by J.F. Pointon and F.E. Walton
 

We must oppose and combat the following tendencies which are detrimental to the development of the communist movement:

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Contrarianism

•The trend that holds onto obscure positions and rejects the political lines of other organizations without engaging in any political work or dedicated practical program.
•To oppose for the sake of opposition, to “stylize” opposition, rather than opposing as a disagreement that strives towards forming a more correct political line.

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Sectarianism

•The trend defined by a complete refusal to conduct dialogue with other groups or work with them on small projects, following one’s own line dogmatically without striving towards one’s further education.

•To refuse conducting work with other local groups on the grounds of high theoretical differences, to refuse further investigation and cling to superficial understandings, to become an in-group rather than a mass organization.

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 Conspiracism

•The trend that equates the bourgeoisie to an Illuminati-like organization, to see the workings of class society and its contradictions as the conspiratorial actions of the ruling classes rather than as historically and materially-defined processes.

•To willfully ignore antagonisms within the ruling classes and have weak analysis of current conditions, opting for a caricature of Marxist analysis.

•On the other hand, to conduct oneself secretly when the conditions do not call for it, to avoid working with the non-communist masses and therefore refrain from taking a leading role in political work, to operate as an isolated clandestine organization and refuse to see the masses as the motive force of history.

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Academicism

•The trend that separates theoretical development from practical activity.

•To suppose organization is less important than theory, to apply the Marxist method without focusing on the revolutionary socialist implications, to overintellectualize Marxism by focusing on its academic applications which only relate to the few who have received an elite education, to not attempt to translate Marxism-Leninism to common language.

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To overcome these problems, and to build a communist movement, we must:

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Oppose Contrarianism: Take up meaningful polemics against those with whom one disagrees; show, in practice, the efficacy of one’s programs; show an openness towards other positions without compromising one’s own; oppose other’s positions only after a dedicated investigation into them.

Oppose Sectarianism: Engage with other groups locally when goals align, put aside petty differences for the interests and well-being of the masses, conduct oneself mannerly when others do the same, and focus on political work rather than squabbles.

Oppose Conspiracism: Translate our analysis into the popular language of the masses when engaging in dialogue, work with the masses directly and openly, build ties to the localities in which one operates.

Oppose Academicism: Reassure ourselves of the revolutionary, popular character of Marxism-Leninism, engage the masses in a revolutionary education that allows the understanding of Marxism, and emphasize the importance of praxis rather than isolated theory or practice.