What is the vanguard party?

[Fourth Internationalist]

What is the vanguard party? What is its role before, during, and after the revolution? What is the difference between a vanguard party and a non-vanguard party? What is each tendency's view on it and its function? Is one neccesary or desirable, and why?

[Brutus]

There are many threads on this comrade.
I would look at 'L'Enfermé's thread on the topic.
http://www.revleft.com/vb/lenins-vanguard-party-t176886/index.html?t=1768868

[Ele'ill]

you should also look at this


http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/alfredo-m-bonanno-why-a-vanguard