From: Jim MonaghanTo: marxism-international Subject: M-I: Re: marxism-international-digest V2 #149 Date: Wednesday, April 08, 1998 9:47 AM I am trying to make a point that democratic norms are a requirement in the party or parties that claim to be revolutionary, if they are to be successful in the long run. At the end of ther Spanish Civil War and the fall of the USSR the masses were effectively spectators rather than participants. See Ercoli/Togliatti report to Comintern on Spain in E. H. Carr`s "twilight of the Comintern." How does one decide what is reformism or sectarianism, the needs of the time might dictate demands which might in other times be reformism or sectarian. I am sure ultralefts would describe democratic demands in Indonesia as reformist while I would see them as on the order of the day. If things develop rapidly in the right direction then the possibilities and the demands will change. What was feasible and right in February was not the same as in October. How do you marry decisiveness and flexibility with a cadre that can think for itself. All powerful leaders and Central Committees are really Blanquiest and leave movements open to being beheaded. Witchhunts and dictatorial behaviour leads to movements of sheep.The International movement is contaminated by the egos and pretensions not just of leaders but of so called theoreticians. A broad church is not just a nice thing but a necessity. The masses are no longer looking to a Rome or Moscow to the one true church. The threatening language of some sects to their opponents is the greatest gift that can be given to Reaction locally or internationally. That is why they are quite happy to leave a Saddam in power, amongst others. Jim Monaghan --- from list marxism-international@lists.village.virginia.edu ---