Revolution

You Say You Want a Revolution

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

Socialism is not a reform, it is a revolution. We need to distinguish ourselves from those who merely wish to patch up the present system by a serious of legislative policies and keep it. The old parties, every one, and new ones, every day springing up, all claim to be staunch advocates of reforms. Between us and them there is a radical difference. It is to make the point of difference clear and to distinguish sharply between all such manifesto programmes and socialism that the Socialist Party uses the term “revolutionary.” We are not “reformists” — we are “revolutionists.” The horrors and terrors of the capitalist system are immediate and inherent effects caused by the contradictions of the system itself. Thus reforms, palliatives, and ameliorations will not rid capitalism of its problems. It must be replaced with socialism. Socialism is, therefore, not a reform movement. It means a transition from capitalism to a higher system. And that is a revolution.

However, an explanation is required so we are not to be misinterpreted. To use the term without explanation is to get ones cause seriously misunderstood. When people see the word “revolution” they think of the violence and bloodshed of an insurrection. By revolution the Socialist Party do not mean uprisings and armed rebellions. The Socialist Party offers a possible, peaceful strategy for the removal of the capitalist class. We mean by “revolutionary socialism” the capture of the political power via the vote and the ballot box. “The conquest of political power by a new class, in this lies the essential difference between revolution and reform,” said Karl Kautsky. Parliamentary action believes that by placing a series of reforms upon the Statute Book— “steps at a time” they are called—the position of the workers can be improved, and that they will be finally emancipated by such State measures. Such a line of activity is the aim of the “reformers”

Because the political weapon is used by the capitalist class against labour, and because the political State is a machine to maintain class rule, there are many workers who contend that working class political action is futile. Political power is used by capitalists to enforce its economic power, for that very reason the workers must meet those capitalists on the political field. In the class war the workers dare not allow the capitalists to lay claim to any advantage without a fight. We deny that it is the political function of the socialist movement to show the capitalist class how to legislate for capitalism or administer its laws. The Socialist Party does not aim at trying to compete with the capitalist politicians in endeavouring to make the system work in the interests of the majority. We hold that the purpose of political action is the destruction of the capitalist state. Socialists in Parliament will criticise every measure that came before the House of Commons, and to seek, by every means, to undermine the prestige of the capitalist class by exposing every one of its political manoeuvres.

The Socialist Party enters the political field with one plank upon its platform—Socialism. It emphasises that only socialists must vote for its candidates. Our political intention is to the capture of the political machine in order to take the State, with its armed force, out of the hands of the capitalist class, thus removing the coercive power which capitalism employs against the people. The Socialist Party offers clear-cut principles and uncompromising determination. We have no illusions that the struggle to achieve our aims will be an easy one.