Why we need to build a revolutionary party

A revolutionary party must be present in political movements (Photo: Guy Smallman)

Revolutionary parties by themselves cannot change the world. But without a revolutionary party, we cannot abolish capitalism.

Almost all fundamental change begins with the movement of large numbers of people. Strikes, marches, occupations and campaigns are crucial.

Today, hope lies in the magnificent movement for Palestine, strikers and workplace militants and the tens of thousands who came out last month against the far right. It’s in those who take to the streets over environmental collapse, trans+ rights and women’s liberation—and many other issues.

However, people engaged in these movements don’t have a single worldview. Some think persuading MPs is crucial, while others want to organise a select few to carry out acts of sabotage or dramatic action.

Some people call for more militancy while others urge moderation. Revolutionary socialists say that mass action and the working class using its power at the point of production is the key to change. We must organise ourselves into a party to argue our case within political movements and the working class.

Unless revolutionaries consciously organise to persuade others, the mainstream views of MPs, trade union leaders and NGO organisations win out.

The politics of compromise can overwhelm ideas that seek to tear out the roots of oppression and smash exploitation.

Revolutionaries in 1930s Germany tragically lost the argument to combine a united front against fascism with anti-capitalism. The result was the victory of Adolf Hitler.

Revolutionary organisations in Egypt in 2011 or Sudan in 2019 failed to win enough people to overthrow the whole system. Mass movements overthrew dictators but brutal rulers returned, smashing the hope for change.

A reformist party like the Labour Party seeks to represent the working class and wider society. It accepts those who have rotten views on migration, LGBT+ people or Palestine. Indeed, it often drives such views from the top.

For Labour, you can argue for a hundred reactionary things before breakfast but you’re welcome if you vote the right way.

Labour is hierarchical and undemocratic. Members must support the MPs, councillors and officials. The likes of Keir Starmer see members, who raise disagreements, as an unfortunate necessity.

A revolutionary party believes working class people’s actions are necessary. It means workers can use all their power to overcome capitalism and change themselves in the course of struggle.

So the party must encourage the direct participation of the working class. A revolutionary party is therefore a party of leaders in workplaces, local areas and communities.

Those who understand the need for revolution are often a minority. These people need to organise together to win larger numbers to revolution.

But they cannot make concessions in the chase for growth. Revolutionaries have to work in trade unions and political movements without accommodating reactionary ideas. The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) doesn’t accept racists and sexists. We won’t accept members who think climate change is a hoax or don’t back the Palestinians.

Joining a revolutionary party means more than paying £5 a month—although paying money is important. We want members to take politics seriously and be actively involved in whatever way they can.

We ask all our members to take ideas, history and theory seriously, to read our publications and if possible come to our meetings. Working class people can change the world, but they must organise to do so. We face a ruthless and centralised capitalist ruling class, so we must have our own counter-power.

If you want to fight against every symptom of capitalism and organise for revolution you need to join the SWP.