Gaining Consciouness

There are two ways open to people today. We can continue along the path under capitalism or we can take the socialist road. There are deep differences between rich and poor. It is our aim to build a society in which all are able to live a full life, free of class distinctions and divisions. But we do not believe that this can be done for the people. It can only be done by the people. To this end we work for the widest possible socialist movement in the course of which a new understanding, new relations, can be forged. The achievement of socialism, once a distant dream, is now a reality for all to see. We will move into the realm of a truly human society, where the watchword is from each according to his ability to each according to his needs,‘ and where, in the words of the Communist Manifesto "the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all",  where productive forces supply an abundance of products, when the last remnants of classes vanish and work becomes a pleasure.

Capitalism, by its method of production, has brought isolated workers together and constituted them as a class in society. Capitalism has made the workers a class in themselves. That is, the workers are a distinct class in society, whether they recognize this fact or not. Historical development calls upon this class to reorganize society completely and establish socialism. To do this, the workers must become a class for themselves. They must acquire a clear understanding of their real position under capitalism, of the nature of capitalist society as a whole, and of their mission in history. They must act consciously for their class interests. They must become conscious of the fact that these class interests lead to a socialist society. When this takes place, the workers are a class for themselves, a class with socialist consciousness.

In our work-places, workers try to get better wages and working conditions from the employer. If we cannot get them by a simple request, we soon learn the need of union organization with which to enforce our requests and to defend ourselves from attacks by the employer. We learn, too, that workers must resort to political action in order to advance our interests. We and all other workers are forced by capitalism to engage in the class struggle. The Socialist Party is needed to win the working class to the principles of socialism, to so-called socialist methods of struggle against capitalist exploitation and oppression, and finally to the socialist victory itself. Socialism will never come by itself. Of course, there are many other parties which proclaim the same goal which is confusing to a worker. He or she will say: “How am I to tell which party is the right one for me to join or support?” Or, “Why don’t all those who are in favour of socialism unite into a single party?” Or, “If you cannot agree among yourselves, how do you expect me to agree with any of you?” To judge the different parties, it is necessary to check on their words and their deeds. That is, to examine the policies of the different parties, what they are for and what they are against, and to see if what they do in practice corresponds to what they say in words. On that basis, it is easy to conclude which one best serves the interests of socialism.

The Socialist Party calls itself a Marxist party. The name merely signify that the Socialist Party stands firmly on the basic principles of one the greatest teachers in the history of the working class. The Socialist Party was formed in 1904. But its roots reach much further back. As a Marxist organisation the Socialist Party champions revolutionary ideas. What is a social revolution? The socialist revolution is simply the overthrow of capitalist despotism and the establishment of workers’ rule. People Power. Socialism cannot be achieved, and the workers cannot effectively promote their interests, without class consciousness. Class consciousness means an understanding working class, a self-confident and self-reliant working class.

The road to freedom is marked out by the principles of socialism, and no other road exists.