The Future Belongs to Us

The State, for us socialists, is not any social organisation whatsoever. As soon as there are in a society a possessing class and a dispossessed class, there exists in that society a constant source of conflict which the social organisation would not long resist, if there was not a power charged with maintaining, to use the phrase, the “established order,” charged, in other words, with the protection of the economic situation of the possessing party, and therefore with the duty of ensuring the submission of the dispossessed party. Now, from its very birth, this has been the role of the State. With the division of society into classes, the State has evolved with the development of that division. As soon as it is understood that the State is not an independent organism. In short, one can abolish the State only after having suppressed classes. Statism tends to turn everything over to the State which is a body apart from individuals and above them.

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 recognise this fact or not. Historical development calls upon this class to reorganise 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. Our fellow-workers require an understanding of capitalist society, their position in it, and the need to replace this society with socialism? 

To help imbue the workers with this class consciousness, or socialist consciousness that is the function of the Socialist Party. It is composed of those workers who already understand the nature of capitalism and the historical task of the working class. Their aim is to develop the same understanding among all the workers, so that they no longer fight blindly, or with only one eye open but with a clear and scientific knowledge of what their class enemy is, of what the working class itself really is and of what it can and must do in society. They and their party therefore have no interests separate from the interests of the working class as a whole. It defends working class interests from every capitalist attack. It supports every working class fight. It makes clear to the workers the full meaning of their fight. It shows how even the local struggles, against one capitalist, are really class struggles against capitalism; how the local struggles must be extended and expanded if the workers are to win a victory. It points out the political meaning of the economic struggle. It shows how the workers must organise as a class to take political power, and use it to inaugurate socialism. It combats the open and the insidious ideas of capitalism so that the working class as a whole may be better equipped to fight its enemy. It aims to improve the position of the working class, to strengthen it, to clarify it and supply it with the most effective weapons in the struggle, in order that it may most speedily and successfully win the final battle for socialism. A socialist party is needed to win the working class to the principles of socialism and the struggle against capitalist exploitations and oppression. Socialism will never come by itself. It must be fought for. Without an organised, conscious, active revolutionary socialist party, the triumph of socialism is impossible. The Socialist Party represents a long and rich tradition. It is proud of the fact that its principles  are founded on the teachings of great thinkers of the international working class, such as Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Our analysis of capitalist society has never been successfully refuted. Our principles set forth for the working class to achieve socialism have passed the most critical tests a hundred times over. The Socialist Party was formed as an independent organisation in 1904. But its roots reach much further back.

The Socialist Party champions the idea of revolution. Does that means violence, bloodshed, killing, destruction? Will this this revolution, be accomplished by violence? What is a social revolution? It is the replacement of one ruling class by another. History is filled with such revolutions and in almost every case they made possible the progress of society. The socialist revolution is simply the overthrow of capitalist despotism and the establishment of the cooperative commonwealth. Members of the Socialist Party are not bloodthirsty maniacs. A socialist would indeed be a lunatic to want bloodshed and destruction when the aim is an orderly society.

Once we achieve socialism, instead of government there will then be simply an administration. Free men and women, the producers will decide in common everything concerning production, and instead of being the puppets of economic forces beyond their control. Capitalism created the conditions and forces for the socialist movement: the necessary technical basis, science and the working class itself. That is its major contribution to social progress. It also provokes the working class into action and is the involuntary promoter of the class struggle. Workers draw strength from the indispensable part they play as the principal force of production, the creators of all wealth and profit. Labour asserts itself as the only creative force in society that carries the future along with it as it rises. Socialism cannot “grow into” capitalism through the co-operation of classes. Socialism must overthrow capitalism. Instead of being softened, class antagonisms and the class struggle must be emphasised. Instead of compromise with capitalism, relentless attack upon the whole capitalist regime. Some today have forgotten this lesson; others have still to learn it.