(Project of the Historical Materialism Series at Brill)

Vpered Publications – Вперед (Женева) №4 (14 апреля 1916)

The fourth issue of Geneva’s section newspaper Vpered again emphasizes the need for all ‘internationalists’ to unite against the war – the only solution is to end the war as soon as possible, any military ‘success’ only supports the existing order, workers fighting against one another in the name of their national interests are acting against their own interests.

The rest of the issue is dedicated to two long pieces – one by Lunacharsky (‘The defence of the defenders’ – against social-patriots, aka Plekhanov and his supporters), the other by Lebedev-Poliansky (‘Sans merci’ – on the second international conference and the need to create new International).

Lunacharsky’s text continues his criticism of Plekhanov’s position on the war, but here by proxy – his main target is the collection of texts called ‘Self-defense’ published in 1916.

Lebedev-Poliansky argues for a need to create a brand new International; it cannot be based on the old cadres and organizations (amnestied from their erroneous ways). The new upcoming conference must lay the foundation for this new organization: