Poul Lafarg
France- Early Life and Education
- Socialist Activism
- First International and the Paris Commune
- Founding of the French Workers' Party
- Contribution to Marxist Theory
- Late Career and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Paul Lafargue was born on January 15, 1842, in Santiago, Cuba. His father was a French wine merchant, and the family returned to France in 1851. From 1864, Lafargue attended the École Supérieure de Médecine in Paris, where he became active in the socialist movement.
Socialist Activism
In October 1865, Lafargue participated in an international student congress in Liège, Belgium, and was expelled from his medical school for his involvement. He moved to London in 1866, joined the First International, and became a member of its General Council.
In 1868, Lafargue completed his medical studies in England. He met and married Laura Marx, Karl Marx's daughter. After returning to France in 1868, he helped establish the Paris Federation of the International and later became head of the Bordeaux section.
First International and the Paris Commune
After the defeat of the Paris Commune in 1871, Lafargue emigrated to Spain, where he supported the General Council's position against the anarchists led by Mikhail Bakunin. He attended the 1872 Hague Congress of the First International and assisted Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in drafting their pamphlet, "The Alliance of Socialist Democracy and the International Workingmen's Association."
Founding of the French Workers' Party
In 1872, Lafargue moved to London. In the late 1870s, he collaborated with Jules Guesde on the development of a program for the French Workers' Party. After a general amnesty for Communards, Lafargue returned to France in 1882 and became the party's leader alongside Guesde.
Contribution to Marxist Theory
Lafargue made significant contributions to Marxist theory. He was a staunch critic of agnosticism and idealism, arguing that materialism should not be compromised with these philosophies. His economic writings, such as "The Theory of Value and Surplus Value" and "The American Trusts," criticized the capitalist system and its defenders.
Despite his overall materialist approach, Lafargue occasionally embraced metaphysical tendencies in his philosophy. He also exhibited sociological schematism in some of his literary criticism. Nonetheless, his work significantly advanced Marxist thought and contributed to its dissemination.
Late Career and Legacy
In 1905, Lafargue was instrumental in the founding of the United Socialist Party. He opposed the reformist policies of the party's leadership and emphasized the importance of anti-militarist propaganda. He maintained close ties with the Russian revolutionary movement and hailed the Russian Revolution of 1905-07 as a potential catalyst for the international working-class.
Lafargue chose to end his life before reaching the age of seventy, believing that his energy would wane in his old age. He and his wife Laura committed suicide in 1911. Lafargue left a farewell letter expressing his unwavering belief in the triumph of communism and international socialism. Vladimir Lenin delivered a eulogy at his funeral on behalf of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, recognizing Lafargue's significant role in the socialist movement.
