The failures of 'lesser evilism' and the popular front

Those on the left are increasingly being pushed the idea that we must support, vote for and publicly defend the 'lesser evil' in politics. Many liberal politicians orient their campaign around the idea that they are not as bad as the other candidate.

This is not a new phenomenon but a rehashing of the ideas of the Popular Front, popularised by Stalin in the 1920s/30s to excuse his distaste for international revolution.

Importantly, it has never worked in defeating either fascism or the right wing populists of today such as Trump or Farage. In fact, the left aligning themselves with the liberals, ie. the representatives of capitalist crisis, has only opened the road further to those on the right presenting themselves as the anti-establishment candidates.

In this talk, delivered to the newly elected RCP Central Committee this weekend, Rob Sewell discusses different examples of lesser evilism and the popular front and their failures, linking this to how this bankrupt idea has informed the political situation in the West today.

Rob Sewell is a member of the Executive Committee of the RCP and the International Secretariat of the RCI.

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