Sandra Bloodworth
“These are not just strikes. This is a strike. This is the open rallying of the oppressed against the oppressors. This is the classic beginning of revolution.” So said Trotsky of the movement which swept France in 1936 following the election of the Popular Front government. How did a moment of such radical potential go down to defeat? How was a coalition of socialists, communists and liberals replaced with a thoroughly conservative government which eventually became an ally of Hitler. In this session we discuss the Stalinist ‘Popular Front’ strategy and how, in practice, it limited workers’ struggle and ultimately led to defeat.