Book Review: Marxism and the Jewish Question (Stewart Parker)

A debt of gratitude is owed by the anti-revisionist communist movement to Stewart Parker for the timely release of his second book ‘Marxism and the Jewish Question – In Theory And Practice 1843 – 1953’, which is a study/refutation of the many and varied allegations, by bourgeois and opportunist historians alike, of anti-Semitism within Marxism-Leninism as an ideology and within the Soviet Union in general with particular emphasis on the views and deeds of JV Stalin.

Parker’s first book, ‘The Last Soviet Republic’ was concerned with present day Belarus and its history and policies. It is a book full of useful facts and information but is somewhat timid when dealing with the wider political questions it inevitably comes up against. This timidity, or more correctly over-cautiousness regarding perceived impartiality, completely disappears in this second book. The author has settled down to deal with his subject without worrying if this work will be received as biased towards communism. It is un-ashamedly pro-communist but backs up every statement in defence of Marxism-Leninism, the Soviet Union and Comrade Stalin with solid facts and logic, likewise, it utterly destroys the claims of the accusers using these solid facts and logic against their flimsy but very well circulated and oft repeated ‘evidence’ which is shown up to be nothing but lies and carefully built up prejudices.

Among the supporters of the Soviet Union and comrade Stalin there will inevitably be some comrades who will find small parts or some conclusions not to their liking (being anti-revisionist Marxist-Leninists and pro Stalin does not make us all believe the same thing on all questions) but overall this should not detract from the value of the book which is of great use to all who consider themselves to be Marxist-Leninists. It is well researched, and well written, exposing the lies so often repeated concerning the Jewish Autonomous Region, the trial of some members of the Jewish Anti-fascist Committee, the campaign against ‘rootless cosmopolitans’ and the ‘doctors plot’. This is an easy and enjoyable book to read and is as important in its field as Mario Sousa’s ‘Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union’ is in countering the claims that Stalin murdered millions in death camps etc. It should be on the bookshelf (or rather in the hands) of all anti-revisionist communists and any other genuine truth-seeker on this question.