikethebalanceofreligions. b)ThehouseofcardsthatFascismbuiltwithitscorporativismwillcollapsetogetherwiththe other aspects of the totalitarian State. There are those who hold that material for the new constitutionalordercanbesalvagedfromthiswreck.Wedonotagreethis.IntotalitarianStates,the corporative chambers are the crowning hoax of police control over the workers. Even if the corporativechamberswereasincereexpressionofthewillofthevariouscategoriesofproducers, therepresentativebodiesofthevariousprofessionalcategoriescouldneverbequalifiedtohandle questionsofgeneralpolicy.Inmorespecificallyeconomicmatters,theywouldbecomeorgansfor the accumulation of power and privilege among the categories having stronger union representation.TheunionswillhavebroadcollaborationfunctionswithStateorganswhichare appointedtoresolvethoseproblemsdirectlyrelatedtothesecategories,butitisabsolutelyexcluded thattheywillbegivenanylegislativepower,sincethiswouldcreateakindoffeudalanarchyinthe economic life of the country, leading to a renewed political despotism. Many of those who ingenuouslywereattractedbythemythofcorporativism,canandmustbeattractedbythetaskof renewingstructures.Buttheymustrealisetheabsurdityofthesolutiontheymightvaguelydesire. CorporativismcanonlybeconcretelyexpressedintheformgivenbytotalitarianStates:thatisto regimenttheworkersbeneathleaderswhomightcontrolledeverymovementintheinterestsofthe rulingclass. Therevolutionarypartycannotbeamateurishlyorganisedatthefixedmoment.Itmustform atleastitscentralpoliticalphilosophysincenow,itsleadersanddirectors,theprimaryactionsit willundergo.Itmustnotrepresentaheterogeneousmassoftendencies,unitedmerelynegatively andtemporarily,thatis,unitedbytheirantiFascistpastandtheactiveexpectationofthefallifthe totalitarianregime,regimeallreadytogotheirseparatewaysoncethisgoalhasbeenreached.The revolutionarypartyknowsthatonlyatthispointitsrealworkwillbegin.Itmustthereforebemade upofmenwhoareinagreementonthebasicfutureproblems. Its methodical propaganda must penetrate everywhere there are people oppressed by the presentregime;itmustuseasitsstartingpointtheproblemwhichisthesourceofgreatestsuffering toindividualsandclassesandshowhowitisrelatedtoconnectedwithotherproblems,andwhat

therealsolutionmightbe.Butfromthisgraduallyincreasingcircleofsympathisers,onlythosewho haveidentifiedandacceptedtheEuropeanrevolutionastheprinciplepurposeintheirlivesaretobe recruitedintothemovement.Daybyday,withdiscipline,theworkmustgoon;itscontinuousand efficacioussafetymustbeprovidedsecretly,eveninthosemostdangerouslyillegalsituations.Thus themoresolidnetworkofworkerswillbesetuptogiveconsistencytothemorefragilesphereof sympathisers. Whileoverlookingnooccasionanysectorinwhichtospreaditscause,itmustturnfirstand foremosttothoseenvironmentswhicharethemostimportantonesascentresforthecirculationof ideasandtherecruitingofunbendingdeterminedmen;primarilytowardsthetwosocialgroups whicharethemostsensitivetothecurrentsituationanddecisivefortomorrow'scircumstances,that is,theworkingclasstheintellectuals.Theformeristheonethatleastsubmittedtothetotalitarian rodandthatwillmostreadilyreorganiseitsranks.Theintellectuals,particularlytheyoungeramong them,arethosewhofeelmostspirituallysuffocatedandrepulsedwiththecurrentdespotism.Other classeswillgraduallybedrawnintothemovement. Anymovementwhichfailsitsdutytoallytheseforces,iscondemnedtosterility.Infacta movement made up only of intellectuals will not have the strength it needs to overwhelm reactionaryresistance,itwilldistrustandbedistrustedbytheworkingclass;andeventhoughitis animatedbydemocraticsentiments,itwillbepronetolosingitsholdwhilefacingthedifficulties, inthemobilisationofallotherclassesagainsttheworkers,andtheresultwillbethethreatened restoration of Fascism. If, instead, the movement is backed only by the proletariat, it will be deprivedoftheclarityofthoughtwhichonlytheintellectualcangive,andwhichisneededinorder todefinenewpathsandnewduties;itwillremainaprisoneroftheformerclassism,itwillconsider everyoneasapotentialenemy,andwillslithertowardsthedoctrinaireCommunistsolution. Duringtherevolutionarycrisis,itisuptothismovementtoorganiseandguideprogressive forces using all the popular organs which grow spontaneously, ardent crucibles in which the revolutionarymassesaremelted,notforthedrawingupofplebiscites,butratherwaitingtobe guided.Itderivesthevisionandsecurityofwhatmustbedonenotfromapreviousconsecrationof what is not yet be the popular will, but from the consciousness of representing the deepest necessitiesofmodernsociety.Inthiswayitissuestheinitialregulationsoftheneworder,thefirst socialdisciplinedirectedtotheunformedmasses.Thisdictatorshipbytherevolutionarypartywill formthenewState,andnewgenuinedemocracywillgrowaroundthisState. There are no grounds for fearing that a similar revolutionary regime will develop into reneweddespotism.Thismaydevelopifaservilesocietyhasbeenforming.Butiftherevolutionary partycontinueswithdeterminationfromitsveryfirstactiontocreatetheconditionsnecessaryfor individualfreedom,conditionsunderwhichallcitizenscanreallyparticipateinthelifeoftheState, itwillevolvetowardsincreasingcomprehensionoftheneworder,eventhoughmovingthrough possiblesecondarypoliticalcrises,andacceptanceofitbyallthepopulation.Itwillbegrowing, therefore,towardsanincreasingpossibilityoffunctioning,andoffreepoliticalinstitutions. Themomenthasarrivedtoknowhowtodiscardoldonerousburdens,howtobereadyforthe newchangementsthatiscomingandthatwillbesodifferentfromwhatweexpected;toputaside the inept among the old, and create new energies among the young. Today those who have perceivedthereasonsforthepresentcrisisinEuropeancivilisationareseekingeachother,andare tryingtoplanfuture.Infacttheyaregatheringtheinheritanceleftbyallthosemovementswhich worked to raise and enlighten humanity, and which failed because of their incapability to

understandthepurposetobeachievedorthewayshowtoachieveit. Theroadtofollowisneithereasynorsafe.Butitmustbepursuedanditwillbe.