Germany and Pan-Slavism

An important document by Engels criticizing Pan-Slavism and elaborating the thought of the proletarian national movement. Written in April 1855. The original text, in German, appeared in the Neue Oder-Zeitung, Nos. 185 and 189, April 21 and 24, 1855.

In the 19th century, Pan-Slavism took shape in the Slavonic regions of Eastern Europe and posed a great threat to Europe. During the storm of revolutions in Europe in 1848, the oppressed nations of Central and Southeastern Europe launched a vigorous national independence and liberation movement. While the revolutionary movement was flourishing, the Czechs under Austrian rule and the liberal bourgeoisie among the Slavs in the south put up the banner of “Pan-Slavism” and openly obstructed the democratic revolutionary movement of the masses. Marx and Engels both believed that it was necessary to expose the reactionary essence of Pan-Slavism in a timely manner. Engels wrote an article entitled Democratic Pan-Slavism for the Neue Rheinische Zeitung in February 1849, after which the idea of elaborating on this issue and writing a pamphlet dealing with the Germanic and Slavonic nationalities gradually arose. With the support and advice of Marx, Engels drafted an outline for the writing, on the basis of which he wrote two articles for the Neue Oder-Zeitung, published in the Neue Oder-Zeitung on April 21, 1855, No. 185 and on April 24, 1855, No.189. under the title Germany and Pan-Slavism I and Germany and Pan-Slavism II respectively.

Germany and Pan-Slavism objectively and historically analyzed the domination and oppression suffered by the Slavonic nationalities, revealed the substance of the ludicrous and anti-historical theory of Pan-Slavism and reactionary national movement, and criticized its betrayal of the liberation movement of the oppressed nations of Europe and its conformity to the aggressive expansion of Tsarist Russia due to its narrow national interests. The basic viewpoints in the article are as follows: First, it exposed Pan-Slavism as an anti-historical theory. Engels resolutely opposed all nationalist ideological systems. He pointed out that the aim of Pan-Slavism was to expand the European territory of Russia and to establish a Slavonic state spanning Europe, Asia and Africa. However, since the Slavonic nationalities at that time did not speak the same language, had different levels of development, had complex relations and were in constant conflict, Pan-Slavism could only be a childish “ludicrous and anti-historical theory”, which would bring about national disputes and would not be conducive to the liberation and development of the various nations. Second, it criticized the reactionary nature of the narrow nationalism of the Pan-Slavist movement in the revolution. Engels criticized that the action of Pan-Slavism objectively supported the supported the suppression of the German and Hungarian revolutions by the reactionary Habsburgs in 1848–1849 and saved the old system. Third, it analysed the complicity between the Pan-Slavist desire for national reconstruction and Russia’s aggressive and expansionist aims and its threat to Europe. Engels pointed out that Tsarist Russia was the main pillar of the feudal and despotic reactionary forces in Europe at that time, and the most vicious enemy of the revolutions of all countries; it attempted to exploit Pan-Slavism to achieve its own sinister aim of aggression and expansion. But not only did Pan-Slavism not oppose Tsarist Russia, but on the contrary, it became a cover for Russia’s aggressive and plundering policy by willingly sacrificing 800 years of civilized life for the sake of national reconstruction. Such a movement, which turned back world history, would undo all history and civilization and pose a great threat to Europe.

Germany and Pan-Slavism is an important document elaborating Marxist thought of nation. It was helpful to the proletarians in all countries to improve their ability to discern various kinds of nationalism and to establish a reasonable attitude towards national movements.