What is centrism?

[Die Neue Zeit]

Although, given my viewpoint, I'm asking a rather odd question, the word "centrism" has been used and abused on the left. So, what is it, in all its flavours?

[Lynx]

I have taken it to mean a coalition building approach towards gaining, or holding onto, power.
Centrism is also used as a comparative with non-centrist or extremist platforms.

Has the left created its own definitions?

[Q]

Has the left created its own definitions?
Why yes dear sir (http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/c/e.htm#centrists).

[Tower of Bebel]

Basically what Q provided us. Historically (if allowed) I would characterize centrism as a policy which suites the transition from Marxist party politics to the tactics of class collaboration. It occurs in parties long overdue because of serious fallacies in their strategic line. Centrism, a senile disorder (of the communist movement).

Although, given my viewpoint, I'm asking a rather odd question, the word "centrism" has been used and abused on the left. So, what is it, in all its flavours?
What is it in your flavour?

[Q]

Basically what Q provided us. Historically (if allowed) I would characterize centrism as a policy which suites the transition from Marxist party politics to the tactics of class collaboration. It occurs in parties long overdue because of serious fallacies in their strategic line. Centrism, a senile disorder (of the communist movement).
I think this should go into the MIA definition! :)

[Die Neue Zeit]

Basically what Q provided us. Historically (if allowed) I would characterize centrism as a policy which suites the transition from Marxist party politics to the tactics of class collaboration. It occurs in parties long overdue because of serious fallacies in their strategic line. Centrism, a senile disorder (of the communist movement).

What is it in your flavour?

Well, comrade, remember that Lenin quote regarding the "Marxist center" (not to mention Macnair's sound bite "the revolutionary strategy of the centrists")? ;)

The MIA link speaks of vulgar "centrism" (a term which you yourself have used a couple of times). Some include in the definition of this vulgar "centrism" the combination of revolutionary rhetoric with opportunistic/reformist practices, which if true would apply to Die Linke, PSUV, etc.

Make whatever you will about these remarks, though:


Again, revolutionary centrism and vulgar "centrism" are terms you made up, so please don't expect them to mean anything to me. And there's nothing revolutionary about your centrism, or that of the CPGB.

[Left Turn]

I take "centrism" to mean genuine support for some version of reformed Capitalism. In other words, support for reforms within Capitalism based on the gains that those reforms provide for the workers. So a centrist will fight for, and defend, certain reforms within Capitalism. They will also defend Capitalism, althouth the smart centrists will not defend Capitalism until they have achieved their desired reforms. As such, centrists will varyingly side with both the working class and the ruling class.

[Q]

I take "centrism" to mean genuine support for some version of reformed Capitalism. In other words, support for reforms within Capitalism based on the gains that those reforms provide for the workers. So a centrist will fight for, and defend, certain reforms within Capitalism. They will also defend Capitalism, althouth the smart centrists will not defend Capitalism until they have achieved their desired reforms. As such, centrists will varyingly side with both the working class and the ruling class.
That is not centrism, but reformism (http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/r/e.htm#reformists).


Make whatever you will about these remarks, though:

YS is right. Look, you in general have good points to make, however 95% of your potential public disconnects after hearing 3 words that have absolutely no meaning to them. Use terms that already exist instead of making up your own or by using deprecated terms if you want to make your ideas clear, you might actually get a hearing then.

[Tower of Bebel]

I use vulgar centrism to discribe the modern centrist tactics of leaders like Oscar Lafontaine (Die Linke). Such modern centrists are at best reformists or social-liberals with a left retoric trying to please both small revolutionary factions (who mostly happen to support new fronts almost uncritically) and labour bureaucrats. They're vulgar renegade Kautsky's (centrists) as they're even worse than Kautsky. At least Kautsky was once a marxist and trained a whole generation of future marxists.

I wouldn't use the word centrism to characterize the good side of the historical Kautskyist center. I would try to use the word centrism correctly instead of pursuing a radical difference concerning its meaning.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Hmmm. I was under impression that Oskar Lafontaine was just a plain reform coalitionist (notwithstanding his very impressive populist and not "revolutionary" rhetoric ;) :D ). I mean, the ex-SPD chairman wants to head a coalition government in Saarland, and interprets the party's election manifesto as being the basis of some coalition government at the national level with the SPD.

[Yazman]

"centrism" and what it constitutes is entirely subjective, and depends on the dominant tendencies of the society one is centred in. Centrists in Cuba are going to be very different to centrists in Israel.

Personally I don't think its a very useful term in any sense.

[Die Neue Zeit]

I wouldn't use the word centrism to characterize the good side of the historical Kautskyist center. I would try to use the word centrism correctly instead of pursuing a radical difference concerning its meaning.

Yazman has a point. :( The Trotskyist usage of "centrism" (as posted on the highly Trotskyism-biased MIA) is shared only by social-democratic academics, so using the word "correctly" depends on context.

[BTW, I never use the term "centrism" by itself to describe the position of the pre-RtP Kautskyan Marxist center. The final chapter section dealing with the party question is quite clear in the usage of the term "revolutionary centrism," which is distinct from liberal centrism in Europe, "moderate" centrism in the US, and "progressive" centrism in Canada before Mulroney, for example.]