Michel Varga
Encyclopedia
Michel Varga, born Balazs Nagy, was a Hungarian
Trotskyist activist.
Varga was active in the DISZ, student organisation of the Hungarian Working People's Party, within which he was regarded as an intellectual. He was part of a group which in 1954 founded the Petofi discussion group, in opposition to Mátyás Rákosi
. When it was revived in 1956, he became Deputy Secretary of its Provisional Bureau. The group, while influential, attempted to quell the Hungarian Revolution, fearing a violent backlash.
Following the defeat of the revolution, Varga escaped to Austria
, then settled in Paris
, where, following discussions with Pierre Broué
, he became a Trotskyist and founded the League of Revolutionary Socialists of Hungary with other exiles. He joined the Internationalist Communist Organisation
(OCI) in 1962, and in 1963 his league affiliated to the International Committee of the Fourth International
(ICFI).
In 1972, the OCI decided to leave the ICFI and instead set up the Organising Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International. Varga initially sided with the OCI, but soon after came into conflict with them and was expelled. The following year, he founded the International League for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International
. The OCI claimed that he had been both a CIA and a KGB agent, but an international committee consisting of representatives from Lutte Ouvrière, the Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire, the Socialist Workers Party (US) and the International Spartacist Tendency found no proof of this.
In 1984, Varga was expelled by an opposition group within his own international, and instead formed the Group of Opposition and Continuity of the Fourth International. In 1990, this dissolved itself into the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
, of which Varga became Secretary.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Trotskyist activist.
Varga was active in the DISZ, student organisation of the Hungarian Working People's Party, within which he was regarded as an intellectual. He was part of a group which in 1954 founded the Petofi discussion group, in opposition to Mátyás Rákosi
Mátyás Rákosi
Mátyás Rákosi was a Hungarian communist politician. He was born as Mátyás Rosenfeld, in present-day Serbia...
. When it was revived in 1956, he became Deputy Secretary of its Provisional Bureau. The group, while influential, attempted to quell the Hungarian Revolution, fearing a violent backlash.
Following the defeat of the revolution, Varga escaped to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, then settled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where, following discussions with Pierre Broué
Pierre Broué
Pierre Broué was a French historian and Trotskyist. His work covers various topics including the history of the Bolshevik Party, the Spanish Revolution and biographical works on Leon Trotsky...
, he became a Trotskyist and founded the League of Revolutionary Socialists of Hungary with other exiles. He joined the Internationalist Communist Organisation
Internationalist Communist Organisation
The Internationalist Communist Organisation was a Trotskyist political party in France. Its successor is the Internationalist Communist Current of the Workers Party.-Origins:...
(OCI) in 1962, and in 1963 his league affiliated to the International Committee of the Fourth International
International Committee of the Fourth International
The International Committee of the Fourth International is the name of two Trotskyist internationals; one with sections named Socialist Equality Party which publishes the World Socialist Web Site and another linked to the Workers Revolutionary Party in Britain.-Foundation:The International...
(ICFI).
In 1972, the OCI decided to leave the ICFI and instead set up the Organising Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International. Varga initially sided with the OCI, but soon after came into conflict with them and was expelled. The following year, he founded the International League for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International
International League for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International
The International League for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International, usually known as the Fourth International, was a Trotskyist political international led by Michel Varga....
. The OCI claimed that he had been both a CIA and a KGB agent, but an international committee consisting of representatives from Lutte Ouvrière, the Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire, the Socialist Workers Party (US) and the International Spartacist Tendency found no proof of this.
In 1984, Varga was expelled by an opposition group within his own international, and instead formed the Group of Opposition and Continuity of the Fourth International. In 1990, this dissolved itself into the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
The Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International is an Trotskyist international organisation. It is based in the United Kingdom and consists of a remnant of the Workers Revolutionary Party....
, of which Varga became Secretary.