The PSL and other organizations

Hey all, I am currently looking for an organization in the US that I would best fit in as a revolutionary leftist with Luxemburgist leanings. The best choices, so far, seem to be the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the Socialist Party USA (SP-USA). Both organizations, however, have severe drawbacks...

The PSL is appealing because it is unabashedly radical and Marxist. However, it is a Leninist party, so naturally they employ Leninist ideas like democratic centralism which Rosa Luxemburg argued so eloquently against.

Then there is the SP-USA, which has a strong Luxemburgist streak and which explicitly excludes Leninists. On the other hand, there also appears to be a strong revisionist element in the party, and I hear that the male co-chair (Billy Wharton) is a product of this reformist wave.

So, as a Luxemburgist, which organization do you favor? Or do you belong to another organization? How do you feel about the advantages and disadvantages of each party? Or have I mischaracterized either or both altogether?

Thanks!

So, as a Luxemburgist, which organization do you favor? Or do you belong to another organization? How do you feel about the advantages and disadvantages of each party? Or have I mischaracterized either or both altogether?

I think that you should take some time to clarify your own politics before jumping into joining any organisation. I don't see the PSL as in any way compatible with ideas that could be called 'Luxemborgist'. The PSL for example is pro-Cuba, and pro-Chinese revolution, neither of which are stances typically associated with 'Luxemborgism'.

Devrim

I think that you should take some time to clarify your own politics before jumping into joining any organisation. I don't see the PSL as in any way compatible with ideas that could be called 'Luxemborgist'. The PSL for example is pro-Cuba, and pro-Chinese revolution, neither of which are stances typically associated with 'Luxemborgism'.

Devrim

Yes, I certainly do need to get a better understanding of not only the organizations' stances, but also my own. Thanks, comrade

I don't think that it is anything to be at all embarrassed about. People don't come into class politics with perfectly formed political ideas. If I were you, I would take some time to discuss with people and read up on your own before jumping into an organisation. After all being in a political organisation is a big commitment. There are people in our organisation, the ICC, who have been members for 35 years now, since it was formed in 1975. It is worth taking a little time to get the right one before making a big decision.

Devrim

sometimes it's just better to be a lone wolf instead of joining a party too

I've recently stopped identifying myself as a Luxemburgist, because though I'm with Rosa on the national question and economics, I don't think there is a real 'Luxemburgist' organisation. The organisation I'm closest to is the ICC (International Communist Current, the organisation Devrim refers to above), which defines itself as 'Left Communist'. It sees Rosa as being one of the people who contributed to that tradition; not herself a Left Communism (Left Communism as a current only emerged after Rosa's death) but the Left Communists in Germany and the Netherlands particularly were influenced by Rosa.

For instance, on the national question, the ICC is one of the organisations that defends a Luxemburgist position. Another is the ICT (International Communist Tendency). The majority of the ICC also defend a Luxemburgist position on the causes of the crises of capitalism. Both the ICC and ICT have sections and publication in North America, as well as their websites. I would urge checking both of them out. But I agree with Devrim - finding out and clarifying what you do believe is more important than finding a group, especially if you're fairly new to this. Any left-wing discussion groups in your area that you know of? Finding people to talk to, Anarchists, Trotskyists, Left Communists, Autonomists, Council Communists... anyone who can bring new ideas and interpretations to the table and help you clarify what your politics are, is probably the most important thing.

If you live in the United States (and by interest in the PSL and the SPUSA, it seems like you do), I would recommend looking into my organization, Solidarity. It is not explicitly Luxemburgist, but it is a Marxist party which opposes vanguardism and "democratic" centralism despite Trotskyist influences.

PSL have respect for Luxumberg


http://www2.pslweb.org/site/News2?pa...s_iv_ctrl=1342