Tenets of Socialism - Trotsky and Lenin - Why so important?

Since becoming a Socialist, it has become blatantly obvious just how many different views of Socialism there are. From the right-wing bias representation of Stalinism or Maoism to the centrist politics of Democratic Socialism and of course, my affiliation, Revolutionary (Marxist) Socialism.

Amidst all of these Socialisms, there is one underlying - underpinning factor. One which dictates from the word go, which Socialism is true Socialism, and which Socialism stands a chance in the face of Globalised Capitalism.

Their tenets. Obvious answer, surely. But many do not see their tenets as so important. For example, if you go and speak to a Democratic Socialist, more often than not they will say things along the lines of, "We should all just work together." for these types of people (not limited to Democratic Socialists), there is little understanding of the importance of your political structure, of your tenets. For Socialism, your tenets are a break or make factor.

Let us step back a century. The First and Second Internationals. Organisations designed to form a collective of international workers groups, trade unions, socialists and communists, anarchists and other independant parties took positions. However to start as bluntly as I can, the reason these internationals ultimately did not succeed in their purpose was due to objective factors, but much - particularly with the First International, could be attributed to the tenets and politics of each individual organisation.

Where Marx and Engels wished to create international Socialism - by fighting with the Workers of the world, others did not. Reformist parties opted to support war, to support the Bourgeoisie, or failing that, not take a stand in complete opposition (as is the nature of all reformist parties). The Anarchists of the time sought to seize beuracratic control over the International, forming secret organisation within the larger organisation, dedicating themselves to creating their own form of dictatorship. (That is not to say Anarchists do this now - in fact, most anarchists do the opposite. This is said merely to point out the counter-positions of the tenets of parties within.)

So even from the earliest days of organised Socialism, we can see clearly how much of a role the separate tenets have in making or breaking cooperatives and individual organisations alike.

When we peek at today, we see reformist parties vying for legislative reform, to a system that cannot be fundamentally reformed. We see revolutionary parties trying to create their own revolution, ahead of the mentality of the working class (an important objective factor) and then you have those who subscribe to the tenets of - as marx called it - True Socialism. Those parties who understand the need to stay with the Workers, to create a Vanguard organisation, which organises the most advanced sections of the working class, and places them at the bosom, at the heart of struggle to agitate revolt.

It is clear, from those brief descriptions, that these parties, these organisations cannot co-exist side by side, sacrificing each other's tenets for the sake of unity amongst themselves. Simply put, not only does it cause a deep wedge in the politics of Socialism, it obscures them. It is this sacrificial attempt which has aided in the liberal rights ability to obscure the tenets of Socialism. To convince the working class that Socialism is Maoism, or Stalinism. To convince them that State-Capitalism is Socialism, and that Socialism kills people, thereby true Capitalism is the only method of running society and production.

If there are comments or questions, feel free to comment on this blog post. But for now, moving right along...

Leninism and Trotskyism. It is safe to say that Democratic Socialists do not follow any of the tenets of Marxist socialism, so there is no need to speak of them at all in this section. Amidst Revolutionary Organisations, the use of Leninist and Trotskyist tenets is somewhat of a gamble. Many organisations identify specifically with Trotsky, to avoid scrutiny over Stalinist Propaganda about Lenin, and to ensure that people know they oppose Stalinism and Maoism. Others on the other hand, completely oppose Leninism. Some even oppose Trotskyism.

So to this one has to ask, why? To clear things up - Lenin was not a dictator. I want to keep this as short as possible, so in depth analysis will have to wait. To claim that Lenin was a dictator, is to discredit the objective factors of the revolution of 1917. To discredit evidential facts, chronology of the revolution, and to neglect the opposition Lenin had to Stalin from the beginning. It is to neglect the role of the working class and the fight for the workers' and their soviets to seize power. It neglects decrees made after the non-violent/non-coup take over of power by the Soviets, All land to the peasantry. - Workers' absolute control over industry. - Homosexuality, Incest and Adultery are no longer crimes. - Divorce free, at any time, regardless of whether both parties agree. - Free abortions at the request of any woman who wishes it.

But this is less about what Lenin had done with the Bolsheviks, and more about the lessons he passed on. To abandon the tenets Lenin had set - Internationalism, an analysis of the capitalist state reiterating Engels and more, is to cut out an entire, important section of Socialist tradition. These lessons cannot be abandoned, for without them the Socialist plays a dangerous game during Revolutionary struggle.

The same goes for Trotskyism. It is thanks to trotskyism that we revolutionary organisations exist today. It is thanks to his on-going fight (for which he paid the heftiest price) that we now have the analysis of state-capitalism, we have proof that Stalin and Mao were not socialists, that their dictatorships were not Socialist, and that the true tenets of Socialism have always been International, working class revolution. The overthrow of Capitalism.

This is my first article, one Revolutionary Socialist to the rest of the Socialists out there. If I've made mistakes, if I'm confusing, please let me know. If you disagree, by all means voice your opinions.

I'll finish up by saying that it was thanks to these great revolutionaries that we have the right arguments to make, that we have the right political structure, and that we consistently have been the only driving force to push for more concessions, to push for victories for the movements that have surfaced in the world. From the Women's Lib movement, to Black Rights, to Workers' rights.

To win, we must fight. To win, we cannot pander to the Capitalist. To win, we must keep our minds ahead of the majority, and our mouths speaking behind them. The push for the final battle, the inevitable battle.

Quick note: History of the Russian Revolution (Trotsky) - The Communist Manifesto (Marx / Engels) - The State and Revolution (Lenin) - The Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State (Engels) - State Capitalism in Russia (Tony Cliff) - Reform or Revolution (Rosa Luxemburg) - All worth reading.