The ISN brings together socialists who want to build a mass socialist party. We are independent in the sense that we are not subject to the undemocratic discipline of the leadership of any socialist group. We are not independent in the sense that we share a common goal. We are bound together in our determination to work for the democratic and socialist transformation of society. We see ourselves as part of the working-class movement and work to see the working class in power. We see our status as independents to be temporary. We are independents who do not want to be independent. We want to be members of a mass socialist party, based in and on the working class.
We reject both Stalinism and Social Democracy. In their different ways these twin political strands have served to discredit the idea of socialism in the eyes of many working class people, setting back the struggle of the working class to emancipate itself.
Similarly, we reject the model of the various small (or less small) socialist groups. We reject their interpretation of ‘democratic centralism’, which is more centralist than democratic. We believe that all Marxists should be able to co-exist within a single, united party with the right to discuss and debate freely and openly. In the modern world, particularly, in which most things are broadcast via the world wide web within moments, when most people are used to seeing internal factions of bourgeois parties openly airing their disagreements in the media, it is ridiculous to think that our differences can or should be kept hidden from those we seek to influence.
We believe that the influence of socialists will grow when we can show that we are capable of disagreeing and yet still act together to advance our cause; when we can rid ourselves of pettiness. The ISN is a place for serious – and sometimes sharp – discussion among comrades on socialist theory and practice, on our strategic goals and the tactics with which to achieve them. No working-class organisation could exist without differences. Disagreement is inevitable. It can bring clarity and, through that, a greater unity.
At the same time, we recognise that there are different political strands within the workers’ movement. Some, such as Stalinism and reformism, are alien ideas within our ranks and have to be defeated. Many workers will come under the influence of these ideas and Marxists have to argue their corner.
We think that there are some core ideas that are essential for a socialist party. Those ideas are set out in the ISN’s statement of Aims and Principles (previously The Socialist Platform). We will be addressing them in articles and discussions over the next year, amending, deleting or adding, as and when agreed.
We reject the model that predicates its existence on supposed ideological purity, leading to continuous splits. This is particularly ridiculous when these differences relate to issues of tactics or methods of work. This has more to do with personal egos than any real need to separate.
Fundamentally we disagree with the approach of those socialist groups who adopt a minoritarian, elitist view of how socialist change will come about. These parties believe that somehow a small party of a few thousand can leap to the head of a mass movement and catapult themselves into power.
We believe that the socialist revolution must be the act of the working class itself. It will not be the act of any individual, or big leader, or parliamentary group, or small revolutionary party.
We believe that the act of abolishing capitalism and inaugurating working-class rule must be carried out by the working class democratically, that is, acting as the majority in society – or it will not be carried out at all.
To this end we need to build not a sect – not even a party of tens of thousands. We need a party of millions, capable of influencing millions more. This means beginning the long task of reintroducing genuine socialist ideas into the working-class movement. Our task is to make socialist ideas popular. We can do this only by stating those ideas openly and patiently explaining why they should be supported. There are no short cuts. Nothing will be achieved by watering down the ideas, or hiding them. To do that would be to build on sand.
As our contribution to that task the ISN is launching a new journal called, simply, The Project. The Project represents a modest step in taking forward the struggle for a mass, democratic and socialist approach to become the dominant trend within the workers’ movement. We are re-asserting the view that socialist change can only be the self-emancipating act of a politically aware working class, organised in mass parties of millions; that our road to socialism is democratic – not in the constitutional or parliamentary sense but in the sense that only through the active participation of workers empowered with unrestricted access to ideas, debates and arguments, and possessed of the ability to elect and control their leaders can a force for real social change be built. At the heart of The Project is the attempt to make an unashamed and clear case for socialist revolution in opposition to the passing radical fads, a confused reformism and the lingering tumours of Stalinism.
The magazine brings together a number of views and analyses from within the workers’ movement about the world we live in, our struggles, our daily lives and how to build support for our ideas. With Marx we say that nothing human is alien to us, so we will cover all aspects of our lives, including art, culture and sport. We aim to learn from the past to inform our practice. We do not claim to have all of the answers – some can only be provided by the struggle itself – but offer a space for a real exchange on the way forward.
We welcome submissions from across our movement that address the struggles we face. If you would like to submit an article please send a brief outline to our editorial team: editor@socialistproject.org
If you would like to collaborate in our project, in whatever way you think possible, please get in touch.
