|
The numerous species and mutations of Leftism
_________________________________________________________________
LEFT-WING LINGO, IDEOLOGIES AND HISTORY
Ruthlessly bowdlerized by J. Hughes Please send suggestions for
additions to: (e-mail) [email protected]
Socialist Ideologies
Utopian, Communitarian Socialism
Anarchism
Communism, Marxism
Social Democracy
Fabianism
Marxist-Leninism
Trotskyism
Maoism
Schactmanism I
Schactmanism II
Euro-Communism
New Left
Contemporary American Democratic Left
Radical Democracy
Democratic Marxism, and other kinds of democratic socialism
Socialist Feminism, and other kinds of feminism
Black Socialism, and other kinds of people of color politics
Eco-Socialism, and other kinds of green politics
_________________________________________________________________
Utopian, Communitarian Socialism
Theory: Society can be changed through the slow aggregation of
cooperatives and communes which embody the good society and set an
example for the rest of the world.
Praxis: In the U.S. basically a whole set of socialist communes and
communalists, such as the Fourierists, Owen's New Harmony, and the
Oneida community. They were inspired by a variety of ideologies. Their
largest modern descendents in the U.S. are the Fellowship for
Intentional Community, and the Federation of Egalitarian Communities
around the Vermont commune Twin Oaks.
_________________________________________________________________
Anarchism
Theory: Opposed to all relations of domination, including the State,
Family, Religion, and the Rich. Opposed Marxist idea of a transitional
reliance on a socialist State, thinking it would be another form of
tyranny. Anarcho-syndicalists are specific about the means, militant
unions, and the end, replacing government with a federation of
industrial-based worker organizations.
Praxis: In Europe associated with the writings of Bakunin and
Kropotkin, and in the U.S. represented by figures such as Emma
Goldman and innumerable small groupings since the 19th century. The
chief anarcho-syndicalists in the U.S. are the Industrial Workers of
the World.
_________________________________________________________________
Communism, Marxism, Scientific Socialism
Theory: Marx outlined a "dialectical materialist" theory of history
postulating that the nature of the technological and economic system
of each society determines the power relations within that society,
dividing society between those who own and control the means of
production and those who are exploited. These classes struggle over
resources, and when the technological and economic base of society
changes, a new class develops to overthrow the previous ruling class.
The final stage of this dialectical process is the world-wide
polarization between the industrial working class and the owners of
industry; after the proletariat overthrows the bourgeoisie there will
be no more class divisions and humanity will consciously control its
own evolution.
Social democratic reforms in the short-term, towards the replacement
of capitalism (the private ownership of means of production) with
"social ownership" (socialism). The democratic advancement of the
masses' interests replaces the "dictatorship" of bourgeois democracy
with the "dictatorship" of the working class under socialism. Finally,
the idea of ownership itself will disappear, as will all vestiges of
class divisions, and therefore the need for a State will disappear,
which is the stage of communism.
Praxis: As a movement, can probably be dated from the founding of the
International Workingmen's Association, 1864-1876, within which Marx
(1818-1883) and Bakunin were the two ideological poles. In the U.S.:
probably the "De Leonist" Socialist Labor Party is the first, most
orthodox, and one of the smallest Marxist parties, founded before
1900.
_________________________________________________________________
Social Democracy
Theory: To use working people's parties within parliamentary democracy
to achieve social reforms, and eventually socialism.
Theoretical Varieties: Christian Socialism; Labor Zionism, creation of
a socialist Israel; eventually the Israeli Labor Party and MAPAM;
Marxist Socialism, a minor strain in all social democratic parties
to the present. When referring to contemporary European socialist,
social democratic and labor parties, called "Euro-socialism."
Praxis: Usually dated from the founding of the (2nd) Socialist
International, 1889-WWI, 1923-present. In the U.S. from the founding
of the U.S. Socialist Party (SP), 1900-1972, and DSOC-DSA
1972-present.
_________________________________________________________________
Fabianism
Theory: Socialism will be the result a slow, hopefully peaceful,
evolution, as reason and science restructure our irrational society.
Scientists are the vanguard of this shift, not the working class,
though there may be a fruitful alliance of the two. As a result they
had a weakness for authoritarian regimes, such as Soviet Russia, and
for ideas such as eugenics and progressive imperialism. On the other
hand, they were creative thinkers associated with internationalism and
the cooperative movement, and as backers of the labor movement and the
Labor Party.
Praxis: Associated with the intellectuals of the British Fabian
Society from about 1880 to 1920, until the British Labor Party and
Marxism, in its Leninist and democratic forms, shunted their ideas
aside. Some of their well-known members included the science fiction
author H.G. Wells, and the cooperativists Sidney and Beatrice Webb,
who founded the London School of Economics. Today's Fabian Society
[[email protected]] is more of a democratic socialist
think-tank for the British Labor Party than a distinct ideological
tendency.
_________________________________________________________________
Marxist-Leninism, Bolshevism, Communism
Theory: Since workers can only achieve trade-union consciousness ,
they must be led by a vanguard party of Marxist-Leninist
revolutionaries. This party must be governed by military discipline,
and "democratic centralism" : party-membership is tightly controlled
and all members must keep party discipline, not contradicting the
party-line in public, but only through internal "democratic" debate.
The party newspaper plays a central role. The party relies heavily on
front-organizations, ostensibly independent but actually controlled by
the Party
Praxis: Usually dated from the USSR's founding of the (3rd) Communist
International, 1920-1956. In the U.S.: Communist Party USA (CPUSA),
1920-present.
_________________________________________________________________
Trotskyism
Praxis: Leon Trotsky, a Bolshevik leader and factional opponent of
Stalin, exiled from Russia in 1929 for his advocacy of more power to
industrial worker organizations against the Stalinist party machine.
Murdered by a Stalinist assassin in Mexico in 1940. As a movement,
associated with Trotsky's founding of the "Fourth International",
1938-present. In the US: originally associated with the Socialist
Worker's Party (SWP or "Swoops"), 1940-present. Some assert that in
the late 1970s the SWP became "Castroists." Today more vividly
represented by the Spartacist League ("the Sparts"), the Workers'
League and the International Socialist Organization.
Theory: Stalinist Russia is a deformed worker's State , more
progressive than capitalism and therefore worthy of being defended
against imperialist (US) aggression, but needs an internal proletarian
revolution to throw out the bureaucrats. Occasionally Trostskyists
practice tactic of entryism, the joining of a larger mass socialist
party in order to win more influence
_________________________________________________________________
Maoism
Theory: China should lead a united, revolutionary Third World against
Soviet and American imperialism. Peasants can be the backbone of
"proletarian" revolution if led by a Communist Party. Once in power
Communists must engage in constant struggle ("Cultural Revolution")
against the feudal and bourgeois elements entrenched in the socialist
State. Continuous group criticism and self-criticism by party cadres
is a key form of ideological purification.
Praxis: In the US: the tiny Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP),
following the immortal teachings of Marx-Lenin-MaoTseTung-Bob Avakian
thought, the Maoist International Movement and the Progressive Labor
Party (PLP).
_________________________________________________________________
Schactmanism I, post-Trotskyist Leninism
Theory: Communism in the Third World and Russia is/was state
capitalism, the forced accumulation of capital by a bureaucratic class
for industrialization. Revolutionaries struggle for international
socialist revolution by democratic workers' organizations against both
Communism and capitalism.
Praxis: Begun by Max Schactman, an associate of Trotsky, in 1940 in
the U.S. From 1940 to 1958 represented by Schactman's Worker's Party,
and after the WP's merger with the U.S. Socialist Party (SPUSA) in
1958, by Schactman's faction of the SPUSA. Today this Leninist,
revolutionary phase of Schactmanism is best represented in the journal
New Politics, and in the organizations Solidarity and the
International Socialist Organization (though neither organization
would answer to "Schactmanite," preferring something like
"revolutionary, Third Campist, socialist-feminist, democratic
Leninism").
Schactmanism II, Laborist Neo-Conservatism
Theory: The AFL-CIO is the only legitimate representative of the
American working class, and the Democratic Party must become a more
legitimate social democratic/labor party by "moving to the center" and
down-playing gay rights, abortion and civil liberties. Socialists must
side with U.S. foreign policy against totalitarianism, as in funding
the Nicaraguan contras and supporting nuclear weapons in Europe and
the Pacific.
Praxis: In the U.S. (and only in the U.S.): the Social Democrats USA
(SDUSA, "Seduce-a") 1972-present, entrenched in the upper echelons of
the AFL-CIO.
_________________________________________________________________
Euro-Communism
Theory: A response to Krushchev's Stalin revelations, and the post-War
impracticality of revolution in the West, led by Enrico Berlinguer of
the Italian Communists (PCI), but also Spanish, Dutch, British,
Japanese and other Communists. Professed independence from Soviet
foreign policy; criticism of Czechoslovakia '68, Afghanistan, etc.
Acknowledged that conditions in the West demanded democratic means of
struggle, including a broad "anti-corporate coalition" with liberals
and socialists, leading finally to a "discontinuous break" with
capitalism.
Praxis: Really a phenomenon of the 1950s-early 1980s, though many
Communist Parties outside of Communist countries moved a little bit in
this direction.
_________________________________________________________________
New Left, 1960-1970's
Theory: Central document was the "Port Huron Statement" of 1964,
penned by Tom Hayden and ratified as the ideological statement of the
Students for a Democratic Society. Professed "participatory
democracy," as opposed to the power-elite-dominated Western
representative democracies, and the power-elite-dominated
authoritarian Communist societies . Also advocated participatory
democracy internally, as opposed to the use of party discipline and
hierarchy. Saw the agents of social change in "substitute
proletarians": the urban poor and black liberation movement, Third
World peasant liberation movements (Vietnam), and the student
movement. Open to work with Leninists, ignoring old
Socialist-Communist divisions - a feature which led to their quick
demise.
Praxis: Internationally, almost every country had a New Left
organization between 1965-1970. In the U.S., principally the Students
for a Democratic Society (SDS) 1960-1969; the Weathermen,1969-late
70's, a guerrilla organization that came out of SDS; the New American
Movement (NAM) 1970-1982, a democratic socialist organization that
came out of SDS.
_________________________________________________________________
Contemporary American Democratic Left
RADICAL DEMOCRACY
Theory Focuses on overturning all forms of domination. The ethical
principles underlying all the diverse movements that make up "the
Left" are those of democracy: freedom, equality and solidarity must be
extended into every sphere of life, including race, gender, the civil
sphere, and the economy. In this sense radical democracy transcends
Marxism, by including the insights of Marxist analysis while rejecting
the Marxist assertion that the economy and class are the most
fundamental forms of domination. The Left has gone astray when it has
elevated equality above the other components of democracy, such as
civil freedom and free elections. Central writings include Bowles and
Gintis' Democracy and Capitalism and Laclau and Mouffe's Hegemony and
Socialist Strategy: Towards a Radical Democratic Politics.
Praxis: In the U.S., embodied in the post-Marxist wings of DSA, the
Committees of Correspondence and the Socialist Party USA, as
reflected for instance in the SPUSA's Statement of Principles.
_________________________________________________________________
DEMOCRATIC MARXISM
Theory: The State as a relatively autonomous "contestable terrain" for
the organized, self-conscious constituencies of the working class,
through an open, inclusive political party (a left Democratic Party or
third party) and a radical labor movement. Socialists organize a
coalition of the sinking bottom third and the sliding middle third of
America (the bulk of the poor and the working middle class) against
the wealthy and corporations; central, necessary role for organized
labor. Influenced by Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci; socialists
struggle to wrest ideological hegemony away from the ruling class, and
gain hegemony for radical ideology. The leading exponent in the U.S.
has been Michael Harrington. Also well described in the pamphlet
"Toward a Democratic Socialism: Theory, Strategy, and Vision" (1991)
by Joseph Schwartz, member of the DSA National Political Committee.
Praxis: In the U.S., represented in the Democratic Socialists of
America, the Socialist Party USA, Committees of Correspondence, and
Solidarity.
Related Species
Libertarian Socialism Theory: The state is almost as big a problem as
capitalism, and democratic grass-roots control through things like
coops are preferable to nationalization, or extensions of state
authority.
Praxis: The more libertarian wings of democratic socialist and social
democratic groups embody a mild version of libertarian socialism, and
a number of anarchist collectives in North America have a radical
libertarian socialist orientation, such as the formerly Trotskyist
Love and Rage group.
Market Socialism Theory: The State can't possibly plan everything, and
the market can effectively be used by democratic public policy for
social goals, such as productivity.
Praxis: The moderate, or less utopian, wings of democratic socialist
and social democratic groups.
_________________________________________________________________
SOCIALIST-FEMINISM
Theory: Capitalism and patriarchy as relatively autonomous dual
systems of power, tending to reinforce one another but not
necessarily; socialism alone hasn't and won't liberate women; parallel
influences of capitalism and patriarchy reflected in feminization of
poverty.
Praxis: Although many feminist organizations have become more
class-conscious, and committed to building feminism into a broader
radical movement, only the DSA Feminist Commission today represents a
true dual-systems analysis of current politics.
Other kinds of Feminists:
Marxist Feminism Theory: Women are primarily oppressed by capitalism,
as workers; class more primary than gender as a social cleavage.
Socialist revolution will liberate women.
Praxis: The "feminist" aspect of most socialist organizations in the
U.S. today.
Radical Feminism Theory: Women are oppressed by patriarchy; gender
more primary than class.
Praxis: Represented in the U.S. today by Andrea Dworkin.
Lesbian Feminism Theory: Women are oppressed by both patriarchy and
compulsory heterosexuality; lesbianism and gender separatism are the
only path to liberation for women.
Liberal Feminism Theory: Women are oppressed because they don't have
equal rights ("equal opportunity") with men in democratic society.
PraxisIn the U.S., usually associated with the National Organization
of Women, though radicals actually have a lot of influence in NOW.
_________________________________________________________________
BLACK SOCIALISM
Theory: Capitalism is relatively autonomous from, but interlocked
with, Western imperialism, the exploitation of Third World peoples,
and racism at home and abroad. Democratic socialism (at home and
internationally) won't necessarily eliminate the oppressive relations
of ethnic groups and nation-states, but will weaken them. Racism, like
capitalism, is not just the barriers to advancement of minorities, but
the whole structure of society which leads to inequality: structural
racism.
Praxis: A tendency in much of African-American politics, from Reps.
Ron Dellums D-CA and Major Owens D-NY, to Manning Marable and Cornel
West.
Other kinds of People of Color Politics:
Black Marxism Theory: Ethnic/racial divisions result from economic
exploitation, such as the institution of slavery, and are used by the
ruling class to divide the working class. Socialism will eliminate
racism.
Praxis: Most socialist organizations implicitly treat the race as
secondary to class.
Pan-Africanism Theory: European peoples, socialist and capitalist, are
globally oppressing African peoples, and Africans everywhere must
fight for unity and liberation, and then struggle for socialism.
Praxis: In the U.S. by Kwame Ture's All-African People's Revolutionary
Party, and the Nkrumahist-Toureist Party Organizing Formation.
Black Nationalism Theory: Blacks in America are an oppressed nation,
and should struggle for a separate society and economy.
Praxis: In the U.S. by the Nation of Islam.
Black Anarchism TheoryThe foremost person associated with this
movement would be former Black Panther Party member Lorenzo Kom'boa
Ervin. The web page with (some) of the writing from his book
"Anarchism and the Black Revolution" is located at:
http://iww.org/~monkeywrench/lorenzo/abr.html
Civil Rights and Assimilationism Theory: Usually associated with
assimilationism; blacks are oppressed by racist attittudes and laws.
The goal is to have everyone be treated equally under the law, with
the exception of affirmative action.
Praxis: In the U.S. embodied in the Southern Christian Leadership
Council, the NAACP, and other mainline civil rights organizations.
_________________________________________________________________
ECO-SOCIALISM
Theory: Ecological protection requires the democratic control of the
means of production, but industrialism itself must be reformed not
just socialized. Recognizes a relative autonomy of ecology from class,
State, gender, and race. Advocates work reduction (shorter work weeks,
more dole), sustainable ("no-growth") economy, participatory
democracy, cooperatives, and strengthened transnational institutions.
Praxis: In the U.S.: the left wing of the Greens USA, the more statist
wing of the Left Green Network, and the Environmental Commission of
DSA.
Related Species
Eco-Populists Theory: Focus on worker and community struggles against
local hazards, without explicit anti-capitalism.
Praxis: In the U.S.: Citizen's Clearinghouse on Hazardous Wastes.
Eco-Anarchists/Social Ecologists Theory: Associated largely with the
writings of Murray Bookchin and the Detroit-based magazine Fifth
Estate. Ecological destruction grows out of authoritarian social
structures.
Praxis: In the U.S.: the anarchist wing of the Left Green Network
(LGN), which is the moribund, left wing of the A
HREF="http://garnet.berkeley.edu:3333/EDINlist/.election/.green/.green
.html">Greens USA.
Eco-Feminists Theory: Ecological destruction grows out of the
subordination of women, who men associate with Nature.
Praxis: Represented by groups like Feminists for Animal Rights and the
EcoFeminism mailing list.
|
|
