24
PARTISAN REVIEW
of political organization. The Stalinists, who until 1934 denied
the existence of any such difference and who fought against social–
democracy and liberal democracy as the equivalents of fascism,
these gentlemen in actuality made possible Hitler's victory.
But it would also be a mistake, through fear of fascism, to
turn conservative. Fascism's power, its mass appeal, its contagious
influence, all are due to the fact that fascism means false solutions,
easy solutions,
ers.atz
solutions-but, all the same,
solutions
of the
real problems of our time. We can conquer fascism only by pro·
posing and carrying out other solutions-just, humane, progressive
solutions of these same problems. But conservative democracy
denies the existence of these problems. She does not see them, does
not wish to see them, is unable to see them. That is why, in spite
of her military strength, her material wealth and her monopoly of
raw materials, when conservative democracy is brought face to
face with fascism, she is forced back onto the defensive. That is
why she has until now been beaten by fascism. That is why she is
weak. The democrats are right when they call the Nazi "abolition
of unemployment" fictitious, unstable and a stop-gap measure, but
their criticism will be more convincing when they themselves find
and carry out a healthy and permanent solution of the same prob–
lem. It is true that Fascist nationalism conflicts with that peaceful
collaboration of all peoples which is a historical necessity, now
that the economic integration of the globe has laid the foundation
for a progressive world-unity. But the Versailles system is also
based on nationalism, it too is opposed to historical development,
and so it cannot be set up as an effective barrier against fascism.
When the socialists, with the best possible anti-fascist intentions,
renounce their own program, put their own theories in moth balls,
and accept the negative positions of conservative democracy, they
think they are doing their bit in the struggle to crush fascism.
Actually, they leave to fascism the distinction of alone daring to
bring forward in public certain problems, thus driving into the
fascists' arms thousands of workers who will not accept the
status quo.
In short, I see the struggle against fascism as primarily not
a military but a political and social question. We anti-fascists have
been beaten by the fascists in political and social spheres; it is
cheap to seek revenge in the military sphere. War will not make
