Partys being part of the movement

[Sandanista]

I'm this thread has come up before, but im not sure, anyway a little bit of theory im confused with, obviously im in a political party, as are many of the comrades here, but do we really need political parties to aid the revolution, or does it just happen?

My understanding is that an organisation must at least be present to distribute materials that suggest the workers power and their potential. I may be wrong and would appreciate a few objective answers.

[redstar2000]

The answer depends on the organization and its politics.

That's not very helpful, is it? Inspite of many Leninist assertions to the contrary, there's not much in the writings of Marx and Engels to suggest that a "revolutionary organization" is "necessary" to overthrow capitalism...though a "good" one helps and a "bad" one hurts.

I hope no one here ever joins a self-proclaimed "revolutionary" organization simply because an organization is "necessary" and this one was the best (or even the only) organization they could find to hook up with.

If you are going to join a group (or remain a member of a group), there are some hard questions that you have to keep in mind at all times.

1. Do the ideas of this group "make sense"?

2. Are the projects that this group carries out consistent with their ideas; does the practical activity "make sense"?

3. Are you comfortable with these people and their "style" of work? Do you genuinely "like" them as comrades?

That third point needs some explanation. I've seen groups that "looked good on paper"...only to find when I actually met some of their members that, in practice, they related to each other and especially to prospective new members as arrogant, bureaucratic louts who would make a hard-core "Stalinist" blush. Believe it or not, there are "anarchist" and "libertarian communist" groups that are "just as bad" as any Leninist group when it comes to relating to people in the real world.

To be part of a "good" group of comrades is a joy and inspiration; being part of a "bad" group is like having a really shitty, low-paying job.

And you don't want that, do you?

:cool:

[Sandanista]

Well its like any other situation in life u dont get on with everyone fully within a group do u? there's always someone u dont get on with, i think this can be transferred to the work place where the majority of the workers want a change but theres always one who "scabs" and tries to spoil it.

The reason why i see the point in an organisation that considers itself revolutionary is that although said workers want change, many of the workers are misguided or are "socialists" i.e those who consider themselves socialists but are really social democrats, petit bourgeoisie, i see the need for organisation which infiltrates the workplace and spreads the message of the revolution.