<snip>
>In the Manifesto they refer to the Communist Party members as "most
>advanced" and that they "have over the great mass of the proletariat the
>advantage of clearly understanding...". Isn't that synonymous with
>"vanguard" ? Try the concept "leadership", even if "pushing" forward from
>behind ; maybe "vanguard" has too much baggage. Marx and Engels said:
>"The Communists, therefore, are on the one hand practically, the most
>advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every
>country,
>that section which pushes forward all others; on the other hand,
>theoretically, they have over the great mass of the proletariat the
>advantage of clearly understanding the lines of march, the conditions, and
>the ultimate general results of the proletarian movement. "
M&E are talking about communists, not a party, nor even party members. Did you forget this little extra:
"In what relation do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a whole? The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to the other working-class parties.
They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole.
They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mold the proletarian movement.
The Communists are distinguished from the other working-class parties by this only:
(1) In the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they point out and bring to the front the common interests of the entire proletariat, independently of all nationality.
(2) In the various stages of development which the struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie has to pass through, they always and everywhere represent the interests of the movement as a whole."
Parties are good, but shouldn't be fetishised. And don't forget that thesis about reflexivity . . . .
>But praxis is also
>trial and error, and the whole history of the SU and socialist countries
>must be considered in the sense that ideas are also tested and corrected by
>practice, i.e. erroroneous ideas are refuted in practice, as well as valid
>ideas proven true.
We hope . . . .
>This is a rational and self-conscious method, science.
Not sure I'd call trial and error at instituting a revolutionary new way of life a science, but <shrug> close enough for a mulligan.
Todd
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