The platform of the ‘Communistisch Platform’

In May 2014 comrades of the Marxist Center founded a magazine in the Dutch language: Komas (Compass). The magazine is build around a platform, which incidentally also bears the name of the group: Communistisch Platform. The group is a campaign to establish a party-movement. For ours readers we publish an English translation of the Communistisch Platform.

1. The contradictions inherent in capitalism plunge society again and again in crises: they reveal the gap between the rich and poor, the suffering of people in spite of abundance, the wars over resources and power. These crises can be economic, social and political, and undermine the view that there is only one model of society possible: capitalism.

2. Once again people look for radical answers to the problems that capitalism brings forth. Once again various models of society are widely discussed. Communist Platform aims for a communist society. A society freed from exploitation and the resulting contradictions and crises of capitalism.

3. Communist Platform is not a party, though. We strive, however, for the unification of the working class into a political party in which all the revolutionary and leftist currents would eventually be able to feel at home. By ‘working class’ is understood that socioeconomic class of which its members are in such an economic situation that they must sell their labour power for a wage in order to survive and reproduce. This includes domestic workers, the unemployed, the disabled, pensioners and students.

4. The proletariat can take power only if it becomes a political entity. Communists will always seek the greatest possible unity: by emphasising consistently the interests of the whole class within the separate workers’ organisations, by building a common workers’ culture in opposition to the ideas of capitalism, by opposing bureaucracy with a culture of openness and democracy, and, where possible, to achieve mergers and collaboration between groups. The highest political form of unit, potentially, of the entire working class is the Communist Party: a political compass that gives direction to the universal human liberation. Revolutionary vanguards that take power in the name of the working class only divide the working class in a group of rulers and a group of followers.

5. A communist party is a revolutionary but not a revolution-making party. We know that it is just as little in our power to make a revolution as it is in the power of our opponents to avoid her. The social change we strive for can only be achieved if the working class has elevated itself to a ruling class through a political revolution. We cannot artificially create the conditions for such revolution. However, we can build up our forces to make the self-emancipation of the working class possible and to take power as a class, when a revolutionary crisis develops.

6. This liberation of the working class is the liberation of the whole of humanity without distinction of race or gender. The liberation of the working class is to be found in the socialisation of the means of production. Only with the common ownership of the means of production, a communist society on the basis of “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs” can exist.

7. Communism is impossible on a national basis. The international hierarchy of capitalist states rules out such path. Therefore, in Europe we strive to establish a Communist Party of the EU and the bundling of the various national parties in an international association of communist parties worldwide. Divided by borders, the working class is powerless against the rule of capital worldwide. If we’re united on a continental and even a global scale, capital would be powerless against us. Communists also organise solidarity with the oppressed around the world. We are against imperialist wars and we will emphasise the interests of our class anywhere.

8. Communists are however organised by state, since the state creates a specific political context. This necessitates the efforts of the communists to merge the working class with the revolutionary left within a country. To achieve this, we must put an end to the divide-and-rule tactics of the bureaucratic leadership of the workers’ unions, while we need a revolution within the revolutionary left to put an end to the political sects and to pave the way for unity. Unity can only be achieved on a democratic, internationalist and class-independent basis, and a united left in a communist party is united only on the basis of a communist program.

9. The capitalist class will never let its power be voted away and will use everything within its power to counter the independent organisation of the working class. A parliamentary victory of social legislation is therefore not enough. We do not reject the use of parliament and social legislation, but we know that the working class must prepare itself for revolution. This will continue peacefully as long as possible, but by force as well if needs be.

10. The working class cannot take over the existing state apparatus and use it for its purposes. The state apparatus in a capitalist society is formed in a way that gives the capitalist class power. Taking over the state apparatus would only mean to run capitalism. Therefore communists stand for reforms that undermine the existing state and the ruling class, which strengthens the position of the working class. The current state apparatus must be replaced by a democratic republic to continue to make way for social revolution and eventually communism.

11. Communists stand for the expansion of working class power and influence in all areas of society through self-organisation and democracy: workplace, workers’ organisations, local and national politics, etc. We are fighting for every reform that may increase this power and influence. Democracy has a cultural dimension as well: it should be more than going to the voting booth every four or five years, much more. It should become a norm – especially within the context of modern direct communications – for everyone to reflect upon and participate in decisions about the workplace, the environment, etc. These values of democracy and self-empowerment should lead to a multitude of organisation: from “red” unions to cooperatives and from solidarity networks to recreation collectives. Within this movement with its variety of organisational forms, the Communist Party is a political framework that ties all of these organisations together to achieve a common struggle.

12. Internationalism; independent organisation; social revolution; and radical democracy. Acceptance of these points is the basis for common action. However, differences of opinion and discussion on the implementation of these points remain possible. Anyone who shares these principles will be asked to join in and commit themselves to these principles by supporting the Communist platform.