Definition of a cadre member

[Q]

Can someone give me a reference to a (semi-)scientific definition of what a cadre member is? I need it for a document I'm writing. It is not very relevant in what exact context it is (party cadre, union cadre, etc), as long as we're talking here about working class organisation.

Thanks.

[Tower of Bebel]

A member who plays an official leading organizational role. Such a role is accompanied with a certain theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The word cadre however comes from the military (surprise surprise! The civil war!). In the military a platoon cadre concists of platoon leaders: the sergeant, first sergeant and sometimes the corporal (the squad leader). There are also cadres higher up like lieutenants and captain who lead companies. This also counts for various communist parties.

[Q]

A member who plays an official leading organizational role. Such a role is accompanied with a certain theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The word cadre however comes from the military (surprise surprise! The civil war!). In the military a platoon cadre concists of platoon leaders: the sergeant, first sergeant and sometimes the corporal (the squad leader). There are also cadres higher up like lieutenants and captain who lead companies. This also counts for various communist parties.

Thanks, but I need/prefer a reference :)

[Q]

No one can help me out here?

[Joe_Germinal]

According to Che Guevara's "The Cadres: Backbone of the Revolution (http://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1962/09/misc/x01.htm)" a cadre is:


an individual who has achieved sufficient political development to be able to interpret the extensive directives emanating from the central power, make them his, and convey them as orientation to the masses, a person who at the same time also perceives the signs manifested by the masses of their own desires and their innermost motivations.

Basically a node for communication between the revolutionary leadership and the mass of the population. He provides a longer definition in the article if you need it.

[Q]

According to Che Guevara's "The Cadres: Backbone of the Revolution (http://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1962/09/misc/x01.htm)" a cadre is:



Basically a node for communication between the revolutionary leadership and the mass of the population. He provides a longer definition in the article if you need it.

Thank you, but this definition leans totally on the idea that a central leadership is inherently right and that a cadre is therefore nothing more than a pawn who can deploy the "correct line" to "the masses".

For my purposes I'm looking more toward definitions that focus on independent thinking, skill sets, leading roles within the movement and - perhaps most importantly - an educating role to other workers in the sense of independent thinking, skills and leading roles. Basically a democratic and pluriform type of leadership.

If what I'm looking for falls outside the framework for "cadre", then maybe I should drop the word completely and look for a new one, or use it as an example of what is certainly not communist. But I'm not at that sort of conclusion yet.

[Joe_Germinal]

Thank you, but this definition leans totally on the idea that a central leadership is inherently right and that a cadre is therefore nothing more than a pawn who can deploy the "correct line" to "the masses".

For my purposes I'm looking more toward definitions that focus on independent thinking, skill sets, leading roles within the movement and - perhaps most importantly - an educating role to other workers in the sense of independent thinking, skills and leading roles. Basically a democratic and pluriform type of leadership.

It's an interesting concept, although we should be clear that while the cadre communicate "the correct line" to the mass of the working class, they are far from mere pawns. The cadres constitute the mass of a vanguard party. They debate and formulate the line and elect the leadership; however, once the leadership and line are in place, their primary role is to educate the workers on the line and organize them to best execute the line tactically. This is the very essence of democratic centralism.

If educating the working class in Marxism and revolutionary strategy and tactics is not the very definition of the development of "independent thinking" and political "skills," then I don't know what is.


If what I'm looking for falls outside the framework for "cadre", then maybe I should drop the word completely and look for a new one, or use it as an example of what is certainly not communist. But I'm not at that sort of conclusion yet.

I would not be so quick to abandon democratic centralism as "certainly not communist." When Lenin coined this term, he was merely naming a practice that had a long history in the workers' movement. The Communist League and the First International operated on much the same principle. Indeed, most trade unions must adopt this principal to be effective.

A strike will surely fail if it is not democratically decided upon by the workers, because such a strike would never achieve wide support. However, when the scabs and cops come to bust the picket line, what you need are organizers who can communicate the "line" and direct workers to beat back the attack. What one needs within a revolutionary organization is critical thinking; however, critical thinking is less important on a picket line (or in the heat of revolutionary battle) then concentrated and collective mass action which is best organized in just the centralized manner you are so quick to abandon.

[Martin Blank]

The term "cadre" is sort of funny: everyone uses it, but no one uses it. What I mean is, in conversations and unofficial communications, we'll talk about who is and is not a "cadre" member, but there is no "official" definition in our Rules (or Constitution) about what a "cadre" actually is, so there is no "cadre" position to actually speak of.

If I had to define my understanding of who a cadre is, it is someone who can carry out the political and organizational tasks in the absence of elected leadership. That is, if you're operating alone and away from elected bodies, or if those elected leaders are absent from your situation (due to arrest, travel, etc.), you can carry out the rudimentary functioning of the organization. They are leaders without being leaders; they can do the tasks that elected leadership does, but, for one reason or another, are not the designated personnel for those tasks.

Cadres are not simply parrots of the "the correct line", but are shapers of that line. More to the point, while they can communicate the organization's view on relevant issues, they can also think independently, formulate positions on their own (including those that run counter to the opinion of the majority), and help guide the organization in its times of crisis.

This is my sense of what the term means, in any event. Your mileage may vary.