From: "Harald Beyer-Arnesen" <haraldba-AT-online.no> Subject: Re: AUT: Re: Re: re: the real movement definition again Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 07:22:43 +0100 -----Original Message----- From: Greg Schofield <g_schofield-AT-dingoblue.net.au> To: aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu <aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu> Date: 10. desember 2001 2:48 Subject: Re: AUT: Re: Re: re: the real movement definition again Greg Schofield writes. "Social democracy has come as a short hand for reformism, just as reforms themselves have been so identified. Reformism which stemmed from the practices of social democracy is also distinct from this movement as it is from seeking reforms. Reformism substituted political leaders for worker's self-activity, reformism is an organisational class compromise (I am not against class compromises as a result of historical struggle, I am against it by way of elevating leadership above worker's interests and then against them)." Historically it is meaningsful to define social democracy as the ideology adovocating that socialism and/or communism could be reached wholly or in part through universal suffrage. This was to a great extent also a marxist ideology. The influence of Lassalle, who died as early as 1864, on this is grossly over- stated, to put it mildly, by people on this list. The second most read socialist within the social democratic parties at the beginning of the 19th century was to my knowledge Bebels. The most read being Marx. The historical evidence is undeniable, the late Marx and Engels expressed far greater illusions about the possibility of a classless society reached through universal suffrage, than what was voiced through the programme of principles which gained majority vote at the congress of the norwegian social democratic party (1) as late as in 1930. There the main emphasis still was on, and literally so:: "_the party, built on marxism and the experiences won though struggles in all countries, actively struggling for the social revolution, must therefore prepare itself for, in the transitonal period where the decisive struggle of power is in pro- gress, to take in use the whole of the organised power of the working class to break down the resistance of the bourgeoisie [borgerklassen], and make possible the construction of a socialist society._ [...] The agencies of the capitalistmociety are not fit for these tasks [to forward the the implementation of socialism ...]" (1) Det Norske Arbeiderpartiet The social democratic parties of Sweden and Denmark turned far earlier towards reformism. The outcome was to be the same. The historical experience of the Scandinvian counties is of some interest in the question of social democracy, as nowhere else did social democracy more so become the dominant ideology – of the state and society as a whole, "the home of the people" [folkhemmet]," as it was to be phrased in Sweden. Another interesting party in this context is of course Partido [Democrático] Socialista Obrero Espanol (the Demorático part was originally there), with its roots within the minority of of the section of Spain in the First International. It is all too common among marxist to do the same mistake many anarchist do, to paint marx all "good" or all "bad". Or put differently, all I am for/against, Marx also was. And when speaking of Lassalle, while he hardly is my piece of cake, much of the private correspondence of Marx and Engels critisizing "Izzy", is pretty embarresing: "a Jewish Nigger," – "It is perfectly obvious from the shape of his head and the way his hair grows that he is descended from the negroes who joined Moses on the journey out of Egypt, unless perhaps his mother or his grandmother has relations with a nigger" – but also "politically ... certainly one of the most important men in Germany ... the only man whom they [the manufactures and the progressive swine] really feared," according to Engels. Lassale being a jew, seem at times to be the most damaging indictment against that "nothing but a greasy Jew from Breslau" (according to Engels). In this mirroring Bakunin's reaction against Marx after the personal (and untruthful) slandering of him within the First International. The best of Marx's writings stands on its own without without making the man into a semi-god. This was adressed to you Commie00, who I otherwise respect. Harald --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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