 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
At this time I was persona grata with the British Government because, though I was against nuclear war, I was also anti-Communist. Later I was brought around to being more favourable to Communism by the death of Stalin in 1953 and by the Bikini test in 1954; and I came gradually to attribute, more and more, the danger of nuclear war to the West, to the United States of America, and less to Russia. This change was supported by developments inside the United States, such as McCarthyism and the restriction of civil liberties.
Source： The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, v.3 chap. 1: Return to England, 1969
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/AB31-080.HTM
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When Russell says that he has‘changed my position more favourably towards the communist countries', he is, of course, talking only about the question of war and peace (international politics). He still feels that restrictions on freedom in communist countries are intolerable, as he attaches great importance to freedom. There are quite a few people who don't understand this and assume that Russell is a communist or a communist sympathiser.
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