Mergers, coalitions, and practical anti-sectarianism?

[Conscript]

What does revleft think of greater cooperation between anti-capitalist, revolutionary working class tendencies (such as the ones on this board) to pool resources and strengthen the movement? Is it a good idea? Do you personally object to working with others not of your tendency? Can we all find a common platform to fight together on in our revolutionary anti-capitalism?

I ask because I find the splits in the communist movement to be the greatest handicap and I also have no issue with the idea of working with anarchists or think there should be any.

I think the benefits far outweigh any qualms and issues with the idea. With a combined membership and funding, we would have a much greater ability to do pretty much everything, from simply boosting morale and inspiring others, to sowing the seeds of a revived and better organized left.

[Widerstand]

Is it desirable: yes, maybe.
Is it likely to happen: uhm how about ... no?

Short answers.

[Conscript]

Okay. Better then nothing I guess. ;)

Though you sound unsure about them.

[Q]

I for one work together with a group of anarchists in my region.

The problem the far left is facing is a result of several factors. Everyone is living in their own bubble of The Truth (tm) and because of that we see sect mentality roaming around.

What we need is unity on the basis of the acceptance (not agreement) of a programme. Unity in action, disciplined in one organisation, yet complete and open freedom to disagree and defend your viewpoints.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

I wish it was a simple as that. I'm sick of the sectarian nonsense of the left, my party calling other parties "ultra-leftist" and vice-versa, whilst we claim to be more Marxist or more radical than our opponents. None of us are radical when we sit around writing news paper articles slamming other parties.

Whenever I read Marx or Engels, I always think of unity, not this bullshit, arrogant sectarianism the left is guilty of. I'm happy to work with many different parties and tendencies, its the only way forward. With sectarianism, you might as well be talking to yourself, but when the need for unity comes, the most sectarian in the left spectrum will fall behind as they will be an irrelevant part of the struggle. Let the revolution decide.

Also, for the record, I think the idea of a nation-wide (even international) revolutionary congress would be a great platform for united activity. It would potentially sort the sectarians from the genuine revolutionaries! Its a very utopian concept though.

[bricolage]

Lets be honest here there is no way in hell there could ever be theoretical unity between everything that passes for 'the left'. If we take this board as an example, you think I am ever gonna want to produce the same material as unreconstructed Stalinists? As those who think North Korea is a 'workers state'? As those who think shooting pizza delivery guys is a viable tactic? Of course not.

The other problem is that the idea that 'left unity' will get us anywhere is a fundamentally top down view, ignoring the fact that it is not 'the left' that makes the struggle (united or not) it is the working class that does so. So could I stand on a picket line with a Stalinist? Sure. Could I throw rocks at the cops with them? Yeah cool.

However we have to see that when we enter into any genuine form of revolutionary struggle the vast majority (maybe even all) of the 'left' organisations that exist today will be swept away into history and insignificance. There is of course room for organisations in spreading ideas etc but real organisations will come as the result of real struggle and real struggle will not come from uniting various leftist groups.

[Kearney]

At the minute all forms of the left movement is run by micro groups led by people with egos that are far to big for those suitable to be running them.
I've heard it also said that there are a lot of people who are not willing to go into anything to do with politics as there is no real unity on it.

As for your wee quip about the pizza man, I take it you're on about the Masereen shooting?

[bricolage]

At the minute all forms of the left movement is run by micro groups led by people with egos that are far to big for those suitable to be running them.
Well sure, but my point is even if we got beyond that a strengthened and united left means nothing if there is no working class struggle for it to relate to.


As for your wee quip about the pizza man, I take it you're on about the Masereen shooting?
It was more the people on this forum that continue to defend it as justified or legitimate.

[chegitz guevara]

Step one is already happening, the rank and file are talking to each other. Since our leaders can't keep info and ideology siloed, greater cooperation is happening on the ground, in fits and starts, unevenly, but it is happening.

I think it might be a good idea to try and have a meeting of the groups, for no other purpose than to talk to each other. This very small step might help us go down a path that we need to tred.

While I don't yet favor federation or union with other organizations, a medium term goal might be an umbrella confederation where we can democratically come together to work on joint projects.