From:    Jim Monaghan 
To:      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


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