This is the 1994 South African introduction to The Role of the Revolutionary Organisation. It is attributed to “L.V” on the second page of what is described as the “South African Edition 1994.”
INTRODUCTION TO “THE ROLE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ORGANISATION”
The role of the revolutionary organisation is a contentious question which has dogged and divided the left for decades. This
pamphlet presents an Anarchist – Communist perspective. The issues it covers include a discussion of working class spontaneity,the relationship between the revolutionary organisation and the working class, the tasks of the revolutionary organisation before and during revolution, and the composition and structure of the revolutionary organisation.
One point to which we want to draw attention to is the reference to a “libertarian front ” composed of a variety of revolutionary groups and structures (p.6). This is an important point to note, because it shows that, while the pamphlet refers to the revolutionary organisation, it conceives of this as part of a wider grouping, which we have called, in our other pamphlets the “revolutionary (or libertarian) movement . ” Please note that this is not the same as the mass movement of the working people as a whole.
Although an undoubtedly important document, this pamphlet is unfortunately no t without its problems. Firstly it fail s to present any sustained critique of the Leninist conception of revolutionary organisation, which remains the predominant view on the Left. We have dealt with this question more thoroughly in our pamphlet The Tragedy of the Russian Revolution, based on the testimony of the great Anarchist Alexander Berkman.
Secondly,the distinction drawn between a revolutionary organisation and working class movement- grassroots organisations (eg. squatters groups) and revolutionary bodies (eg. workers councils) – is a bit arbitrary. For example, an Anarcho – syndicalist organisation !Anarchist trade union) would seem to have transcended this distinction.
Finally, racism and sexism tend to be simplistically treated as ruling class ploys to “divide” the working class. Actually, its more
likely that race and sex oppression are forms of oppression separate from, but interlinked with, class oppression. That is, they are not the same as class oppression, but lass divisions do affect the way they are experienced (eg. are homeland leaders “oppressed”?), and racism and sexism operate in the best interests of the ruling class.
FORWARD TO A WORLD BASED ON NEED, NOT GREED, AND DIRECT DEMOCRACY, NOT POWER!
SAASHA 