1. The Communist International and the ‘Negro Question’

Abstract

Africa was never a central focal point of the strategic considerations and tactical manoeuvres of communist movement during interwar world. In Lenin's vocabulary and other communist theoreticians, radicalization of the working class in countries defined as 'semi-colonial', such as India and China, could be achieved with support of the world communist movement. The abolishment of slavery in the British, French, Dutch, Danish and Spanish colonies during nineteenth century had resulted in emergence of a 'creole' society. The Fifth Comintern Congress discussed two resolutions that were directed towards the special challenges in the African Atlantic; (i) deals with the 'Negro Question' in the USA, the second one focussed on Africa, and (ii) Resolution concerning the Negro Question in the Colonies, was on the deployment of African troops against European workers, especially during the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923.Keywords: 'creole' society; 'Negro Question'; 'semi-colonial'; African troops; communist movement; European workers; Fifth Comintern Congress; French occupation; Lenin's vocabulary; Ruhr