Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to Socialism or regression into Barbarism. -- Rosa Luxemburg, The Junius Pamphlet (The Crisis of German Social Democracy)
Socialism or Barbarism, There Is No Third Way!
This slogan, as many great radical left slogans, comes from the turmoil of the early 20th Century (1915 is the first time we see a form of it in print which is quoted at the top of this post). With the rise of large
proletarian populations in capitalist nations across Europe came the rise of revolutionary parties and the art of leftist sloganeering with them.
This slogan has proven legs, and at it has, at its heart, a very important meaning.
Ecosocialism or barbarism: There is no third way! -- Slogan of Climate & Capitalism
Why It Is Easy to Misunderstand
So isn't this just propaganda equating capitalists with barbarians and calling socialism the only viable alternative?
Not quite, although many radical leftists probably could sign on to such perspectives, but it means something much more interesting
Capitalism was still relatively young at this time, and already it had several recessions. Even capitalists had a hard time seeing how capitalism could last forever, and Karl Marx had laid down what still holds as the greatest criticism of a social system by defining contradictions within the capitalist idea which would inevitably lead to its end.
 |
| 10,000 strong Communist rally in Union Square, New York, 08/01/1935 |
While social democratic reforms helped save capitalism for a time, it is still clear that no economic situation will last forever. The question, then, is what comes next?
The radical left made it very clear: capitalism will collapse for good one day, but what could replace it if not socialism? Barbarism. Primitive accumulation (think slavery, seizure, etc.) by the strong, fascism, relapse into feudalism (more of an issue in the world of 1915 when many countries were still feudal), etc.
