Udaltsov's case

I consider the activities of Sergei Udaltsov politically harmful for the left movement. I don't understand his motives and his goals. But his sad experience teaches us one important lesson. You shouldn’t play politics without having support among the masses behind you.

Since its inception, the leftist movement has been part of a variety of coalitions, entered into the most controversial alliances, and used controversial methods to come to power. This is the essence of politics – coming to power to implement a political, social and economic program in the interests of one’s class. Ask bourgeois politicians, they not only understand the correctness of this thesis, but also put it into practice every day. Yes, politics is a “dirty” business, but how does it differ from other areas of human activity? Is work in the field of culture, media, science based only on the principles of high morality? If in tandem Udaltsov were liberals, the latter would be “donkeys”*, I would have no objections to this union.

However, behind the backs of professional politicians - communists, social democrats, anarchists, there were workers organized in workers' parties, Soviets, trade unions, etc. On the one hand, they controlled the elected leaders, and on the other, they represented a significant force that the tribunes of the people could cast on the scales in the political struggle. It was the support in the mass organizations of the working class that was the strategic condition for victory, and coalitions, pacts, and blocs were the tactical aspects.

And who is behind Sergei Udaltsov? How many divisions does he have? Who will go to the demonstration if he is arrested? Which factories will go on strike? Everyone knows the answers to these questions. Udaltsov represents only himself and a small group of activists. And in this situation, he is not a political partner. He is an object of manipulation, both from the bourgeois opposition and from the authorities. As a result, both he personally and the entire leftist movement, of which they are trying to present Udaltsov as a representative, will have to pay a high price. The history of the Russian Revolution knows one politician who started out as a true leader of the masses, but then lost touch with them, turned into a politician and ended his days in the closet of a suburban dacha (Moreover, his guilt, as some historians believe, was far from indisputable, the man was simply framed .)

*As Bismarck said, there is no friendship in politics, but only donkeys and riders.