Re: [Marxism] Correction for the Braverman Archive

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Just a reminder that another archive -- one especially valuable for those
> who believe a revolutionary leadership is necessary -- is growing steadily
> (in fact later today several more articles will be posted there and
> there's much, much more to come):
> http://www.marxists.org/archive/cannon/works/index.htm
>
> Andy

I don't think there's any question that a revolutionary leadership is
necessary. What is in question is whether it can be created when party
leaders such as Cannon can make statements such as the following in 1946:

"The revolutionary vanguard party, destined to lead this tumultuous
revolutionary movement in the US, does not have to be created. It already
exists, and its name is the SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY. It is the sole
legitimate heir and continuator of pioneer American Communism and the
revolutionary movements of the American workers from which it sprang. Its
nucleus has already taken shape in three decades of unremitting work and
struggle against the stream. Its program has been hammered out in
ideological battles and successfully defended against every kind of
revisionist assault upon it. The fundamental core of a professional
leadership has been assembled and trained in the irreconcilable spirit of
the combat party of the revolution.

"The task of the SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY consists simply in this: to remain
true to its program and banner; to render it more precise with each new
development and apply it correctly in the class struggle; and to expand and
grow with the growth of the revolutionary mass movement, always aspiring to
lead it to victory in the struggle for political power."

Unless we create an alternative party-building methodology, we will not be
successful. So I guess you say that reading is necessary in order to avoid
mistakes.

For my views on Cannon's party-building ideas, go to
http://www.columbia.edu/~lnp3/mydocs/organization/lenin_in_context.htm and
look for the subheading "Trotskyism".


Louis Proyect
Marxism list: www.marxmail.org


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