Asoka89
27th December 2008, 06:53
Pretty open ended question--
Marx tells us that ideology varies from places to place due to material conditions. I kind of think this of why Leninism has triumphed in a lot of undeveloped countries and has sort of substituted the role of the national bourgeois is building basic level of development through state, buercratic machinery, whereas Leninism has been an abject failure in getting power in the developed world.
Che tells us that the "duty of every revolutionary is to make revolution", and "The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall."
Obviously as a leftist and revolutionary thinker I am tempted to agree with this. Ultra-leftism is tempting, I can agree with all sorts of ultra-leftist actions, but I think that the role of the revolutionary is to appraise his situation and make the most out of it.
So for example-- in Portugal in the late 1960s, early 1970s, the CP which was persuced and illegal under Salazar, didnt start an insurrection or launch a terrorist campaign against the dictator... they did though covertly organize and propogandize inside the factories, and once the 25 de april progressive military coup (figure that) overthrew the tyrant they were in a great position among the working class---- WHEN the time for revolution did come they did not make revolution, but when the time wasnt ripe they were right just to organize.
In the USA during the 1960s, I think the SWP were smarter helping to build the mass movement against the war, then the Guervarist inspired Weather Underground and others who acted violently. I obviously sympthaise with them and think they were justified, but a MARXIST in my opinion has to work with the working class. People thought the French workers were hopelessly reactionary, and were shocked when they joined the students in May 1968, the organization of the Left-establishment were not ready for it.
In other words the duty of the revolutionary in my mind isnt to "make revolution", even though I respect and admire the great Che, nor do I think like Bernstein or Kautsky that we can just wait until the system implodes (cause it'll just keep reinventing itself), I think the duty of the revolutionary is to help to make a fire out of the sparks that exploitation and oppression create.
Your views, sorry if this was incoherent.. posting after a few brews.
Marx tells us that ideology varies from places to place due to material conditions. I kind of think this of why Leninism has triumphed in a lot of undeveloped countries and has sort of substituted the role of the national bourgeois is building basic level of development through state, buercratic machinery, whereas Leninism has been an abject failure in getting power in the developed world.
Che tells us that the "duty of every revolutionary is to make revolution", and "The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall."
Obviously as a leftist and revolutionary thinker I am tempted to agree with this. Ultra-leftism is tempting, I can agree with all sorts of ultra-leftist actions, but I think that the role of the revolutionary is to appraise his situation and make the most out of it.
So for example-- in Portugal in the late 1960s, early 1970s, the CP which was persuced and illegal under Salazar, didnt start an insurrection or launch a terrorist campaign against the dictator... they did though covertly organize and propogandize inside the factories, and once the 25 de april progressive military coup (figure that) overthrew the tyrant they were in a great position among the working class---- WHEN the time for revolution did come they did not make revolution, but when the time wasnt ripe they were right just to organize.
In the USA during the 1960s, I think the SWP were smarter helping to build the mass movement against the war, then the Guervarist inspired Weather Underground and others who acted violently. I obviously sympthaise with them and think they were justified, but a MARXIST in my opinion has to work with the working class. People thought the French workers were hopelessly reactionary, and were shocked when they joined the students in May 1968, the organization of the Left-establishment were not ready for it.
In other words the duty of the revolutionary in my mind isnt to "make revolution", even though I respect and admire the great Che, nor do I think like Bernstein or Kautsky that we can just wait until the system implodes (cause it'll just keep reinventing itself), I think the duty of the revolutionary is to help to make a fire out of the sparks that exploitation and oppression create.
Your views, sorry if this was incoherent.. posting after a few brews.