The alternative to capitalism — for better or for worse —
has historically been called socialism. The widespread misunderstanding and
confusion about socialism has profound consequences. Just what do we mean by
socialism? Many groups and individuals advocate a “socialism” without any of
the features that a socialist society is supposed to have, adding to all the
confusion about the meaning of socialism. Many who know better cynically
accepted these distortions to misrepresent what socialists aspire towards. Radicals
or ex-radicals already brought to a reconciliation with capitalist society describe
their concessions and compromises as socialist policies. Identified with the
name of socialism, this identification has been taken as a matter of fact, for
the academics and media prejudiced against genuine socialism, gives those
socialist imposters credibility. No party has a right to call itself socialist
unless it stands for workers’ self-emancipation from wage slavery, their course
determined and directed by their own actions themselves and not of any leader
or elite.
We don’t know what exact form it will look like as it’s not
the place of socialists to make predictions. Our task is to help the working
class to build socialism for themselves and it will be they who will shape the
socialist society. Previous systems like feudalism were overthrown when they
outlived their usefulness and could no longer bring humanity forward. Likewise
the capitalist system is now retarding further advances for humanity. The vast
majority of workers have no real stake in maintaining capitalism because we
don’t own any means of production or businesses; we aren’t bosses. Indeed,
workers have to sell their labour power to the bosses in exchange for wages. By
using our power and by learning through the lessons of the class struggles that
went before us, workers develop class consciousness which means not only the
ability to recognize the working peoples’ interests in today’s class war but also
to understand our need and ability to organise to overturn the capitalist
state, and create socialism. Socialism can only be built upon abundance --
which could only be achieved by pooling the combined resources and productive power
of the world. We argue that socialism is the only solution to win security and
abundance for all.
What are the prospects for socialism? Many are now understandably
pessimistic, disillusioned with the prospect of a socialist transformation of
society within the foreseeable future. They have witnessed the abandonment of
socialist objectives and the open acceptance of the capitalist market by much
of the labour movement. The idea that socialism has been finally eclipsed has
been reinforced by a swing to the right and the rise of the nationalists. As a result
the working class has been to some extent weakened economically, socially, and
politically, left increasingly vulnerable in opposing the renewed capitalist
offensive. It can be no wonder that many have been demoralised. There is not
one of the traditional workers' organisations which is not currently in a state
of decline.
Yet, saying all this, the working class remains the decisive
force for change. They will not passively allow a worsening of conditions, of mounting
unemployment and increasing impoverishment, which are clearly on the
capitalists' agenda. Moreover, the workers cannot resist these attacks upon
itself without challenging the whole system. Far from seeing the end of the
working class struggle, we are about to experience the beginning of a new phase
of the class-war. The desertion of the union and political leaders from the
battlefield and the rout of the traditional workers' parties is clearing the
ground for a renewal of anti-capitalist, socialist struggle. We can already see
the signs of democratisation and renewal in peoples’ resistance. Far from fading,
the working class is drawing towards it wide sections of the middle strata of
society, who are themselves being squeezed and in reality have been
proletarianised and politicalized by the capitalist recession. Increasing class
consciousness will be driven by current conditions and the events which will
unfold. Workers will be impelled to search for an anti-capitalist solution. It
is impossible to defend living standards and democratic rights, to halt the
devastation of the environment, let alone end the various bloody conflicts
internationally, without confronting the power of the capitalist class. A
future of increased social polarisation in unavoidable and inevitable. The only
viable alternative remains socialism. Only in a balanced way, can production be
made to meet human needs and to permit the harmonious development of society in
the interests of the majority.
Our task is to engage in a dialogue with our fellow workers
re-establish the credentials of real socialism and cease the current
capitulation to capitalism.
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