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*********** REVOLUTION ***********
from Workers Solidarity No 32
ANARCHISTS SAY that capitalism can not be
reformed away. We say it must be overthrown
through a revolution. Many people however believe
that the failure of the Russian revolution of 1917
shows revolutions just replace one set of rulers with
another. The failures of the revolutions in
Nicaragua, Iran and Cuba to fundamentally change
life for the workers of these countries seems to point
to the same thing. So why all this talk of revolution?
A revolution essentially is a sudden upheaval in society
which fundamentally alters the way that society operates
or who that society is run by. It occurs when the mass of
the people desire change that their rulers are unwilling
or unable to grant. It can not be the result of the action
of a small group of plotters.
History is full of revolutions. Capitalism gained
dominance over feudalism through revolutions,
particularly the French revolution of 1789. Revolutions
in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and Iran since the
second world war have had major effects on a global scale.
Of course none of these were anarchist revolutions. They
all resulted in the substitution of one ruling class for
another. They failed to bring about classless societies.
MISSING FACTOR
What was missing was an independent working class
fighting for its own class interests. Instead working class
militancy was harnessed by radical nationalists in a fight
for 'national liberation'. In power these radical
nationalists crushed the working class at home while
seeking terms with imperialism abroad.
In the case of Nicaragua and Cuba at least the radical
nationalists in power used socialist jargon as a cover for
their policies. Cuba went so far as to nationalise the
economy. A successful socialist revolution however
involves more than nationalisation and left wing jargon.
In the course of a revolution the working class
spontaneously throws up organs through which it tries to
re-organise society. These organs however are normally
made subservient to the new state within a short period
of time. Normally there is some resistance to this but
such resistance is brutally crushed. In 1917 the
Bolshevik state apparatus crushed the Soviets and factory
committees, in Iran the radical nationalists around
Khomeini performed the same function.
SMASH THE STATE
This could only occur because the vast majority of the
workers accepted the necessity of state rule. This is why
anarchists emphasise the importance of smashing the
state rather then using it's apparatus to introduce
socialism. There is no more utopian idea then the idea of
a minority introducing socialism through the state
apparatus.
Anarchists believe that a successful revolution which
introduces socialism must for the first time in history
involve a huge subjective factor. This subjective factor is
a large proportion of the working class holding anarchist
politics. This does not mean the WSM must be the
largest faction or even that anarchist groups must be the
largest faction. It does mean that workers must see the
introduction of socialism as something that is their task,
and that the state has only a counter-revolutionary role
to play.
BATTLE OF IDEAS
This will not just happen spontaneously. Some
anarchists make the mistake of thinking politics will
become irrelevant once workers seize the factories. They
think that the various Leninist and reformist left
theories will become instantly irrelevant. In actual fact
this is the period when politics will become relevant as
never before. It is a period where millions of workers will
be looking for a political direction.
In the past revolutions have been led to disaster because
the ideas that led the working class were reformist or
authoritarian. Once in power such parties brutally
crushed working class activity. This is as true of the
reformists in the German revolution of 1919 as it is of the
Bolsheviks in 1917-21. Anarchist organisation must be
capable of debating and defeating such ideas as they
arise.
CRYSTAL BALL
Not being crystal ball gazers we can not predict when the
next opportunity for revolution will occur. In Ireland at
least it would appear to be many years away. We do know
such opportunities will arise however, they are a product
of the inability of capitalism to meet the needs of all the
people. Capitalism may have changed and developed over
the years but this has not changed.
This does not mean we do nothing until such an
opportunity arises. Now is the time for us to develop and
spread anarchist ideas. We need to build strong anarchist
organisation(s), not just in Ireland but internationally.
Indeed it is likely that revolution will arrive on the
agenda in Ireland due to the success of revolutions
elsewhere. We ensure the continued relevancy of our
ideas by involvement in the struggles of fellow workers
and demonstrating the usefulness of anarchist politics
and tactics.
This is the purpose of the WSM. We are in the process of
building an organisation capable of asserting anarchist
ideas. We are developing these ideas while being
involved in struggles at all levels of society. We are
building international links with anarchists in other
countries. If you too wish to see this rotten system
smashed and replaced with anarchism then get in contact
and get involved.
Joe Black
ANARCHISTS SAY that capitalism can not be
reformed away. We say it must be overthrown
through a revolution. Many people however
believe that the failure of the Russian revolution
of 1917 shows revolutions just replace one set of
rulers with another. The failures of the
revolutions in Nicaragua, Iran and Cuba to
fundamentally change life for the workers of
these countries seems to point to the same thing.
So why all this talk of revolution?
A revolution essentially is a sudden upheaval in
society which fundamentally alters the way that
society operates or who that society is run by. It
occurs when the mass of the people desire change that
their rulers are unwilling or unable to grant. It can
not be the result of the action of a small group of
plotters.
History is full of revolutions. Capitalism gained
dominance over feudalism through revolutions,
particularly the French revolution of 1789.
Revolutions in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and
Iran since the second world war have had major effects
on a global scale.
Of course none of these were anarchist revolutions.
They all resulted in the substitution of one ruling class
for another. They failed to bring about classless
societies.
MISSING FACTOR
What was missing was an independent working class
fighting for its own class interests. Instead working
class militancy was harnessed by radical nationalists
in a fight for 'national liberation'. In power these
radical nationalists crushed the working class at home
while seeking terms with imperialism abroad.
In the case of Nicaragua and Cuba at least the radical
nationalists in power used socialist jargon as a cover
for their policies. Cuba went so far as to nationalise
the economy. A successful socialist revolution however
involves more than nationalisation and left wing
jargon.
In the course of a revolution the working class
spontaneously throws up organs through which it tries
to re-organise society. These organs however are
normally made subservient to the new state within a
short period of time. Normally there is some
resistance to this but such resistance is brutally
crushed. In 1917 the Bolshevik state apparatus
crushed the Soviets and factory committees, in Iran
the radical nationalists around Khomeini performed
the same function.
SMASH THE STATE
This could only occur because the vast majority of the
workers accepted the necessity of state rule. This is
why anarchists emphasise the importance of smashing
the state rather then using it's apparatus to introduce
socialism. There is no more utopian idea then the
idea of a minority introducing socialism through the
state apparatus.
Anarchists believe that a successful revolution which
introduces socialism must for the first time in history
involve a huge subjective factor. This subjective factor
is a large proportion of the working class holding
anarchist politics. This does not mean the WSM must
be the largest faction or even that anarchist groups
must be the largest faction. It does mean that
workers must see the introduction of socialism as
something that is their task, and that the state has
only a counter-revolutionary role to play.
BATTLE OF IDEAS
This will not just happen spontaneously. Some
anarchists make the mistake of thinking politics will
become irrelevant once workers seize the factories.
They think that the various Leninist and reformist left
theories will become instantly irrelevant. In actual
fact this is the period when politics will become
relevant as never before. It is a period where millions
of workers will be looking for a political direction.
In the past revolutions have been led to disaster
because the ideas that led the working class were
reformist or author-itarian. Once in power such
parties brutally crushed working class activity. This is
as true of the reformists in the German revolution of
1919 as it is of the Bolsheviks in 1917-21. Anarchist
organisation must be capable of debating and
defeating such ideas as they arise.
CRYSTAL BALL
Not being crystal ball gazers we can not predict when
the next opportunity for revolution will occur. In
Ireland at least it would appear to be many years
away. We do know such opportunities will arise
however, they are a product of the inability of
capitalism to meet the needs of all the people.
Capitalism may have changed and developed over the
years but this has not changed.
This does not mean we do nothing until such an
opportunity arises. Now is the time for us to develop
and spread anarchist ideas. We need to build strong
anarchist organisation(s), not just in Ireland but
internationally. Indeed it is likely that revolution will
arrive on the agenda in Ireland due to the success of
revolutions elsewhere. We ensure the continued
relevancy of our ideas by involvement in the struggles
of fellow workers and demonstrating the usefulness of
anarchist politics and tactics.
This is the purpose of the WSM. We are in the process
of building an organisation capable of asserting
anarchist ideas. We are developing these ideas while
being involved in struggles at all levels of society. We
are building international links with anarchists in
other countries. If you too wish to see this rotten
system smashed and replaced with anarchism then
get in contact and get involved.
Joe Black