Rosa Luxemburg

Organizational Questions of the Russian Social Democracy

[Leninism or Marxism?]
( !"#$

Written: 1904. Source: Re%olutionary Socialist Organization by Rosa Luxemburg. Publisher: Integer Press, 19 4. !irst Publishe": 1904 in &s'ra an" (eue )eit.

*+itor,s &ntro+uction

#his "ocument re$resents Rosa Luxemburg%s contribution to the "ebate &ithin the Russian Social 'emocratic mo(ement on $arty organi)ation an" "emocratic centralism. Luxemburg *oins #rots+y in &arning o, the "angers inherent in centralism an" argues against the concentration o, $o&er in a -entral -ommittee. !rom a Socialist Re(olutionary $ers$ecti(e Luxemburg $uts ,or&ar" com$elling arguments against Lenin%s conce$tion o, the re(olutionary Party. !or other contem$orary contributions to the "ebate see #rots+y%s Our -olitical .as's an" Lenin%s /hat &s .o 0e Done? an" One Ste1 2or3ar+4 .3o Ste1s 0ac' . .riginally $ublishe" as an article in 1904 un"er the title Organizational Questions of the Russian Social Democracy in &s'ra an" (eue )eit, later re$rinte" in $am$hlet ,orm title" Marxism %s5 Leninism. /$$eare" in 0nglish in 19 4 as Re%olutionary Socialist Organization $ublishe" by Integer an" in 19 1 as Leninism or Marxism? by the /nti2Parliamentary -ommunist !e"eration, 3lasgo&. In 1941, the 5ni(ersity o, 6ichigan Press re$rinte" the Integer translation, &hich ha" entere" the $ublic "omain, in .he Russian Re%olution an+ Leninism or Marxism? &ith an intro"uction by 7ertram Wol,e. It also a$$ears un"er the title Organizational Questions of Social Democracy as $art o, the 1980 Path,in"er Press com$ilation Rosa Luxemburg S1ea's.

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/n un$rece"ente" tas+ in the history o, the socialist mo(ement has ,allen to the lot o, the Russian Social 'emocracy. It is the tas+ o, "eci"ing on &hat is the best socialist tactical $olicy in a country &here absolute monarchy is still "ominant. It is a mista+e to "ra& a rigi" $arallel bet&een the $resent Russian situation an" that &hich existe" in 3ermany "uring the years 1989290, &hen 7ismarc+%s antisocialist la&s &ere in ,orce. #he t&o ha(e one thing in common : $olice rule. .ther&ise they are in no &ay com$arable. #he obstacles o,,ere" to the socialist mo(ement by the absence o, "emocratic liberties are o, relati(ely secon"ary im$ortance. 0(en in Russia, the $eo$le%s mo(ement has succee"e" in o(ercoming the barriers set u$ by the state. #he $eo$le ha(e ,oun" themsel(es a ;constitution< =though a rather $recarious one> in street "isor"ers. Perse(ering in this course, the Russian $eo$le &ill in time attain com$lete (ictory o(er the autocracy. #he $rinci$al "i,,iculty ,ace" by socialist acti(ity in Russia results ,rom the ,act that in that country the "omination o, the bourgeoisie is (eile" by absolutist ,orce. #his gi(es socialist $ro$agan"a an abstract character, &hile imme"iate $olitical agitation ta+es on a "emocratic2re(olutionary guise. 7ismarc+%s antisocialist la&s $ut our mo(ement out o, constitutional boun"s in a highly "e(elo$e" bourgeois society, &here class antagonisms ha" alrea"y reache" their ,ull bloom in $arliamentary contests. =?ere, by the &ay, lay the absur"ity o, 7ismarc+%s scheme>. #he situation is @uite "i,,erent in Russia. #he $roblem there is ho& to create a Social 'emocratic mo(ement at a time &hen the state is not yet in the han"s o, the bourgeoisie. #he circumstance has an in,luence on agitation, on the manner o, trans$lanting socialist "octrine to Russian soil. It also bears in a $eculiar an" "irect &ay on the @uestion o, party organization. 5n"er or"inary con"itions : that is, &here the $olitical "omination o, the bourgeoisie has $rece"e" the socialist mo(ement : the bourgeoisie itsel, instills in the &or+ing class the ru"iments o, $olitical soli"arity. /t this stage, "eclares the -ommunist 6ani,esto, the uni,ication o, the &or+ers is not yet the result o, their o&n as$iration to unity but comes as a result o, the acti(ity o, the bourgeoisie, ;&hich, in or"er to attain its o&n $olitical en"s, is com$elle" to set the $roletariat in motion ...< In Russia, ho&e(er, the Social 'emocracy must ma+e u$ by its o&n e,,orts an entire historic $erio". It must lea" the Russian $roletarians ,rom their $resent ;atomi)e"< con"ition, &hich $rolongs the autocratic regime, to a class organi)ation that &oul" hel$ them to become a&are o, their historic ob*ecti(es an" $re$are them to struggle to achie(e those ob*ecti(es. #he Russian socialists are oblige" to un"erta+e the buil"ing o, such an organi)ation &ithout the bene,it o, such an organi)ation &ithout the bene,it o, the ,ormal guarantees commonly ,oun" un"er a bourgeois2"emocratic setu$. #hey "o not "is$ose o, the $olitical ra& material that in other countries is su$$lie" by bourgeois society itsel,. Li+e 3o" /lmighty they must ha(e this organi)ation arise out o, the (oi", so to s$ea+. ?o& to e,,ect a transition ,rom the ty$e o, organi)ation characteristic o, the $re$aratory stage o, the socialist mo(ement : usually ,eature" by "isconnecte" local grou$s an" clubs, &ith $ro$agan"a as a $rinci$al acti(ity : to the unity o, a large, national bo"y, suitable ,or concerte" $olitical action o(er the entire (ast territory rule" by the Russian stateA #hat is the s$eci,ic $roblem &hich the Russian Social 'emocracy has mulle" o(er ,or some time.

/utonomy an" isolation are the most $ronounce" characteristics o, the ol" organi)ational ty$e. It is, there,ore, un"erstan"able &hy the slogan o, $ersons &ho &ant to see an inclusi(e national organi)ation shoul" be ;-entralismB< /t the Party -ongress, it became e(i"ent that the term ;centralism< "oes not com$letely co(er the @uestion o, organi)ation ,or the Russian Social 'emocracy. .nce again &e ha(e learne" that no rigi" ,ormula can ,urnish the solution o, any $roblem in the social mo(ement. One Ste1 2or3ar+4 .3o Ste1s 0ac'3ar+, &ritten by Lenin, an outstan"ing member o, the &s'ra grou$, is a metho"ical ex$osition o, the i"eas o, the ultra2centralist ten"ency in the Russian mo(ement. #he (ie&$oint $resente" &ith incom$arable (igor an" logic in this boo+, is that o, $itiless centralism. Lai" "o&n as $rinci$les are: 1. #he necessity o, selecting, an" constituting as a se$arate cor$s, all the acti(e re(olutionists, as "istinguishe" ,rom the unorgani)e", though re(olutionary, mass surroun"ing this elite. Lenin%s thesis is that the $arty -entral -ommittee shoul" ha(e the $ri(ilege o, naming all the local committees o, the $arty. It shoul" ha(e the right to a$$oint the e,,ecti(e organs o, all local bo"ies ,rom 3ene(a to Liege, ,rom #oms+ to Ir+uts+. It shoul" also ha(e the right to im$ose on all o, them its o&n rea"y2ma"e rules o, $arty con"uct. It shoul" ha(e the right to rule &ithout a$$eal on such @uestions as the "issolution an" reconstitution o, local organi)ations. #his &ay, the -entral -ommittee coul" "etermine, to suit itsel,, the com$osition o, the highest $arty organs. #he -entral -ommittee &oul" be the only thin+ing element in the $arty. /ll other grou$ings &oul" be its executi(e limbs. Lenin reasons that the combination o, the socialist mass mo(ement &ith such a rigorously centrali)e" ty$e o, organi)ation is a s$eci,ic $rinci$le o, re(olutionary 6arxism. #o su$$ort this thesis, he a"(ances a series o, arguments, &ith &hich &e shall "eal belo&. 3enerally s$ea+ing it is un"eniable that a strong ten"ency to&ar" centrali)ation is inherent in the Social 'emocratic mo(ement. #his ten"ency s$rings ,rom the economic ma+eu$ o, ca$italism &hich is essentially a centrali)ing ,actor. #he Social 'emocratic mo(ement carries on its acti(ity insi"e the large bourgeois city. Its mission is to re$resent, &ithin the boun"aries o, the national state, the class interests o, the $roletariat, an" to o$$ose those common interests to all local an" grou$ interests. #here,ore, the Social 'emocracy is, as a rule, hostile to any mani,estation o, localism or ,e"eralism. It stri(es to unite all &or+ers an" all &or+er organi)ations in a single $arty, no matter &hat national, religious, or occu$ational "i,,erences may exist among them. #he Social 'emocracy aban"ons this $rinci$le an" gi(es &ay to ,e"eralism only un"er exce$tional con"itions, as in the case o, the /ustro2?ungarian 0m$ire. It is clear that the Russian Social 'emocracy shoul" not organi)e itsel, as a ,e"erati(e conglomerate o, many national grou$s. It must rather become a single $arty ,or he entire em$ire. ?o&e(er, that is not really the @uestion consi"ere" here. What &e are consi"ering is the "egree o, centrali)ation necessary insi"e the uni,ie", single Russian $arty in (ie& o, the $eculiar con"itions un"er &hich it has to ,unction. Loo+ing at the matter ,rom the angle o, the ,ormal tas+s o, the Social 'emocracy, in its ca$acity as a $arty o, class struggle, it a$$ears at ,irst that the $o&er an" energy o, the $arty are "irectly "e$en"ent on the $ossibility o, centrali)ing the $arty. ?o&e(er, these ,ormal tas+s a$$ly to all acti(e

$arties. In the case o, the Social 'emocracy, they are less im$ortant than is the in,luence o, historic con"itions. #he Social 'emocratic mo(ement is the ,irst in the history o, class societies &hich rec+ons, in all its $hases an" through its entire course, on the organi)ation an" the "irect, in"e$en"ent action o, the masses. 7ecause o, this, the Social 'emocracy creates an organi)ational ty$e that is entirely "i,,erent ,rom those common to earlier re(olutionary mo(ements, such as those o, the Cacobins an" the a"herents o, 7lan@ui. Lenin seems to slight this ,act &hen he $resents in his boo+ =$age 140> the o$inion that the re(olutionary Social 'emocrat is nothing else than a ;Cacobin in"issolubly *oine" to the organi)ation o, the $roletariat, &hich has become conscious o, its class interests.< !or Lenin, the "i,,erence bet&een the Social 'emocracy an" 7lan@uism is re"uce" to the obser(ation that in $lace o, a han",ul o, cons$irators &e ha(e a class2conscious $roletariat. ?e ,orgets that this "i,,erence im$lies a com$lete re(ision o, our i"eas on organi)ation an", there,ore, an entirely "i,,erent conce$tion o, centralism an" the relations existing bet&een the $arty an" the struggle itsel,. 7lan@uism "i" not count on the "irect action o, the &or+ing class. It, there,ore, "i" not nee" to organi)e the $eo$le ,or the re(olution. #he $eo$le &ere ex$ecte" to $lay their $art only at the moment o, re(olution. Pre$aration ,or the re(olution concerne" only the little grou$ o, re(olutionists arme" ,or the cou$. In"ee", to assure the success o, the re(olutionary cons$iracy, it &as consi"ere" &iser to +ee$ the mass at some "istance ,rom the cons$irators. Such a relationshi$ coul" be concei(e" by the 7lan@uists only because there &as no close contact bet&een the cons$iratorial acti(ity o, their organi)ation an" the "aily struggle o, the $o$ular masses. #he tactics an" concrete tas+s o, the 7lan@uist re(olutionists ha" little connection &ith the elementary class struggle. #hey &ere ,reely im$ro(ise". #hey coul", there,ore, be "eci"e" on in a"(ance an" too+ the ,orm o, a rea"y2ma"e $lan. In conse@uence o, this, or"inary members o, the organi)ation became sim$le executi(e organs, carrying out the or"ers o, a &ill ,ixe" be,orehan", an" outsi"e o, their $articular s$here o, acti(ity. #hey became the instruments o, a -entral -ommittee. ?ere &e ha(e the secon" $eculiarity o, cons$iratorial centralism : the absolute an" blin" submission o, the $arty sections to the &ill o, the center, an" the extension o, this authority to all $arts o, the organi)ation. ?o&e(er, Social 'emocratic acti(ity is carrie" on un"er ra"ically "i,,erent con"itions. It arises historically out o, the elementary class struggle. It s$rea"s an" "e(elo$s in accor"ance &ith the ,ollo&ing "ialectical contra"iction. #he $roletarian army is recruite" an" becomes a&are o, its ob*ecti(es in the course o, the struggle itsel,. #he acti(ity o, the $arty organi)ation, the gro&th o, the $roletarians% a&areness o, the ob*ecti(es o, the struggle an" the struggle itsel,, are not "i,,erent things se$arate" chronologically an" mechanically. #hey are only "i,,erent as$ects o, the same struggle, there "o not exist ,or the Social 'emocracy "etaile" sets o, tactics &hich a -entral -ommittee can teach the $arty membershi$ in the same &ay as troo$s are instructe" in their training cam$s. !urthermore, the range o, in,luence o, the socialist $arty is constantly ,luctuating &ith the u$s an" "o&ns o, the struggle in the course o, &hich the organi)ation is create" an" gro&s.

!or this reason Social 'emocratic centralism cannot be base" on the mechanical subor"ination an" blin" obe"ience o, the $arty membershi$ to the lea"ing $arty center. !or this reason, the Social 'emocratic mo(ement cannot allo& the erection o, an air2tight $artition bet&een the class2conscious nucleus o, the $roletariat alrea"y in the $arty an" its imme"iate $o$ular en(ironment, the non$arty sections o, the $roletariat. Do& the t&o $rinci$les on &hich Lenin%s centralism rests are $recisely these: 1. #he blin" subor"ination, in the smallest "etail, o, all $arty organs to the $arty center &hich alone thin+s, gui"es, an" "eci"es ,or all. E. #he rigorous se$aration o, the organi)e" nucleus o, re(olutionaries ,rom its social2 re(olutionary surroun"ings. Such centralism is a mechanical trans$osition o, the organi)ational $rinci$les o, 7lan@uism into the mass mo(ement o, the socialist &or+ing class. In accor"ance &ith this (ie&, Lenin "e,ines his ;re(olutionary Social 'emocrat< as a ;Cacobin *oine" to the organi)ation o, the $roletariat, &hich has become conscious o, its class interests.< #he ,act is that the Social 'emocracy is not joined to the organi)ation o, the $roletariat. It is itsel, the $roletariat. /n" because o, this, Social 'emocratic centralism is essentially "i,,erent ,rom 7lan@uist centralism. It can only be the concentrate" &ill o, the in"i(i"uals an" grou$s re$resentati(e o, the &or+ing class. It is, so to s$ea+, the ;sel,2centralism< o, the a"(ance" sectors o, the $roletariat. It is the rule o, the ma*ority &ithin its o&n $arty. #he in"is$ensable con"itions ,or the reali)ation o, Social 'emocratic centralism are: 1. #he existence o, a large contingent o, &or+ers e"ucate" in the class struggle. E. #he $ossibility ,or the &or+ers to "e(elo$ their o&n $olitical acti(ity through "irect in,luence on $ublic li,e, in a $arty $ress, an" $ublic congresses, etc. #hese con"itions are not yet ,ully ,orme" in Russia. #he ,irst : a $roletarian (anguar", conscious o, its class interests an" ca$able o, sel,2"irection in $olitical acti(ity : is only no& emerging in Russia. /ll e,,orts o, socialist agitation an" organi)ation shoul" aim to hasten the ,ormation o, such a (anguar". #he secon" con"ition can be ha" only un"er a regime o, $olitical liberty. With these conclusions, Lenin "isagrees (iolently. ?e is con(ince" that all the con"itions necessary ,or the ,ormation o, a $o&er,ul an" centrali)e" $arty alrea"y exist in Russia. ?e "eclares that, ;it is no longer the $roletarians but certain intellecutuals in our $arty &ho nee" to be e"ucate" in the matters o, organi)ation an" "isci$line,< =$age 141>. ?e glori,ies the e"ucati(e in,luence o, the ,actory, &hich, he says, accustoms the $roletariat to ;"isci$line an" organi)ation,< =$age 148>. Saying all this, Lenin seems to "emonstrate again that his conce$tion o, socialist organi)ation is @uite mechanistic. #he "isci$line Lenin has in min" is being im$lante" in the &or+ing class not only by the ,actory but also by the military an" the existing state bureaucracy : by the entire mechanism o, the centrali)e" bourgeois state. We misuse &or"s an" &e $ractice sel,2"ece$tion &hen &e a$$ly the same term : "isci$line : to such "issimilar notions as: 1. the absence o, thought an" &ill in a bo"y &ith a thousan" automatically mo(ing han"s an" legs, an" E. the s$ontaneous coor"ination o, the conscious, $olitical acts o, a bo"y

o, men. What is there in common bet&een the regulate" "ocility o, an o$$resse" class an" the sel,2 "isci$line an" organi)ation o, a class struggling ,or its emanci$ationA #he sel,2"isci$line o, the Social 'emocracy is not merely the re$lacement o, the authority o, bourgeois rulers &ith the authority o, a socialist central committee. #he &or+ing class &ill ac@uire the sense o, the ne& "isci$line, the ,reely assume" sel,2"isci$line o, the Social 'emocracy, not as a result o, the "isci$line im$ose" on it by the ca$italist state, but by extir$ating, to the last root, its ol" habits o, obe"ience an" ser(ility. -entralism in the socialist sense is not an absolute thing a$$licable to any $hase &hatsoe(er o, the labor mo(ement. It is a tendency, &hich becomes real in $ro$ortion to the "e(elo$ment an" $olitical training ac@uire" by the &or+ing masses in the course o, their struggle. Do "oubt, the absence o, the con"itions necessary ,or the com$lete reali)ation o, this +in" o, centralism in the Russian mo(ement $resents a ,ormi"able obstacle. It is a mista+e to belie(e that it is $ossible to substitute ;$ro(isionally< the absolute $o&er o, a -entral -ommittee =acting someho& by ;tacit "elegation<> ,or the yet unreali)able rule o, the ma*ority o, conscious &or+ers in the $arty, an" in this &ay re$lace the o$en control o, the &or+ing masses o(er the $arty organs &ith the re(erse control by the -entral -ommittee o(er the re(olutionary $roletariat. #he history o, the Russian labor mo(ement suggests the "oubt,ul (alue o, such centralism. /n all2 $o&er,ul center, in(este", as Lenin &oul" ha(e it, &ith the unlimite" right to control an" inter(ene, &oul" be an absur"ity i, its authority a$$lie" only to technical @uestions, such as the a"ministration o, ,un"s, the "istribution o, tas+s among $ro$agan"ists an" agitators, the trans$ortation an" circulation o, $rinte" matter. #he $olitical $ur$ose o, an organ ha(ing such great $o&ers only i, those $o&ers a$$ly to the elaboration o, a uni,orm $lan o, action, i, the central organ assumes the initiati(e o, a (ast re(olutionary act. 7ut &hat has been the ex$erience o, the Russian socialist mo(ement u$ to no&A #he most im$ortant an" ,ruit,ul changes in its tactical $olicy "uring the last ten years ha(e not been the in(entions o, se(eral lea"ers an" e(en less so o, any central organi)ational organs. #hey ha(e al&ays been the s$ontaneous $ro"uct o, the mo(ement in ,erment. #his &as true "uring the ,irst stage o, the $roletarian mo(ement in Russia, &hich began &ith the s$ontaneous general stri+e o, St. Petersburg in 1994, an e(ent that mar+s the ince$tion o, an e$och o, economic struggle by the Russian &or+ing $eo$le. It &as no less true "uring the ,ollo&ing $erio", intro"uce" by the s$ontaneous street "emonstrations o, St. Petersburg stu"ents in 6arch, 1901. #he general stri+e o, Rosto(2on2'on, in 190 , mar+ing the next great tactical turn in the Russian $roletarian mo(ement, &as also a s$ontaneous act. ;/ll by itsel,,< the stri+e ex$an"e" into $olitical "emonstrations, street agitation, great out"oor meetings, &hich the most o$timistic re(olutionist &oul" not ha(e "reame" o, se(eral years be,ore. .ur cause ma"e great gains in these e(ents. ?o&e(er, the initiati(e an" conscious lea"ershi$ o, the Social 'emocratic organi)ations $laye" an insigni,icant role in this "e(elo$ment. It is true that these organi)ations &ere not s$eci,ically $re$are" ,or such ha$$enings. ?o&e(er, the unim$ortant $art $laye" by the re(olutionists cannot be ex$laine" by this ,act. Deither can it be attribute" to the absence o, an all2$o&er,ul central $arty a$$aratus similar to &hat is as+e" ,or by Lenin. #he existence o, such a gui"ing center &oul" ha(e $robably increase" the "isor"er o, the local committees by em$hasi)ing the "i,,erence bet&een the eager attac+ o, the mass an" the $ru"ent

$osition o, the Social 'emocracy. #he same $henomenon : the insigni,icant $art $laye" by the initiati(e o, central $arty organs in the elaboration o, actual tactical $olicy : can be obser(e" to"ay in 3ermany an" other countries. In general, the tactical $olicy o, the Social 'emocracy is not something that may be ;in(ente".< It is the $ro"uct o, a series o, great creati(e acts o, the o,ten s$ontaneous class struggle see+ing its &ay ,or&ar". #he unconscious comes be,ore the conscious. #he logic o, the historic $rocess comes be,ore the sub*ecti(e logic o, the human beings &ho $artici$ate in the historic $rocess. #he ten"ency is ,or the "irecting organs o, the socialist $arty to $lay a conser(ati(e role. 0x$erience sho&s that e(ery time the labor mo(ement &ins ne& terrain those organs &or+ it to the utmost. #hey trans,orm it at the same time into a +in" o, bastion, &hich hol"s u$ a"(ance on a &i"er scale. #he $resent tactical $olicy o, the 3erman Social 'emocracy has &on uni(ersal esteem because it is su$$le as &ell as ,irm. #his is a sign o, the ,ine a"a$tation o, the $arty, in the smallest "etail o, its e(ery"ay acti(ity, to the con"itions o, a $arliamentary regime. #he $arty has ma"e a metho"ical stu"y o, all the resources o, this terrain. It +no&s ho& to utili)e them &ithout mo"i,ying its $rinci$les. ?o&e(er, the (ery $er,ection o, this a"a$tation is alrea"y closing (aster hori)ons to our $arty. #here is a ten"ency in the $arty to regar" $arliamentary tactics as the immutable an" s$eci,ic tactics o, socialist acti(ity. Peo$le re,use, ,or exam$le, to consi"er the $ossibility =$ose" by Par(us> o, changing our tactical $olicy in case general su,,rage is abolishe" in 3ermany, an e(entuality not consi"ere" entirely im$robable by the 3erman Social 'emocracy. Such inertia is "ue, in a large "egree, to the ,act that it is (ery incon(enient to "e,ine, &ithin the (acuum o, abstract hy$otheses, the lines an" ,orms o, still nonexistent $olitical situations. 0(i"ently, the im$ortant thing ,or the Social 'emocracy is not the $re$aration o, a set o, "irecti(es all rea"y ,or ,uture $olicy. It is im$ortant: 1. to encourage a correct historic a$$reciation o, the ,orms o, struggle corres$on"ing to the gi(en situations, an" E. to maintain an un"erstan"ing o, the relati(ity o, the current $hase an" the ine(itable increase o, re(olutionary tension as the ,inal goal o, class struggle is a$$roache". 3ranting, as Lenin &ants, such absolute $o&ers o, a negati(e character to the to$ organ o, the $arty, &e strengthen, to a "angerous extent, the conser(atism inherent in such an organ. I, the tactics o, the socialist $arty are not to be the creation o, a -entral -ommittee but o, the &hole $arty, or, still better, o, the &hole labor mo(ement, then it is clear that the $arty sections an" ,e"erations nee" the liberty o, action &hich alone &ill $ermit them to "e(elo$ their re(olutionary initiati(e an" to utili)e all the resources o, the situation. #he ultra2centralism as+e" by Lenin is ,ull o, the sterile s$irit o, the o(erseer. It is not a $ositi(e an" creati(e s$irit. Lenins concern is not so much to make the activity of the party more fruitful as to control the party to narro the movement rather than to develop it! to "ind rather than to unify it# In the $resent situation, such an ex$eriment &oul" be "oubly "angerous to the Russian Social 'emocracy. It stan"s on the e(e o, "ecisi(e battles against tsarism. It is about to enter, or has alrea"y entere", on a $erio" o, intensi,ie" creati(e acti(ity, "uring &hich it &ill broa"en =as is usual in a re(olutionary $erio"> its s$here o, in,luence an" &ill a"(ance s$ontaneously by lea$s an" boun"s. #o attem$t to bin" the initiati(e o, the $arty at this moment, to surroun" it &ith a net&or+ o, barbe" &ire, is to ren"er it inca$able o, accom$lishing the tremen"ous tas+ o, the hour.

#he general i"eas &e ha(e $resente" on the @uestion o, socialist centralism are not by themsel(es su,,icient ,or the ,ormulation o, a constitutional $lan suiting the Russian $arty. In the ,inal instance, a statute o, this +in" can only be "etermine" by the con"itions un"er &hich the acti(ity o, the organi)ation ta+es $lace in a gi(en e$och. #he @uestion o, the moment in Russia is ho& to set in motion a large $roletarian organi)ation. Do constitutional $ro*ect can claim in,allibility. It must $ro(e itsel, in ,ire. 7ut ,rom our general conce$tion o, the nature o, Social 'emocratic organi)ation, &e ,eel *usti,ie" in "e"ucing that its s$irit re@uires : es$ecially at the ince$tion o, the mass $arty : the co2or"ination an" uni,ication o, the mo(ement an" not its rigi" submission to a set o, regulations. I, the $arty $ossesses the gi,t o, $olitical mobility, com$lemente" by un,linching loyalty to $rinci$les an" concern ,or unity, &e can rest assure" that any "e,ects in the $arty constitution &ill be correcte" in $ractice. !or us, it is not the letter, but the li(ing s$irit carrie" into the organi)ation by the membershi$ that "eci"es the (alue o, this or that organi)ational ,orm.

&&
So ,ar &e ha(e examine" the $roblem o, centralism ,rom the (ie&$oint o, the general $rinci$les o, the Social 'emocracy, an" to some extent, in the light o, con"itions $eculiar to Russia. ?o&e(er, the military ultra2centralism crie" u$ by Lenin an" his ,rien"s is not the $ro"uct o, acci"ental "i,,erences o, o$inion. It is sai" to be relate" to a cam$aign against o$$ortunism &hich Lenin has carrie" to the smallest organi)ational "etail. ;It is im$ortant,< says Lenin =$age 1E>, ;to ,orge a more or less e,,ecti(e &ea$on against o$$ortunism.< ?e belie(es that o$$ortunism s$rings s$eci,ically ,rom the characteristic leaning o, intellectuals to "ecentrali)ation an" "isorgani)ation, ,rom their a(ersion ,or strict "isci$line an" ;bureaucracy,< &hich is, ho&e(er, necessary ,or the ,unctioning o, the $arty. Lenin says that intellectuals remain in"i(i"ualists an" ten" to anarchism e(en a,ter they ha(e *oine" the socialist mo(ement. /ccor"ing to him, it is only among intellectuals that &e can note a re$ugnance ,or the absolute authority o, a -entral -ommittee. #he authentic $roletarian, Lenin suggests, ,in"s by reason o, his class instinct a +in" o, (olu$tuous $leasure in aban"oning himsel, to the clutch o, ,irm lea"ershi$ an" $itiless "isci$line. ;#o o$$ose bureaucracy to "emocracy,< &rites Lenin, ;is to contrast the organi)ational $rinci$le o, re(olutionary Social 'emocracy to the metho"s o, o$$ortunistic organi)ation,< =$age 111>. ?e "eclares that a similar con,lict bet&een centrali)ing an" autonomist ten"encies is ta+ing $lace in all countries &here re,ormism an" re(olutionary socialism meet ,ace to ,ace. ?e $oints in $articular to the recent contro(ersy in the 3erman Social 'emocracy on the @uestion o, the "egree o, ,ree"om o, action to be allo&e" by the Party to socialist re$resentati(es in legislati(e assemblies. Let us examine the $arallels "ra&n by Lenin. !irst, it is im$ortant to $oint out that the glori,ication o, the su$$ose" genius o, $roletarians in the matter o, socialist organi)ation an" a general "istrust o, intellectuals as such are not necessarily signs o, ;re(olutionary 6arxist< mentality. It is (ery easy to "emonstrate that such arguments are themsel(es an ex$ression o, o$$ortunism. /ntagonism bet&een $urely $roletarian elements an" the non$roletarian intellectuals in the labor mo(ement is raise" as an i"eological issue by the ,ollo&ing tren"s: the semianarchism o, the !rench syn"icalists, &hose &atch&or" is ;7e&are o, the $oliticianB<F 0nglish tra"e2unionism, ,ull o, mistrust o, the ;socialist (isionaries<F an", i, our in,ormation is correct, the ;$ure economism,< re$resente" a short &hile ago &ithin the Russian Social 'emocracy by Rabochaya Mysl =Labor .hought>, &hich &as $rinte" secretly in St. Petersburg. In most socialist $arties in Western 0uro$e there is un"oubte"ly a connection bet&een o$$ortunism an" the ;intellectuals,< as &ell as bet&een o$$ortunism an" "ecentrali)ing ten"encies &ithin the labor mo(ement. 7ut nothing is more contrary to the historic2"ialectic metho" o, 6arxist thought than to se$arate social $henomena ,rom their historic soil an" to $resent these $henomena as abstract ,ormulas ha(ing an absolute, general a$$lication. Reasoning abstractly, &e may say that the ;intellectual,< a social element &hich has emerge" out o, the bourgeoisie an" is there,ore alien to the $roletariat, enters the socialist mo(ement not because o,

his natural class inclinations but in s$ite o, them. !or this reason, he is more liable to o$$ortunist aberrations than the $roletarian. #he latter, &e say, can be ex$ecte" to ,in" a "e,inite re(olutionary $oint o, su$$ort in his class interests as long as he "oes not lea(e his original en(ironment, the laboring mass. 7ut the concrete ,orm assume" by this inclination o, the intellectual to&ar" o$$ortunism an", abo(e all, the manner in &hich this ten"ency ex$resses itsel, in organi)ational @uestions "e$en" e(ery time on his gi(en social milieu. 7ourgeois $arliamentarism is the "e,inite social base o, the $henomenon obser(e" by Lenin in the 3erman, !rench, an" Italian socialist mo(ements. #his $arliamentarism is the bree"ing $lace o, all o$$ortunist ten"encies no& existing in Western Social 'emocracy. #he +in" o, $arliamentarism &e no& ha(e in !rance, Italy, an" 3ermany $ro(i"es the soil ,or such illusions o, current o$$ortunism as o(er(aluation o, social re,orms, class an" $arty collaboration, the ho$e o, $aci,ic "e(elo$ment to&ar"s socialism etc. It "oes so by $lacing intellectuals, acting in the ca$acity o, $arliamentarians, abo(e the $roletariat an" by se$arating intellectuals ,rom $roletarians insi"e the socialist mo(ement itsel,. With the gro&th o, the labor mo(ement, $arliamentarism becomes a s$ringboar" ,or $olitical careerists. #hat is &hy so many ambitious ,ailures ,rom the bourgeoisie ,loc+ to the banners o, socialist $arties. /nother source o, contem$orary o$$ortunism is the consi"erable material means an" in,luence o, the large Social 'emocratic organi)ations. #he $arty acts as a bul&ar+ $rotecting the class mo(ement against "igressions in the "irection o, more bourgeois $arliamentarism. #o trium$h, these ten"encies must "estroy the bul&ar+. #hey must "issol(e the acti(e, class2conscious sector o, the $roletariat in the amor$hous mass o, an ;electorate.< #hat is ho& the ;autonomist< an" "ecentrali)ing ten"encies arise in our Social 'emocratic $arties. We notice that these ten"encies suit "e,inite $olitical en"s. #hey cannot be ex$laine", as Lenin attem$ts, by re,erring to the intellectual%s $sychology, to his su$$ose"ly innate instability o, character. #hey can only be ex$laine" by consi"ering the nee"s o, the bourgeois $arliamentary $olitician, that is, by o$$ortunist $olitics. #he situation is @uite "i,,erent in tsarist Russia. .$$ortunism in the Russian labor mo(ement is, generally s$ea+ing, not the by2$ro"uct o, Social 'emocratic strength or o, the "ecom$osition o, the bourgeoisie. It is the $ro"uct o, the bac+&ar" $olitical con"ition o, Russian society. #he milieu &here intellectuals are recruite" ,or socialism in Russia is much more "eclasse" an" by ,ar less bourgeois than in Western 0uro$e. /""e" to the immaturity o, the Russian $roletarian mo(ement, this circumstance is an in,luence ,or &i"e theoretic &an"ering, &hich ranges ,rom the com$lete negation o, the $olitical as$ect o, the labor mo(ement to the un@uali,ie" belie, in the e,,ecti(eness o, isolate" terrorist acts, or e(en total $olitical in"i,,erence sought in the s&am$s o, liberalism an" Gantian i"ealism. ?o&e(er, the intellectual &ithin the Russian Social 'emocratic mo(ement can only be attracte" to an act o, "isorgani)ation. It is contrary to the general outloo+ o, he Russian intellectual%s milieu. #here is no bourgeois $arliament in Russia to ,a(or this ten"ency. #he Western intellectual &ho $ro,esses at this moment the ;cult o, the ego< an" colors e(en his socialist yearnings &ith an aristocratic morale, is not the re$resentati(e o, the bourgeois intelligentsia ;in general.< ?e re$resents only a certain $hase o, social "e(elo$ment. ?e is the $ro"uct o, bourgeois "eca"ence.

#he $arodniki =;Po$ulists<> o, 1981 calle" on the Russian intelligentsia to lose themsel(es in the $easant mass. #he ultra2ci(ili)e" ,ollo&ers o, #olstoi s$ea+ to"ay o, esca$e to the li,e o, the ;sim$le ,ol+.< Similarly, the $artisans o, ;$ure economism< in the Russian Social 'emocracy &ant us to bo& "o&n be,ore the ;callouse" han"< o, labor. I, instea" o, mechanically a$$lying to Russia ,ormulae elaborate" in Western 0uro$e, &e a$$roach the $roblem o, organi)ation ,rom the angle o, con"itions s$eci,ic to Russia, &e arri(e at conclusions that are "iametrically o$$ose" to Lenin%s. #o attribute to o$$ortunism an in(ariable $re,erence ,or a "e,inite ,orm o, organi)ation, that is, "ecentrali)ation, is to miss the essence o, o$$ortunism. .n the @uestion o, organi)ation, or any other @uestion, o$$ortunism +no&s only one $rinci$le: the absence o, $rinci$le. .$$ortunism chooses its means o, action &ith the aim o, suiting the gi(en circumstances at han", $ro(i"e" these means a$$ear to lea" to&ar" the en"s in (ie&. I,, li+e Lenin, &e "e,ine o$$ortunism as the ten"ency that $araly)es the in"e$en"ent re(olutionary mo(ement o, the &or+ing class an" trans,orms it into an instrument o, ambitious bourgeois intellectuals, &e must also recogni)e that in the initial stage o, a labor mo(ement this en" is more easily attaine" as a result o, rigorous centrali)ation rather than by "ecentrali)ation. It is by extreme centrali)ation that a young, une"ucate" $roletarian mo(ement can be most com$letely han"e" o(er to the intellectual lea"ers sta,,ing a -entral -ommittee. /lso in 3ermany, at the start o, the Social 'emocratic mo(ement, an" be,ore the emergence o, a soli" nucleus o, conscious $roletarians an" a tactical $olicy base" on ex$erience, $artisans o, the t&o o$$osite ty$es o, organi)ation ,ace" each other in argument. #he ;3eneral /ssociation o, 3erman Wor+ers,< ,oun"e" by Lasalle, stoo" ,or extreme centrali)ation. H%llgemeine Deutsche %r"eiterverein! organi)e" on 6ay E , 194 : 0"I #he $rinci$le o, autonomism &as su$$orte" by the $arty &hich &as organi)e" at the 0isenach -ongress &ith the collaboration o, W. Lieb+necht an" /. 7ebel. #he tactical $olicy o, the ;0isenachers< &as @uite con,use". Jet they contribute" (astly more to the a&a+ening o, class2consciousness o, the 3erman masses than the Lassalleans. Kery early the &or+ers $laye" a $re$on"erant role in that $arty =as &as "emonstrate" by the number o, &or+er $ublications in the $ro(inces>, an" there &as a ra$i" extension o, the range o, the mo(ement. /t the same time, the Lassalleans, in s$ite o, all their ex$eriments &ith ;"ictators,< le" their ,aith,ul ,rom one misa"(enture to another. In general, it is rigorous, "es$otic centralism that is $re,erre" by o$$ortunist intellectuals at a time &hen the re(olutionary elements among the &or+ers still lac+ cohesion an" the mo(ement is gro$ing its &ay, as is the case no& in Russia. In a later $hase, un"er a $arliamentary regime an" in connection &ith a strong labor $arty, the o$$ortunist ten"encies o, the intellectuals ex$ress themsel(es in an inclination to&ar" ;"ecentrali)ation.< I, &e assume the (ie&$oint claime" as his o&n by Lenin an" &e ,ear the in,luence o, intellectuals in the $roletarian mo(ement, &e can concei(e o, no greater "anger to the Russian $arty than Lenin%s $lan o, organi)ation. $othing ill more surely enslave a young la"or movement to an intellectual elite hungry for po er than this "ureaucratic straightjacket! hich ill immo"ilize the movement and turn it into an automaton manipulated "y a &entral &ommittee# .n the other han" there is no more e,,ecti(e guarantee against o$$ortunist intrigue an" $ersonal ambition than the in"e$en"ent

re(olutionary action o, the $roletariat, as a result o, &hich the &or+ers ac@uire the sense o, $olitical res$onsibility an" sel,2reliance. What is to"ay only a $hantom haunting Lenin%s imagination may become reality tomorro&. Let us not ,orget that the re(olution soon to brea+ out in Russia &ill be a bourgeois an" not a $roletarian re(olution. #his mo"i,ies ra"ically all the con"itions o, socialist struggle. #he Russian intellectuals, too, &ill ra$i"ly become imbue" &ith bourgeois i"eology. #he Social 'emocracy is at $resent the only gui"e o, the Russian $roletariat. 7ut on the "ay a,ter the re(olution, &e shall see the bourgeoisie an" abo(e all the bourgeois masses as a ste$$ingstone to their "omination. #he game o, bourgeois "emagogues &ill be ma"e easier i, at the $resent stage, the s$ontaneous action, initiati(e, an" $olitical sense o, the a"(ance" sections o, the &or+ing class are hin"ere" in their "e(elo$ment an" restricte" by the $rotectorate o, an authoritarian -entral -ommittee. 6ore im$ortant is the ,un"amental ,alseness o, the i"ea un"erlying the $lan o, un@uali,ie" centralism : the i"ea that the roa" to o$$ortunism can be barre" by means o, clauses in the $arty constitution. Im$resse" by recent ha$$enings in the socialist $arties o, !rance, Italy, an" 3ermany, the Russian Social 'emocrats ten" to regar" o$$ortunism as an alien ingre"ient, brought into the labor mo(ement by re$resentati(es o, bourgeois "emocracy. I, that &ere so, no $enalties $ro(i"e" by a $arty constitution coul" sto$ this intrusion. #his a,,lux o, non$roletarian recruits to the $arty o, the $roletariat is the e,,ect o, $ro,oun" social causes, such as the economic colla$se o, the $etty bourgeoisie, the ban+ru$tcy o, bourgeois liberalism, an" the "egeneration o, bourgeois "emocracy. It is naL(e to ho$e to sto$ this current by means o, a ,ormula &ritten "o&n in a constitution. / manual o, regulations may master the li,e o, a small sect or a $ri(ate circle. /n historic current, ho&e(er, &ill $ass through the mesh o, the most subtly &or"e" $aragra$h. It is ,urthermore untrue that to re$el the elements $ushe" to&ar" the socialist mo(ement by the "ecom$osition o, bourgeois society means to "e,en" the interests o, the &or+ing class. #he Social 'emocracy has al&ays conten"e" that it re$resents not only the class interests o, the $roletariat but also the $rogressi(e as$irations o, the &hole o, contem$orary society. It re$resents the interests o, all &ho are o$$resse" by bourgeois "omination. #his must not be un"erstoo" merely in the sense that all these interests are i"eally containe" in the socialist $rogram. ?istoric e(olution translates the gi(en $ro$osition into reality. In its ca$acity as a $olitical $arty, the Social 'emocracy becomes the ha(en o, all "iscontente" elements in our society an" thus o, the entire $eo$le, as contraste" to the tiny minority o, ca$italist masters. 7ut socialists must al&ays +no& ho& to subor"inate the anguish, rancor, an" ho$e o, this motley aggregation to the su$reme goal o, the &or+ing class. #he Social 'emocracy must enclose the tumult o, the non$roletarian $rotestants against existing society &ithin boun"s o, the re(olutionary action o, the $roletariat. It must assimilate the elements that come to it. #his is only $ossible i, the Social 'emocracy alrea"y contains a strong, $olitically e"ucate" $roletarian nucleus class conscious enough to be able, as u$ to no& in 3ermany, to $ull along in its to& the "eclasse" an" $etty bourgeois elements that *oin the $arty. In that case, greater strictness in the a$$lication o, the $rinci$le o, centrali)ation an" more se(ere "isci$line, s$eci,ically ,ormulate" in $arty byla&s, may be an e,,ecti(e sa,eguar" against the o$$ortunist "anger. #hat is ho& the re(olutionary socialist mo(ement in !rance "e,en"e" itsel, against the Cauresist con,usion. /

mo"i,ication o, the constitution at the 3erman Social 'emocracy in that "irection &oul" be a (ery timely measure. 7ut e(en here &e shoul" not thin+ o, the $arty constitution as a &ea$on that is, someho&, sel,2 su,,icient. It can be at most a coerci(e instrument en,orcing the &ill o, the $roletarian ma*ority in the $arty. I, this ma*ority is lac+ing, then the most "ire sanctions on $a$er &ill be o, no a(ail. ?o&e(er, the in,lux o, bourgeois elements into the $arty is ,ar ,rom being the only cause o, the o$$ortunist tren"s that are no& raising their hea"s in the Social 'emocracy. /nother cause is the (ery nature o, socialist acti(ity an" the contra"ictions inherent in it. #he international mo(ement o, the $roletariat to&ar" its com$lete emanci$ation is a $rocess $eculiar in the ,ollo&ing res$ect. !or the ,irst time in the history o, ci(ili)ation, the $eo$le are ex$ressing their &ill consciously an" in o$$osition to all ruling classes. 7ut this &ill can only be satis,ie" beyon" the limits o, the existing system. Do& the mass can only ac@uire an" strengthen this &ill in the course o, "ay2to2"ay struggle against the existing social or"er : that is, &ithin the limits o, ca$italist society. .n the one han", &e ha(e the massF on the other, its historic goal, locate" outsi"e o, existing society. .n one ha", &e ha(e the "ay2to2"ay struggleF on the other, the social re(olution. Such are the terms o, the "ialectic contra"iction through &hich the socialist mo(ement ma+es its &ay. It ,ollo&s that this mo(ement can best a"(ance by tac+ing bet&ixt an" bet&een the t&o "angers by &hich it is constantly being threatene". .ne is the loss o, its mass characterF the other, the aban"onment o, its goal. .ne is the "anger o, sin+ing bac+ to the con"ition o, a sectF the other, the "anger o, becoming a mo(ement o, bourgeois social re,orm. #hat is &hy it is illusory, an" contrary to historic ex$erience, to ho$e to ,ix, once an" ,or al&ays, the "irection o, the re(olutionary socialist struggle &ith the ai" o, ,ormal means, &hich are ex$ecte" to secure the labor mo(ement against all $ossibilities o, o$$ortunist "igression. 6arxist theory o,,ers us a reliable instrument enabling us to recogni)e an" combat ty$ical mani,estations o, o$$ortunism. 7ut the socialist mo(ement is a mass mo(ement. Its $erils are not the $ro"uct o, the insi"ious machinations o, in"i(i"uals an" grou$s. #hey arise out o, una(oi"able social con"itions. We cannot secure oursel(es in a"(ance against all $ossibilities o, o$$ortunist "e(iation. Such "angers can be o(ercome only by the mo(ement itsel, : certainly &ith the ai" o, 6arxist theory, but only a,ter the "angers in @uestion ha(e ta+en tangible ,orm in $ractice. Loo+e" at ,rom this angle, o$$ortunism a$$ears to be a $ro"uct an" an ine(itable $hase o, the historic "e(elo$ment o, the labor mo(ement. #he Russian Social 'emocracy arose a short &hile ago. #he $olitical con"itions un"er &hich the $roletarian mo(ement is "e(elo$ing in Russia are @uite abnormal. In that country, o$$ortunism is to a large extent a by2$ro"uct o, the gro$ing an" ex$erimentation o, socialist acti(ity see+ing to a"(ance o(er a terrain that resembles no other in 0uro$e. In (ie& o, this, &e ,in" most astonishing the claim that it is $ossible to a(oi" any $ossibility o, o$$ortunism in the Russian mo(ement by &riting "o&n certain &or"s, instea" o, others, in the $arty

constitution. Such an attempt to e'ercise opportunism "y means of a scrap of paper may turn out to "e e'tremely harmful not to opportunism "ut to the socialist movement# Sto$ the natural $ulsation o, a li(ing organism, an" you &ea+en it, an" you "iminish its resistance an" combati(e s$irit : in this instance, not only against o$$ortunism but also =an" that is certainly o, great im$ortance> against the existing social or"er. #he $ro$ose" means turn against the en" they are su$$ose" to ser(e. In Lenin%s o(eranxious "esire to establish the guar"ianshi$ o, an omniscient an" omni$otent -entral -ommittee in or"er to $rotect so $romising an" (igorous a labor mo(ement against any misste$, &e recogni)e the sym$toms o, the same sub*ecti(ism that has alrea"y $laye" more than one tric+ on socialist thin+ing in Russia. It is amusing to note the strange somersaults that the res$ectable human ;ego< has ha" to $er,orm in recent Russian history. Gnoc+e" to the groun", almost re"uce" to "ust, by Russian absolutism, the ;ego< ta+es re(enge by turning to re(olutionary acti(ity. In the sha$e o, a committee o, cons$irators, in the name o, a nonexistent Will o, the Peo$le, it seats itsel, on a +in" o, throne an" $roclaims it is all2$o&er,ul. H#he re,erence is to the cons$iratorial circle &hich attac+e" tsarism ,rom 1989 to 199 by means o, terrorist acts an" ,inally assassinate" /lexan"er II. : (d#I 7ut the ;ob*ect< $ro(es to be the stronger. #he +nout is trium$hant, ,or tsarist might seems to be the ;legitimate< ex$ression o, history. In time &e see a$$ear on the scene an" e(en more ;legitimate< chil" o, history : the Russian labor mo(ement. !or the ,irst time, bases ,or the ,ormation o, a real ;$eo$le%s &ill< are lai" in Russian soil. 7ut here is the ;ego< o, the Russian re(olutionary againB Pirouetting on its hea", it once more $roclaims itsel, to be the all2$o&er,ul "irector o, history : this time &ith the title o, ?is 0xcellency the -entral -ommittee o, the Social 'emocratic Party o, Russia. #he nimble acrobat ,ails to $ercei(e that the only ;sub*ect< &hich merits to"ay the role o, "irector is the collecti(e ;ego< o, the &or+ing class. #he &or+ing class "eman"s the right to ma+e its mista+es an" learn the "ialectic o, history. Let us s$ea+ $lainly. ?istorically, the errors committe" by a truly re(olutionary mo(ement are in,initely more ,ruit,ul than the in,allibility o, the cle(erest -entral -ommittee.