'Revolutionary Communist/Socialist v. Regular version - what's the difference?

[CubanDream]

What's the difference anyway?

The word 'Revolutionary' - as opposed to what?

Had a look through the Rev Comm Party USA , and seemed fairly liberal to me, meaning how does Lenin fit in etc:

Like, what am I missing here exactly?

[Left Voice]

The 'Revolutionary' descriptor is usually used to differentiate a person or group from those who are considered revisionist, or those who embrace a reformist approach. 'Revolutionary' Communist parties are often formed in response to perceived revisionism, reformism or liberalism within the 'main' Communist parties.

In a very difference sense, a 'revolutionary socialist' is somebody who believes that socialism can only be achieved through revolution, as opposed to a democratic socialist etc. who may see this as possible through a series of reforms.

[CubanDream]

So how about all the old guys, Lenin, Stalin etc.. were they 'revisionists' then, in your opinion at least?

[Left Voice]

Difficult question. Lenin was a revolutionary - he oversaw an actual proletarian revolution, after all. I don't even anti-Leninists would oppose that.

Whether or not Stalin was a revisionist depends who you ask. Somebody who self-describes as an 'orthodox Marxist' might suggest so. Marxist-Leninist would say that the Soviet Union after Stalin was revisionist. It depends on the person.

I suspect this thread might be a response to me using the term 'revolutionary socialist' in another threat. Used in that sense, I'm saying that socialist necessarily has a revolutionary character and cannot be achieved without the active participation of the working class.

[Brutus]

Difficult question. Lenin was a revolutionary - he oversaw an actual proletarian revolution, after all. I don't even anti-Leninists would oppose that.

You'd think anti-Leninists wouldn't oppose that, but there are anarchists and council communists who cry "Coup d'état! Coup d'état!" whenever the October insurrection is mentioned. Of course, these people neglect the organised, class conscious, workers' militias that were a key part in the uprising, but it's better to obscure history than give credit to a nasty authoritarian (because the authoritarian-libertarian doctrine is something all communists should be concerned with, rather than... Y'know, class interests.