[PEN-L:33020] Re: multiple anti-war groups

[Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>]

> "Devine, James" wrote:
>
>  BTW, as Ian suggests, some of the worst sectarianism I've seen has
> been practiced by people who claim to be anti-sectarian,
> anti-Leninist, etc. Top-down (bureaucratic) practices are just as
> common among the "democratic left" as among the "sectarians."
>

There is a sort of partial corrective for anti-sectarian sectarianism as
well as the "straightforward" kind. Refrain from using the label of
"sectarian" for anyone or any organization you disagree with. The charge
of sectarianism should be reserved for self-criticism only -- i.e. for
positions, groups, and individuals whose politics and/or organizational
affiliations  one shares.

When the charge (ditto with dogmatism, and other labels for style of
work) is leveled against positions one opposes, there is always at least
an element of bad faith, of trying to score political points _without_
without commiting oneself to any political principles.

Sectarianism (the real thing -- not just the behavior of your political
oponents) is self-defeating; in the classical phrase (jargon if you
will) it breaks the link between organization and base. Hence the need
for self-criticism to avoid it within one's own tendency or
organization.

As Jim suggests (though I'm expanding a bit) there are those who merely
by being "anti-leninist" think they are therefore magically protected
against all the sins they ascribe to leninism. They aren't.

Carrol


> Jim