Demagogues or Democrats

The Socialist Party goal is the realisation of socialism; a new system of society without classes or exploitation. Unless we in the Socialist Party carry on mass propaganda and education among fellow-workers, principles based upon clear, keen, socialist analysis of social, economic and political conditions and events, the demagogues will prevail. Demagogy means the adaptation of proposals and propaganda to the prejudices of the audience to which it is hoped to appeal, without regard to the truth or correctness or feasibility of the given policy. Demagogy is the exploitation of ignorance, in direct contrast to principled politics, which, always tells the truth both about what is at present, what will probably be, and about what it proposes as solution. Principled politics instead of exploiting ignorance, combats it; instead of pandering to prejudice, roots it out.

The revolutionary politics of the Socialist Party is utterly different in type from all other politics. Its aim is not to improve conditions by gaining reforms or stop corruption and careerism nor does it aim to win a parliamentary majority to hold office and be the government.

Our aim, the expression of the interests of the working class, is to overthrow existing social relations, to abolish the existing state, establish a new society. In contrast, non-revolutionary political parties, contest one another for votes and office, represent different sections of the ruling class struggling for the major share of profits and privilege, with different groups seeking the lucrative control of the governmental bureaucracy, different theories of how best to maintain the existing order, seeking support with attempts to secure this or that reform or concession for this or that section of the population. All varieties of non-revolutionary political parties presuppose the continuance of the existing order in its fundamental structure of capitalist society. Non-revolutionary politics presupposes capitalist property relations, the exploitation of the masses by the propertied minority, the class domination of the bourgeoisie, the maintenance of the state. Reformers advocate an “enlightened” capitalism, ameliorating exploitation with fine phrases about human rights and public service. In this way, they aim to drug the people with heavy-scented promises, to oil the wheels of capitalism.

Capitalism offers the masses the prospect only and necessarily of continued and increasing poverty, hunger, unemployment, war, insecurity, political tyranny and environmental harm. This prospect can be altered only by revolutionary change, only by the overthrow of capitalism and of the power of the ruling class. The central political issue of our time for workers is socialism. Every other question is of altogether minor importance, since its answer can be found only in the solution of the central issue. In a very real sense, this is the case. It must be remembered that the class struggle of the workers is not confined to the UK. It is an international struggle. The struggle in the UK cannot be separated from the international struggle.

The chief function of the capitalist media is to deceive the masses as to the real and central issue which confronts them. So long as the masses believe that their significant political choices lies WITHIN the capitalist order, capitalism itself, no matter what internal shifts take place, is not threatened. Every device serves: two or more avowed capitalist parties staging “life-and-death contests” for “the fate of the nation”; when their rivalry is all but a sham to be seen through, a lesser evil to divert dissatisfaction into safe channels within the limitations of the capitalist state. The Socialist Party must, however, break through the deceptions of capitalist politics and must push aside all secondary and reformist distinctions, and instead pose directly the central issue: the class struggle for workers’ power and for socialism. This campaign is not to be measured in votes or offices won, but in the extent and the depth to which they have succeeded in bringing the central issue before the consciousness of working people. The main issue for the working class, the only issue that is for it of profound and genuine moment, is the CLASS issue: what class holds power? Now, more clearly than ever before, it must be the Socialist Party against the field, – for power and for socialism.

 From the day of its foundation the Socialist Party has struggled consistently to use every opportunity provided by the parliamentary system in Britain to voice the demand for a socialist society.