Communist International

Communist International
Name	Communist International
Native name	Коммунистический интернационал
Native name lang	ru
Abbreviation	Comintern
Formation	2 March 1919
Founder	Vladimir Lenin
Founded at	Moscow
Dissolution	15 May 1943
Type	International organization
Purpose	World communist revolution
Headquarters	Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Leader title	General Secretary
Leader name	Grigory Zinoviev (first), Georgi Dimitrov (last)

Communist International. Commonly known as the Comintern, it was an international organization founded in 1919 that advocated for world communist revolution. Under the control of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, it directed the activities of communist parties worldwide and served as a primary instrument of Soviet foreign policy. Its establishment marked a definitive split within the socialist movement, creating a lasting division between communists and social democrats.

History

The organization was founded in March 1919 in Moscow by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks following the Russian Revolution of 1917. Its creation was a direct response to the collapse of the Second International and the perceived betrayal by social democratic parties that supported their national governments during World War I. The early years, known as the period of "World Revolution," were characterized by failed uprisings in Germany and Hungary, leading to a strategic shift. After Lenin's death and the rise of Joseph Stalin, its function increasingly became subservient to the domestic and foreign policy needs of the Soviet Union, particularly during the Great Purge and the shifting alliances of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and World War II.

Organizational structure

Its supreme body was the World Congress of the Comintern, which elected an Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) to lead between congresses. The ECCI, in turn, appointed a Presidium and a Political Secretariat for day-to-day operations. Key departments included the International Liaison Department (OMS) for clandestine communications and funding, and regional secretariats overseeing activities in areas like Latin America and the Balkans. This centralized, hierarchical structure ensured tight control from Moscow over all national sections.

Ideology and policies

Its foundational ideology was Leninism, particularly as articulated in Lenin's work "Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder," which demanded strict discipline from member parties. Key policies included unwavering opposition to colonialism, social democracy (denounced as "social fascism"), and later, advocacy for a Popular Front against fascism following the Seventh Congress in 1935. The doctrine of "Socialism in One Country" promoted by Joseph Stalin eventually superseded the initial focus on immediate world revolution, orienting its activities toward the defense of the Soviet Union.

Congresses and key meetings

Seven World Congresses were held, each dictating major strategic turns. The First Congress (1919) established the organization, while the Second (1920) adopted the strict "Twenty-one Conditions" for membership. The Third (1921) introduced the tactic of the "United front." The most significant shift occurred at the Seventh Congress (1935), where Georgi Dimitrov announced the Popular Front policy. Key meetings of the ECCI, such as its Enlarged Plenums, also issued directives that shaped global communist tactics.

Member parties and influence

It comprised dozens of member parties, including major sections like the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), the French Communist Party (PCF), and the Communist Party of China (CPC) during its early alliance with the Kuomintang. It exerted profound influence by providing funding, training at institutions like the International Lenin School, and political directives, deeply shaping parties from the Communist Party USA to the Communist Party of India. Its agents, such as Mikhail Borodin, played crucial roles in advising revolutions, notably in China. However, its control often stifled local initiative and led to disastrous policies, such as the KPD's opposition to the SPD which facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler.

Dissolution and legacy

It was officially dissolved in May 1943 by a decree from the ECCI Presidium, a gesture by Joseph Stalin to appease his Western Allies, America and Britain. Its functions were largely absorbed by the International Department of the CPSU Central Committee. The legacy is complex; it successfully globalized a model of disciplined Leninist party organization but ultimately served as an instrument of Soviet imperialism. Its dissolution paved the way for the Cold War-era formation of the Cominform and continued Soviet control over international communist movements.

Category:Communist International Category:International communist organizations Category:Organizations established in 1919 Category:Organizations disestablished in 1943