Human consciousness as a rule is not revolutionary but conservative. Ideas which are well past their use by date are stubbornly clung to. The instinct of the working class, practically, is to hold on to what they have – try to get things back the way they used to be; gradual reforms; realism. Hence the nostalgia for the welfare state of the post-war period.
It takes the experience of Reformism in practice (the School of Reformism) to see that a fundamental change is needed. Reformism comes up against the limits of Capitalism and the limits need to be shown in practice to be understood. Facts, figures and arguments are not enough to convince, even if they are all correct. They might convince a thinking person on a “what if” basis (sounds logical, I see what you mean… but it’s unrealistic.)
Why is Reformism so strong compared to Communism? The ruling ideas are the ideas of the ruling class. The experience of Capitalism unconsciously generates ideals for a better life in the working class that can develop in a socialist direction. The task of Reformists is to gate keep these strivings and keep them within certain bounds. The ruling class consciously grooms activists and worker leaders and moulds them through non-Governmental organisations (NGOs), scholarships and the union and state bureaucracies. Apart from the activist layer is the mass of workers in which “The force of habit in millions and tens of millions is a most formidable force.” (Lenin.) It is only great events that break the hold of the old ideas.
In times of Capitalist crisis, the practical evolution of all varieties of Reformism is to the Right – there is no space for reforms, only compromise and austerity. If you do not break with Capitalism you are forced to follow its laws. We saw that in the 2010s.On the other hand, the rhetoric of Reformism can become very radical – as the working class moves to the Left, the Reformists feel the ground shifting. They come under political pressure to increase their left-wing rhetoric. The contradiction between the workers going one way and the Reformists going the other way (voluntarily or not) leads to the crisis in Reformism which will become existential.
The attitude of Marxists to Reformism was clearly described by Lenin, Trotsky and Ted Grant in various writings.
1) Patiently explain!
One can draw out the contradictions without directly attacking the Reformists. Use clear and sharp ideas, and explanations that get straight to the point: What exactly is the problem and what needs to be done? (Trotsky did this in the transitional programme.) We do not make excuses for the actions (and inaction) of Reformists but use the experience of Reformism in practice to show its bankruptcy.
2) Clear ideological stand combined with organisational flexibility
Organisational flexibility is needed to orient the Party to the actual movement of the working class. The movement of various layers of workers may pass through different forms: in New Zealand it could be the unions, industrial struggle, climate action, the Labour party, other parties and other campaigns (such as those relating to Palestine and climate change). Comrades can learn lessons from the past on the different tactics developed for orienting to various groups of workers such as united fronts, open work and entryism.)
Here are some resources that go into more detail:
https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch05.htm- https://marxist.com/bolshevism-the-road-to-revolution/4.-the-revival.htm- https://marxist.com/history-british-trotskyism-ted-grant/postscript.htm- https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1959/03/entrism.htm
It is important not to get locked into particular formations, particular alliances, particular opportunities, because things are not static but always changing (dialectics). Revolutionaries try to get a feel at all times on how they reflect the actual movement of the working class. Perspectives are important. What is the current situation and how are things likely to evolve going forward? On this basis we can work out the best tactics for building the revolutionary tendency.