[Pen-l] In reply to a comrade

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

The day before yesterday I received this email:

---
Hi Louis,

The longer that I am on the Marxism list the more that I find that we 
only disagree when it comes to the big organizational question. I see 
you defending the proper analysis on so many issues that I felt I had to 
take a very close at this organizational issue.

Given the recent developments in Italy, England and France this might be 
the foremost issue (for Marxists in/around the FI or non-stalinist 
marxists) of our time. Obviously we have a wealth of documentation 
detailing the debates in recent times (Callinicos, Sabad, etc), but I am 
interested in perspectives from the early 20th century to round this 
out. You often refer to Zinoviev as the originator of these views, and I 
was wondering if you know of anyone who called him on it in those days, 
or debated him? Basically, was there anyone else who put forward a 
different viewpoint? Also, how do you feel about the SWP entering and 
leaving the SP (I know it was before the SWP was formed) back in the 
1930s? Would you criticize that move in the same vein as how you did 
with SWP (Britain) in Respect? Also, how do/did you feel about the Black 
Panthers, who purported to be a vanguard party as well but seem to have 
worked well with other groups better than most sectarian trotskyist 
groups of today?

I have read your blog posts on these issues to make sure I didn’t ask 
you something you’ve already answered, but if I somehow missed an answer 
I apologize. If you only have the time to answer one question I think my 
question on Zinoviev is the most important to me. Thanks for your 
perspective.
---

Since it would have required a fair amount of time and energy to prepare 
a reply and since the questions raised would be of general interest to 
Marxists, my correspondent gave me permission to answer him publicly.

full: http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/in-reply-to-a-comrade/
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