Researching Luo Zhanglong’s Thoughts Of Workers’ Movement

Luo Zhang long, an early communism activist, was one of the famous leaders of CPC and workers’ movement in China. During his early revolutionary career, Luo stressed on the study of Marxism and Socialism theory, kept summing up the experience of workers’ movement worldwide, integrated socialism theory with practice, formulated policies and principles of early workers’ movement led by CPC,and made great contribution to the preliminary activities of CPC and the development of China’s workers’ movement.During the early time of CPC, its key work was to organize and lead workers’ movement. Luo played an leading role during this period.He led a number of strikes and promoted actively the Marxism and Socialism theory. It is from the practice of leading workers’ movement that Luo absorbed experience and gradually formed his own theory about workers’ movement. Luo had rich thoughts about workers ’movement. The first one lies on his scientific analyses of the characteristics of the Chinese working class and the fact that he fully confirmed the leading role of Chinese working class in the revolution. Luo believed that the Chinese working class was an emerging class which was endowed with the solemn power to reform the old politics,economy and culture, and the one most revolutionary.Because of the harsh working conditions the Chinese working class had to bear, it’s the most revolutionary force ever. The Chinese working class became the leading force of the Chinese revolution,which was then the determining cause of success. The second one is his criticising the reformism thoughts in the Chinese workers’ movement. Based on the economic and political background of China, he analysed the reformism problem in workers’ movement, and pointed out that in the semi-colonial and semi-feudal society of China existed no economic and political condition for reformism. So reformism was impossible in the Chinese industry, and was a mere deception which was imposed by imperialists in order to eliminate the Chinese revolution and remained a tool to maintain their rule. The third one is that he unveiled the reality of the Kuomintang’s labor theory and policy. Luo pointed out that the essence of the so-called workers’ law by the Kuomintang(KMT), was merely a legal guarantee provided to capitalists who exploited workers, and its purpose was to compete for the leadership ofworkers’ movement with CPC. Luo believed that KMT did not enjoy the industry union but had provisional unions instead. He also doubted the purpose why KMT established the workers’ union and thought that it would endanger the working class.Fourth, he focused on the ways and strategies how CPC guided the workers to operate strikes. This was mainly reflected in four aspects: first, never render petition with no result and favor direct revolt rather than peaceful petition; Second, he prefer to unite the working class to counterattack powerful capitalists rather than mediation between labors and capitalists; Third, get rid of the KMT and its running dogs; Fourth,require direct negotiations between labors and capitalists. Five, develop Socialism movement. Luo believed that the workers’ union was the most important part of the Labor movement, which was also an important weapon in the struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, therefore, they must establish,consolidate and develop the communists’ union for the working class to defeat the deceptive and oppressive yellow workers union. Six, establish the workers army. Luo thought that in order to overthrow the reactionary ruling class, they must arm the struggling masses.Without a powerful armed organization of the working class, it was impossible to win in the uprising in the future.Luo’s socialism ideas was formed during the leadership of the Labor movement,and was a combination of Marxism theory, experience from international Labor movement and the reality of Chinese workers’ movement. It had certain influence on the workers’ movement led by CPC. Luo ’ideology and practice helped him gain his prestige and status in the early times of CPC and the international socialism movement, but also led him to the tragedy of sects fight inside the party. In the process of the opposition to the left-wing adventurism, Luo made the mistake of splitting the party.