centralism and power

[peaccenicked]

The idea of decentralisation is central to Marxism. In the 'Communist Manifesto', we read the ''The free development of each is the condition for the free development of all. However, this cannot be achieved in the here and now because of class society. It is merely class struggle itself that demands centralism. The toppling of the Capitalist State which is fundamentally a centralised military machine and bureaucracy can only be defeated with something that is a product of the politics of war. Even peaceful resistance requires uniform action cordinated and capable of changing tactics at a moments notice.
Inevitably this concentrates power at the centre. Hence we need to remedy this and this is what the spirit of democratic centralism. A mechanism to bring all working class experience to the decision making process, and a check against bureaucratic outgrowths that we have seen in the past lead to personal dictatorship. The struggle for democracy begins in the here and now. In
organisational terms, it is the struggle against party bureacracy. Trotskyites have a sought the rotatation of all party officials and the payment of all representatives
with the average salary of a skilled worker.
This best antedote to bureaucratisation is an educated working class versed in the history of our struggle.
Amandla Awethu
(power is ours)
Seize the day!

[El Che]

In what does the above differ from Representative Democracy?

[peaccenicked]

Representative democracy is a step forward. I see it as
an essential feature of capitalist democracy. Communist wish to replace parliamentary democracy with direct democracy. Hence the two are in struggle and are dependent on the political will of the people to reduce the status of delegates from leaders to servants of the masses.

[evil chris]

just to pull you up on something.If you need to instantly change tactics, you cannot be centrialist becuase you would need to go thorugh a central authority.

[peaccenicked]

I dont understand your point. I am saying that centralism is a necessary tactic of revolution. A central authority can be bureacratic or democratic. I believe democratic centralism is not only possible but vital to the success of any future revolution.

[evil chris]

but is it efficent?
and why is so vital



(Edited by evil chris at 11:39 am on July 14, 2002)

[peaccenicked]

Efficency? It does have a bad record, but that does not make it unnecessary. It is simply the way to various degrees most organisations operate and it is best to be conscious of it but there is still far too much bureaucracy about on the left giving our organisations a bad name.