Communist Labour League of Sweden
Encyclopedia
The Sveriges Kommunistiska Arbetarförbund (Communist Labour League of Sweden) was formed in 1956 by a group of Stalinist hardliners who left or were expelled from the SKP during the 1950s. This group had earlier formed "Marxist circles", in which some SKP militants participated secretly. The group was headed by Set Persson
, a famous communist from Stockholm
who had left SKP at the party congress in 1953.
SKA started publishing the magazine Revolt. In its pages SKA defended Joseph Stalin
and criticized the new Soviet regime under Nikita Khrushchev
. They criticized SKP for what they considered as "populism". But the group also expressed some criticism over the human rights situation within the Eastern Bloc
.
In 1958, SKA tried to launch their own list of candidates for the municipal elections in Stockholm
, but failed to get any seats. Persson died in 1960. After his death he group almost disappeared but a remnant continued to exist until 1967. SKA never played any role in Swedish politics, but the organizational experiences of the people who were active in SKA became important for the later generation of leftists, such as the KFML
.
Set Persson
Set Persson was a Swedish communist leader.Persson was born on March 5, 1897 in Stockholm, but as an orphan he was raised by relatives in Hälsingland. He was a good student in school, but left his studies at the age of 14 to start to work in the railroads. Soon he joined the Social Democratic...
, a famous communist from Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
who had left SKP at the party congress in 1953.
SKA started publishing the magazine Revolt. In its pages SKA defended Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
and criticized the new Soviet regime under Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
. They criticized SKP for what they considered as "populism". But the group also expressed some criticism over the human rights situation within the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
.
In 1958, SKA tried to launch their own list of candidates for the municipal elections in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, but failed to get any seats. Persson died in 1960. After his death he group almost disappeared but a remnant continued to exist until 1967. SKA never played any role in Swedish politics, but the organizational experiences of the people who were active in SKA became important for the later generation of leftists, such as the KFML
Communist Party of Sweden (1967)
Kommunistiska Förbundet Marxist-Leninisterna was formed at the 1967 party congress of VPK, when a pro-Chinese group left the party.-1967–1980:...
.