Borochov and Syrkin`s Constructive Socialism: From Rivalry to Acceptance

The suggested paper strives to show, for the first time the influence of Syrkin`s constructive socialism on the theory of Ber Borochov, the major leader of Poale Zion. It offers a new explanation to the sudden shift in the theory of Borochov during 1917, that intrigued scholars as Frenkel, Mintz, and Gottwein for many years.

Following his arrival to America in the end of 1914, Brochov launched an attack on unorthodox trends among Poale Zion in the United States, focusing on the constructive socialism that Syrkin had developed since 1898: a socialism based on cooperation. To his view, the laborers should lead an alliance with the bourgeoisie and promote Social Zionism in the framework of national unity. Borochov argued that this is not a "social democracy" in the Marxist sense, because it does not emphasize class struggle. According to Borochov in "Our Platform" (1906), the first phase of Zionism must be capitalist. Only afterwards the proletarians will takeover in a bitter class struggle.

Borochov’s attempt was to split the party and outcast elements of `Syrkinism` from it. But Poale Zion in America was not a Marxist party, and the attempt failed.

In 1916, however, Syrkin and Brochov were appointed as co-editors of the Yiddisher Kempfer, the official Journal of the party. An ideological kinship was apparently forged between the two during this period. After the revolution of February 1917, Borochov returned to Russia espousing the same `Syrkinean` ideas he had attacked shortly before. These ideas were rejected by the leadership of Poale Zion in Russia. Borochov died shortly afterwards. Yet, Sirkins ideas, laid a theoretical base for the constructive socialism of Achdut HaAvoda and its leadership: Berl Katznelson, David Ben Gurion, Yitzhak Tabenkin, and others.