File spoon-archives/aut-op-sy.archive/aut-op-sy_2001/aut-op-sy.0112, message 42


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








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