revolutionaries and broad parties
DESCRIPTION
Notes for a Socialist Resistance meeting. March 2009TRANSCRIPT
Revolutionaries and broad Revolutionaries and broad partiesparties
Groups discuss for 5 Groups discuss for 5 minutesminutes1: Is there still a need for
revolutionary organisations?2: Why have broad parties of the
left emerged in the last decade?3: How should revolutionary
currents functions in a broader formation?
First principlesFirst principlesBuild a broad class struggle party
to resolve today’s crisis of working class representation
Today that is RespectRevolutionary overthrow of
capitalismBuild organisation for this task
ArgentinaArgentinaDecember 2001 huge social
explosionSelf-organisation on a massive
scaleVanishedNo anti-capitalist party capable
of uniting the movements and struggles in a project for taking power.
Rightward ho!Rightward ho!Governmental left parties have
been moving right in Europe“Social liberalisation”Fracturing of working class
support for them
DefensiveDefensiveSeries of defensive struggles
across EuropeMuch more limited in BritainAppearance of parties in Italy,
Scotland, Portugal, France, Germany, Denmark
Mixed experiencesMixed experiencesBrazil, Scotland, Italy have been
setbacksShowed what was possible,
especially Rifondazione during anti-capitalist movement
Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste – on s’engage et puis on voit
ProgrammesProgrammesOpposition to layoffs & wage cutsDemands that need mobilisation
of workers’ movement and government that breaks with bourgeoisie
Based on capacity for resistance
Non-revolutionaryNon-revolutionaryInclude revolutionary and non-
revolutionary sectionsMixture of existing left and newly
radicalising forcesNeed to be clear on key
questions – democracy, class struggle, internationalism, non-participation in capitalist governments
What’s differentWhat’s differentNo evidence of mass base for
revolutionary politicsRecent experiences of potential
of mass partiesMass parties can have national
political impact
SpacesSpacesPut socialist, anti-capitalist ideas
to large audienceChallenge neo-liberal consensusAllow revolutionaries space to
put their ideasPolitics of small propaganda
groups cede national politics to the right
FermentFermentBroader parties are transitoryIdeologically fluid and diffuseRequire judgements on where to
draw political line and when to compromise
BehaviourBehaviourFluidity and compromise add
weight to need for revolutionary current to organise
Has to prioritise the work of the broad party
Has to respect democratic processes of broad party
DemocracyDemocracyWrong to use numbers or
organisational capacity to win votes or arguments
Members of broad party must feel that decisions are not stitched up in advance.
Bureaucratic tricks prevent party developing its own culture
No phalanxesNo phalanxesIn almost all circumstances
members of revolutionary current should vote as individuals
Exceptions are issues of principle:
war, interests of working class, degeneration of leadership (Brazil)
MinimaMinimaOwn meetingsOwn public eventsOwn press