Forming a Communist Organization?

[A Suvorov]

Hi- from what I've seen on the various leftist/solcialist/communist websites and such, there is a great deal of theoretical information and scads of 'how to' pages on demonstrating. However, I've not seen very much information on the 'nuts and bolts' of creating a political/social aciton entity with an ironclad organizational structure.

What I mean is, there is plenty saying 'what to do' in forming a group, but not much on 'how to do it' on a practical level, as in "what is the optimum size for a local group?" "how are leaders elected/chosen and for how long a term of office?" "how do you register in a particular state as a true Party or even just a PAC?"

In my view, we can talk talk talk blah blah allwe want- but until The Left (and I don't mean MoveOn.org) gets it together and forms a real, viable political party we arent' going to get anywhere except remaining on the fringes of politics.

Granted there are those of you who believe The System is so corrupt that it's impossible to work within it- that's a very valid view, certainly, and with much merit. But the fact remains, that until the day when YOU and YOU are comfortable with grabbing a rifle and a red flag and hitting the streets in a replay of 1917 we're going to HAVE to work from inside the present system in order to force a change.

I, for one, am all for recreating an old-school Communist Party based on the simple and workable constitutions of the early American groups- a CP that can bring together the various viewpoints (in harmony) and one that can be recognized as a viable entity on the political stage. Not a group of wild-eyed would-be bomb-throwing Bolshevik throwbacks, but one of intelligent and well-spoken individuals who can express themselves not only to each other but to the media and general public as well- a SMART Communist Party prepared to work towards a better future for all.

We have tons of theory, tons of references on our history, and tons of information on current events and trends around the world's various tendencies- but very little true organization. Without organization we're doomed to eternal marginalization.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Good question and good thoughts, but you're already walking on a thin rope between valid organization and sectarianism (ie, so many communist and "communist" parties out there), the later of which I really detest (and of the Stalinists, Maoists, and Trots, the last ones, barring some notable exceptions on this board tend to be sectarians extraordinaire).

Why not an international socialist party?: Internationals are too antequated

Originally posted by Me
Karl Marx did not title his pamphlet Manifesto of the Communist Parties for a good reason, you know.

Which brings me to my two questions on the revolutionary vanguard in today's world. First, the political: why can't EVERY revolutionary "state-socialist" group get past their sectarian differences on historically moot points (link), take extreme advantage of the Internet and other information technology, and jointly establish an intercontinental revolutionary vanguard party, with national operations being conducted by "cells"?

[Council communists should hop aboard, too, and to hell with "national-local considerations" as the excuse for national parties. The only way for workers' councils to spring up even before revolution is for the vanguard party to spread political consciousness.]

Second, the historical: why wasn't such a party founded in the first place instead of the Second International? After all, the so-called "First International" did not consist of various political parties, and was itself dedicated to the creation of an intercontinental communist party.

I myself am flirting with the idea of establishing at least "sympathetic" ties to the ICC, despite not being a left-communist (I, like Lenin were he alive today, am between left-communism and the "Leninist" offshoots who are far more opportunistic and sectarian than revolutionary).

[A Suvorov]

To be honest, I really don't know what 'ism' I personally fall under, if any. There are many facets to basic leninism, stalinism, maoism, hoxhaism, etc etc ad nauseum, and to subscribe to ONE is tantamount to 'red suicide'!

No, I noted my own affiliation as a Communist, but the principle certainly applies to The Left in general- we're long on theory but seemingly short on rock-solid organization, IMHO.

I didn't intend to sound sectarian, other than placing myself in the Communist camp; that being said, I realize there are obviously others who are NOT communists who have very valid and worthwhile views and opinions. Communists do not have- and never really had- a choke-hold on opinions and theory; we're just one of many facets of Leftist thought

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I'd suggest reading this: Guidelines on the Organizational Structure of Communist Parties, on the Methods and content of their Work (Adopted at the 24th Session of the Third Congress of the Communist International, 12 July 1921)