3.

Zurich Congress, August 6–12, 1893

The Second International’s Zurich Congress of 1893 drew 439 delegates from twenty countries.

Introductory Note

Noteworthy among those attending was an official delegation from the British trade unions, which gave the congress added international authority.

As with the 1891 Brussels Congress, anarchists played a disruptive role in Zurich. Consequently, a motion was adopted that the congress be open to all those who recognized the need for working-class political action. Since the anarchists rejected such action, the motion effectively excluded them from the congress.

Debates on the idea of a general strike against war and on the question of May Day, which had arisen at the 1891 Brussels Congress, came up again in Zurich.

A highlight of the congress was the closing address given by seventy-two-year-old Frederick Engels, who was elected honorary president of the final session. “We must continue to work on common ground,” Engels told the delegates. “We must permit discussion in order not to become a sect, but the common standpoint must be retained. The loose association, the voluntary bond which is furthered by congresses, is sufficient to win us the victory which no power in the world can snatch from us again.”^[1]

* * *

CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION TO THE CONGRESS

The point of this resolution was to exclude the anarchists, who did not recognize the need for political action. The first paragraph was moved by Paul Argyriadès, A. Bonnet, J. Mojonnet, Auguste Keufer, Saint-Domingue, Edmond Degay, Eugène Guérard, B. Mortier, Victor Renou, Louis Fiérre, Léon Rémy, Marchand, and Marianne. The second paragraph was proposed by Victor Adler, B. Edwards, August Bebel, Karl Kautsky, Wilhelm Liebknecht, Marya Jankowska-Mendelson, and Otto Lang.

All trade unions shall be admitted to the Congress; also those socialist parties and organizations that recognize the necessity of the organization of the workers and of political action.

By “political action” is meant that the working-class organizations seek, as far as possible, to use or conquer political rights and the machinery of legislation for furthering the interests of the proletariat and the conquest of political power.

* * *

THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY

Commission resolution, as amended by the congress.

The Congress resolves:

The eight-hour day is one of the most important preconditions for the definitive liberation of the working class from the yoke of capital. It is also the most important available measure to improve their conditions of life.

The eight-hour day reduces unemployment, increases workers’ productivity, raises their pay, and enlarges their purchasing capacity.

The eight-hour day enhances family life, which is disrupted by the capitalist system, and makes it possible to improve child welfare.

The eight-hour day improves the people’s health, strength, intelligence, and morality.

The eight-hour day provides the working class with increased time for trade-union and political activity. Only then are political rights and freedoms rendered effective and useful as tools for workers’ social liberation.

The campaign for the eight-hour day must be waged in every country, since this is the only way to secure its introduction and its manifold benefits.

The Congress proposes the following measures to win the eight-hour day on an international level:

• Organization of the working class in both trade unions and political parties and their utilization to carry out both agitation and propaganda for the eight-hour day.

• Agitation for the eight-hour day should be carried out through leaflets, lectures, the socialist press, demonstrations, and rallies; and in political institutions of every sort, in national, regional, and municipal assemblies. The socialist press should feature an ongoing column titled “The Eight Hour Day,” which reports on all events and efforts to this end. Workers’ representatives in political assemblies should propose from time to time measures to shorten the hours of work, particularly for workers employed in the public service.

• Socialist representatives in national parliaments should come to agreement on a common legal proposal to introduce the eight-hour day on an international level, and should press the governments of all industrialized countries to join in an international conference to introduce it.

• The trade unions should wage an independent struggle with the bosses, outside the political arena, for introduction of the eight-hour day and, in this way, prepare the ground to win this measure for the working class as a whole.

* * *

POLITICAL ACTION

Commission resolution presented to the congress by Émile Vandervelde.

The Congress declares that political action is only a means of achieving the economic emancipation of the proletariat, referring to the decisions of the Brussels Congress on the class struggle:

1. That it is necessary for workers of all countries to organize nationally and internationally into labor unions and other organizations for struggling against their exploiters.

2. That political action is necessary not only from the point of view of agitation and of the affirmation of socialist principles as a whole, but also from the point of view of the realization of reforms of immediate interest. Consequently, we recommend to the workers of all countries to conquer political rights, and to make use of them in all legislative and administrative bodies, for the purpose of realizing the demands of the proletariat, and to gain possession of political power, which is today only an instrument of capitalist domination, in order to transform it into a means for the emancipation of the proletariat.

3. That the form of political and economic struggle must be determined according to circumstances by the various nationalities. But in all cases the revolutionary aim of the socialist movement must be made fundamental: namely, the complete transformation of present society from the economic, moral, and political points of view. In no case can political action be used for compromise or for alliances that would contradict the principles and the independence of socialist parties.

Whereas the forms of representation in present-day society do not accurately reflect the thoughts and desires of those who are represented;

And whereas the prevailing constituency system in most countries is set up for election by majority;

These conditions can only increase the conflict between the will of the people and the votes of its representatives.

The Congress therefore advocates the achievement of complete popular sovereignty through proportional representation and also through the right to propose and approve laws (initiative and referendum).

* * *

THE AGRARIAN QUESTION

Commission resolution presented to the congress by Charles Victor Jaclard. The Congress affirms the right of the community to the soil above and below.

The Congress declares that one of the most pressing duties of the Social Democracy of all countries is to organize the agricultural laborers no less than the industrial workers, and to incorporate them into the ranks of the army of international socialism.

The Congress decides that all nationalities shall present to the next congress a report on the progress of the propaganda in the rural districts, and on the agrarian situation generally in their respective countries.

These reports shall especially indicate what attitude, what means, what method of propaganda the socialists of these respective countries consider as best suited to their own agrarian situation as regards the different categories of agricultural laborers, such as small peasants, proprietors, métayers [sharecroppers], etc.

The Congress, in view of the capital importance of the land question and the insufficient attention it has hitherto received at international congresses, recommends that it be placed first on the agenda at the next congress.

* * *

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF TRADE UNIONS

Commission resolution presented by Adolph von Elm. It was adopted by the congress incorporating an amendment by Jean Volders.

Referring to the resolution on strikes and boycotts voted at the Brussels Congress of 1891 and in accordance with it, the International Congress of Zurich 1893 resolves:

Making the struggle of the working classes in the domain of economics into a centralized and effective one is possible only by the organization of the workers. It is the duty of all workers conscious of their class to join their respective organizations. It is the duty of the political workers’ party and of the workers’ newspapers to advance the trade organizations of the workers with all their energy. The trade unions are destined to be the pillars of the organization of the coming society and therefore the further strengthening of them is, alongside the conquering of political power, an absolute necessity.

The united efforts of the capitalists to reduce the standard of living of the workers necessitate a stronger union than ever between the forces of trade unionism, to cultivate a community of interest of all workers in all industries and all countries, notwithstanding all differences of race and religion, and an active mutual support in all their struggles against capitalism.

I

For this purpose the Congress recommends:

1. The formation of national unions of the different trades.

2. International arrangements for mutual support.

3. The establishment of national workers’ bureaus, where all federations are to be represented. It is their duty to exchange all information of importance about the labor movement, strikes and lockouts, and the annual reports of the different trade societies.

4. In order to bring about a centralized organization of the information as to the labor market, trade societies [unions] shall demand everywhere of the municipalities the establishment of labor exchanges, the management of which shall be conferred only upon the trade societies of the place.

II

As regards more especially America and Australia:

Whereas the development of capitalism in those great countries has reached a point where the purely economic organization of their wageworkers must soon become absolutely powerless unless it be supplemented by independent political action on the lines of the international socialist movement; and

Whereas their growing importance in the economy of the world and the cosmopolitan character of their populations is raising vital questions concerning the conditions of existence of the European proletariat and the progress of the social revolution;

Be it resolved that the Congress urges upon the trade unions of America and Australia not only the benefit of entering as soon as possible into direct relations with the corresponding trade unions and labor syndicates of Europe upon the plan above proposed, but also and above all the necessity of repudiating the bourgeois political parties that betray and oppress them, and of constituting themselves into great socialist labor parties, marching with their European brethren to the emancipation of the working classes.

III

The Italian delegates, aware of the baneful influence exercised by the immigration and competition of unorganized foreign workers on the labor and socialist organizations of several countries, invite the socialist and labor organizations of those countries affected by such “disloyal competition” to extend the social propaganda and the spirit of resistance among the workers of foreign nationalities. The Italian delegates promise on their part the cooperation of the Italian socialists in the matter. They will furnish reports on Italian emigration, will enlighten the toilers of their country, and will circulate socialist and labor literature among the Italian workers abroad.

Viewing the question from a general point of view, the Congress resolves:

That it is advisable for the socialist and labor organizations of all nations where the evil effects of the competition brought about by the immigration of foreign unorganized labor are mostly felt, to extend among the latter the organization and the propagation of the principles of international solidarity.

That the socialist and labor organizations requiring information or aid should address themselves through their general national secretaries to the central representatives of similar bodies in the countries from which the immigration comes.

* * *

COMMON ACTION WITH REGARD TO
FIRST OF MAY DEMONSTRATION

Commission resolution presented by Jean Volders, as amended by the congress.

The Congress reaffirms the resolution of the Brussels Congress as follows:

In order to secure for the First of May its specially economic character, the demand for the eight-hour day, and the proclamation of the class war;

The Congress decides:

1. The First of May is a day of demonstrations on which the workers of all nations shall demonstrate the solidarity of their interests and their demands. This day of demonstrations shall be a day of rest from work, as far as this is not rendered impossible by the circumstances of the respective countries.

2. The Congress resolves furthermore the following addition:

It is the duty of the Social Democracy of every country to strive for a celebration of the First of May as a day of rest from work, and to support the local organizations in their endeavors in that direction.

3. It is further resolved:

The First of May demonstration for obtaining the eight-hour day shall at the same time be the manifestation of a firm resolve on the part of the working classes to destroy all forms of class distinctions through social transformation, as the only way that leads to the peace of the peoples and to peace and good will between the nations of the world.

* * *

PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION FOR WORKING WOMEN

Commission resolution presented by Louise Kautsky, adopted by acclamation.

Considering:

That the bourgeois women’s rights movement rejects all special legislation on behalf of working women as an attack upon the freedom of women and upon her equal rights as opposed to men;

That thus it, on the one hand, leaves out of account the conditions of our modern society, a society based upon the exploitation of the working class—women and men—by the capitalist class;

That on the other hand, it does not take into account the special and peculiar function of women, a function imposed upon her by the differentiation of sex, a function of such tremendous importance for the future of society—that of the mother of children;

The International Socialist Workers Congress of Zurich declares:

It is the duty of the labor representatives in all countries to insist upon protective legislation for women by securing the following measures:

1. A maximum working day of eight hours for women, and of six hours for young persons under eighteen.

2. Cession of work for thirty-six consecutive hours in every week.

3. Prohibition of night labor.

4. Prohibition of labor in all trades especially dangerous to health.

5. Prohibition of women working two weeks before, and four weeks after, confinement [for childbirth].

6. The appointment of an adequate number of women inspectors for all trades and industries in which women are employed.

7. The above provisions to apply to all girls and women employed in factories, workshops, shops, home industries, and in agricultural labor.

[The following amendment, tabled by delegates from Belgium, Spain, Romania, the Netherlands, Italy, France and England, was adopted by majority vote.]

Considering that in all trades in which women work, the working day is almost everywhere longer and wages are half those of male workers, resulting not only in terrible competition but also very often in lockouts.

The Congress resolves:

That in order to protect women's labour, it is necessary above all to severely limit the exploitation of women, not only by reducing working hours, but also by adopting the principle of “equal pay for equal work.”

* * *

SOCIAL DEMOCRACY IN THE EVENT OF WAR

Commission resolution presented by Georgy Plekhanov, proposed originally by the German delegation. The Dutch delegation submitted a resolution similar to the one it had proposed in 1891 calling for an international general strike against war (see the appendix); the Dutch counterresolution was rejected by the congress.

The position of workers in the event of war is defined in precise manner by the resolution of the Brussels Congress on militarism. The international revolutionary Social Democracy in every country must rise with all its force against the chauvinist appetites of the ruling classes. It must consolidate ever more closely the bonds of solidarity between workers in every country. It must work unceasingly to conquer capitalism, which divides humanity into two great hostile camps and stirs up the people against each other.

With the disappearance of class domination, war will likewise disappear. The fall of capitalism means universal peace.

The representatives of the labor party in the deliberating meetings must reject all military credits; they must protest unceasingly against standing armies and demand disarmament. The whole of the socialist party must lend its support to all associations whose object is universal peace.

* * *

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

Commission resolution presented to the congress. While this resolution was included in the official proceedings and is generally listed as one of the Zurich Congress resolutions, the plenary itself was not actually able to take it up due to lack of time.

Considering:

That it would be desirable for all Social Democrats to organize internationally under a common name, but that the restrictions upon liberty of association imposed by the reactionary laws of several countries prevent this for the time being:

This Congress recognizes as members of the international revolutionary Social Democratic party all organizations, societies, and parties that acknowledge the class war, and the necessity of the socialization of the means of production, and who are in accord with the principles of the International Socialist Workers’ Congresses.

The Congress urges upon all members of the party and upon all labor organizations, trade or political, to agitate unceasingly for the abolition of all laws restricting the right of association.

The Congress expresses its wish that the first portion of the program of the Social Democratic Party of all countries, which sets forth its aims with regard to the necessary economic revolution, be stated in identical terms, as the aims of the Social Democracy of all countries are the same. The second part of the program will stand in accordance with the particular requirements and political demands of each country.

* * *

THE GENERAL STRIKE

Commission resolution, drafted by Karl Kautsky. While this resolution was included in the official proceedings and is generally listed as one of the Zurich Congress resolutions, the plenary itself was not actually able to take it up due to lack of time.

Whereas strikes cannot be successfully undertaken except in special cases and for a specific purpose, neither of which can be determined beforehand;

Whereas a general (international) strike is no longer practicable, owing to the very different economic development in different countries, and just so soon as it should become practicable it would become unnecessary;

Whereas even a general strike limited to one country cannot be successful; if it be conducted upon peaceful lines, the strikers will be the first to starve and would be compelled to capitulate; if on the other hand, it be conducted upon violent lines, the strikers would be ruthlessly butchered;

Therefore be it resolved:

That under existing social and political conditions, at best, a general strike of any one industry might be practicable.

Furthermore, general strikes might under certain circumstances be a very powerful weapon not only in the economic, but also in the political struggle. Nevertheless it is a weapon that, in order to be wielded with success, presupposes a powerful organization—both political and economic—of the working class.

Finally, the Congress recommends to the socialist political parties of all countries to promote with all possible energy such political and economic organization of the working class, and passes to the next order of business.

* * *

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE

Motion presented to the congress by the Austrian delegation and adopted by acclamation.

The Congress resolves that the time has come for the proletariat, in all countries in which the universal franchise has not yet been achieved, to launch an effort to achieve voting rights for all adults, regardless of gender or race. The proletariat of the entire world is urged to take part in this effort.

* * *

SOLIDARITY WITH BRITISH MINERS

Motion presented by the Austrian delegation and adopted by acclamation.

Hundreds of thousands of British miners are presently on strike for their basic rights.^[2] Their struggle is in the interests of workers around the world. The Socialist Congress now meeting in Zurich expresses its support and its hope that the inception of this strike will lead to its complete victory.

* * *

MOTION ON FRENCH AND SIAMESE CRISIS

A number of Italian, German, and Swiss delegates asked the Congress to express its support to the French delegates, who are now engaged in an election campaign. The Congress adopted this proposal amid enthusiastic applause.

The British delegation reported on its unanimous decision to express solidarity with the French working class in the face of the enmity between France and Britain generated by their clash over Siam [Thailand].^[3]

Regardless of enmity within the bourgeoisie, the interests of the working class in both France and Britain require a common struggle against capitalist exploitation. The British delegation therefore would like to express its warmest regards for the French workers, and to wish them every success in their election campaign.

Footnotes

Engels, “Closing Speech at the International Socialist Workers’ Congress in Zurich, August 12, 1893,” in Marx Engels Collected Works, vol. 27 (Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1990), pp. 404–5. ↑
During the summer of 1893, some 250,000 British coal miners were on strike, led by the recently formed Miners’ Federation. ↑
The Franco-Siamese War of 1893 was sparked by a French effort to undermine British power in the region by spreading its control into Laos, which was controlled by Siamese (Thai) forces. Following the conflict, Laos was ceded to France. The effort nearly escalated into an international incident. Ultimately French-British negotiations established an internationally recognized border between Laos and the British-controlled territory of Upper Burma. ↑