576
PARTISAN REVIEW
herence and display a degree of vigor, largely because of the special
position of
this
country. The American victories of the past 30 years
have occurred at the expense not only of its enemies but also of its
allies; its strength is a function of Europe's weakness. American
vitality, however, is largely deceptive, its appearance of health be–
ing little more than the flush of war economy (it is curious, by the
way, that in a statement on our country and our culture there is no
mention of the war economy). We should remember that the
economic problems brought to climax by the depression were not
solved by the New Deal; the "solution" came only through war and
the ensuing economy of war. There has, of course, been a tre–
mendous expansion of productive facilities during the past few
years, but in itself this changes little-the depression was hardly
caused by a
shortage
of factories.
The exhaustion of capitalism on a world scale, together with
the failure of tl1e radical movements, creates a social vacuum.
Everywhere in Europe and Asia one observes a straining for a way
out, a baffled desire for perspective and energy. It is here that Stalin–
ism enters, a unique historical force blending both reactionary and
"revolutionary" appeals, sensitively attuned to both the corruption
of our time and its hunger for fundamental solutions. Stalinism
appropriates, in part, the two major energies of modern society:
the decayed but still powerful socialist tradition of Europe and
the struggle of the Asiatic peoples for national independence and
elementary reform. So long as it controls these energies Stalinism
will remain a potent force; so long as it is fought from the stand–
point of the status quo or merely by an appeal to liberal demo-·
cracy, Stalinism will control these energies. (Which is why William
Barrett's recommendation, in a recent PR, that the tradition and
language of Marxism be ceded to the Stalinists is not only morally
insensitive but a tactical blunder: the strength of Stalinism proceeds
precisely from its claim to Marxism ,and the Russian Revolution.)
This may seem schematic, as in mere outline it must be; I
therefore enroll the testimony of so responsible a conservative as
John Foster Dulles. Mr. Dulles recently wrote: "The communism
of Soviet Russia represents today the active, dynamic element ana-–
the free world represents the static, passive element ... Today a
revolutionary spirit grips over half the human race. There are
