The present crisis in relations between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia should concern all socialists. Apart from the obvious questions of the right of the Czechoslovak people to self-determination and our desire to see a resurgence of workers' democracy a conflict between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia could play into the hands of American imperialism precisely at the time when it is in such difficulties in the Vietnam war.
It is an over-simplification to take the view that what is involved is "poor little Czechoslovakia" being bullied by giant Russia, The new ruling group in Prague came to power as a result of a conjuncture of three main forces in opposition to the Novotny regime: Slovakians, who felt they were getting a bad deal under the old set-up; sections of the Communist Party and managerial strata, who had been frustrated by the stagnation of the economy; and a vast popular movement, headed by students and intellectuals, which was completely dissatisfied by the lack of democracy prior to Dubcek coming to power,
As in all revolutionary situations there are many different strata represented in this coalition. The Russians are quite right when they say that there are right-wing forces at work but they are absolutely hypocritical when they claim that this is the reason for their concern in the events in Czechoslovakia,
There seem to be two main reasons why the Kremlin is so alarmed: (1) for military reasons they fear the outcome of the present process may entail the danger of a breach in the Warsaw Pact. This theory is strengthened by the fact that it is the military in the Soviet Union who have been so aggressive; and (2) a successful liberalisation of Czechoslovakia would undoubtably set in motion an irresistible movement to kick out the leaders of Poland, the German Democratic Republic and Hungary. Moreover, it would strengthen the forces in the Soviet Union itself struggling against bureaucracy.
If they cared about the future of socialism in Czechoslovakia the Russian leaders would realise that their actions are strengthening precisely those right-wing forces they claim to be worried about. But in our support for the right of the Czechoslovakian people to decide their own form of government we would slip into a mistake if we portrayed the present rulers in Prague as basically anti-bureaucratic.
Rather they represent an alternative bureaucratic sector to that of the Novotny centralists. Those who remember the heady days of the October, 1956 Revolution in Poland will recognise many similarities between Gomulka and Dubcek,
The task remains in Czechoslovakia of carrying out a thoroughly anti-bureaucratic political revolution. And that is the tub of the question. The now famous "2,000 words", which upset the Kremlin so much, suggested that the mass of people be brought into action to drive out the last of the Novotny hangers-on. The Russian leaders don't know much about marxism but they do know that if the masses are set into motion the process is no longer controllable. Hence their attempts to put the maximum pressure upon the Dubcek leadership - before it is too late - to stop the process of liberalisation. They are trying the most blatant and hypocritical pressure, just now; by the time this appears in print they may be using more military means, Either way the left must oppose this with all the means at its disposal.
It is difficult to think of a time when the leaders of the Kremlin have shown their priority so clearly: they are not so stupid and they know the damage that their actions are doing to their cause, yet despite this they go on using the language of force. This shows quite clearly that when their bureaucratic regime is threatened all else goes to the wall.
If the Soviet leaders decide to invade Czechoslovakia they will deal a death blow to their international standing among Communist Parties and relations with many other forces would be in jeopardy. Yet they have got themselves into a position where it is very difficult for them to withdraw without finding a scapegoat in the Russian leadership.
Russian action against Czechoslovakia would do immense damage to the world-wide struggle for solidarity with the Vietnamese people, The united front which is being built up to support the Vietnamese people would be greatly hindered, In fact those of us who have worked so hard to build this united front would have the task of building another united front: that of support for the Czechoslovakian people. This front would, in the first stages, be harder to build because it would have to confined to those who wish to defend the socialised property relations in Czechoslovakia.
Despite the official opposition of the Communist Party to Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia, this task would fall to the marxists. Apart from anything else we have no guarantee that the C.P. would not change its position: remember Hungary! Moreover, political clarity is needed in this fight: how can orthodox communist explain, in marxist terms, present events?
Our messages must be: "Hands off Czechoslovakia!"; "Support the Czechoslovak people in their fight against bureaucracy and for self-determination"; and "Defend the socialised property relations in Czechoslovakia in the most effective way: by an anti-bureaucratic political revolution."