        *********** REVOLUTION ***********
                   from Workers Solidarity No 32

ANARCHISTS SAY that capitalism can not be 
reformed away.  We say it must be overthrown 
through a revolution.  Many people however believe 
that the failure of the Russian revolution of 1917 
shows revolutions just replace one set of rulers with 
another.  The failures of the revolutions in 
Nicaragua, Iran and Cuba to fundamentally change 
life for the workers of these countries seems to point 
to the same thing.  So why all this talk of revolution?

A revolution essentially is a sudden upheaval in society 
which fundamentally alters the way that society operates 
or who that society is run by.  It occurs when the mass of 
the people desire change that their rulers are unwilling 
or unable to grant.  It can not be the result of the action 
of a small group of plotters.

History is full of revolutions.  Capitalism gained 
dominance over feudalism through revolutions, 
particularly the French revolution of 1789.  Revolutions 
in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and Iran since the 
second world war have had major effects on a global scale. 

Of course none of these were anarchist revolutions.  They 
all resulted in the substitution of one ruling class for 
another.  They failed to bring about classless societies.

MISSING FACTOR

What was missing was an independent working class 
fighting for its own class interests.  Instead working class 
militancy was harnessed by radical nationalists in a fight 
for 'national liberation'.  In power these radical 
nationalists crushed the working class at home while 
seeking terms with imperialism abroad.

In the case of Nicaragua and Cuba at least the radical 
nationalists in power used socialist jargon as a cover for 
their policies.  Cuba went so far as to nationalise the 
economy.  A successful socialist revolution however 
involves more than nationalisation and left  wing jargon.  
 
In the course of a revolution the working class 
spontaneously throws up organs through which it tries to 
re-organise society.  These organs however are normally 
made subservient to the new state within a short period 
of time.  Normally there is some resistance to this but 
such resistance is brutally crushed.  In 1917 the 
Bolshevik state apparatus crushed the Soviets and factory 
committees, in Iran the radical nationalists around 
Khomeini performed the same function.

SMASH THE STATE

This could only occur because the vast majority of the 
workers accepted the necessity of state rule.  This is why 
anarchists emphasise the importance of smashing the 
state rather then using it's apparatus to introduce 
socialism.  There is no more utopian idea then the idea of 
a minority introducing socialism through the state 
apparatus.
 
Anarchists believe that a successful revolution which 
introduces socialism must for the first time in history 
involve a huge subjective factor.  This subjective factor is 
a large proportion of the working class holding anarchist 
politics.  This does not mean the WSM must be the 
largest faction or even that anarchist groups must be the 
largest faction.  It does mean that workers must see the 
introduction of socialism as something that is their task, 
and that the state has only a counter-revolutionary role 
to play.

BATTLE OF IDEAS

This will not just happen spontaneously.  Some 
anarchists make the mistake of thinking politics will 
become irrelevant once workers seize the factories.  They 
think that the various Leninist and reformist left 
theories will become instantly irrelevant.  In actual fact 
this is the period when politics will become relevant as 
never before.  It is a period where millions of workers will 
be looking for a political direction.

In the past revolutions have been led to disaster because 
the ideas that led the working class were reformist or 
authoritarian.  Once in power such parties brutally 
crushed working class activity.  This is as true of the 
reformists in the German revolution of 1919 as it is of the 
Bolsheviks in 1917-21.  Anarchist organisation must be 
capable of debating and defeating such ideas as they 
arise.  

CRYSTAL BALL

Not being crystal ball gazers we can not predict when the 
next opportunity for revolution will occur.  In Ireland at 
least it would appear to be many years away.  We do know 
such opportunities will arise however, they are a product 
of the inability of capitalism to meet the needs of all the 
people.  Capitalism may have changed and developed over 
the years but this has not changed.

This does not mean we do nothing until such an 
opportunity arises.  Now is the time for us to develop and 
spread anarchist ideas.  We need to build strong anarchist 
organisation(s), not just in Ireland but internationally.  
Indeed it is likely that revolution will arrive on the 
agenda in Ireland due to the success of revolutions 
elsewhere.  We ensure the continued relevancy of our 
ideas by involvement in the struggles of fellow workers 
and demonstrating the usefulness of anarchist politics 
and tactics.

This is the purpose of the WSM.  We are in the process of 
building an organisation capable of asserting anarchist 
ideas.  We are developing these ideas while being 
involved in struggles at all levels of society.  We are 
building international links with anarchists in other 
countries.  If you too wish to see this rotten system 
smashed and replaced with anarchism then get in contact 
and get involved.

Joe Black








ANARCHISTS SAY that capitalism can not be 
reformed away.  We say it must be overthrown 
through a revolution.  Many people however 
believe that the failure of the Russian revolution 
of 1917 shows revolutions just replace one set of 
rulers with another.  The failures of the 
revolutions in Nicaragua, Iran and Cuba to 
fundamentally change life for the workers of 
these countries seems to point to the same thing.  
So why all this talk of revolution?

A revolution essentially is a sudden upheaval in 
society which fundamentally alters the way that 
society operates or who that society is run by.  It 
occurs when the mass of the people desire change that 
their rulers are unwilling or unable to grant.  It can 
not be the result of the action of a small group of 
plotters.

History is full of revolutions.  Capitalism gained 
dominance over feudalism through revolutions, 
particularly the French revolution of 1789.  
Revolutions in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and 
Iran since the second world war have had major effects 
on a global scale. 

Of course none of these were anarchist revolutions.  
They all resulted in the substitution of one ruling class 
for another.  They failed to bring about classless 
societies.

MISSING FACTOR

What was missing was an independent working class 
fighting for its own class interests.  Instead working 
class militancy was harnessed by radical nationalists 
in a fight for 'national liberation'.  In power these 
radical nationalists crushed the working class at home 
while seeking terms with imperialism abroad.

In the case of Nicaragua and Cuba at least the radical 
nationalists in power used socialist jargon as a cover 
for their policies.  Cuba went so far as to nationalise 
the economy.  A successful socialist revolution however 
involves more than nationalisation and left  wing 
jargon.  
 
In the course of a revolution the working class 
spontaneously throws up organs through which it tries 
to re-organise society.  These organs however are 
normally made subservient to the new state within a 
short period of time.  Normally there is some 
resistance to this but such resistance is brutally 
crushed.  In 1917 the Bolshevik state apparatus 
crushed the Soviets and factory committees, in Iran 
the radical nationalists around Khomeini performed 
the same function.

SMASH THE STATE

This could only occur because the vast majority of the 
workers accepted the necessity of state rule.  This is 
why anarchists emphasise the importance of smashing 
the state rather then using it's apparatus to introduce 
socialism.  There is no more utopian idea then the 
idea of a minority introducing socialism through the 
state apparatus.
 
Anarchists believe that a successful revolution which 
introduces socialism must for the first time in history 
involve a huge subjective factor.  This subjective factor 
is a large proportion of the working class holding 
anarchist politics.  This does not mean the WSM must 
be the largest faction or even that anarchist groups 
must be the largest faction.  It does mean that 
workers must see the introduction of socialism as 
something that is their task, and that the state has 
only a counter-revolutionary role to play.

BATTLE OF IDEAS

This will not just happen spontaneously.  Some 
anarchists make the mistake of thinking politics will 
become irrelevant once workers seize the factories.  
They think that the various Leninist and reformist left 
theories will become instantly irrelevant.  In actual 
fact this is the period when politics will become 
relevant as never before.  It is a period where millions 
of workers will be looking for a political direction.

In the past revolutions have been led to disaster 
because the ideas that led the working class were 
reformist or author-itarian.  Once in power such 
parties brutally crushed working class activity.  This is 
as true of the reformists in the German revolution of 
1919 as it is of the Bolsheviks in 1917-21.  Anarchist 
organisation must be capable of debating and 
defeating such ideas as they arise.  

CRYSTAL BALL

Not being crystal ball gazers we can not predict when 
the next opportunity for revolution will occur.  In 
Ireland at least it would appear to be many years 
away.  We do know such opportunities will arise 
however, they are a product of the inability of 
capitalism to meet the needs of all the people.  
Capitalism may have changed and developed over the 
years but this has not changed.

This does not mean we do nothing until such an 
opportunity arises.  Now is the time for us to develop 
and spread anarchist ideas.  We need to build strong 
anarchist organisation(s), not just in Ireland but 
internationally.  Indeed it is likely that revolution will 
arrive on the agenda in Ireland due to the success of 
revolutions elsewhere.  We ensure the continued 
relevancy of our ideas by involvement in the struggles 
of fellow workers and demonstrating the usefulness of 
anarchist politics and tactics.

This is the purpose of the WSM.  We are in the process 
of building an organisation capable of asserting 
anarchist ideas.  We are developing these ideas while 
being involved in struggles at all levels of society.  We 
are building international links with anarchists in 
other countries.  If you too wish to see this rotten 
system smashed and replaced with anarchism then 
get in contact and get involved.

Joe Black

