Some leftist over here consider our party to not be fully marxist/leftist whatever.
Now, would I say our party (PVDA/PTB) is perfect? No. Would I say it is the furthest an actual marxist party would go in my country? Yes. Is it therefore the best party I could join and become active in? Probably.
I participate in a lot of discussion within the party. I’m openly ML. I have my own views and the official party line doesn’t always support it. Nonetheless it is the party I see the most potential in to make actual change.
It made me think. What would you consider the bottom line for joining a party?
Side note: going to sleep now, will read replies next morning.
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No focusing on electoralism and bourgeois democracy. If a party that calls itself “marxist” tells people to vote that’s a huge red flag.
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Anti-Imperialism and Anti-Capitalism are an absolute must. If a “marxist” party doesn’t recognize that capital is our common enemy and must be destroyed then they’re a lost cause.
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Revolutionary. A marxist party has to recognize that socialism can only be achieved via overthrowing the capitalist ruling class and implementing a dictatorship of the proletariat.
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No Anti-AES propaganda (examples: siding with the Anti-China narrative on Xinjiang or Africa, saying the DPRK is a monarchy where people have no “freedoms”, etc.). A marxist party should recognize AES countries for what they are, as any marxist should.
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No Imperialist/CIA propaganda (examples: Putin is richest man and has a mansion the size of a village, Putin suddenly invaded a peaceful nation for no reason, Stalin was a gruesome tyrant/dictator who caused a famine, Lenin was a mass murderer, etc. )
Though I very much understand the sentiment, I would disagree with the reluctance to participate in bourgeois democracy. This is because there are significant short term consequences for the lives of marginalized groups (take for example, trans people in the United States). Therefore, until revolution is a reality, advocating for harm reduction is sensible.
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4 must-haves for being bloody Marxist (for me at least):
- Anti-capitalism (Marxists being anticaps is like the morning sky being blue)
- Anti-imperialism (kinda cringe invading other nations and taking over established societies)
- Anti-discrimination (Workers of the world unite and all that shit. Kinda contradictory if you start excluding workers not being white or straight)
- Pro-workng class (If you aren’t, what the shit are you doing as a Marxist)
In addition to what others have said, no chauvinism of any kind. No transphobia, no American flag waving, etc.
being genuinely anti-imperialist, and not focusing on electoralism
I know that as an American there isn’t going to be a political party that’ll come close to what I’d want to fully see in a party. In the end if a party is Marxist in foundation, progressive in values, and is active in protests, I’d absolutely join.
If you haven’t yet id check to see of there is a local PSL chapter
