"Our platform" from the Communistisch Platform (NL)

  1. Tower of Bebel
    Tower of Bebel
    Here's a link to a provisional translation of the "Communistisch Platform", an attempt to partially develop the Marxist Center project in the Dutch language.

    Our platform
  2. Die Neue Zeit
    Die Neue Zeit
    On the original text:

    The contradictions inherent in capitalism plunge society again and again in crises: they reveal the gap between the rich and poor, the suffering of people in spite of abundance, the wars over resources and power. These crises can be economic, social and political, and undermine the view that there is only one model of society possible: capitalism.
    Good.

    Once again people look for radical answers to the problems that capitalism brings forth. Once again various models of society are widely discussed. Communist Platform aims for a communist society. A society freed from exploitation and the resulting contradictions and crises of capitalism.
    Maybe a bit too short? Seven key points are needed, I think:

    1) The abolition of private ownership relations over all productive and other non-possessive property;
    2) The abolition of all forms of debt slavery;
    3) The abolition of all forms of management that facilitate surplus labour appropriations by any elite minority, and their systemic replacement with collective worker management (that is, planning, organization, direction, and control), and responsibility;
    4) The abolition of wage slavery and money-capital and their systemic replacement with extended collective worker management, directly over its own collective labour-time and over individual compensation based directly on it, and discarding any means of exchange that can be circulated or hoarded;
    5) The abolition of all divisions of labour beyond technical ones;
    6) The abolition of classes and of the repressive instruments for the rule of minority classes; and
    7) The abolition of the economic family and other secondary yet socially revolutionary transformations aimed at abolishing non-class oppression and alienation.

    This, IIRC, is the brief but full maximum program.

    Communist Platform is not a party, though. We strive, however, for the unification of the working class into a political party in which all the revolutionary and leftist currents would eventually be able to feel at home. By 'working class' is understood that socioeconomic class of which its members are in such an economic situation that they must sell their labour power for a wage in order to survive and reproduce. This includes domestic workers, the unemployed, the disabled, pensioners and students.
    I'm not sure it should include the long-term unemployed or budding students yet to enter the workforce for the first time (as opposed to career-changing students).

    The proletariat can take power only if it becomes a political entity. Communists will always seek the greatest possible unity: by emphasising consistently the interests of the whole class within the separate workers’ organisations, by building a common workers’ culture in opposition to the ideas of capitalism, by opposing bureaucracy with a culture of openness and democracy, and, where possible, to achieve mergers and collaboration between groups. The highest political form of unit, potentially, of the entire working class is the Communist Party: a political compass that gives direction to the universal human liberation. Revolutionary vanguards that take power in the name of the working class only divide the working class in a group of rulers and a group of followers.
    Point 4 does not get to the fundamental point of becoming a class for itself. "The highest political form of unit, potentially, of the entire working class is the Communist Party: a political compass that gives direction to the universal human liberation" should read "The highest form of political entity, potentially, of the entire working class" and then mention party-movement and not just "Party." "Universal human liberation" should be "universal human emancipation."

    A communist party is a revolutionary but not a revolution-making party. We know that it is just as little in our power to make a revolution as it is in the power of our opponents to avoid her. The social change we strive for can only be achieved if the working class has elevated itself to a ruling class through a political revolution. We cannot artificially create the conditions for such revolution. However, we can build up our forces to make the self-emancipation of the working class possible and to take power as a class, when a revolutionary crisis develops.
    Good.

    This liberation of the working class is the liberation of the whole of humanity without distinction of race or gender. The liberation of the working class is to be found in the socialisation of the means of production. Only with the common ownership of the means of production, a communist society on the basis of "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" can exist.
    Point 6 should immediately follow Point 2, given the last abolition point of mine. Moreover, "liberation" here and throughout the text should be replaced by "emancipation."

    Communism is impossible on a national basis. The international hierarchy of capitalist states rules out such path. Therefore, in Europe we strive to establish a Communist Party of the EU and the bundling of the various national parties in an international association of communist parties worldwide. Divided by borders, the working class is powerless against the rule of capital worldwide. If we’re united on a continental and even a global scale, capital would be powerless against us. Communists also organise solidarity with the oppressed around the world. We are against imperialist wars and we will emphasise the interests of our class anywhere.
    Point 7 is not transnational (a la Bordiga): "bundling of the various national parties in an international association of communist parties worldwide" should read "bundling of the various national and international political entities into one transnational organization."

    Communists are however organised by state, since the state creates a specific political context. This necessitates the efforts of the communists to merge the working class with the revolutionary left within a country. To achieve this, we must put an end to the divide-and-rule tactics of the bureaucratic leadership of the workers’ unions, while we need a revolution within the revolutionary left to put an end to the political sects and to pave the way for unity. Unity can only be achieved on a democratic, internationalist and class-independent basis, and a united left in a communist party is united only on the basis of a communist program.
    Why "internationalist"?

    The capitalist class will never let its power be voted away and will use everything within its power to counter the independent organisation of the working class. A parliamentary victory of social legislation is therefore not enough. We do not reject the use of parliament and social legislation, but we know that the working class must prepare itself for revolution. This will continue peacefully as long as possible, but by force as well if needs be.
    Point 9 on "This will continue peacefully as long as possible, but by force as well if needs be" repeats the old but crude heuristic. It should be something like "This will continue by legal means where possible, extra-legal and illegal ones when necessary, and with the non-worker authorities themselves determining the level of peace or violence."

    The working class cannot take over the existing state apparatus and use it for its purposes. The state apparatus in a capitalist society is formed in a way that gives the capitalist class power. Taking over the state apparatus would only mean to run capitalism. Therefore communists stand for reforms that undermine the existing state and the ruling class, which strengthens the position of the working class. The current state apparatus must be replaced by a democratic republic to continue to make way for social revolution and eventually communism.

    Communists stand for the expansion of working class power and influence in all areas of society through self-organisation and democracy: workplace, workers' organisations, local and national politics, etc. We are fighting for every reform that may increase this power and influence. Democracy has a cultural dimension as well: it should be more than going to the voting booth every four or five years, much more. It should become a norm - especially within the context of modern direct communications – for everyone to reflect upon and participate in decisions about the workplace, the environment, etc. These values ​​of democracy and self-empowerment should lead to a multitude of organisation: from "red" unions to cooperatives and from solidarity networks to recreation collectives. Within this movement with its variety of organisational forms, the Communist Party is a political framework that ties all of these organisations together to achieve a common struggle.
    The mention of "the state" in other points should flow from the "repressive instruments for the rule of minority classes" definition that I gave above. I gave this definition years ago in a constructive exchange with anarchists in an attempt to formulate a common definition.

    Although "The current state apparatus must be replaced by a democratic republic" concedes to anarchist sensitivities, "demarchic commonwealth" is better for those more serious about demarchy.

    Somewhere in Points 10 and 11, there should be a clear rejection of reform coalitionism and mass strike-ism/direct "action"/etc. I should also add that the text should mention "institutions" and "institutional" more instead of the overly flexible "organizations" and "organizational."

    Internationalism; independent organisation; social revolution; and radical democracy. Acceptance of these points is the basis for common action. However, differences of opinion and discussion on the implementation of these points remain possible. Anyone who shares these principles will be asked to join in and commit themselves to these principles by supporting the Communist platform.
    Again, why "internationalism"?