Cuba being the unusual exception, Leninist parties were the only ones to overthrow capitalism in the 20th century. Was there another less centralized and more democratic model of party organization on offer which could have accomplished this task, fought civil wars, industrialized their underdeveloped and war-ravaged economies, and raised the living standards and social and cultural level of the masses under incessant economic and military pressure from Western imperialism?
These revolutions fell well short of the workers-controlled socialist democracy envisaged by classical Marxism, including by those who made the revolution. By century’s end, capitalism was restored wholly or in large part by the Communist parties which had earlier expropriated the bourgeoisie. Is the lament for the Leninist party and the revolutions they led a case of "buyers remorse"? Would it have been better if Lenin had *not* produced WITBD and the revolution he, Trotsky, Stalin and others led which inspired others made elsewhere in his name had not occurred? Should the development of these societies been left to capitalism as, for example, in India? Finally, is the concept of a vanguard party inherently undemocratic? Haven’t we always sought to collaborate with those closest to us politically who we considered most capable of rallying others to our cause? Is this inconsistent with participating in the construction and development of heterogenous mass working class organizations? Isn’t it an open question to be decided by the Leninist caucus or party how loosely or tightly it is to be administered, how much prior political agreement should be required, whether dissenting tendencies should have the right to express their views publicly, term limits on top positions to encourage collective leadership, etc.? And aren’t these choices necessarily influenced by the level of class struggle and repression by the ruling class? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#40818): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/40818 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/117948992/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
