Guild Socialism

[spartan]

What are your opinions of Guild Socialism?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild_socialism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._D._H._Cole

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

An odd variant of anarcho syndiclaism/ libertarian socialism. I think it has a bit more of an interest in the hyper decentralization of production, ie bring back some forms of artisanal production. Nothing really too wrong with it, just never caught on after WWI

[Yehuda Stern]

I haven't analyzed it in depth yet, but it seems like straight up reformism to me.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Now why would you say that? They don't seem to be reformist, perhaps a bit into dual power, but not reformists.

[Yehuda Stern]

Being 'into' dual power, i.e. leaving dual power as it is, is textbook reformism. Hilferding, one of the classical reformists, suggested to make the Soviets that were created by German workers in 1918-9 part of the constitution. The purpose of this is to let the workers feel like they are in control, or at least that they have some power over the state, while the bourgeoisie prepares its counter-attack.

Besides, any thinking that suggests that organs of proletarian rule can coexist peacefully with the bourgeois state is utopian and inherently reformist.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Being 'into' dual power, i.e. leaving dual power as it is, is textbook reformism. Hilferding, one of the classical reformists, suggested to make the Soviets that were created by German workers in 1918-9 part of the constitution. The purpose of this is to let the workers feel like they are in control, or at least that they have some power over the state, while the bourgeoisie prepares its counter-attack.

Besides, any thinking that suggests that organs of proletarian rule can coexist peacefully with the bourgeois state is utopian and inherently reformist.

Dunno about that one. Dual power isn't inherently revolutionary, but nor is it inherently reformist. Its all about what we do with that dual power. If the guild socialists used it to strengthen the workers movement and to provide a model for the future society, I see no problem. Dual power can and does exist within a capitalist society, but it requires defense from attacks by capital.