SocialistStories حكايات اشتراكية

This short book (131pg) by the russian/french Communist Victor Serge was written while Serge was still in the Soviet Union and had access to the very recently discovered archives of the czarist secret police. Written to help revolutionaries abroad deal with reactionary repression, it details the workings of the Okhrana (czarist secret police) as well as others: its handling and use of informers, its records and quasi-academic approach to compiling extensive information about revolutionary organizations, etcetera. Yet it also delves into the issues of revolutionary repression, and other tactical and political issues that face a revolutionary movement.

On this subject I would like to briefly quote something Serge wrote on the issue of illegality, as I find it very suitable to the present day: “Fetishism of legality was and still is one of the characteristic features of the class collaboration tendency of socialism. It involves a belief in the possibility of transforming the capitalist order without entering into conflict with its privileged elements. But rather than indicating a naivete quite incompatible with the mentality of politicians, it is a sign of the corruption of the leaders. Entrenched in a society they pretend to be fighting, they recommend respecting the rules of the game. The working class can only respect bourgeois legality if it ignores the real role of the state and the deceptive nature of democracy; in short, the first principles of the class struggle.” (pg. 85)

Although this book was written in the 1920's and technology has changed drastically, the majority of the book remains relevant to this day, just be logical: certain details are no longer relevant, but they have been replaced by others (letters replaced by email, texts, etc), but the general caution and tricks involved in using them for revolutionary aims are the same. And lastly I would like to add on a personal note that being cautious, even when it seems paranoid, will pay off. I personally have been in such a situation: and what I did regularly out of caution saved me from a lot of trouble with some very unpleasant people. Enjoy comrades: