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Introduction: Below is a collection of several basic essays on
socialism, revolution and what we think has to happen to achieve
socialism. Let us know if you
have any questions or comments about what you read here. For a more through listing of essays
on Marxism, check out our Marxist theory page.
What is Socialism:
Socialists obviously don't
have a monopoly on compassion, however. What distinguishes socialists
from other socially concerned people is that we do not view these
problems as normal, natural, eternal, or an inherent feature of the human
condition. We believe that these problems are historically and socially
created and that they can be solved by human beings through conscious,
organized political struggle and change. continued .
. .
How to Make a Revolution:
First
of all, you have to have clear in your mind the meaning of the word
“revolution.” Many people have a stereotyped picture of what a revolution
is like. They say a revolution is when people come with guns, when they
surround a fortress or take over a city. What they do is they confuse
revolution with insurrection. Insurrection is just one stage of
revolution. Revolution is a lot more. It’s a long process. continued .
. .
What Will a Socialist America
Look Like:
While
the formal program of revolutionary socialism does not embody a picture
of what the future socialist society will look like, revolutionary
socialists share a vision of that society, if only in its broad outlines.
There is no reason to be concerned about the absence of precision on this
question. We cannot know what the socialist generations will decide to
do, but the general lines of development we are able to forecast give us
confidence in the wisdom of these decisions. continued .
. .
An Overview of What
Socialists Stand For:
Socialism
has been pronounced dead many, times before - and it has always revived
to continue the struggle. One instance was the time of deep demoralization
that followed the defeat of the Russian Revolution of 1905. Lenin said at
that time that the "official professors" who declared Marxism
to have been "refuted and annihilated" were utterly befuddled.
continued . . .
Socialists and Elections:
With
elections coming up again a lot of politically conscious people are
hitting the pavement to campaign for their candidates. Voter registration
drives, leafleting and yard sign distribution have become the order of
the day for many activists. We certainly commend people who take politics
seriously and who are committed to fighting for what they believe in.
However, when asked who we will be supporting in the upcoming elections,
we have to say “nobody.” continued .
. .
Marxism vs. Anarchism:
In
the worldwide movement for social justice, many young people are
attracted by the ideas of anarchism - even if they don’t call themselves
anarchists. Anarchists seem to stand for the same thing we Marxists do -
a classless society, a self-organized and self-managed society - what we
often sum up with the phrase ‘workers’ power’. Like us, many anarchists
say they stand for revolution. No bosses, no police, social equality, no
rich and no nuclear bombs. People not profit. continued .
. .
Why We Need a Revolutionary
Party:
You
cannot have a spontaneous socialist revolution. You cannot make a
socialist revolution without really trying. And you cannot have a
socialist revolution commandeered from the top, ordered around by some
omniscient leader or group of leaders. You need both ingredients in a
socialist revolution: the highest level of consciousness possible, and
the highest level of self-organization and self-activity by the broadest
possible segment of the population. continued .
. .
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