Party and socialism in the 21st century… February 21, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in The Left.trackback
I don’t necessarily agree with every aspect of this piece by Garibaldy on his blog, though I agree with more than enough, but I have to admit it’s a comprehensive run through of issues that concern many of us on the left/progressive spectrum.
Well well worth a read and I’d be very interested in others responses.
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WBS, would be very interested in knowing your views on both the original piece and also Garibaldy’s analysis. As you experienced firsthand the whole WP/DL divergence almost twenty years ago, I’m presuming that some of that same wider background dynamic is being replayed here in Webb’s piece?
Hi LATC. Yes I’d say it’s very similar to the debates around the time of the WP/DL split. And what’s happened around the CPs of the world since 1989 and all that.
Your comment on Garibaldi’s blog chimed with my own feelings – I couldn’t make up my mind 20 years ago and I still can’t now!
LATC, I’ll have to ge back to you about that, pressure of work a bit crazy at mo. What i would say is that I’m sympathetic to both pieces because it seems to me one can argue both ways quite credibly and it’s impossible to be certain which is most effective. That said I’m against formations diluting their identity or disbanding and theresva real danger if that in such cases, outcomes which don’t seem to me to mark advances for class struggle. I’d be a bit sceptical at the original articles belief in widening out and yet I can see arguments about rethinking organisation, but I think that that has to b very carefully done and perhaps experimented with in a controlled fashion.
Will Kevin Rafter’s new book (on Dem Left) shed any light on these questions?
With all due respect for Garibaldy’s efforts, I think this is a classic example of the dangers of long distance political commentary. Put a random assortment of American Maoists, MLs and Trotskyists in a room and they won’t agree on much. But they will tell you that the CPUSA is a zombie organization. What’s left of its influence is focused on steering social movements into the embrace of the Democratic party. While there might be a local exception or two, you won’t find them on the ground in labor, anti-war or any other mobilization. Yes, I think their their theory is terrible but their practice is nonexistent. Sam Webb keeps talking but no one is listening.
Good of WBS to flag this up. I thought the piece was worth thinking about, and raised questions for people on the left in general.
Regarding John’s point. I appreciate that there can be a problem with long-distance commentary. But at the same time, I don’t think I was trying to talk about how strong or otherwise the CPUSA is, but about the arguments put forward, which are not necessarily strengthened or weakened significantly by the size of the CPUSA beyond the fact that some of them will be an attempt to address the problems facing a left in a country that is week.
The weakness of the American left is something that we are all struggling with. While the shrinkage and retreat from activism of the CPUSA cannot be understood in isolation from the environment in which it operates, internal factors have played a major role in that process. The virtual collapse of the CPUSA, and the role its leadership has played in the process, should inform any assessment we make of Sam Webb’s arguments.
Garibaldy observes, “It’s an interesting move to equate the struggle for democracy (and the defense of democratic reforms from the right) with support for Obama, and again one that will cause concern to some, on the grounds that it is possible to struggle for democracy without tying yourself to the Democrats and their role in US imperialism.” This is the heart of the matter. Webb has moved beyond the traditional CP policy of tailing the Democrats to a position of totally uncritical subordination.
If Obama really is “on the side of struggling Americans” and “defeating him and ‘taking back the country’ is the prime objective of the neo-fascist mob” then all political activity should be focused on supporting his administration and defending it from the imminent danger of fascism. This means a policy of discouraging opposition to Obama’s wars, working to keep the labor movement a fundraising machine for the Democrats, full support for the administrations economic policy of bailouts for the bankers and austerity for the workers etc
If these are your politics then there is no point in having an organization outside of the Democratic party, whether you call it the CPUSA or the League of Unthreatening Progressives. This is why the non geriatric minority of the party is leaving and virtually no one is joining. So I believe that Webb’s article is more of a suicide note that a serious political argument.
I read the piece and would like to comment when I’ve got more time. I would like to say that long distance commentary isn’t inherently a bad thing (says the American on the Irish blog). Commentary should be based on its content.
The fact is that all of the American “left” past the Democratic party is zombie like, with a few slight exceptions. During the Great Depression the seeds of destruction were planted and are are bearing their insidious fruit. I’m certainly not happy about it and am making $100 a week less on my check (I won’t even go into my benefit package)because of it, but it is a natural progression.