Unity, Vol. 2, No. 4

This edition of Unity, from the Communist Party of Ireland, joins others in the Archive. It arrived at a particularly eventful time, with a report on the imminent release of Nelson Mandela from South African prison. The editorial spoke of the ‘manipulation behind the scenes of German re-unification’, this in the wake of the disengagement by the USSR in Eastern Europe.

It argues:

The situation in eastern Europe continues to fluctuate almost daily, a reflection of the fact that the loss of direction and confidence suffered by the communist parties previously in power is not matched by any clear alternative as to the way forward.

Of course, the fact is that the crowds who demonstrated, especially in Gdansk and Prague were not, consciously at least, in favour of what capitalism actually stands for.

On the contrary, they wanted a better life, with more consumer goods and an easier way of living and working.

That is not what their “revolutions” have given them. Poland ii now facing inflation of 900 per cent and unemployment- previously unheard of- is expected to reach 20 per cent by the end of the year as privatization begins to bite.

Now in Hungary, workers are demonstrating against the austerity programme brought in by the new government under the orders of the IMF.

But it is in East Germany that the swings of the pendulum are at their most extreme.

And:

Last October, when party authority crumbled, it was estimated that the communist vote in elections would drop to less than 20 per cent or even 15 per cent.

Then just a few weeks ago, the latest opinion poll showed communist support at an incredible 35 per cent, with 67 per cent also opposed to immediate unconditional German reunification.

These last polls caused considerab/,e concern in the ruling circles of West Germany, which can barely restrain its passion for occupying the territory of its neighbour.

Without ignoring underlying domestic problems in the GDR -not least of which has been a continuing exodus of needed workers – the fact is that the West Germans have poured billions of marks into campaigns to exacerbate fears and doubts and encourage street protests and strikes.

In response to this the GDR Government has succeeded in persuading the genuine opposition forces to participate in the government, and also to bring forward the elections necessary to give the stamp of authority to whatever government emerges.

This is clearly not sufficient for the West German authorities, whose chancellor, Helmut Kohl, has announced that he intends to campaign personally in the East German elections for the parties that favour reunification.

It concludes:

For Irish workers, there are three points to notice. First, we should see the manipulation that is going on and understand that they would do the same to us if we were poised to free ourselves of capitalism.

Secondly, democracy is not strengthened by handling industnes over to private capitalists, as East German workers will discover if the tragedy of reunification befalls them.

Thirdly, progressive workers in Ireland who naturally work for the reunification of our country should not be misled by the slogan to imagine that its German counterpart would be anything but retrograde and dangerous for all the peoples of Europe in the present circumstances.

For, while the reunification of Ireland is a step to giving all of our people the chance to use our resources for jobs and wealth at home, German reunification is seen as an opportunity to build a new Fourth Reich, achieved not by the methods of.Nazism, but through the strength of German finance capital.

But wheth!r they do it with the jackboot or the cheque book, the result will be the same for the peoples who are listed for subjugation.

Other pieces look at ‘Cuba’s road to socialism’ and the ‘Shorts pay claim saga’.

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