THE FUTURE OF
SOCIALISM
241
or Greece the non-Communist left, men who believe in debate and
civil
liberty, cannot stand up for long against men, whether of the
extreme right or of the extreme left, who believe in rifles.
But over the long-term the US cannot develop a dependence on
the right,
if
only because the right is a bad practical investment. A pro–
gram of containment requires a ring of stable and satisfied countries
around Russia- countries whose internal well-being provides a first
line of defense against Communist penetration. At this stage in the
world's history, the right cannot provide such governments. The very
logic of events may force even a right-wing government in this coun–
try to support left-wing governments abroad, just as the Truman
government is entertaining the thought of giving Greece the New Deal
it has driven out of Washington. Far from leading to fascism at
home, a program of containment may after a certain period lead to
greater power for American labor. Just as it was necessary to bribe
the business community to take part in the struggle against fascism,
so it may be necessary to bribe the labor movement to take part in
a struggle against Communism. Whatever else may be said about a
"permanent war economy," at least wages are high, employment is
full, and the economy is relatively stable and productive.
All this presupposes, of course, that Marshall has not only the
ability to develop his policy but also the backing to carry it out. The
backing, rather than the policy itself, presents the serious question.
A democracy is politically unreliable at best; the American democ–
racy is notoriously unreliable on all questions of maintaining a con–
tinuous foreign policy. Between the irresponsibility of the capitalists,
the confusion of the intellectuals, and the impotence of the working
class, there may arise a state of irresolution which produces a political
vacuum; and a political vacuum inevitably attracts activists-gang–
sters, terrorists and totalitarians.
At this point the responsibility of the intellectual becomes mani–
fest. Some one must serve as the custodian of honesty and clarity in
a turbulent and stricken society. Some one must restore a serious
sense of the value of facts, of the integrity of reason, of devotion to
truth. Some one must provide intellectual leadership.
As
capitalism
crumbles through the world, we know that any path which can
preserve peace and freedom is narrow and hazardous. Our instru–
ments must be as precise as possible, our analysis as dispassionate, our
conclusions as honest and objective as we can make them. One false
step may plunge the world int_o atomic war or deliver it into totali–
tarian darkness.
