Under röd flagg
Encyclopedia
Under röd flagg was a weekly magazine published in Sweden
in 1891 by Hinke Bergegren
. Bergegren acted as the editor and publisher of the magazine. Nine issues were published from March to June 1891. Under röd flagg sought to bring together writers from the political peripheries of the Social-Democratic Party
. Articles in the publication contained Marxist, anarchist and anarchist communist
ideas. Under röd flagg was the first periodical to introduce a detailed account of anarchist thought in Sweden
, for example through texts of Peter Kropotkin
, Leo Tolstoy
, Élisée Reclus
and Swedish anarchists.
The majority of articles in Under röd flagg were signed by pseudonym
s, a fact that was sharply criticized at the time.
Under röd flagg appeared in a period when the issue of tactics was a major theme of discussion within the Social-Democratic Party. The publication was characterized by frequent and radical criticisms against parliamentarism, criticisms directed towards the party leadership. The idea of a general strike
as a revolutionary weapon was a concurring theme in the articles of the publication.
The first issue of Under röd flagg was published on March 15, 1891. It contained a largely programmatic article, titled Förbannelsens treenighet, privat äganderätt, religionen, äktenskapet ('The cursed trinity; private ownership, religion, marriage'). The 'cursed trinity' was said to represent the foundations of capitalism
. On March 17, 1891 Social-Democratic stalwart Hjalmar Branting
wrote a sarcastic rebuttal to the article in Social-Demokraten
. Branting stated that Bergegren had positioned himself beyond the limits of the Social-Democratic Party. Axel Danielsson
also denounced the new publication.
Under röd flagg was closed down as Bergegren moved on to become the editor of Proletären ('The Proletarian').
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1891 by Hinke Bergegren
Hinke Bergegren
Henrik "Hinke" Bergegren was a Swedish Social Democratic politician.Bergegren was an early member of the newly founded Swedish Social Democratic Party and he represented a revolutionary tendency, best described as Anarcho-syndicalism and wrote articles for Brand...
. Bergegren acted as the editor and publisher of the magazine. Nine issues were published from March to June 1891. Under röd flagg sought to bring together writers from the political peripheries of the Social-Democratic Party
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
. Articles in the publication contained Marxist, anarchist and anarchist communist
Anarchist communism
Anarchist communism is a theory of anarchism which advocates the abolition of the state, markets, money, private property, and capitalism in favor of common ownership of the means of production, direct democracy and a horizontal network of voluntary associations and workers' councils with...
ideas. Under röd flagg was the first periodical to introduce a detailed account of anarchist thought in Sweden
Anarchism in Sweden
Anarchism was reported to have been extant in Sweden by Mikhail Bakunin as early as 1866. As with the movements in Germany and the Netherlands, Swedish anarchism had a strong syndicalist tendency. One of the earliest Swedish anarchists of note was the artist Ivan Aguéli who in 1884 was arrested and...
, for example through texts of Peter Kropotkin
Peter Kropotkin
Prince Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin was a Russian zoologist, evolutionary theorist, philosopher, economist, geographer, author and one of the world's foremost anarcho-communists. Kropotkin advocated a communist society free from central government and based on voluntary associations between...
, Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
, Élisée Reclus
Élisée Reclus
Élisée Reclus , also known as Jacques Élisée Reclus, was a renowned French geographer, writer and anarchist. He produced his 19-volume masterwork La Nouvelle Géographie universelle, la terre et les hommes , over a period of nearly 20 years...
and Swedish anarchists.
The majority of articles in Under röd flagg were signed by pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s, a fact that was sharply criticized at the time.
Under röd flagg appeared in a period when the issue of tactics was a major theme of discussion within the Social-Democratic Party. The publication was characterized by frequent and radical criticisms against parliamentarism, criticisms directed towards the party leadership. The idea of a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
as a revolutionary weapon was a concurring theme in the articles of the publication.
The first issue of Under röd flagg was published on March 15, 1891. It contained a largely programmatic article, titled Förbannelsens treenighet, privat äganderätt, religionen, äktenskapet ('The cursed trinity; private ownership, religion, marriage'). The 'cursed trinity' was said to represent the foundations of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. On March 17, 1891 Social-Democratic stalwart Hjalmar Branting
Hjalmar Branting
was a Swedish politician. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party , and Prime Minister during three separate periods . When Branting came to power in 1920, he was the first Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden...
wrote a sarcastic rebuttal to the article in Social-Demokraten
Social-Demokraten
Social-Demokraten was a Swedish daily Social Democratic newspaper, belonging to the Swedish Social Democratic Party. The paper was founded in 1885 by August Palm, and existed up to 1945, when it changed name to Morgon-Tidningen...
. Branting stated that Bergegren had positioned himself beyond the limits of the Social-Democratic Party. Axel Danielsson
Axel Danielsson
Axel Danielsson was a Swedish socialist agitator, journalist and writer, born in Värmland. He was a prominent leader of the early Swedish Social Democratic Party...
also denounced the new publication.
Under röd flagg was closed down as Bergegren moved on to become the editor of Proletären ('The Proletarian').
External links
- Under röd flagg archive at Marxist Internet Archive