COMMUNISTS AND ANARCHO-SYNDICALISTS OF SPAIN IN THE PERIOD OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT OF JUAN NEGRIN (1937–1938) DOI: 10.32608/2305-8773-2019-22-1-182-203
The article analyzes the evolution of relations between the Communist party of Spain (KPE) and the United socialist party of Catalonia (PSUC) on the one hand and the National Confederation of labour (CNT) and the Federation of anarchists of Iberia (FAI) on the other, during the first period of H. Negrin's government (may 1937 – April 1938). May clashes in Barcelona and the fall of the government of F. Largo Caballero in may 1937 were a turning point in the development of the Spanish revolution. The Government of Negrin, relying on the KPE as well, launched an attack on the self-governing sector of the economy and politics, which was represented by the CNT and FAI. KPE, which at the initial stage of the revolution fought with this sector, after the victory over the anarcho-syndicalists in may, as well as after the defeat of the Workers United Marxist party (POUM), began to fear that the socio-political processes in the country go too far to the right – especially in connection with the policy of defense Minister I. Prieto. This led to the Communists desire to use rapprochement with the anarcho-syndicalists to oppose right-wing trends in the Republican leadership. This left shift in the policy of the Communists was consistent with the desire of the leaders of the anarcho-syndicalists to legalize self-governing sector and to return to power. Moscow, which maintained the most moderate image of the Republic in the international arena, did not welcome the left-wing radical steps of the KPE and PSUC, hoping for the creation of a United "working" party by merging them with the PSOE. In relations with anarcho-syndicalists, the KPE acted from a position of strength, which also slowed the process of rapprochement. However, it contributed to the preservation of the self-governing sector after the defeat of the anarcho-syndicalists in may 1937. During the consolidation of power in the Republic, some political mechanisms were worked out, which were then used to establish the regimes of "people's democracy" in Eastern Europe.
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