In Defense of Revolutionary
Organisation Part 3
In Defence of the Proletariat
In the face of the recent strikes amongst postal workers, pilots
and rail workers, all the ICC can say is that "by taking
part in these strikes the workers have fallen into a trap."
(World Revolution No. 196 July/August 1996). In this truly
remarkable article we are told that whereas these strikes are
simply a trap the demonstrations in support of the miners in 1992
were a part of a resurgence of class struggle - demonstrations
which allowed Tory MPs to take a prominent position and which ended
up singing patriotic songs! While it is clear the unions are always
trying to muzzle working class autonomy, strikes are particularly
vulnerable time for them, as there is always the danger that
strikers, no longer under the discipline of work, will escape their
control. (This is not to deny that unions do occasionally initiate
strikes as an attack on workers.) The ICC defend the 1984-5
miners strike in Britain as genuine class struggle, yet throughout
the striking miners remained within the framework of the NUM, even
if at a local level. There was no breach with unionism, at best an
attempt to create an area of autonomy under the auspices of the
union lodge. When Dock workers refused to unload coal imports at
Immingham, and then were told to do so by their union, it was clear
that this hard fought strike was not going to overcome union
restrictions, and that thus there was little hope of success. The
defense of proletarian organisation, means defending workers on
strike. The ICC are more concerned with a minor incident at
one of their meetings than how striking workers can fight against
union control and manipulation of their struggle.
The defense of revolutionary organisation means the defense of the
Kronstadt Soviet against its suppression by the Bolshevik state.
The defense of revolutionary organisation means the defense of the
Factory Committees of the Russian revolution against their
subordination to 'one-man-management' by the Bolshevik party i.e.
the defense of the counter-manual to the Bolsheviks manual, which
subordinated the daily life of workers to the needs of capital. The
defense of revolutionary organisation means refusing to attend the
Second Congress of the Communist International, as Otto Rühle
and August Merges did in July 1919. The ICC need to be
reminded that Rühle denounced Radek as "the Grand-master of
the KPD", the pro-Bolshevik party which hampered the revolutionary
movement in Germany (Der Kommunist, Dresden 1920). These
historical examples are not held up because they unproblematic, but
because they mark some crucial points where the split between the
Bolsheviks and the Communist movement became apparent.
Back to: Introduction
Going Around in Circles
Forward to: New Atlantis
The Future lies Open
What is to be Done?
Return to: Psychic Warfare
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