Towards socialism and communism
This final section starts with “the transition of the revolutionary process to a second stage”– a left government committed to AEPS and Left Wing Programme, with sustained extra-parliamentary mobilisation of the people against ruling class attacks.
The government would assert popular sovereignty in the face ofimperialist states, trade blocs and institutions – particularly EU and USA with their records of subversion and aggression – and in favour of economic and political solidarity with other nations taking a progressive, anti-imperialist road.
The election of a left government would not “convert” the capitalist state machine whose politicians, administrators, propagandists, legislators, intelligence services, police and armed forces have been developed and trained to serve capitalism, and would continue to do so.
“The ruling class will battle for its very survival and can be expected to use every weapon at its disposal against the revolutionary movement and the left government… the key factor will be the balance of forces outside parliament… it will be vital to mobilise the popular anti-monopoly alliance led by the working class.”
After examining the example of the defeat of 1970s Chilean left government through US backed subversion and military coup, BRS suggests further strategies likely to be used against a British left government – through financial and currency markets, capitalist trade blocs, the World Trade Organisation and International Monetary Fund, and directly by transnational monopoly corporations – backed by forces of the still-capitalist British State.
Facing intense hostile political propaganda, a left government would need to defeat resistance from powerful capitalist economic and political institutions, and within the highest levels of the civil service. Legal action, administrative sabotage, trade sanctions, economic boycotts, investment strikes, attacks on sterling, a flight of capital, and military threats are all in their political armoury
Preventing the export of capital, taking strategic sectors of the economy into public ownership, closing tax havens and ending the monopoly dominance of the media would all make the new government more secure, while the support of the labour and progressive movement would need to be developed into a powerful and effective material force.
New bodies of working class and people’s power are likely to emerge from the struggle. These would need to monitor and take control of many state functions – and this would be the focus of intense class struggle – the “third, most crucial stage… which will decide whether the monopoly finance capitalists retain state power or have it taken from them by the working class and its allies”
How is this crucial battle for state power likely to play out? BRS advocates a strategy which divides and demobilises the ruling class, undermining their confidence and predisposition to state violence. “As the working class invariably bears the brunt of counter-revolutionary violence it is the duty of all serious revolutionaries to devise such a strategy, rather than propose simplistic notions of violent insurrection and armed struggle”
That said, BRS is clear that state violence is very likely when ruling class is challenged for power – and revolutionaries have to be ready to defeat it with “all the official and popular forces at it disposal to crush each and every attempt at military subversion, rebellion or invasion”
Current communist political work, organising and building people’s resistance to capitalism, is therefore vital now and for the future. The trades unions and movements against austerity, privatisation, gig economy, low pay and unemployment, and those against globalisation, imperialism, ecological degradation and war, are the forerunners of workers organisations that will mobilise the people against destabilisation of a left government and challenge the capitalist state.
The economic and structural crisis of the world’s major capitalist economies, and increasing concentration of monopoly power, is further developing the imperialist drive for domination of the world and its resources. A new offensive is underway against resistant nations – including Cold War against China.
A left government would need allies internationally – people’s movements, anti-imperialist states – with mutual political, diplomatic and economic support and assistance.
The struggles of peoples around the world develop according to their specific history and material conditions; we do not share the leftist defeatist position that socialism cannot be built anywhere until every nation overthrows capitalism. We need to build solidarity, mutual support and Socialism in the real world, not just wish and wait for world revolution.
Our model of socialism will be based on our history and class experience – not dependent on models from elsewhere – but BRS highlights features of Socialism that we need to securely develop in our new society.
- A people’s multi-party democracy that looks forward to greater liberation, with a guarantee of no return to slavery, feudalism, capitalism or any form of class exploitation or privilege… as identified by Marx and Lenin as “the dictatorship of the proletariat” – ie working class organisation to prevent the return of capitalism “the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie”
- All aspects of the socialist state monitored by bodies accountable to the people
- Democratic processes of political control in regions and nations of Britain through Progressive Federalism
- Media, directed by the people, encouraging informed participation in debate
- A planned economy, based on full employment and democracy in the workplace – with space for various forms of social ownership, small businesses and genuine self-employment.
- National strategies for environmentally supportive production – replacing “free market” competition and crisis
- Equality between urban and rural workers, between sexes, between ethnic groups and nations
- The free provision of health & social care, education, childcare and other services
- Guaranteed secure affordable housing
- A modern integrated transport system
- Affordable and accessible social, sporting, artistic and cultural provision
Socialist society would hugely increase democracy and reduce differences in wealth and status by applying the principle of “From each according to their ability – to each according to their contribution/work”. Social measures would reduce these further through enhanced quality of life and “social wage”.
If socialism is allowed to develop peacefully, without threat of subversion or violence, the waste of capitalist production for profit is replaced by production for need and fulfilment, planning and investment in new technologies lead to more sustainable and affordable products, wage differentials decrease…. and class divisions become a thing of the past, so society can progress towards a higher stage – Communist society – without a controlling state – where the principle becomes “From each according to their ability – to each according to their need” – all contributing to the common good, and physical and social needs being met without competition and inequality.
Of course, never in its history has socialism been allowed to develop peacefully. Capitalist states have attempted to isolate, intimidate, undermine, invade and destroy every socialist state that ever existed.
BRS concludes with analysis and description of future communist society – and this proud truth
“In a fully communist society, a new morality would characterise the social relations between people: the egotistical individualism of capitalism will be replaced by collective care and concern for every person and for the full, all-round development of the human personality. From these conditions will emerge a truly free society. Humanity’s pre-history will have come to an end as – no longer divided between antagonistic classes – we begin to make history together as a free people”
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Questions for Discussion
Try to refer to real examples & experiences locally, nationally and internationally
- Bearing in mind the distinctive features of British history and modern society, in which ways are the ruling capitalist class likely to attempt to prevent a transition to Socialism? What positive and negative roles do non-communist working class organisations play in this class struggle?
- Could the ruling class attacks on the left leadership of the Labour Party been opposed more successfully? Or was the outcome predictable?
- Consider the arguments about the possibility of socialism being achievable in just one country – or a few countries – alongside the existence of powerful imperialist countries.
- How does political work we currently do in the broad movement help prepare the ground for the intense class struggles to come as described in this section?
- What do you think of the YCL slogan “For Socialism – in our lifetime!”?
Further reading
Recommended Reading:
- Lenin: The State and Revolution
- 1000 Days of Revolution – Chilean Communists on the lessons of Popular Unity
- Morris: News from Nowhere