,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM 9 ,PRACTICE & ,IDEA 
,A CRITICAL EVALUATION 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,SCOTT ,NAPPOLAS 

,TEXT 3 

,! T]RA9 IS *ANG+ B5EA? \R FEET4 ,S9CE ! COLLAPSE ( ! MAJORITY ( ! 0(FICIAL ,COMMUNI/0 REGIMES1 ! WORLD HAS WITNESS$ BO? EV5TS & IDEAS ?AT HAVE UND]M9$ ! =M] DOM9ANT ?9K+ )9 ! LEFT4 ,! ,ZAPATI/AS1 ,>G5T9A 9 #b#a1 ,S\? ,KOREAN WORK]S MOVEM5TS1 ,OAXACA 9 #b#f1 ! /RUGGLES >\ND ANTI-GLOBALIZATION1 & ,GREECE'S S]IES ( 9SURRECTION>Y MOM5TS HAVE 9CREAS+LY PRES5T$ *ALL5GES TO TRADITIONAL LEFT ANSW]S TO MOVEM5TS & ORGANIZATION4 ,9 PREVI\S ]AS ,M>XI/-,L59ISM WAS ! NEXUS :I* ALL CURR5TS BY DEFAULT HAD TO RESPOND TO EI!R 9 AGREEM5T OR CRITIQUE4 ,TODAY1 9CREAS+LY AN>*I/ PRACTICES & !ORY HAVE COME TO PLAY ?IS ROLE4 

,AS A MEMB] ( AN AN>*I/ POLITICAL ORGANIZATION1 A FRI5D ONCE TOLD ME ,I 9 FACT WAS PRACTIC+ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,?IS WAS P]PLEX+1 BECAUSE ! GR\P HAD NO RESEMBL+ /RUCTURES1 PRACTICES1 OR ! ASSOCIAT$ BEHAVIORS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,H[EV]1 ,I WAS TOLD ?AT S9CE WE DEBAT$1 CAME TO COMMON DECISIONS1 & ACT$ ON ?AT COLLECTIVE DEMOCRACY1 WE W]E 9 FACT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/4 ,?IS K9D ( PRODUCTIVE CONFUSION L$ TO QUE/IONS AB\T ! CONCEPT1 & :Y ! T>GET ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM HAS %IFT$4 ,?IS MOVE1 ! %IFT+ CONCEPTUAL T]RITORY ( CORE CONCEPTS ( A C]TA9 OR?ODOXY1 COMES UP REPEAT$LY NOT ONLY ) DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 BUT ALSO SURR\ND+ IDEAS LIKE CRISIS1 DIALECTICS1 ! ,/ATE1 & CLASS4 ,! RESULT+ COGNITIVE DISSONANCE CAUS$ ME TO 9VE/IGATE ATTEMPTS AT RE9VIGORAT+ ! CONCEPT ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 7DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ REVISIONISM71 & UND]/& TRULY :AT IT IS1 :]E IT CAME FROM1 & H[ IT HAS BE5 PRACTIC$4 

,IT CAN BE REASONABLY ASK$ :Y SOMEONE W\LD *OOSE TO ADDRESS DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9 LI<T ( ! CATA/ROPHIC LEGACY ?AT ! SO-CALL$ (FICIAL ,COMMUNI/ P>TIES ( ! WORLD 7PRES5T & =M] RUL]S ( ! ,SOVIET BLOCK & ASSOCIAT$ ,M>XI/-,L59I/ GOV]NM5TS71 :O POPUL>IZ$ GLOBALLY ! CONCEPT ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 HAVE LEFT US4 ,9DE$1 ! HUMAN TRAG$Y ?AT OCCURR$ ?R\<\T ! OLD ,SOVIET-ALIGN$ NATIONS IS SO GREAT ?AT WE CAN REASONABLY QUE/ION :E!R WE HAVE GOTT5 TO ! BOTTOM YET1 OR :E!R MORE HORRORS >E /ILL TO BE DISCOV]$4 ,FROM ANO!R P]SPECTIVE1 = REVOLUTION>IES :O F9D NO CONNECTION BETWE5 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & !SE TRAG$IES1 WE LIVE 9 A DIFF]5T ]A FROM ! BIR? OR MATURATION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,TODAY IS A TIME ( DISP]S$ MOVEM5T1 L[-LEVELS ( /RUGGLE1 & FAILURE ( ! LEFT TO ORGANIZE & SU/A9 ITSELF4 ,! MAT]IAL REALITY & HI/ORICAL MOM5T ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM'S HEYDAY C\LD NOT BE FUR!R FROM \R [N4 

,BECAUSE ( ! DECOMPOSITIONS & *ANGES BO? 9 MOVEM5TS & DISC\RSE1 ?IS HAS CREAT$ TW9 PRESSURES ON ! ?9K+ >\ND DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,ON ! ONE H& !RE IS A CURR5T UND]WAY ( REFRAM+ MANY SU* CONCEPTIONS 7LIKELY AT LEA/ 9 P>T AS A RESPONSE TO ! *ALL5GE POS$ BY ! FAILURES ( SO-CALL$ (FICIAL COMMUNISM & *ALL5GES FROM NEW LIB]T>IAN CURR5TS & EV5TS TO SU* ?9K+74 ,) ! COLLAPSE ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION ATTEMPTS TO RE9VIGORATE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & RESCUE IT FROM ITS AU?ORIT>IAN & BUREAUCRATIC ELEM5TS HAVE BE5 9CREAS+4 ,H]E1 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS BE+ REMIX$ = NEW AUDI5CES EI!R BY ! (FICIAL COMMUNI/ OR?ODOXY 7,/AL9I/1 ,TROTSKYI/1 ,MAOI/1 ETC471 OR BY ! OPPOSITIONAL ,M>XI/-,L59I/ TRADITION ?AT >GU$ = A MORE LIB]T>IAN 9T]PRETATION ( ! CONCEPT4 ,MANY ,M>XI/-,L59I/ P>TIES & POLITICAL =MATIONS N[ GIVE V]BAL CR$IT TO CONCEPTS LIKE P>TICIPATORY DEMOCRACY1 WORK] SELF-MANAGEM5T1 & O!R TRADITIONALLY LIB]T>IAN OR AN>*I/ CONCEPTS4 ,! ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,ORGANIZATION 7,U,S7 = EXAMPLE :ILE REMA9+ ADH]5T TO DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM FRAMES ITS DEMOCRACY BEYOND SIMPLY DEMOCRACY 9 T]MS ( P>TICIPATORY DEMOCRACY4 0,!RE HAVE TO BE =MAL ME*ANISMS ( DEMOCRACY )9 ! P>TY1 BUT MORE ?AN ?AT1 DEMOCRACY HAS TO BE ACTIVE & P>TICIPATORY40.<#a.> 

,! ,SOCIALI/ ,WORK]S ,P>TY 7,U,K71 :I* E>LI] WAS 9 AN 9T]NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ) ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,ORGANIZATION1 LIKEWISE FRAMES WORK]S' SELF-ACTIVITY 9 T]MS ( A RELATION%IP ) DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 

0,! 'SELF ACTIVITY' ( ! WORK+ CLASS DEVELOPS ?R\< A /RUGGLE AGA9/ ! 5EMY CLASS4 ,AS P>T ( ?IS 'SELF ACTIVITY' REVOLUTION>Y WORK]S HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SUGGE/ WAYS ( G5]ALIZ+ ! /RUGGLE1 TACTICS ?AT CAN PRODUCE VICTORY4 ,!Y CAN ONLY DO SO SUCCESSFULLY BY SUGGE/+ TACTICS1 BY (F]+ LEAD]%IP1 ?AT FITS 9 ) ! LEAD]%IP (F]$ BY REVOLUTION>IES ACTIVE 9 O!R P>TS ( ! CLASS4 ,! QUE/ION ( COORD9AT$ DIRECTION1 ( C5TRALIZ$ LEAD]%IP1 NECESS>ILY >ISES AGA94 ,! EXI/5CE ( A C5TRALIZ$ REVOLUTION>Y P>TY DOES NOT1 !RE=E1 =M AN OB/ACLE TO ! SELF-ACTIVITY ( ! MASSES--ON ! CONTR>Y1 ! LATT] IS 9COMPLETE )\T IT40.<#b.> 

,FRE$OM ,ROAD ,SOCIALI/ ,ORGANIZATION DRAWS MORE EXPLICITLY FROM ! AN>*I/ 9FLU5CES )9 MEMB]S ( IT'S P>TY1 & CONDEMNS ! PRACTICES ASSOCIAT$ ) SELF-ID5TIFI$ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATIONS AS BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALI/4 

0,MANY ( \R REVOLUTION>Y Y\? >E UND] ! ORGANIZATIONAL SWAY ( V>I\S AN>*I/ T5D5CIES4 ,SOME >E /RONGLY 9FLU5C$ BY :AT !Y BELIEVE IS ,ZAPATISMO4 ,!Y HAVE ALSO1 P]HAPS RI<TLY1 BE5 S\R$ BY :AT !Y HAVE LE>N$ ( ! BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM & VANGU>DISM PRACTIC$ BY V>I\S ,M>XI/-,L59I/ P>TIES HI/ORICALLY40.<#c.> 

,?\< 9 ?IS MOM5T SU* /ATEM5TS SEEM UNASSUM+1 IT'S WOR? REFLECT+ ON !IR SIGNIFICANCE4 ,EV5 ! FACT ?AT A GR\P LIKE ! ,S,W,P 7,U,K7 W\LD HAVE TO PUT =W>D & DEF5D ! CONCEPT ( ! SELF-ACTIVITY ( ! WORK+ CLASS IS A SIGN ( ! TIMES4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ?9K+ IS BE+ PU%$ TO DEF5D ITSELF AGA9/ ! CRITIQUES ( BO? PA/ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ MOVEM5TS & ! GR[+ DOM9ANCE ( AN>*I/IC ?9K+ ?AT SEEMS TO CONTRADICT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS SE5 EI!R AS AN UNA*IEV$ GOAL1 OR AS A TOOL :I* CAN PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO ! NEW 5VIRONM5T WE F9D \RSELVES 94 ,!RE >E !N MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTE/ [N]%IP ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 CRAFT A NEW REVISIONISM AB\T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 BREAK IT FROM ITS MO/ CRASS ,/AL9I/ =M1 & CLAIM NEW L9EAGES OR PRACTICES4 

,AS ! ,FRE$OM ,ROAD QUOTE %[S SU* MOVES DO NOT ONLY COME FROM )9 ! ,M>XI/-,L59I/ MILIEU1 BUT ALSO FROM EX-AN>*I/S & AN>*I/ SYMPA?IZ]S4 ,?IS IS NOT NEI!R NECESS>ILY NEW NOR SOLELY MONOPOLIZ$ BY ! ,M>XI/-,L59I/ LEFT4 ,P]CEIV$ ROADBLOCKS & LIMITATIONS ( ! BROAD LIB]T>IAN OR AN>*I/ MILIEU HAVE S5T SOME 9 SE>* ( ANSW]S TO REAL PROBLEMS !Y FACE AS REVOLUTION>IES 9 /RUGGLE4 ,! S]IES ( PROTE/ MOVEM5TS :I* FUEL$ AN>*ISM'S RISE 9 ! GLOBAL NOR? 7ANTI-NUKE1 ANTI-W>1 ANTI-GLOBALIZATION1 ANTI-AU/]ITY1 ETC47 HAVE PRES5T$ 9SUFFICI5T RESPONSES TO ! ATTACKS ( /ATES & CAPITAL1 & ! UNORGANIZ$ OR ANTI-ORGANIZATIONAL LIB]T>IAN MILIEU IS P]CEIV$ AS NOT POS+ SUFFICI5T ANSW]S TO ON-!-GR\ND ISSUES ( H[ TO RESPOND TO REPRESSION1 H[ TO PU% =W>D ) REVOLUTION>Y *ALL5GES1 & H[ TO BUILD UPW>DS ACROSS ! PEAKS & VALLEYS ( /RUGGLE4 ,SOME ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS 7?\< LIKELY A SMALL M9ORITY7 ?US HAVE BEGUN TO TURN TO DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS WELL AS A CURE = ! P]5NIAL DISORGANIZATION & \T-ORGANIZATION ( SOCIAL MOVEM5TS AT ?IS TIME1 & AS A G5]AL RESPONSE TO L[-PO9TS 9 /RUGGLE4 

,FRAM+ ,FAILURE 

,IT'S WOR? NOT+ ?\< 9 BO? CASES1 !RE'S ?9K+ >\ND ORGANIZATION ?AT CONNECTS A !ORY ( ORGANIZATION ACROSS ! P]IODS ) SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ( MOVEM5T TODAY4 ,MANY ?9K]S ATTEMPT ?IS MOVE1 = EXAMPLE :5 PEOPLE TRY TO ACC\NT = ! FAILURES ( REVOLUTIONS 9 T]MS ( ! ACTIONS1 ABS5CE1 OR PRES5CE ( SPECIFIC REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATIONS4 ,SURELY ?OSE ?+S >E FACTORS1 BUT !RE IS A L>G] ELEPHANT 9 ! ROOM4 

,TAKE ! ,SPANI% REVOLUTION ( #aicf = EXAMPLE4 ,ONE S]IES ( ANALYZES RELATES TO QUE/IONS ( ORGANIZATION EI!R FROM ,TROTSKY1 ! ,FRI5DS ( ,DURRUTI1 FACTIONS 9 ! ,C,N,T1 OR RELATION%IPS TO ORGANIZ$ 9T]NATIONAL MOVEM5TS4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 :Y W]5'T P>TICUL> ORGANIZ$ REVOLUTION>IES ABLE TO W9 ! W>1 DEEP5 ! REVOLUTION>Y PROCESS1 OR BEAT BACK SABOTAG+ RE=MI/ T5D5CIES8 ,ANO!R QUE/ION ?\< IS :Y DID ! ,SPANI% POPUL> CLASSES FAIL TO 9T]V5E AT KEY MOM5TS EV5 :5 !RE W]E ORGANIZ$ T5D5CIES REPRES5T+ SU* POSITIONS8 ,!RE >E SEP>ATE QUE/IONS & ELEM5TS 9 !SE SITUATIONS4 ,!RE >E ORGANIZATIONS1 !RE >E REVOLUTION>IES1 !RE >E REACTION>Y =CES1 & !RE >E ! ACTIVITIES ( ! POPUL> CLASSES 7AS DIV]SE & COMPLEX AS !Y >E74 ,WE %\LD SEP>ATE \T !N QUE/IONS AB\T ORGANIZATIONS FROM L>GE SCALE POPUL> QUE/IONS4 ,! TWO >E B\ND UP TOGE!R1 BUT ANSW]S TO ONE DO NOT NECESS>ILY PROVIDE ANSW]S TO ! O!R4 ,TO BE CONCRETE1 EV5 IF Y\ HAVE ! P]FECT ORGANIZATION ) ! CORRECT L9E 9 #aicf ,B>CELONA1 IT'S NOT GIV5 ?AT ! PEOPLE W\LD HAVE DE/ROY$ ! ,/ATE & ASSUM$ POPUL> CONTROL4 ,?IS IS JU/ TO SAY ?AT ! QUE/ION ( REVOLUTION IS BIGG] 7?\< NOT 9DEP5D5T7 ?AN ORGANIZATION4 

,! PROJECT TO REVISE1 EXP&1 OR REFRAME DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM >ISES FROM !SE 9/9CTS AB\T ORGANIZATIONAL QUE/IONS SETTL+ POLITICAL PROBLEMS4 ,9 TRY+ TO DO SO1 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ?\<T IS PU%$ 9 A NUMB] ( DIRECTIONS ?AT CAN NOT BE RECONCIL$4 ,9 OP5+ UP ?IS DISCUSSION1 ! 9T5TION IS NOT JU/ TO PO9T ! 9DEP5D5T AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ ORGANIZATIONAL HI/ORY1 BUT RA!R TO QUE/ION ! WAY 9 :I* ! PROJECT ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ REVISION APPROA*ES ORGANIZATION 9 \R CONJUNCTURE3 TODAY1 H]E1 & ) \R PROBLEMS4 

,DEF9+ ! ,DEBATE 

,9 ,PETROGRAD DUR+ ! SUMM] ( #a#i#a#g1 ! ,SIX? ,P>TY ,CONGRESS ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRATIC ,LABOR ,P>TY 7,BOL%EVIK7 OCCURR$4 ,AT ?IS CONGRESS IT WAS LAT] REPORT$ ?AT ! ,BOL%EVIKS DEF9$ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS FOLL[S3 

,?AT ALL DIRECT+ BODIES ( ! ,P>TY1 FROM TOP TO BOTTOM1 %ALL BE ELECT$2 

,?AT ,P>TY BODIES %ALL GIVE P]IODICAL ACC\NTS ( !IR ACTIVITIES TO !IR RESPECTIVE ,P>TY ORGANIZATIONS2 

,?AT !RE %ALL BE /RICT ,P>TY DISCIPL9E & ! SUBORD9ATION ( ! M9ORITY TO ! MAJORITY2 

,?AT ALL DECISIONS ( HI<] BODIES %ALL BE ABSOLUTELY B9D+ ON L[] BODIES & ON ALL ,P>TY MEMB]S4.<#d.> 

,! FIR/ ?REE PO9TS >E RELATIVELY UN9T]E/+1 :ATEV] WE ?9K ( DIRECT+ BODIES1 ELECTIONS1 M9ORITIES1 & DISCIPL9E4 ,! F\R? /&S \T4 ,! HI/ORY ! QUOTE IS DRAW FROM WAS WRITT5 BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION ( ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY C5TRAL COMMITTEE UND] ,/AL91 %ORTLY FOLL[+ SOME ( ! WOR/ PURGES 9 ! #a#i#cS1 & ) ! LIQUIDATION ( MU* ( ! LEAD]%IP ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS FROM ! REVOLUTION HAV+ BE5 MURD]$4 

,MO/ ( ! CONT5T ( ?IS >TICLE >OSE FROM A DEBATE ) FRI5DS AB\T ! LEGITIMACY ( ! F\R? PO9T ABOVE4 ,!RE >E A NUMB] ( FACTORS4 ,WAS IT REAL8 ,IS ?IS ACTUALLY :AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM REPRES5TS OR M]ELY A ,/AL9I/ AB]RATION8 ,TO :AT EXT5T DID IT ACTUALLY REPRES5T ,BOL%EVIK PRACTICE8 ,IS DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9H]5TLY ,L59I/1 OR IS IT A MORE FUNDAM5TAL CONCEPT8 ,DID IT REPRES5T IT ONLY = C]TA9 P]IODS8 ,IS !RE ANO!R WAY ( 9T]PRET+ IT8 

,CRITICS FROM ! LIB]T>IAN LEFT HAVE (T5 BE5 CONT5T TO M]ELY ATTACK ! MO/ OBVI\S & EGREGI\S =MS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,?IS LEAVES !SE CRITIQUES OP5 TO QUICK DISMISSAL & WA/ES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOSE CORE POLITICAL ISSUES ?AT CAN HELP \R MOVEM5T GR[4 ,IT IS USEFUL !N TO 5GAGE ! !ORY1 TAKE ON DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AT ITS BE/ >GUM5TS1 ON ITS [N T]MS1 & PROVIDE A MORE NUANC$ UND]/&+ ( ! DANG]S ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM SO ?AT WE DO NOT FACE ! SAME PROBLEMS UND] A DIFF]5T BANN]4 

,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WILL BE ADDRESS$ ON F\R FRONTS TO PROVIDE A WID] SCOPE ?AN IS NORMALLY GIV5 TO ! CONCEPT4 ,FIR/1 :]E DID DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM GR[ \T (1 & H[ DID IT DEVELOP 9 HI/ORY8 ,SECOND1 :AT DID OPPOSITIONAL REVOLUTION>IES :O CONTE/$ ! IDEAS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM \TSIDE ! OR?ODOXY (F] 9 UND]/&+ ! DEBATE8 ,?IRD1 MOV+ TO ! ,U,S CONTEXT1 H[ DID DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ PRACTICE FUNCTION 9 REC5T HI/ORY8 ,LA/LY :AT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF WE AB/RACT AWAY ALL ! HI/ORY & PRACTICES1 & LOOK AT IT HYPO!TICALLY AS A !ORY ( ! PROCESS ( ! 9T]NAL FUNCTION+ ( ORGANIZATIONS8 

,)9 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WE SEE = ALL ! !ORI/S1 !RE >E TWO COMPON5TS3 A PROCESS ( 9T]NAL FUNCTION+1 & A /RUCTURAL PROPOSAL = ! 9T]ACTION ( C5TRALIZ$ BODIES ) ! BASE ( ! P>TY4 ,! 9T]PRETATIONS BETWE5 ! TWO COMPON5TS V>Y4 ,IT IS ) ! PROCESS ( 9T]NAL FUNCTION+ WE WILL F9D ! MA9 MOTIVATIONS = ! !ORY & PRACTICE1 AS WELL AS ! BE/ 9SI<TS IT HAS TO (F]4 ,! /RUCTURAL PROPOSAL ON ! O!R H& HAS ! LEA/ (F]$ JU/IFICATIONS & ! WOR/ IMPLICATIONS4 ,IT IS 9 ! AMBIGUITY )9 & BETWE5 !SE TWO COMPON5TS1 & ! FAILURE TO DEM>CATE ! /RUCTURAL COMPON5T FROM AN AU?ORIT>IAN RELATION ?AT GIVES DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ITS FATAL FLAWS1 & MAKES ANY RE9VIGORATION FROM MORE DEMOCRATIC MOTIVATIONS UNSU/A9ABLE4 

,?\< UN=TUNATELY BROAD1 ?IS 9VE/IGATION TRIES TO REVEAL A =K CREAT$ BY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,ON ONE SIDE IS ! MAT]IAL REALITY ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A LIV+ !ORY 9 ! HI/ORY ( CLASS /RUGGLE ) 9H]5T BUREAUCRATIC & AU?ORIT>IAN T5D5CIES4.<#e.> ,AS ,NGO ,VAN1 ,VIETNAMESE REVOLUTION>Y & P>TICIPANT 9 V>I\S ,VIETNAMESE ,L59I/ P>TIES1 /ATES1 

0! SO-CALL$ 'WORK]S' P>TIES' 7,L59I/ P>TIES 9 P>TICUL>7 >E EMBRYONIC =MS ( ! /ATE4 ,ONCE 9 P[]1 !SE P>TIES =M ! NUCLEUS ( A NEW RUL+ CLASS & BR+ AB\T NO?+ MORE ?AN A NEW SY/EM ( EXPLOITATION40.<#f.> 

,ON ! O!R SIDE !RE IS DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A LIB]ATORY CONCEPT AB/RACT$ FROM PRACTICE1 YET SO BROAD ?AT NE>LY EV]Y =M ( ORGANIZATION FROM AN>*I/ TO M>KET SOCIALI/ BECOMES DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/1 & H5CE MEAN+LESS4 ,! GOAL1 AS ) ANY REVOLUTION>Y 9QUIRY1 IS NOT TO M]ELY CA/IGATE OR TO TRY & PA9T ! ADH]5TS ( MOVEM5TS OR !ORIES AS ONE-SID$ PA?OLOGICAL VILLA9S1 BUT TO LE>N FROM ! MI/AKES & VICTORIES ( HUMANITY 9 PURSUIT ( LIB]ATION FROM C5TURIES ( EXPLOITATION & OPPRESSION4 

,WE WILL CLOSE NOT SIMPLY ) ! CRITIQUE1 BUT 9/EAD ) A BRIEF DESCRIPTION ( A DIFF]5T ME?ODOLOGY = REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION4 ,CALL$ ESPECIFISMO1 DUAL-ORGANIZATIONALISM1 PLAT=MISM1 OR AT O!R TIMES SIMPLY AN>*I/ COMMUNISM1 ?IS TRADITION DEVELOP$ IT'S WAY ( ?9K+ & ACT+ 9 UNITY )\T ! /RUCTURES OR CONCEPTS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,COM+ TO LIFE 9DEP5D5TLY 9 DIFF]5T MOM5TS 9 ,ASIA1 ,S\? ,AM]ICA1 ,EUROPE1 & ,NOR? ,AM]ICA ?IS TRADITION PROVIDES ANSW]S = ! REAL PROBLEMS ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WRE/L$ ) & ULTIMATELY FAIL$ TO ADDRESS4 

,! ,BIR? ( ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM 

,TODAY WE CAN SEE ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WAS TO BECOME ! ORGANIZATIONAL !ORY ( A RIS+ RUL+ CLASS4 ,IT BECAME A TOOL ( DOM9ATION OV] ALL ( ,RUSSIA'S LABOR+ CLASSES1 & EV5TUALLY ACROSS ! GLOBE4 ,/RUGGLES = LIB]ATION L$ BY COMMITT$ REVOLUTION>IES PRODUC$ /ATE CAPITALI/ DICTATOR%IPS AGA9/ ! PROLET>IAT1 ?\< UND] A R$ BANN]4.<#g.> ,! /ORY ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS MORE COMPLICAT$ ?AN ?IS H[EV]1 & IT IS IMPORTANT NOT M]ELY TO CONDEMN ! MI/AKES BUT TO ATTEMPT TO UND]/& :AT HAPP5$4 

,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM LIV$ & *ANG$ ACROSS ITS LIFE BEG9N+ ) ,RUSSIAN ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRACY & EVOLV$ TO BECOME A DOM9ANT POLITICAL CLASS ) A MONOPOLY ( P[] & ILLEGALIZ$ ALL POLITICAL OPPOSITION4 ,WE %\LD SAY !RE >E MANY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISMS RA!R ?AN A S+LE UNIT>Y !ORY4 ,IT IS EASY TO LOOK BACK AT ITS MO/ *>ACT]I/IC =M UND] ,/AL9 & ASSOCIAT$ (FICIAL ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TIES :]E9 HI<] BODIES HAD DOM9ANT P[]S & C5TRALIZATION TRUMP$ DEMOCRACY1 BUT BO? ! !ORY & PRACTICE ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM NEV] HAD SU* COH]5CE OR CONT9UITY4 

,! MO/ BROAD & POPULI/ =MULATION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM DESCRIBES IT AS BE+ A ME?OD = 9T]NAL FUNCTION1 OR H[ TO ACT 9SIDE AN ORGANIZATION1 ?AT GOES ?R\< A PROCESS ( DEMOCRATIC DELIB]ATION TO =M A UNITY1 :I* WILL BE C>RI$ \T AS A GR\P4 ,IT IS DEMOCRACY 9 DECID+1 & UNITY 9 ACTION4 ,ALLEG$LY1 NON-DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ GR\PS REJECT$ UNITY 9 ACTION1 HAV+ DISCUSSION & !N 9DIVIDUALS & DIVISIONS ACT+ AS !Y PLEAS$ IRRESPECTIVE ( DECISION4 ,/ILL O!R GR\PS HAVE NO DEMOCRATIC DEBATE1 & SIMPLY IMPLEM5T DIRECTIVES4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS SUPPOS$ TO UNIFY !SE 7DIALECTICALLY7 9 A PRACTICE ( 9T]NAL DEMOCRACY1 & EXT]NAL UNIFI$ ACTION4 ,BUT :AT W]E ! MOTIVATIONS = ?IS !ORY1 & :AT RELATION%IP DOES IT HAVE TO HI<] BODIES1 DIRECTIVES1 9T]NAL OPPOSITIONS1 ETC48 

,! T]M WAS FIR/ US$ BY A ,LASSALEAN NAM$ ,S*WEITZ]1 :O WAS A ,G]MAN SOCIALI/ ACTIVE 9 ! ,G5]AL ,ASSOCIATION ( ,G]MAN ,WORK]S4 ,?AT GR\P WAS ORGANIZ$ UND] :AT HE CALL$ 0DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM04 ,9T]E/+LY ,M>X & ,5GELS CRITICIZ$ ! /RICT ORGANIZATION PRACTIC$ BY ?IS GR\P 9 !IR ,SEPTEMB] #ahfh LETT]S4.<#h.> 

,! FLE%$ \T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS WE KN[ IT CAME ON ! HEELS ( A %ORT P]IOD ( OP5NESS SECUR$ BY ! #aie REVOLUTION 9 ,RUSSIAN4 ,BO? ! ,M5%EVIKS & ,BOL%EVIKS 9TRODUC$ ! CONCEPT :5 !Y W]E 9 ! COMMON SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC P>TY4 ,! ,M5%EVIKS W]E ACTUALLY ! FIR/ ONES TO PUT \T ! CONCEPT AT !IR #aie CONF]5CE1 ) ! ,BOL%EVIKS FOLL[+ %ORTLY !REAFT]4 ,AT A UNITY CONF]5CE 9 #aif BO? FACTIONS ADOPT$ A RESOLUTION 5DORS+ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4.<#i.> ,! MO/ COMMON =MULATION H[EV] CAME FROM ,L59'S REPORT AT ?AT CONGRESS1 & WAS 0FRE$OM ( DISCUSSION1 UNITY ( ACTION04.<#a.> ,9 ! CONTEXT ( ! CONGRESS ?IS MEANT ! 5GAGEM5T & DEBATE ( ! P>TY MEMB]S1 ! COM+ TOGE!R ( BRAN*ES 9 A COORD9AT$ COHESIVE ORGANIZATION1 & IMPLEM5T+ ! DECISIONS MADE 9 ! OP5 DISCUSSIONS4 

,! SPLIT 9 ,RUSSIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY ?AT WAS TO PRODUCE A FLE%$-\T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM OCCURR$ >\ND A DIVISION ON :AT MEMB]%IP CON/ITUT$4.<#a#a.> ,L59'S CONCEPTION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM S\<T TO RESPOND TO A CONTEXT ( ILLEGALITY & ! AU?ORIT>IANISM ( ! ,RUSSIAN MON>*Y4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WAS A PROPOSAL = H[ ! P>TY %\LD FUNCTION BO? = A LEVEL ( COMMITM5T & UNITY1 & = PAID PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>IES4.<#a#b.> ,ALL ( !SE ISSUES W]E TRANS=M$ FIR/ 9 ! #aie REVOLUTION1 & LAT] DUR+ ! SUBSEQU5T ,RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONS4 ,! K]NELS ( ?IS ?\<T UND]W5T %IFTS ALONGSIDE ! TUMULT ( ?OSE /RUGGLES4 

,IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM S\<T TO ADDRESS REAL ISSUES4 ,) DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 ,L59 & HIS ASSOCIATES PROMOT$ ! IDEA ( REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION BAS$ ON COORD9AT$ ACTIVITY1 AN 9T]NAL PROCESS = DEBAT+ & TRY+ CRAFT & HONE POLITICAL POSITIONS >\ND ?AT ACTIVITY1 & AN ORI5TATION ( MEMB]S TO ?AT WORK AT A HI< LEVEL ( COMMITM5T4 

,/AT$ 9 ?AT WAY1 !SE >E IMPORTANT PO9TS ?AT >E NOT [N$ BY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 BUT >E BROAD ISSUES MANY REVOLUTION>IES 7& !IR !ORIES7 TRY TO GRAPPLE )4 ,IT WAS ! P>TICUL> AMBIGUITIES & M>RIAGES ( !SE CONCEPTS TO O!RS ?AT GAVE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ITS HI/ORICAL SIGNIFICANCE & PROBLEMS4 

,L59'S CONCEPTION ( COMMITM5T WAS EXPRESS$ AS PAID PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>IES4 

0,I ASS]T3 7#a7 ?AT NO REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T CAN 5DURE )\T A /ABLE ORGANIZATION ( LEAD]S MA9TA9+ CONT9UITY2 7#b7 ?AT ! BROAD] ! POPUL> MASS DRAWN SPONTANE\SLY 9TO ! /RUGGLE1 :I* =MS ! BASIS ( ! MOVEM5T & P>TICIPATES 9 IT1 ! MORE URG5T ! NE$ = SU* AN ORGANIZATION1 & ! MORE SOLID ?IS ORGANIZATION MU/ BE 7= IT IS MU* EASI] = ALL SORTS ( DEMAGOGUES TO SIDE-TRACK ! MORE BACKW>D SECTIONS ( ! MASSES72 7#c7 ?AT SU* AN ORGANIZATION MU/ CONSI/ *IEFLY ( PEOPLE PR(ESSIONALLY 5GAG$ 9 REVOLUTION>Y ACTIVITY2 7#d7 ?AT 9 AN AUTOCRATIC /ATE1 ! MORE WE CONF9E ! MEMB]%IP ( SU* AN ORGANIZATION TO PEOPLE :O >E PR(ESSIONALLY 5GAG$ 9 REVOLUTION>Y ACTIVITY & :O HAVE BE5 PR(ESSIONALLY TRA9$ 9 ! >T ( COMBAT+ ! POLITICAL POLICE1 ! MORE DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO UNE>? ! ORGANIZATION2 & 7#e7 ! GREAT] WILL BE ! NUMB] ( PEOPLE FROM ! WORK+ CLASS & FROM ! O!R SOCIAL CLASSES :O WILL BE ABLE TO JO9 ! MOVEM5T & P]=M ACTIVE WORK 9 IT40.<#a#c.> 

,!RE >E A NUMB] ( FALSE ASSUMPTIONS H]E ?AT L$ TO DANG]\S PA?S4 ,WE CAN REASONABLY QUE/ION 7#d7 GIV5 ! UNSUCCESSFUL EXP]I5CES ( GU]RILLA MOVEM5TS WORLDWIDE4 ,PR(ESSIONALISM & TRA9+ DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE %ELT]$ MOVEM5TS = EXAMPLE 9 ! ,S\!RN ,CONE ( ,S\? ,AM]ICA FROM ! RES\RCES & ORGANIZATION ( LOCAL & 9T]NATIONAL IMP]IALISM4.<#a#d.> ,TODAY ,L59'S ASS]TIONS SEEM NAIVE 

0,:5 WE HAVE =CES ( SPECIALLY TRA9$ WORK]-REVOLUTION>IES :O HAVE GONE ?R\< EXT5SIVE PREP>ATION 7&1 ( C\RSE1 REVOLUTION>IES 0( ALL >MS ( ! S]VICE071 NO POLITICAL POLICE 9 ! WORLD WILL !N BE ABLE TO CONT5D ) !M1 = !SE =CES1 B\NDLESSLY DEVOT$ TO ! REVOLUTION1 WILL 5JOY ! B\NDLESS CONFID5CE ( ! WIDE/ MASSES ( ! WORK]S40.<#a#e.> 

,! ABILITY ( REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS TO BE IMM]S$ & SUPPORT$ )9 POPUL> P[] UND] SU* REPRESSIVE CONDITIONS PROVID$ A MU* BETT] SECURITY ?AN PR(ESSIONALISM C\LD HOPE TO4 ,CONFID5CE 9 ! WORK]S COMES LESS FROM PR(ESSIONAL TRA9+ ?AN ! EM]G5CE ( REVOLUTION>Y CURR5TS 9 AUTONOM\S /RUGGLES4 ,L59 HAD NO S]I\S RESPONSE TO ! ALI5ATION ( PAID PR(ESSIONALS FROM ?OSE /RUGGLES4 

,L59 ALSO FAIL$ TO SEE ! DI/9CTION BETWE5 S]I\SNESS & DISCIPL9E V]SUS ! C5TRALIZATION ( DECISION-MAK+ & P[]4 ,HE EXPLICITLY REJECT$ SU* DI/9CTIONS 9 FACT4 ,L59 >GU$ = A RIGOR\SLY APPLI$ DIVISION ( LABOR1 & BELIEV$ ?AT WORK]S & NON-PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION>IES NE$$ TO BE REMOV$ FROM WAGE LABOR 9 ORD] TO BECOME A PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>Y4 ,= 9/ANCE ,L59 >GUES ?AT 0A WELL-ORGANIZ$ SECRET APP>ATUS REQUIRES PR(ESSIONALLY WELL-TRA9$ REVOLUTION>IES & A DIVISION ( LABOR APPLI$ ) ! GREATE/ CONSI/5CY4440.<#a#f.> 

,AS ,L>RY ,GAMBONE & ,DON ,HAMM]QUI/ PO9T \T1 !RE IS A DIFF]5CE BETWE5 POLITICAL UNITY & ! C5TRALIZATION ( P[]4.<#a#g.>.<#a#h.> ,MANY COMMUNI/S ( ! P]IOD CONFLAT$ ! TWO CONCEPTS1 9 T]MS ( ! =M OR /RUCTURE ( ! ORGANIZATION & ! CONT5T ( ! ORGANIZATION4 ,! PO9T ULTIMATELY WAS TO 5SURE AN EFFECTIVE & S]I\S ORGANIZATION1 BUT ! PR(ESSIONALIZATION ( ?IS WORK WAS TO BE TRANS=M$ LAT] 9 PRACTICE 9TO P>TY-BUREAUCRACY (FICIALS4 ,?IS DIVISION W\LD EV5TUALLY BECOME ONE ( ! BASES BY :I* ! P>TY BUREAUCRACIES BECAME ! ADM9I/RATIVE RUL+ CLASS1 & S\<T TO LIQUIDATE ALL POLITICAL OPPOSITION 9 ! MASSES & 9T]NALLY4 

,= ALL ! TALK ( S]I\SNESS1 PAID PR(ESSIONALS1 CADRE1 ETC41 IT CAN REASONABLY BE QUE/ION$ H[ ACCURATE ?AT WAS = ! ,BOL%EVIKS AT V>I\S PO9TS1 & ! CAUSALITY ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,IT'S (T5 PROPOS$ ?AT ! ,BOL%EVIK'S UND]/&+ & PRACTICE ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 UNLIKE ! DISORGANIZATION ( AN>*I/S SAY1 SECUR$ !IR POSITION AT ! VANGU>D ( ! MASSES1 & MADE ULTIMATELY ALL[$ ! REVOLUTION TO ?RIVE1 AT LEA/ 9ITIALLY4 ,YET !RE'S ALSO A DIFF]5T DEF5SE ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS ?AT CONTRADICTS !SE IDEAS4 ,SOME PUT =W>D ! IDEA ?AT ! ,BOL%EVIKS W]E V]Y DEMOCRATIC 9ITIALLY1 TO ! PO9T W]E ! C5TRAL COMMITTEES C\LD NOT HAVE DISCIPL9E OV] ! P>TY1 :I* HAD AN ALLEG$LY ?RIV+ DEMOCRACY4 

,= EXAMPLE ONE AU?OR1 ,ALEX&] ,RAB9[IT*1 MAKES REF]5CE TO A WELL-CIT$ EV5T 9 :I* ! C5TRAL COMMITTEE SUPPRESS$ ONE ( ,L59'S LETT]S 7,M>XISM & ,9SURRECTION7 FROM ! P>TY'S MEMB]%IP 9 #a#i#a#g4 ,L59 CRITICIZ$ ! P>TY PUBLICLY4 ,SIMIL> DISPUTES & DISAGREEM5TS 9 ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE AT ?AT PIVOTAL TIME >E TAK5 AS EVID5CE ( ! LACK ( COHESION & AU?ORIT>IANISM *>G$ AGA9/ ! ,BOL%EVIKS UND] ,L594 ,9 ! ,JULY DAYS ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,REVOLUTION ! MILIT>Y ORGANIZATION ( ! P>TY & REGIONAL BUREAUS 7SOME?+ LIKE LOCALS7 ACT$ 9DEP5D5TLY ( ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE 9 P>TLY 9ITIAT+ ! DEMON/RATIONS ?AT L$ TO ! ,JULY DAYS4 ,P]HAPS MO/ FAM\S ( ALL WAS ! 9CID5T :]E ,L59 >GU$ = OV]?R[+ ! PROVISIONAL GOV]NM5T 9 AN 9SURRECTION>Y ACT BY ! P>TY & REVOLUTION>Y =CES4 ,KEY TO ?IS = ! PURPOSES ( >GUM5T IS ! FACT ?AT ,L59 WAS 9 A M9ORITY CONC]N+ LAUN*+ ! ,OCTOB] REVOLUTION1 = :I* ! MAJORITY ( ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE OPPOS$ EV5 PUBLICLY4.<#a#i.> 

,?IS POSES A CONTRADICTION H[EV]4 ,IF ! ,BOL%EVIKS W]E NOT A COHESIVE ORGANIZATION1 ) A ROBU/ DEMOCRACY ( SECTIONS ACT+ 9DEP5D5TLY ( EA* O!R1 A C5TRAL COMMITTEE UNABLE TO MA9TA9 ! WILL ( ! MAJORITY1 ETC41 IT BEGS ! QUE/ION :AT ROLE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM PLAYS8 ,IF ! P>TY WAS NOT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ AT ?AT TIME1 !N IT APPE>S DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM OCCURR$ ) ! RISE ( ! BUREAUCRACY & ! DEA? ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,IF IT WAS DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ DUR+ ! *AOTIC P]IOD1 9 :AT S5SE WAS IT C5TRALI/8 ,AS WE WILL SEE !SE AMBIGUITIES PLAGUE ! !ORY & BECOME A MOV+ T>GET4 

,AT SOME PO9T EV5 MO/ ,L59I/S W\LD AGREE ?AT P>TY CADRE W]E TRANS=M$ FROM REVOLUTION>IES ATTEMPT+ TO BUILD 9ITIATIVE1 ACC\NTABILITY1 & DISCIPL9E 9TO HAV+ MILIT>Y LIKE OB$I5CE ( P>TY HI]>*IES4 ,SURELY ! !ORY ITSELF HAS A /RONG ROLE TO PLAY 9 ?IS1 BUT ! HI/ORICAL /RUGGLES ( ,BOL%EVIKS & ,RUSSIAN PEASANTRY & WORK]S 9TR9SICALLY %AP$ ?IS IDEOLOGY AS WELL 9 ! C\RSE ( SUCCESSIVE REVOLUTION>Y WAVES4 ,AS HI/ORY UNFOLD$1 :AT W]E ONCE M]E CONCEPTS 9 WRIT+S W]E LAT] 9T]PRET$ & F\ND A VOICE 9 ! PO/-REVOLUTION WORLD ( ,RUSSIA & O!R NATIONS4 

,TODAY WE CAN SEE SOME ]RORS 9 ! !ORY ?AT %\LD BE 9CREAS+LY OBVI\S1 & :I* HAD PRACTICAL CONSEQU5CES4 ,!RE IS A DIFF]5CE BETWE5 VOLUNT>Y COMMITM5T ( MILITANTS & COMPULSORY OB$I5CE TO HI<] AU?ORITIES ) MONOPOLIES ( P[]4 ,?IS IS NOT M]ELY MORALISM EI!R2 )\T 9DEP5D5T CAPABILITIES & ASSESSM5T SKILLS1 REVOLUTION>IES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD ANY?+4 ,UND] ! SOVIET BUREAUCRACIES1 SU* SOLDI]-LIKE FUNCTION+ WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION 9 ACCORDANCE ) ! 9T]E/S ( ! ,/ATE1 BUT 9 \R SITUATION REPLICAT+ SU* IS SUICIDAL4 ,PAID PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>IES DEVELOP 9T]E/S & P]SPECTIVES SEP>ATE & (T5 AGA9/ ?AT ( ! WORK+ CLASS !Y >E SUPPOS$ TO S]VE4 ,?R\< SEP>AT+ BO? 9 T]MS ( WORK1 PHYSICALLY1 & ORGANIZATIONALLY FROM ! CLASSES !Y S]VE1 BUREAUCRACIES DEVELOP 9DEP5D5T P]SPECTIVES1 NE$S1 & DESIRES :I* !Y REFLECT AS ANY CLASS =MATION DOES4 ,?IS %\LD BE CLE> FROM UNION BUREAUCRACIES ?AT >ISE FROM ! WORK+ CLASS BUT GR[ TO WORK AGA9/ IT1 = EXAMPLE :5 UNION BUREAUCRACIES SEEK TO SECURE A RELIABLE EXI/5CE ?R\< S(T-BALL CONTRACTS & APPEAS+ ! BOSSES4 ,?\< 9 !ORY !Y REPRES5T ! WORK]S1 9 REALITY !IR [N 9T]E/S AS BUREAUCRATS CAN TURN !M AGA9/ !IR FUNDAM5TAL TASK1 & PUT !M 9 AN ANTAGONI/IC POSITION 9 RELATION TO WORK]S4 ,LEFT IDEOLOGIES HAVE NO SILV] BULLET TO PREV5T ?AT TRANS=MATION4.<#b.> ,SOME CLAIM ?AT ,L59 GETS A PASS1 ) ,/AL9 TAK+ ! BLAME = ! ME*ANICAL & REPRESSIVE /RUCTURE ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY FOLL[+ ,L59'S DEA?4 ,! CONSEQU5CES ( ?IS PR(ESSIONALIZATION & C5TRALIZATION PROV$ DISA/R\S 9 T]MS ( REPRESSION AGA9/ POLITICAL & POPUL> OPPOSITION BE=E ,/AL9'S RISE H[EV]1 & ITS ROLE WAS SOLIDIFI$ 9 ! E>LY #a#i#bS 9 PRODUC+ A BUREAUCRACY VE/$ 9 REORGANIZ+ CAPITALISM )9 ! REVOLUTION ?R\< ATTACKS ON ! SOVIETS & COLLECTIVIZATION EF=TS1 & EV5TUALLY 9TRODUCTION ( M>KET RE=MS UND] ! ,N,D,P P]IOD4.<#b#a.> 

,! VICTORY 9 ! CIVIL W> AGA9/ ! C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y ,RUSSIAN :ITES BR\<T AB\T NEW PROBLEMS = ! FL$GL+ ,BOL%EVIK REGIME4 ,YE>S ( W> & ! BACKW>DNESS ( ! ,RUSSIAN ECONOMY PROV$ A *ALL5GE4 ,?\< ! :ITES W]E DEFEAT$1 !RE WAS F> FROM COHESION BO? 9SIDE ! P>TY & \TSIDE ( IT4 ,IMP]IALI/ 9VASIONS1 9T]NAL SABOTAGE1 & COMPETITION ) O!R POLITICAL CURR5TS ALL WEI<$ HEAVILY ON ! RIS+ ,BOL%EVIKS4 ,EXT]NAL TO ! P>TY1 PRIOR POLITICAL ALLIES W]E VIEW$ 9CREAS+LY AS A LIABILITY4 ,ECONOMICALLY1 ,L59 & ! P>TY LOOK$ TO CAPITALI/ !ORY ( ECONOMIC PRODUCTION ?R\< ,TAYLORI/ MANAGEM5T1 FACTORY TIME /UDIES1 & C5TRALIZ$ REPRESSIVE MANAG]IAL P[]S 9 PRODUCTION4 ,AUTONOM\S WORK]S & PEASANTS MOVEM5TS PROVID$ A POT5TIAL *ALL5GE TO ANY PLANS TO IMPLEM5T ,TAYLORI/ PRODUCTION 9 ,RUSSIA4 ,!IR DIRECT IMPLEM5TATION ( COLLECTIVIZATIONS & PROTO-SOCIALI/ EXP]IM5TS CREAT$ A BULW>K & ORGANIZATION ( ALT]NATIVES ?AT W\LD HAVE TO BE RE/RA9$ 9 ORD] TO MOVE 9 ?AT DIRECTION4 ,! ,BOL%EVIKS BELIEV$ ?AT ,RUSSIA NE$$ TO PASS ?R\< A CAPITALI/ PHASE BE=E GRADUAT+ TO SOCIALISM1 & S\<T TO 9CREASE ! PRODUCTIVE =CES ( ,RUSSIA VIA /ATE-CAPITALI/ MEASURES4 ,ALLIES ( ! REVOLUTION>Y PEASANTRY & WORK+ CLASS ?US POS$ A D\BLE *ALL5GE TO ,BOL%EVIK P[]4 

,! ,UKRA9IAN AN>*I/ WORK] & PEASANT MOVEM5TS W]E ?US SE5 AS A ?REAT4 ,E>LI]1 ! ,UKRA9IAN AN>*I/ MILITIAS 7(T5 CALL$ ! ,MAKHNOVS*9A AFT] ! MO/ FAM\S ( !M1 ,NE/OR ,MAKHNO7 SAV$ ! ,BOL%EVIKS DUR+ ! ,:ITE ASSAULT ?AT NE>LY DE/ROY$ !M4 ,! ,:ITES HAD ADVANC$ TO ,MOSC[1 ONLY TO BEAT BACK :5 ! ,UKRA9IANS DE/ROY$ !IR SUPPLY L9ES FROM BEH9D BIT BY BIT1 & S5T !M FLEE+4 ,) ! :ITES \T ( ! WAY1 ! ,BOL%EVIKS TURN$ ON !IR =M] ,MAKHNOVS*9A ALLIES & S\<T TO DE/ROY ! P[] ( ! WORK]S & PEASANTS 9 ,UKRA9E1 ,SIB]IA1 & ELSE:]E 7LET ALONE CONSID]+ ,AZ]BAIJAN1 ,GEORGIA1 ,>M5IA1 ETC74 ,LIKEWISE ,LEFT ,SOCIAL ,REVOLUTION>IES P>TY MEMB]S W\LD FACE BRUTAL REPRESSION 9 ! ,BOL%EVIKS' ATTEMPTS TO C5TRALIZE P[] 9 A P>TY DICTATOR%IP4 ,! WORK]S MOVEM5TS1 9SPIR$ BY C\NCILI/ & AN>*OSYNDICALI/ MOVEM5TS1 FAC$ MILIT>Y REPRESSION 9CLUD+ ! 9FAM\S ASSAULT & MURD] ( ! COMMUNI/ & AN>*I/ ,KRON/ADT SAILORS1 ONCE AMONG ! FRONT GU>D ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,! MASS MOVEM5TS W]E TREAT$ AS ?REATS TO ! P[] ( A PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>Y =CE US+ ! MI<T ( A C5TRALIZ$ MILIT>Y TO IMPOSE CAPITALISM ONTO A REBELLI\S & SELF-ORGANIZ+ PEASANT & WORK]S MOVEM5T4 ,:ILE !SE ISSUES >E EXT]NAL & DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ONLY DEALS ) 9T]NAL MANN]S1 IT IS WOR? UND]/&+ ! ECONOMIC & POLITICAL TRANS=MATIONS ! ,BOL%EVIKS 9ITIAT$ :ILE CONSOLIDAT+ !IR CONCEPTION ( 9T]NAL FUNCTION+4 

,:ATEV] ONE MAY ?9K AB\T !SE EXT]NAL OPPOSITIONAL MOVEM5TS1 9T]NALLY AS WELL ! ,BOL%EVIK LEAD]%IP TURN$ ITS GUNS ON ITS POLITICAL OPPON5TS ) ,L59 LEAD+ ! *>GE4 ,TWO 9T]NAL FACTIONS 7!RE W]E ALSO O!R LEFT COMMUNI/S ?AT SPLIT FROM ! P>TY7 S\<T TO CRITIQUE ! RELATION%IP ( ! P>TY TO ! MASS MOVEM5TS AS ONE ( DOM9ATION & REPRESSION1 & QUE/ION ! ROLE ( C5TRALIZATION 9T]NALLY4 ,! ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALI/ FACTION.<#b#b.> & ! ,WORK]S' ,OPPOSITION.<#b#c.> L$ ?IS FI<T1 & ADVOCAT$ SOME?+ AK9 TO SYNDICALISM & A COMMUNI/ CRITIQUE ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS' REPRESSION & IMPOSITION ( CAPITALI/ SOCIAL RELATIONS ON ! 9SURG5T WORK+ & PEASANT CLASSES4 ,BO? FACTIONS W]E MADE UP ( OLD ,BOL%EVIKS FROM E>LY 9 ! P>TY & W]E PROLET>IAN 9 *>ACT]1 MAK+ !M MORE DIFFICULT TO C>RY \T *>ACT] ASSASS9ATIONS ON4 ,!IR OPPOSITION MOVEM5T >OSE SPECIFICALLY TO ! IMPOSITION ( ONE-MAN RULE 9 ! FACTORIES & ! ADM9I/RATION ( ! ECONOMY BY ! P>TY1 & 9 FACT ! C5TRALIZATION ( ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE4 ,!SE FACTIONS >GU$ AT ! ,N9? ,P>TY ,CONGRESS ( ! ,BOL%EVIK ,P>TY ?AT ! SOVIETS %\LD REMA9 AUTONOM\S FROM ! P>TY'S RULE1 & ?AT ! MANAGEM5T ( ! ECONOMY %\LD BE BY ! UNION & SOVIET ORGANIZATIONS & NOT ! P>TY4 ,!Y LO/ ?IS BATTLE ) ,L59 BLA/+ !M4 ,H]E ,L59 IS AT HIS MO/ C&ID 9 REJECT+ !IR DEM&S3 

0,I ASS]T ?AT Y\ WILL F9D NO?+ LIKE IT 9 ! FIFTE5 YE>S' PRE-REVOLUTION>Y HI/ORY ( ! ,SOCIAL-,DEMOCRATIC MOVEM5T4,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM MEANS ONLY ?AT REPRES5TATIVES FROM ! LOCALITIES GET TOGE!R & ELECT A RESPONSIBLE BODY1 :I* IS TO DO ! ADM9I/]+ .<MY EMPHASIS.>4 ,BUT H[8 ,?AT DEP5DS ON H[ MANY SUITABLE PEOPLE1 H[ MANY GOOD ADM9I/RATORS >E AVAILABLE4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM MEANS ?AT ! CONGRESS SUP]VISES ! WORK ( ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE1 & CAN REMOVE IT & APPO9T ANO!R 9 ITS PLACE40.<#b#d.> 

,IMM$IATELY ! ,WORK]S ,OPPOSITION & ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALI/S W]E ATTACK$ = !IR ALLEG$ AN>*I/ & SYNDICALI/ DEVIATIONS4 ,L59 ACKN[L$G$ ?AT !RE W]E NOT ,MAKHNOVI/S1 BUT ?AT ,MAKHNOVI/S W\LD USE !IR POSITIONS AGA9/ ! ,BOL%EVIKS4.<#b#e.> ,! RESPONSE WAS TO 5DORSE ! N[ 9FAM\S CONCEPT ( ONE-MAN RULE 9 FACTORIES UND] ! BANN] ( ! MILIT>IZATION ( LABOR4 

,?IS PRES5TS SOME DIFFICULTY = ?OSE :O W\LD SEEK TO PULL DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AWAY FROM ITS HI/ORICAL C5TRALIZATION & BUREAUCRACY4 ,! DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ FACTION TRI$ TO EXP& ! DEMOCRATIC ELEM5TS ( ! !ORY1 BUT AT :AT MOM5T DID ?IS OCCUR8 ,:AT WAS HAPP5+ WAS NOT M]ELY AN >GUM5T OV] T]MS4 ,! EM]G5CE ( A MONOPOLY ( P[] 9 A REVOLUTION>Y SITUATION TRANS=M$ EXI/+ PRACTICES & CONCEPTS1 & CREAT$ NEW CONTRADICTORY POLITICAL CURR5TS )9 ! SAME BODY4 

,?IS CLA% W\LD LEAD TO ! BAN ON P>TY FACTIONS1 & SEW ! SE$S ( ! IMPRISONM5T & MURD] ( ANY LEFT COMMUNI/ OPPOSITION !REAFT]4 ,:ILE MORAL & POLITICAL CRITIQUES ( ?IS ACTIVITY >E EMOTIONALLY RESONANT & MEAN+FUL1 !RE >E DEEP] LESSONS WE %\LD DRAW AS WELL4 ,! ,BOL%EVIKS W]E NOT M]ELY GREAT M5 ( HI/ORY GRE$Y & LU/+ AFT] P[]1 BUT W]E REVOLUTION>IES :O D$ICAT$ !IR LIVES TO ! CAUSE ( HUMAN EQUALITY4 ,H]E AT !SE CRUCIAL MOM5TS1 ELEM5TS ( ! !ORY ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 7PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>IES SEP>ATE FROM ! MASSES1 SUBS]VI5CE ( MASS MOVEM5TS TO ! P>TY1 & C5TRALIZATION7 BECAME IDEOLOGICAL WEAPONS ( A 7P]HAPS UNCONSCI\S7 RUL+ CLASS 9 ASC5DANCY4 ,F> FROM BE+ LIB]ATORY TOOLS1 !SE IDEAS W]E EMB$D$ 9 A PRODUCTIVI/ CAPITALI/ IDEOLOGY ?AT S\<T TO BR+ ! 9SURG5T WORK]S AUTONOMY & PEASANT IMPLEM5TATIONS ( DIRECT SOCIALI/ PRODUCTION 7SU* AS 9 ,UKRA9E1 ,GEORGIA1 & ,SIB]IA7 UND] ONE-MAN RULE ( ,TAYLORI/ CAPITALISM4 ,! LIQUIDATION ( ?OSE REVOLUTION>Y EXP]IM5TS W\LD SPAN ?REE DECADES1 & W\LD CO/ ! PEOPLES UND] ,BOL%EVIK REGIMES C\NTLESS LIVES & SUFF]+4 

,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM ,BEYOND ,L59--,HOPE 9 ! ,WE/8 

,EV5 BE=E ,L59 FELL & ,/AL9 ROSE1 ! ,BOL%EVIKS LO/ ALLIES4 ,A GR[+ AMALGAM ( LEFT COMMUNI/ OPPOSITION 7C\NCILI/1 ULTRA-LEFT1 & AN>*I/7 BUILT UPON !IR NON-,L59I/ TRADITIONS 9 ! /RUGGLES & REVOLUTIONS ACROSS ! GLOBE4 ,/ILL SOME WANT TO HAVE !IR CAKE & EAT IT TO4 ,:AT AB\T ?OSE 9SPIR$ BY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 BUT :O EI!R HAD CRITIQUES ( OR BROKE FROM ! PRACTICES ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS8 ,I WILL LOOK AT A FEW FIGURES TO GET A S5SE ( ! FIELD4 ,?\< ONE CAN'T POSSIBLY LOOK AT EV]YONE :O WROTE ANY?+ AB\T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 ,I HOPE ?AT BY SPANN+ !ORI/S AS DIV]SE AS ,GRAMSCI TO ,BORDIGA WE CAN GET A S5SE ( :AT ROLE ! CONCEPT HAS PLAY$4 

,ANTONIO ,GRAMSCI IS ONE ) CR$5TIALS ?AT W\LD AID DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,GRAMSCI CAME ( POLITICAL AGE 9 ! LIB]T>IAN MILIEU ( 9DU/RIAL ,TUR94 ,GRAMSCI1 ?\< FOND ( SOME RA!R UN5LI<T5$ CRITIQUES ( AN>*I/S1 HE COOP]AT$ ) ! AN>*I/ WORK]S MOVEM5TS 9 ,TUR9 DUR+ ! ,R$ ,YE>S4.<#b#f.> ,( ALL ! ,L59I/ FIGURES1 ,GRAMSCI IS P]HAPS ONE ( ! MO/ ?OR\<LY LIB]T>IAN LEAN+1 OR AT LEA/ PROBLEMATIZES A N>R[ READ+ ( EI!R TRADITION4 ,GRAMSCI SURPRIS+LY WROTE V]Y LITTLE EXPLICITLY AB\T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,! ONE PLACE HE TAKES IT UP 9 SOME DETAIL IS ,! ,MOD]N ,PR9CE DUR+ HIS 9T]N%IP 9 FASCI/ PRISON4 ,!RE A FEW UNIQUE ELEM5TS ( ,GRAMSCI'S 9T]PRETATION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ?AT SET IT AP>T FROM ! ,BOL%EVIKS4 ,GRAMSCI SEES DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM NOT M]ELY AS A SET ( *>ACT]I/ICS ( AN ORGANIZATION1 OR A ME?OD = 9T]NAL DECISION MAK+1 BUT ADDITIONALLY A PROCESS EMB$D$ 9 & %AP$ BY HI/ORY4 

0',ORGANICITY' CAN ONLY BE F\ND 9 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 :I* IS SO TO SPEAK A 'C5TRALISM' 9 MOVEM5T-I4E4 A CONT9UAL ADAPTATION ( ! ORGANIZATION TO ! REAL MOVEM5T1 A MAT*+ ( ?RU/S FROM BEL[ ) ORD]S FROM ABOVE .<MY EMPHASIS.>1 A CONT9U\S 9S]TION ( ELEM5TS ?R[N UP FROM ! DEP?S ( ! RANK & FILE 9TO ! SOLID FRAMEWORK ( ! LEAD]%IP APP>ATUS :I* 5SURES CONT9UITY & ! REGUL> ACCUMULATION ( EXP]I5CE4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS 'ORGANIC' BECAUSE ON ! ONE H& IT TAKES ACC\NT ( MOVEM5T1 :I* IS ! ORGANIC MODE 9 :I* HI/ORICAL REALITY REVEALS ITSELF1 & DOES NOT SOLIDIFY ME*ANICALLY 9TO BUREAUCRACY2 & BECAUSE AT ! SAME TIME IT TAKES ACC\NT ( ?AT :I* IS RELATIVELY /ABLE & P]MAN5T1 OR :I* AT LEA/ MOVES 9 AN EASILY PR$ICTABLE DIRECTION1 ETC04.<#b#g.> 

,?\< ,GRAMSCI'S LANGUAGE IS SOME:AT AB/RACT HE APPE>S TO OP5 ! P>TY UP TO BE+ ACC\NTABLE TO HI/ORY & ! PROLET>IAT AS WELL AS 9T]NALLY DEMOCRATIC4 ,?AT IS TO SAY ?AT = ,GRAMSCI1 A DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATION IS SU* ONLY :5 IT IS ABLE TO ADAPT & REFLECT ! REAL MOVEM5T ( ! WORK+ CLASS 9 /RUGGLE4 ,?IS IS MOREOV] 9T]NAL TO HIS CONCEPT ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 

0,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM (F]S AN ELA/IC =MULA1 :I* CAN BE EMBODI$ 9 MANY DIV]SE =MS2 IT COMES ALIVE 9 SO F> AS IT IS 9T]PRET$ & CONT9UALLY ADAPT$ TO NECESSITY4 ,IT CONSI/S 9 ! CRITICAL PURSUIT ( :AT IS ID5TICAL 9 SEEM+ DIV]SITY ( =M & ON ! O!R H& ( :AT IS DI/9CT & EV5 OPPOS$ 9 APP>5T UNI=MITY1 9 ORD] TO ORGANIZE & 9T]CONNECT CLOSELY ?AT :I* IS SIMIL>1 BUT 9 SU* A WAY ?AT ! ORGANIZ+ & ! 9T]CONNECT+ APPE> TO 'BE A PRACTICAL & 09DUCTIVE0 NECESSITY1 EXP]IM5TAL1 & NOT ! RESULT ( A RATIONALI/IC1 D$UCTIVE1 AB/RACT PROCESS-I4E4 ONE TYPICAL ( PURE 9TELLECTUALS 7OR PURE ASSES74 ,?IS CONT9U\S EF=T TO SEP>ATE \T ! 09T]NATIONAL0 & 0UNIT>Y0 ELEM5T 9 NATIONAL & LOCAL REALITY IS TRUE CONCRETE POLITICAL ACTION1 ! SOLE ACTIVITY PRODUCTIVE ( HI/ORICAL PROGRESS40.<#b#h.> 

,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM = ,GRAMSCI IS BO? AN OBJECTIVE MEASURE ( JUDG+ ! CO-EVOLUTION ( ! P>TY ) ! DOM9AT$ CLASSES1 AS WELL AS A ME?ODOLOGY UTILIZ$ BY ! P>TY TO 5SURE ITS CONNECTION & DEVELOPM5T )9 RESI/ANCE TO CAPITALISM4 

,?IS IS AN ADVANCE OV] ! ,BOL%EVIK MODEL = ! !ORY S9CE IT REQUIRES ?AT ! POLITICAL ORGANIZATION BE JUDG$ OBJECTIVELY BO? 9 T]MS ( ITS ROLE 9 HI/ORY & ITS ROLE = ! CLASS4 ,AGA9 SOME:AT OBSCURELY1 ,GRAMSCI SEEMS TO IMPLY A MORE PLURALI/IC OP]ATION ( POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ?R\< ! 5GAGEM5T1 CO-EXI/5CE1 & SYN!SIS ( POLITICAL OPPOSITION AS OPPOS$ TO AU?ORIT>IAN PRACTICES4 

,UN=TUNATELY ,GRAMSCI DOES NOT FULLY BREAK FROM ! ,L59I/ MODEL1 ?\< P]HAPS HE LAYS D[N ! PAV+ /ONES = AN EXIT R\TE4 

0,?IS ELEM5T ( /ABILITY .<SEE FIR/ QUOTE.> )9 ! ,/ATE IS EMBODI$ 9 ! ORGANIC DEVELOPM5T ( ! LEAD+ GR\P'S C5TRAL NUCLEUS1 JU/ AS HAPP5S ON A MORE LIMIT$ SCALE )9 P>TIES4 ,! PREVAL5CE ( BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM 9 ! ,/ATE 9DICATES ?AT ! LEAD+ GR\P IS SATURAT$1 ?AT IT IS TURN+ 9TO A N>R[ CLIQUE :I* T5DS TO P]PETUATE ITS SELFI% PRIVILEGES BY CONTROLL+ OR EV5 BY /IFL+ ! BIR? ( OPPOSITIONAL =CES-EV5 IF !SE =CES >E HOMOG5E\S ) ! FUNDAM5TAL DOM9ANT 9T]E/S 7E4G4 9 ! ULTRA-PROTECTIONI/ SY/EMS /RUGGL+ AGA9/ ECONOMIC LIB]ALISM74 ,9 P>TIES :I* REPRES5T SOCIALLY SUBALT]N CLASSES1 ! ELEM5T ( /ABILITY IS NECESS>Y TO 5SURE ?AT HEGEMONY WILL BE EX]CIS$ NOT BY PRIVILEG$ GR\PS BUT BY ! PROGRESSIVE ELEM5TS-ORGANICALLY PROGRESSIVE 9 RELATION TO O!R =CES :I*1 ?\< RELAT$ & ALLI$1 >E HET]OG5E\S & WAV]+40.<#b#i.> 

,GRAMSCI UND]/&S ! PROBLEM ( RIS+ BUREAUCRACY & !IR ANTAGONISM TO ! SUBALT]N CLASSES1 BUT RETA9S ! DIVISION BETWE5 RUL]S & RUL$1 BETWE5 C5TRALIZ$ P[] & ! CLASS ORGANIZ$4 ,?IS IS NOT M]ELY AN ISSUE ) SOME =CES BE+ BETT] ORGANIZ$ OR HAV+ ADVANC$ IDEAS1 BUT ! EXI/5CE ( A POLITICAL CLASS ) SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL P[]S & 9 A POSITION ( AU?ORITY 9 RELATION TO ! SUBALT]N CLASSES4 ,9 O!R WRIT+S ,GRAMSCI >GUES ?AT ! PROLET>IAT CAN DEVELOP ONLY EMBRYONIC CONSCI\SNESS1 :I* LACKS FULL DEVELOPM5T )\T ! REVOLUTION>Y COMMUNI/ P>TY4 

0.<,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM.> REQUIRES AN ORGANIC UNITY BETWE5 !ORY & PRACTICE1 BETWE5 9TELLECTUAL /RATA & POPUL> MASSES1 BETWE5 RUL]S & RUL$4 ,! =MULAS ( UNITY & F$]ATION LOSE A GREAT P>T ( !IR SIGNIFICANCE FROM ?IS PO9T ( VIEW1 :]EAS !Y RETA9 !IR /+ 9 ! BUREAUCRATIC CONCEPTION1 :]E 9 ! 5D !RE IS NO UNITY BUT A /AGNANT SWAMP1 ON ! SURFACE CALM & 0MUTE01 & NO F$]ATION BUT A 0SACK ( POTATOES01 I4E4 A ME*ANICAL JUXTAPOSITION ( S+LE 0UNITS0 )\T ANY CONNECTION BETWE5 !M40.<#c.> 

,LIKEWISE1 9 O!R PLACES ,GRAMSCI SPEAKS ( ORGANIZATION :I* SEEMS TO SUGGE/ A BELIEF 9 ! SUFFICI5CY & NECESSITY ( PRESUMABLY REVOLUTION>Y VANGU>D LEAD]%IP40444,9 REALITY IT IS EASI] TO CREATE AN >MY ?AN TO CREATE G5]ALS4 ,IT IS EQUALLY TRUE ?AT AN ALREADY EXI/+ >MY IS DE/ROY$ IF ! G5]ALS DISAPPE>1 :ILE ! EXI/5CE ( A GR\P ( G5]ALS1 TRA9$ TO WORK TOGE!R1 AMONG !MSELVES1 ) COMMON 5DS1 SOON CREATES AN >MY EV5 :]E NONE EXI/S40.<#c#a.> 

,READ+ ,GRAMSCI *>ITABLY1 P]HAPS WE C\LD EXCUSE OR READ \T ! MORE AU?ORIT>IAN 9T]PRETATIONS ( ?AT DIVISION4 ,9DE$ IT C\LD BE SE5 AS FLUID & MORE HI/ORICAL ?AN ORGANIZATIONAL4 ,!SE READ+S MAY 9 FACT BE UNFAIR TO ,GRAMSCI1 BUT IT CREATES A DILEMMA4 ,TAKE ,GRAMSCI AT FACE VALUE & HE ACCEPTS ! PROBLEMATIC DIVISIONS 9 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM :I* ?REAT5 ! MORE LIB]ATORY ELEM5TS HE PUTS =W>D4 

,IF ON ! O!R H& WE F9D ! MORE LIB]ATORY ELEM5TS 9 HIS ?\<T1 HIS /RESS ON PRAXIS1 ! MOVEM5TS & RUPTURES ( HI/ORY1 ! NECESSITY ( F$]ATION1 ORGANIC 9TELLECTUALS1 ETC41 IT %\LD BE REASONABLY ASK$ 9 :AT S5SE IT IS DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM8 

,! PROBLEM IS ?AT %ORT ( ?AT DIVISION1 IT'S UNCLE> :AT W\LD DI/+UI% DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM FROM O!R ORGANIZATIONAL ME?ODOLOGIES1 =MS1 & HI/ORIES ) COMPLETELY DI/9CT PRACTICES & CONCEPTS4 ,AN>*I/ & SOCIALI/ PRACTICES MIRROR SOME ( !SE ELEM5TS ,GRAMSCI DESCRIBES1 BUT FAIL TO TAKE UP ! DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ CALL = ! 0ORD]S FROM ABOVE04 ,WE >E NOT 9T]E/$ 9 ,GRAMSCI H]E1 BUT :E!R ,GRAMSCI PROVIDES A BASIS = RECLAIM+ OR REVIS+ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE ?AT ,GRAMSCI 9DE$ BROKE ) ! ,BOL%EVIK'S !ORY1 BUT SU* A BREAK W\LD H>DLY LEAVE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A COH]5T CONCEPT 9TACT4 

,?\< M]ELY A SIDE PO9T H]E1 IT %\LD BE NOT$ ?AT ,GRAMSCI DOES SOME?+ UNIQUE ) ORGANIZATION4 ,BY ATTEMPT+ TO UND]/& & DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL !ORY AS A DYNAMIC )9 HI/ORY1 HE PUTS IT ON A FOOT+ :I* GOES BEYOND M]E /RUCTURAL PROPOSALS4 ,?IS PO9TS TO NE$ = HI/ORICALLY SPECIFIC /RATEGIES = ORGANIZATION1 & = \R ORGANIZATIONS TO EVOLVE ) !IR PRACTICES 9 ! /RUGGLES ( ! POPUL> CLASSES4 ,:ILE EASY TO UND]/&1 ?IS CONCEPTION ( PRAXIS & HI/ORICALLY ROOT$ !ORY IS G5]ALLY ABS5T OR UND] UTILIZ$ FROM MO/ TRADITIONS ( LEFT ?\<T4 

,AN OPPON5T ( ,GRAMSCI PROVIDES AN 9T]E/+ C\NT]PO9T4 ,AMADEO ,BORDIGA1 ONCE A L>GE FIGURE 9 ,ITALIAN SOCIALI/ & COMMUNI/ LEAD]%IP1 & LAT] A LEAD+ FIGURE ( ! LEFT COMMUNI/ CURR5T1 REJECT$ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM \TRI<T4 ,GRAMSCI IS REPLY+ TO ,BORDIGA 9 P>T :5 HE ADDRESSES 0ORGANIC C5TRALISM01 :I* ! ,BORDIGI/S C\NT]POS$ TO DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,BORDIGA HAD A ?OR\< CRITIQUE ( DEMOCRACY 9 G5]AL AS A PRODUCT ( B\RGEOIS SOCIETY1 & CONTRA/$ IT TO COMMUNISM :I* W\LD HAVE NO SU* COROLL>IES 7S9CE COMMUNISM IMPLIES ! ABOLITION ( CLASSES & ! /ATE74 ,BORDIGA AGRE$ ) ,L59'S >GUM5T = TI<T C5TRALIZ$ P>TIES1 BUT REJECT$ ! DEMOCRATIC PORTION = SOME:AT RELAT$ REASONS4 

,BORDIGA SAID1 

0444! MEAN+ ( UNIT>ISM & ( ORGANIC C5TRALISM IS ?AT ! P>TY DEVELOPS 9SIDE ITSELF ! ORGANS SUIT$ TO ! V>I\S FUNCTIONS4440 & CALL$ = ! P>TY TO 0444.<ELIM9ATE.> FROM ITS /RUCTURE ONE ( ! />T+ ]RORS ( ! ,MOSC[ ,9T]NATIONAL1 BY GETT+ RID ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & ( ANY VOT+ ME*ANISM1 AS WELL AS EV]Y LA/ MEMB] ELIM9AT+ FROM HIS IDEOLOGY ANY CONCESSION TO DEMOCRATOID1 PACIFI/1 AUTONOMI/ OR LIB]T>IAN TR5DS40.<#c#b.> 

,BORDIGA WAS PRONE TO POLEMICS & OBSCURITY1 & ! LA/ QUOTE COMES FROM HIS LEFT COMMUNI/ P]IOD FOLL[+ ,W,W,I,I4 ,LOOK+ TO AN E>LI] TIME :5 HE WAS OPPOS+ ! ,BOL%EVIZATION ( ! COMMUNI/ MOVEM5T 7HE WAS ! LA/ TO CALL ,/AL9 ! GRAV$IGG] ( ! REVOLUTION TO HIS FACE & LIVE7 WE GA9 MORE 9SI<T4 

0,DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE A PR9CIPLE = US4 ,C5TRALISM IS 9DISPUTABLY ONE1 S9CE ! ESS5TIAL *>ACT]I/ICS ( P>TY ORGANIZATION MU/ BE UNITY ( /RUCTURE & ACTION4 ,! T]M C5TRALISM IS SUFFICI5T TO EXPRESS ! CONT9UITY ( P>TY /RUCTURE 9 SPACE2 9 ORD] TO 9TRODUCE ! ESS5TIAL IDEA ( CONT9UITY 9 TIME1 ! HI/ORICAL CONT9UITY ( ! /RUGGLE :I*1 SURM\NT+ SUCCESSIVE OB/ACLES1 ALWAYS ADVANCES T[>DS ! SAME GOAL1 & 9 ORD] TO COMB9E !SE TWO ESS5TIAL IDEAS ( UNITY 9 ! SAME =MULA1 WE W\LD PROPOSE ?AT ! COMMUNI/ P>TY BASE ITS ORGANIZATION ON 'ORGANIC C5TRALISM4'0.<#c#c.> 

,= ,BORDIGA !N1 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM BORR[S FROM B\RGEOIS SOCIETY DEMOCRATIC =MAL ME*ANISMS 7VOT+ PROC$URES1 LAY]$ SEMI-P>LIAM5T>Y /RUCTURE71 & M]GES !M ) A C5TRALI/ ORI5TATION ( UNITY >\ND A COMMUNI/ PROGRAM4 ,?IS IS A RA!R CRASS =MULATION ( ,BORDIGA'S QUITE 9SI<TFUL DI/9CTION BETWE5 CONT5T & =M4.<#c#d.> ,= ,BORDIGA ! CONT5T ( COMMUNISM WAS PRIM>Y1 & ! P>TY WAS RIGOR\SLY C5TRALIZ$ >\ND ?AT CONT5T4 ,?\< HE OPPOS$ ,GRAMSCI1 WE SEE A FEW >EAS :]E !Y DIFF]$ & O!RS ( APP>5T AGREEM5T4 

,BORDIGA WAS = CONT9UITY & A TRAJECTORY1 :ILE ,GRAMSCI WAS = MOVEM5T & 9DUCTION4 ,BORDIGA WAS AGA9/ DEMOCRACY1 ,GRAMSCI R\<LY = IT 7OBVI\SLY NOT ! B\RGEOIS =M74 ,BORDIGA RAISES ! ISSUE ( C5TRALISM ?\< 9 A WAY :I* DEMON/RATES ! FIELD ( CONTE/ATION4 ,BORDIGA'S CRITICAL 9T]V5TION MA9TA9S C5TRALIZATION & PLACES IT AS A PO9T ( AGREEM5T1 EV5 IF AN >TIFICIAL1 /AGNANT1 & ME*ANICAL ONE4.<#c#e.> ,9 O!RWORDS1 ,BORDIGA & ,GRAMSCI DISAGREE ON ! MEAN+ & PRACTICE ( DEMOCRACY1 BUT AGREE P>TLY ON C5TRALISM4 ,?AT AGREEM5T PROBLEMATIZES ANY ATTEMPT TO MAKE C5TRALISM MORE 9NOCU\S4 ,C5TRALISM IS NOT M]ELY DO+ :AT Y\ SAY Y\ DO1 BUT RA!R A MORE FUNDAM5TALLY HI]>*ICAL P[] ( M9ORITIES OV] MAJORITIES4 

,JACQUES ,CAMMATTE1 AN ULTRA-LEFT FIGURE ONCE CLOSE TO ,BORDIGA1 BUT :O SPLIT FROM ! ,BORDIGI/ MOVEM5T1 CRITICIZ$ !SE POSITIONS ON DEMOCRACY & C5TRALISM4 

0,! C5TRAL COMMITTEE ( A P>TY OR ! C5T] ( ANY SORT ( REGR\PM5T PLAYS ! SAME ROLE AS ! /ATE4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ONLY MANAG$ TO MIMIC ! P>LIAM5T>Y =M *>ACT]I/IC ( =MAL DOM9ATION4 ,& ORGANIC C5TRALISM1 AFFIRM$ M]ELY 9 A NEGATIVE FA%ION1 AS REFUSAL ( DEMOCRACY & ITS =M 7SUBJUGATION ( ! M9ORITY TO ! MAJORITY1 VOTES1 CONGRESSES1 ETC47 ACTUALLY JU/ GETS TRAPP$ AGA9 9 ! MORE MOD]N =MS4 ,?IS RESULTS 9 ! MY/IQUE ( ORGANIZATION 7AS ) FASCISM74 ,?IS WAS H[ ! ,P,C,I 7,9T]NATIONAL ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY .<,BORDIGI/.>7 EVOLV$ 9TO A GANG40.<#c#f.> 

,IT IS 9T]E/+ ?AT H]E1 AMONG ! EXTREME ( ! ULTRA-LEFT IT IS AGA9 TAK5 )\T QUE/ION ?AT IT IS ! ROLE ( ! C5T] ?AT IS 9 QUE/ION4 ,! QUE/ION ( C5TRALISM !N FROM ,L59ISM TO LEFT-OPPOSITION TO ULTRA-LEFT REJECTION DO NOT CONTE/ ?AT CONCEPT ( C5TRALISM DUR+ ! HEYDAY ( ! !ORY4 ,UNLESS WE GRANT ,GRAMSCI A LEVEL ( EXCEPTIONALISM1.<#c#g.> H[EV] WE CON/RUE IT ! DEBATE >\ND DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9VOLV$ AN UND]/&+ ( ! ROLE ( AN ORGANIZ$ HI]>*ICAL C5T] ) DIRECTIVE P[]S4 

,A ,DIALECTICAL ,ALT]NATIVE8 

,MOV+ N[ TO A DIFF]5T TRADITION1 SOME HAVE LOOK$ TO ! /RUCTURALI/S ?AT CAME \T ( ,EUROPE & ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA = ALT]NATIVE TOOLS = RECONCEPTUALIZ+ ,M>XISM4 ,?\< 9FAM\S = BECOM+ APOLOGI/S = ! WOR/ ( ,/AL9ISM UND] ,AL?USS]1 SOME ( ! /RUCTURALI/S 7SU* AS ,P\LANTZAS7 EMBRAC$ SEEM+LY LIB]T>IAN POSITIONS SU* AS ! AUTONOMY ( ! /ATE1 IF ONLY FROM A PROBLEMATIC REVISIONI/ ,M>XI/ POLITICAL ECONOMIC P]SPECTIVE4 ,!SE ?9K]S 7,BALIB>1 ,P\LANTZAS1 ,M>TA ,H>NECK]1 ETC7 9SPIR$ A G5]ATION ( REVOLUTION>IES 9 ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA & ! ,C>IBBEAN :O S\<T MORE LIB]ATORY =MS ( ,M>XISM & W]E MORE PLURALI/IC 9 !IR 9FLU5CES4.<#c#h.> 

,9 ! >TICLE ,%\LD WE REJECT BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM & SIMPLY USE CONS5SUS81 ,M>TA ,H>NECK] PRES5TS >GUM5TS = DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AGA9/ BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,CORRECTLY %E ASS]TS ?AT 

0,= A LONG TIME1 LEFT-W+ P>TIES OP]AT$ ALONG AU?ORIT>IAN L9ES4 ,! USUAL PRACTICE WAS ?AT ( BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM1 9FLU5C$ BY ! EXP]I5CES ( ,SOVIET SOCIALISM4 ,ALL DECISIONS REG>D+ CRIT]ION1 TASKS1 9ITIATIVES1 & ! C\RSE ( POLITICAL ACTION TO TAKE W]E RE/RICT$ TO ! P>TY ELITE1 )\T ! P>TICIPATION OR DEBATE ( ! MEMB]%IP1 :O W]E LIMIT$ TO FOLL[+ ORD]S ?AT !Y NEV] GOT TO DISCUSS & 9 MANY CASES DID NOT UND]/&4 ,= MO/ PEOPLE1 SU* PRACTICES >E 9CREAS+ 9TOL]ABLE40.<#c#i.> 

,UN=TUNATELY AGA9/ !SE EXP]I5CES1 %E MAKES A C>ICATURE ( ITS CRITIQUES BY CONTRA/+ IT ONLY TO L>GELY ANTI-ORGANIZATIONAL P]SPECTIVES SU* AS EXCESSIVE FAI? 9 CONS5SUS DECISION MAK+ PROC$URES ALONE4 ,IGNOR+ ! CRASS /RAW M5 9 H] >GUM5TS1 %E PROMOTES DEMOCRATIC MOVES SU* AS SUPPORT+ POSITIONS ( M9ORITIES1 & 5C\RAG+ FULL DEBATE :ILE DISC\RAG+ MAJORITIES FROM DOM9AT+ & CRU%+ OPPOSITION4 ,AT ! SAME TIME %E QUITE EXPLICITLY EMBRACES ! B9D+ AU?ORITY ( DECISIONS BY HI<] LEVELS ON ! BASE & ALL ! BAGGAGE ?AT BR+S ) IT4 

0,= ! SAKE ( A UNIFI$ C\RSE ( ACTION1 L[] LEVELS ( ! ORGANIZATION %\LD RESPECT ! DECISIONS MADE BY ! HI<] BODIES1 & ?OSE :O HAVE 5D$ UP 9 ! M9ORITY %\LD ACCEPT :ATEV] C\RSE ( ACTION EM]GES TRIUMPHANT1 C>RY+ \T ! TASK TOGE!R ) ALL ! O!R MEMB]S40.<#d.> 

,AGA91 %E MAKES AN ID5TIFICATION BETWE5 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & UNIFICATION NOT M]ELY ( POSITIONS BUT RA!R ( A C5TRALIZ$ DECISION MAK+ AU?ORITY4 

0,?IS COMB9ATION ( S+LE C5TRALIZ$ LEAD]%IP & DEMOCRATIC DEBATE AT DIFF]5T LEVELS ( ! ORGANIZATION IS CALL$ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 .<EMPHASIS IS ! AU?OR'S.>04.<#d#a.> 

,MOV+ TO ! SECOND FACET ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 ,H>NECK] PRES5TS A DIFF]5T P]SPECTIVE4 ,UNLIKE ,GRAMSCI :O SEES ! ROLE ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A MOVEM5T 9 TIME ( ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 ! MASSES & P>TY1 ,H>NECK] SEES ! SAME MOVEM5T & DIALECTIC BETWE5 LEVELS ( /RUGGLE & ! P>TY4 

0,IT IS A DIALECTIC COMB9ATION3 9 COMPLICAT$ POLITICAL P]IODS1 ( REVOLUTION>Y F]VOR OR W>1 !RE IS NO O!R ALT]NATIVE ?AN TO LEAN T[>DS C5TRALIZATION2 9 P]IODS ( CALM1 :5 ! RHY?M ( EV5TS IS SL[]1 ! DEMOCRATIC *>ACT] %\LD BE EMPHASIZ$40.<#d#b.> 

,GRAMSCI SEEKS TO USE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A ME?OD = BUILD+ A UNITY ( DEMOCRACY & C5TRALIZATION1 OR P]HAPS C5TRALIZATION IS A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS ( BR++ TOGE!R ! DIV]SITY 9 ! MASS /RUGGLE )9 REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION4 ,YET ,H>NECK] IS CLOS] TO ,BORDIGA 9 SEE+ !M AS POL> OPPOSITES4 ,TAK+ !M DIALECTICALLY 9 ?IS FA%ION1 WE W\LD WOND] :5 ! DIALECTIC IS OV]COME & :AT COMES NEXT 7! SYN!SIS78 ,! IMPLICATIONS >E NOT COM=T+ AS 9CREAS+ /RUGGLES NEGATE DEMOCRACY & ?AT DOES NOT GIVE US ! TOOLS TO UND]/& H[ TO AVOID ! ]RORS ( ! (FICIAL COMMUNI/ NATIONS1 9 ALL !IR B>B>ITY4 ,?IS MU/ BE CONTEXTUALIZ$ COM+ FROM AN 9TELLECTUAL ( ! P>TY ELITE WRIT+ FROM ,HABANA4 

,! DEEP] PO9T IS NOT AB\T ! EXT5T TO :I* ,H>NECK] HAS COME TO QUE/ION ! LEGACY ( ! ,BOL%EVIK 9SPIR$ NATIONAL EXP]IM5TS4 ,RA!R IT IS ?AT ! DEBATE AB\T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM BY ITS ADH]5TS REVOLVES >\ND TWO POLES3 ! ISSUE ( /RUCTURAL C5TRALIZATION1 & ! DIALECTICAL MOVEM5T ( ! PROCESS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,POSITIONS DIFF] ON H[ ! DIALECTIC IS UND]/OOD1 H[ ! /RUCTURE IS PRODUC$ & RELATES TO ! MASSES1 & H[ IT ALL /&S VIA ! P>TY & ! QUE/ION ( EXT]NALITY4 ,YET WE CAN SEE ! AMBIGUITIES PRES5T AT ! BIR? ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM C>RY ?R\< ! !ORY 9TO ITS LAT] 9C>NATIONS4 ,GRAMSCI CAME CLOSE/ TO BREAK+ ) ?AT TRADITION1 BUT )\T ! IDEOLOGICAL APP>ATUS TO CLIMB OV] ?AT WALL4 ,9 HIS CASE1 IT MAY HAVE BE5 BO? ! FASCI/ PRISON WALLS & ! ,/AL9I/ WALL ( COMMUNICATION SURR\ND+ HIM ?AT PREV5T$ HIS ESCAPE OR ELABORAT+ A SEP>ATE CONCEPTION4 

,9 ,PRACTICE 

,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A !ORY REVOLVES >\ND !SES AB\T C5TRALIZATION1 HI<] & L[] BODIES1 & 9T]NAL PROCESSES = REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION4 ,:AT AB\T ! PRACTICE8 ,:AT AB\T REC5T PRACTICE1 NE> TO \R [N SITUATION H]E 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES 9 ! CONJUNCTURE WE F9D \RSELVES 98 ,LUCKILY WE HAVE ACC\NTS ( PEOPLE 9 !SE MOVEM5TS REFLECT+ ON !IR P>TICIPATION 9 & CON/RUCTION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ POLITICAL ORGANIZATION NOT M]ELY FROM ONE SECT OR T5D5CY1 BUT FROM A NUMB] ( DIFF]5T T5D5CIES1 COMMUNITIES1 & MOM5TS4 ,! L5G? ( SOME ( !SE PASSAGES IS JU/IFI$1 BECAUSE SU* ACC\NTS >E NOT ALWAYS READILY AVAILABLE1 & PROVIDE DIRECT 9SI<T 9TO !SE GR\PS FROM FIR/-H& P>TICIPANTS4 

,HON+ 9 ON A FEW ( !SE1 WE CAN SEE TR5DS 9 ! PRACTICE ?AT MIRROR ! PROBLEMS 9 ! !ORY4 ,IT ISN'T ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AUTOMATICALLY CREATES BUREAUCRATIC OR AU?ORIT>IAN PRACTICES4 ,?IS IS NOT A SURVEY OR A QUANTATIVE /UDY ( !SE P>TIES4 ,!ORIES >E NOT COMPUT] PROGRAMS ?AT SPIT \T COPIES ( !IR 9/RUCTIONS4 ,PRACTICES DIV]GE1 /RUGGLE1 & EVOLVE 9 A HI/ORICAL CONTEXT4 ,YET LOOK+ ACROSS DISP>ATE TRADITIONS & MOM5TS WE DO SEE SOME REGUL>ITY ( SU* PRACTICES1 & :5 CONTEXTUALIZ$ ) ! 9T]NAL CONFLICT 9 ! !ORY ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 WE GA9 TOOLS = UND]/&+ BO? ! !ORY & ! PRACTICES1 & P]HAPS A WAY BEYOND !M4 ,FROM !SE REPORTS WE F9D !MES ( ! SUPPRESSION ( CRITICAL ?9K+ AMONG CADRE1 DIRECTIVE-COMM& /RUCTURE FROM C5TRAL BODIES1 SUPPRESSION ( DEBATE & DISS5T )91 HOLD+ BACK ! POLITICAL DEVELOPM5T ( CADRE1 & UNACC\NTABLE LEAD]%IP_/PR(ESSIONALS4 ,:E!R DEVIANT OR NOT1 REC5T ,U,S DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ PRACTICE REFLECTS ! ACCEPTANCE ( C5TRALIZ$ DIRECTIVE HI]>*IES RA!R ?AN %[+ !M TO BE CONTE/$ 9 ?\<T OR /RUGGLE4 

,C5TRAL ,BODIES 

,ONE ( ! CORE ELEM5TS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS ! RELATION%IP ( C5TRAL BODIES TO ! P>TY AS A :OLE4 ,LIKEWISE AS 9 ! !ORY1 9 PRACTICE ?IS L$ TO /RONG C5TRAL BODIES ) DI/9CT P[]S & DIRECTION ( ! P>TY AS A :OLE4 ,MAX ,ELBAUM DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ PRACTICE 9 ! P>TY & PRE-P>TY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATIONS ( ! ,NEW ,COMMUNI/ ,MOVEM5T1 A COLLECTION ( ,MAO-9SPIR$ COMMUNI/ GR\PS =M$ 9 ! #fS-#hS3 

0444,ALL SECTIONS ( ! ,NEW ,COMMUNI/ ,MOVEM5T DREW HEAVILY ON SELECTIONS FROM ,MAO :5 TRY+ TO DEF9E DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 ESPECIALLY HIS CONCISE /RICTURE ?AT3 '7#a7 ! 9DIVIDUAL IS SUBORD9ATE TO ! ORGANIZATION2 7#b7 ! M9ORITY IS SUBORD9ATE TO ! MAJORITY2 7#c7 ! L[] LEVEL IS SUBORD9ATE TO ! HI<] LEVEL2 & 7#d7 ! 5TIRE MEMB]%IP IS SUBORD9ATE TO ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE0.<#d#c.> 

,) ! 5TIRE MEMB]%IP SUBORD9AT$ TO ! AU?ORITY ( ! C5TRAL COMMITTEE1 !SE GR\PS 0444GAVE F> MORE WEI<T TO C5TRALISM ?AN DEMOCRACY40.<#d#d.> ,9 AN 5VIRONM5T ( SU* CONC5TRATIONS ( CONTROL1 QUE/IONS SURFACE CONC]N+ :]E P[] LIES & H[ ! MEMB]%IP SETS ! AG5DA = ! ORGANIZATION4 ,ELBAUM1 SPEAK+ BROADLY ACROSS ! V>I\S GR\PS1 REFLECTS ON H[ ?IS /RUCTURE PROV$ MY/IFY+ & CONC5TRAT$ NOT M]ELY DECISION MAK+ 9 ! H&S ( ! C5TRAL BODIES1 BUT ALSO ! POSITIONS ( ! ORGANIZATIONS AS A :OLE W]E SET BY A SMALL GR\P ( LEAD]S4 

0444,! NEW ,M>XI/-,L59I/ GR\PS FUNCTION$ ) A SOPHI/ICAT$ DIVISION ( LABOR & PRON\NC$ HI]>*Y .<EMPHASIS IS M9E.>444 ,TO EX]CISE WEEK-TO-WEEK LEAD]%IP1 ! L>G] GR\PS G5]ALLY HAD SOME K9D ( C5TRAL BODY ( FIVE TO TWELVE PEOPLE LOCAT$ AT ! NATIONAL HEADQU>T]S-USUALLY T]M$ A POLITICAL BUREAU OR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE4 ,SOMETIMES REAL P[] RE/$ ) AN EV5 SMALL] SUBGR\P DUBB$ A /&+ COMMITTEE OR CO-*AIRS COLLECTIVE444 ,9 !ORY ALL EXECUTIVE COMMITT]S W]E SUBORD9ATE TO ! L>G] C5TRAL COMMITTEE1 BUT 9 PRACTICE C5TRAL COMMITTEES W]E RELEGAT$ TO A RELATIVELY PASSIVE ROLE EXCEPT 9 P]IODS ( UPHEAVAL4 ,EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES TYPICALLY RETA9$ AU?ORITY TO *OOSE :I* 9DIVIDUALS W\LD BE ASSIGN$ TO ! MO/ IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONAL PO/S1 9CLUD+ ! NEWSPAP]1 !ORETICAL J\RNAL & 9T]NAL BULLET9 $ITORS4 ,?OSE 9DIVIDUALS 7USUALLY MEMB]S ( ! EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE !MSELVES7 %AP$ ! WAY AN ORGANIZATION'S VIEWS W\LD BE PRES5T4440.<#d#e.> 

,:ILE P]HAPS 9 !ORY 9/ITUTIONALIZATION ( LEAD]%IP C\LD TRY TO SPREAD ?AT LEAD]%IP1 9 PRACTICE IT CREATES A BUREAUCRACY ) 9T]E/S 9 PRES]V+ !IR CONTROL OV] ! LIFE ( ! ORGANIZATION4 ,RA!R ?AN RESOLV+ ! QUE/ION ( BUILD+ MORE CAPACITY1 ?IS 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ POLITICAL C5T] PROBLEMATIZ$ IT AS /RUGGLES EM]G$ TO RETA9 POLITICAL CONTROL OV] ! ORGANIZATION4 ,?IS IS CLE> 9 REVOLUTION>Y MOM5TS FROM ! PEAKS ( HI/ORY1 BUT ALSO IS EVID5T 9 SMALL] EXAMPLES FROM ! ,NEW ,COMMUNI/ ,MOVEM5T AS ,ELBAUM DEMON/RAT$4 

,UNACC\NTABLE ,PR(ESSIONAL ,LEAD]%IP 

,:ILE ! =MULATION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM TRADITIONALLY PROMOT$ ELECTION ( ALL POSITIONS1 ?IS HAS NOT ALWAYS BE5 UTILIZ$4 ,9 FACT ! CONV]G5CE ( P[] & C5TRALIZATION1 CREAT$ A SITUATION 9 :I* ! ME?OD ( DET]M9+ LEAD]%IP BECAME MURKY 9 PRACTICE4 ,= ! ,NEW ,COMMUNI/ ,MOVEM5T1 09 PRACTICE1 C5TRAL COMMITTEES W]E *OS5 9 A V>IETY ( WAYS1 SOMETIMES BY MEMB]S 9 EA* LOCAL >EA ELECT+ !IR REPRES5TATIVES )\T AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE CONGRESS1 & SOMETIMES )\T ELECTIONS AT ALL40.<#d#f.> ,! DEEP SWAY1 CULTURE1 & POLITICIZATION ( 9/ITUTIONAL LEAD]%IP CLE>LY FACILITATES ?IS SITUATION4 ,! IMPORTANCE & P[] ( LEAD]%IP CONTRIBUTES TO AN ATMOSPH]E ( BO? )DRAWAL FROM & MANIPULATION ( ! DIRECTION ( ! ORGANIZATION4 ,:ILE ! !ORY MAY PROMOTE ELECT$ LEAD]%IP1 ! PR(ESSIONALIZATION & UNILAT]AL P[] ( DIRECTIVE C5T]S MAKES ! MA9T5ANCE ( ?AT DEMOCRACY PROBLEMATIC4 ,HI/ORICALLY1 !RE WAS A SIMIL> REPETITION :]E ?AT /RUCTURE BEGAN TO UND]M9E ! !ORETICAL COMMITM5T TO DEMOCRACY4 

,!SE PRACTICES W]E NOT M]ELY ISOLAT$ TO GR\PS 9SPIR$ BY ,MAO H[EV]4 ,9 FACT !Y RAN ! GAMUT FROM ,TROTSKYI/S TO ,LOTTA ,CONT9UA1 AN ,ITALIAN AUTONOMIA GR\P ?AT MOV$ EV5TUALLY TO A V>IANT ,M>XI/-,L59ISM4 ,9 ,5GL&1 ONE P>TICIPANT 9 ! ,TROTSKYI/ MOVEM5T ( ! SAME TIME P]IOD DISCUSSES ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 FULL TIME P>TY LEAD]%IP & ! FACTIONAL SPLITS *>ACT]I/IC ( ?AT MOVEM5T4 ,SPEAK+ ( ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,M>XI/ ,GR\P1 HE SAID 0BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM DEVELOPS ) ! GR[? ( ! FULL-TIME APP>ATUS40.<#d#g.> ,MORE REC5TLY A GR\P ( Y\NG MEMB]S FROM ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,ORGANIZATION SPLIT & =M$ A NEW GR\P CALL$ ! ,NEW ,SOCIALI/ ,PROJECT4 ,P>T ( !IR EXP]I5CES WAS %AP$ BY !IR EXP]I5CES ) SU* ORGANIZATIONS1 & A DESIRE TO MOVE BEYOND IT4 

0,!RE HAVE444 BE5 SUBJECTIVE WEAKNESSES & FACTORS ?AT WE MU/ FACE UP TO4 ,9 A GOOD YE>1 ! SOCIALI/ MICRO-SECTS RECRUIT A H&FUL ( /UD5TS & 9TELLECTUALS )\T TRA9+ !M & )\T ANY SY/EMATIC DEVELOPM5T PROCESS4 ,!SE SECTS >E USUALLY RUL$ BY AN UNACC\NTABLE BUREAUCRACY ?AT RUNS ITS MICRO-EMPIRE ( M9I-BRAN*ES ) AN IRON-FI/$ COMB9ATION ( ELITISM & MYOPIA1 :E!R OR NOT !Y HAVE ANY 9T]NAL IDEOLOGY OR RHETORIC TO ! CONTR>Y40.<#d#h.> 

,:ILE WE CAN DISMISS FI<TS & H>% WORDS )9 AN (T5-FRACTUR$ MILIEU1 !SE EXP]I5CES & FEEL+S >E NOT ISOLAT$1 BUT >E P]VASIVE 9 ! DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATIONS4 ,)\T TAK+ SIDES ON :O IS 9 ! RI<T1 WE SEE A REPETITION ( ! /RUGGLE >\ND UNACC\NTABLE LEAD]%IP ) MONOPOLIES ( P[] HOLD+ BACK MEMB]%IP1 & CONTE/ATION >\ND ?OSE C5T]S ( P[]4 ,! DEBATE IS FRAM$ >\ND !SE QUE/IONS1 EV5 IF DIFF]5T FACTIONS DON'T AGREE ON :O IS 9 ]R4 

,DIRECTIVES_/,LACK ( ,CRITICAL ,?9K+ 

,CORRESPOND+ TO ! EMP[]M5T ( ! C5TRAL BODIES & ! %IFT+ P[] AWAY FROM MEMB]%IP1 MANY P>TICIPANTS 9 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ GR\PS REF]5CE A S5SE ( C>RY+ \T ORD]S RA!R ?AN BE+ EMP[]$ & DEVELOP$ TO ?9K & ACT AS CREATIVE CADRE4 ,?IS WAS ALSO REF]5C$ ABOVE 9 ! QUOTATION AIM$ AT ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,ORGANIZATION FROM ! ,NEW ,SOCIALI/ ,PROJECT4 ,COM+ BACK TO ! ,NEW ,COMMUNI/ ,MOVEM5T1 ,F]D ,HO $IT$ A BOOK ( 9T]VIEWS DOCUM5T+ ! HI/ORIES ( SOME ( !SE GR\PS CALL$ ,LEGACY TO ,LIB]ATION4 ,9 ONE SU* 9T]VIEW1 ,*RIS ,K&O ,LIJIMA DESCRIBES ! ROLE ( P>TY MEMB]S UND] ! DIRECTIVES ( ! C5TRAL LEAD]%IP4 

0,F,H3 ,MO/ PEOPLE DON'T KN[ :AT .<DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM.> WAS LIKE4 ,DESCRIBE IT SOME MORE4 

,C,I3 ,H]E'S AN EXAMPLE FROM DO+ CULTURAL WORK4 ,H]E'S ! L9E1 WRITE A SONG ) ! L9E4 ,P]IOD4 ,Y\ DON'T WRITE ANY?+ ELSE ?AT'S NOT ! L9E4 ,IT'S Y\R JOB TO WRITE SONGS1 P]=M SONGS1 ?AT ILLU/RATE ! L9E4 ,?AT WAS MY UND]/&+ ( .<DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM.> :5 IT CAME TO CULTURAL WORK4 

,F,H3 ,SO IT REALLY WASN'T DEMOCRATIC1 BUT DIRECTIVES4 

,C,I3 ,IT WAS A LOT ( C5TRALISM1 BUT NOT A LOT ( DEMOCRACY1 :I* WAS TRUE ( MO/ GR\PS40.<#d#i.> 

,?IS ASSESSM5T1 ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM MEANT 9 MANY 9/ANCES C5TRAL DIRECTIVES RA!R ?AN AN ACTIVE & P>TICIPATORY DEMOCRACY IS REPEAT$ 9 MANY PLACES4 ,MAX ,ELBAUM WRITES ?AT 0DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ALSO MEANT ?AT C5TRAL BODIES W]E GIV5 A GREAT DEAL ( P[] TO DIRECT ! WORK ( EV]Y O!R P>TY COMMITTEE40.<#e.> ,?IS DIRECTION ( WORK WAS UND]/OOD AS 0ALL MEMB]S W]E REQUIR$ TO BELONG TO & TAKE ASSIGNM5TS FROM A P>TY UNIT .<MY EMPHASIS.>40.<#e#a.> ,ALL ( ?IS IS A F> CRY FROM BUILD+ ORGANIZATIONS :I* CAN HELP CREATE CREATIVE1 9DEP5D5T1 & COMPET5T ORGANIZATIONS4 ,CONTR>Y TO :AT ,H>NECK] >GUES1 ! MILIT>Y MODEL ( DIRECTIVES & ASSIGNM5TS IS H]E REPRODUC$ NOT M]ELY 9 MILIT>Y CONTEXTS SU* AS P]HAPS ,RUSSIA1 BUT RA!R 9 :OLLY DISSIMIL> SITUATIONS4 ,WE CAN IMAG9E ! REASON = ?IS LIES NOT ONLY 9 AU?ORIT>IAN CURR5TS 9 SOCIETY1 & CLASS CONTRADICTIONS )9 CAPITALISM1 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FROM ! REPRODUCTION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ IDEOLOGY & ITS 9H]5T T5SIONS4 

,SUPPRESSION ( ,DISS5T 

,DIRECTIVES W]E NOT SIMPLY AN ACTIVITY ( C5TRAL BODIES 9 ISOLATION4 ,ME*ANISMS = SECUR+ ! ACTIVITY ( P>TY MEMB]S REQUIR$ HAV+ MEANS ( 5SUR+ 9T]NAL DISCIPL9E4 ,MANY GR\PS EFFECTIVELY SELF-C5SUR$ & IMPLEM5T$ POLICIES AIM$ AT SUPPRESS+ DISS5T & DEBATE )91 ESPECIALLY \TSIDE ! CONTROL ( ! C5TRAL LEAD]%IP4 ,9 ! ,NEW ,COMMUNI/ ,MOVEM5T1 TASKS W]E ASSIGN$ AS /AT$ BE=E1 H[EV] !RE W]E ALSO POLICIES AIM$ AT LIMIT+ DISAGREEM5TS 9SIDE & \TSIDE ! P>TIES4 

0,MEMB]S W]E ACC\NTABLE TO CONDUCT !IR WORK ON ! BASIS ( GR\P POLICY & TO FOLL[ ?R\< ON ALL !IR ASSIGN$ TASKS444 ,BUT GR\P DISCIPL9E W5T BEYOND SU* S5SIBLE >GUM5TS4 ,CADRE W]E ALSO RESPONSIBLE = DEF5D+ !IR ORGANIZATION'S POSITIONS 9 ALL CIRCUM/ANCES & USUALLY PROHIBIT$ FROM EXPRESS+ DIFF]5CES OR RES]VATIONS TO ANY NONMEMB]4 ,SOME GR\PS EV5 HAD RULES =BIDD+ MEMB]S FROM EXPRESS+ DISAGREEM5TS TO CADRE \TSIDE !IR BASE UNIT40.<#e#b.> 

,UNITY 9 ACTION H]E IS 9T]PRET$ NOT M]ELY AS DEMOCRATICALLY ABID+ BY COLLECTIVE DECISIONS1 BUT IS TAK5 FUR!R4 ,!RE IS AN IMPOSITION ( ORGANIZATIONAL DISCIPL9E AGA9/ DISAGREEM5T ?AT 9 ! MO/ EGREGI\S CASES ISOLAT$ MILITANTS 9TO CELLS1 ) ! EXPRESSION ( DISS5T BETWE5 CELLS BE+ =BIDD54 

,L\IS ,PROYECT IS A WELL-KN[N BLOG AB\T ,M>XI/ !ORY & PRACTICES BY A SELF-DESCRIB$ A =M] ,TROTSKYI/ & PRES5T ,M>XI/4 ,ONE SU* >TICLE DESCRIBES HIS EXP]I5CES ) DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9 ! ,TROTSKYI/ MOVEM5T4 ,!RE1 HE CONTE/S ! IDEA ?AT SOMEH[ ,TROTSKYI/ GR\PS W]E AN EXCEPTION TO ! C5TRALIZATION ( ,MAOI/ & ,/AL9I/ P>TIES4 

0.<,! ,TROTSKYI/.> TRADITION HAS ASSOCIAT$ ) IT A PLE?ORA ( 9TELLECTUAL /RAIT-JACKETS1 GAG RULES1 NORMS AB\T :5 FRE$OM ( SPEE* IS 9 ORD] 7= A C\PLE ( MON?S EV5' C\PLE ( YE>S1 AT LEA/ 9 !ORY67 & NOT 9 ORD] 7! RE/ ( ! TIME71 & DEMON/RAT$ 9ABILITY TO CONTA9 EV5 M9OR DIFF]5CES )9 AN ORGANIZATION4 

,! SPECIFICALLY ,TROTSKYI/ SIDE ( IT HAS BE5 PLAGU$ BY SPLITS1 EXPULSIONS & ! MULTIPLICATION ( SECTS1 ?+S :I* HAVE DEG5]AT$ MORE ?AN ONCE 9TO SPY+ ON COMRADES1 US+ O!R POLICE-/ATE TACTICS1 GOON SQUADS & 9 ! CASE ( ! ,/AL9I/S EV5 MURD]4 

,& !RE IS NO BASIS = SEP>AT+ ! SPECIFICALLY ,TROTSKYI/ TRADITION FROM ! RE/ ( IT4 ,HI/ORY HAS %[N ?AT !RE IS AS LITTLE ROOM EV5 9 ! 0HEAL?IE/0 ,TROTSKYI/ ,L59I/ ,P>TY = A DIV]SITY ( VIEWS AS !RE IS AMONG ! PRO-,MOSC[ ,/AL9I/S OR ,MAOI/S1 OR AS CLOSE TO AS MAKES NO S]I\S DIFF]5CE40.<#e#c.> 

,AGA9/ SEE+ !SE ISSUES AS ! 9H]IT$ PROBLEMS ( ONE OR ANO!R ,L59I/ TRADITION1 WE SEE SU* EXP]I5CES REPEAT$ ?R\<\T CRITICAL LIT]ATURE BY ,L59I/S4 ,DON ,HAMM]QUI/ WAS A Y\? MEMB] ( ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY ,U,S,A & A R$-DIAP] BABY4 ,HAMM]QUI/ HAS BE5 A LIFELONG REVOLUTION>Y1 & HELP$ F\ND ! ,SOJ\RN] ,TRU? ,ORGANIZATION ON A ,GRAMSCIAN-,L59I/ BASIS AFT] BE+ EXPELL$ FROM ! ,C,P,U,S,A4 ,?IS NEXT PASSAGE1 ?\< LONG1 GIVES UNIQUE 9SI<T 9TO ! FUNCTION+ ( !SE GR\PS AS !Y ATTEMPT$ TO MANAGE ! 9=MATION MEMB]S RECEIV$1 & TO FILT] ! RESPONSES & CRITICISMS ( P>TY DECISIONS ?R\< A TI<TLY CONTROLL$ C5TRAL /RUCTURE 7:E!R ?IS WAS EFFECTIVE OR NOT74 

0,IT'S A BIT ( A DIV]SION1 BUT A LOOSELY RELAT$ P]SONAL EXP]I5CE MI<T HI<LI<T H[ ! ,M4,L4 .<,M>XI/-,L59I/.> APPROA* TO DEMOCRATIC & P>TICIPATORY DISCUSSION ON 0S]I\S0 ISSUES ACTUALLY WORKS4 ,BY ! CLOSE ( ! #a#i#eS !RE WAS AMPLE EVID5CE 9 ?IS C\NTRY1 SOME ( :I* WAS WIDELY REPORT$ 9 ! CAPITALI/ PRESS1 ?AT ! DIVISIONS BETWE5 ,*9A & ! ,SOVIET ,UNION W]E GR[+ L>G] & MORE ANTAGONI/IC4 ,NEV]!LESS1 ?IS WAS NOT ACKN[L$G$ 9 ! ,C,P,U,S,A & WAS DEF9ITELY NOT A P]MITT$ TOPIC = MEMB]%IP SPECULATION4 

,! (FICIAL ,S9O_/,SOVIET BREAK CAME AT ! #ha ,P>TY MEET+ 9 ! FALL ( #a#i#f4 ,! ,N4,Y4 ,TIMES IMM$IATELY C>RI$ A DETAIL$ REPORT DESPITE ! FACT ?AT ! MEET+ WAS SUPPOS$ TO HAVE BE5 CLOS$4 ,! ,TIMES REPORT+ HAD SUB/ANTIAL CR$IBILITY1 S9CE A C\PLE ( YE>S E>LI] IT HAD ALSO PR9T$ ,KHRUS*EV'S 0,SECRET ,REPORT0 TO A CLOS$ SESSION ( ! #b? ,CONGRESS ( ! ,C,P,S,U & =C$ ?AT REPORT TO BE MADE PUBLIC BE=E ! ,COMMUNI/ APP>ATUS WAS PREP>$ TO DEAL ) ! REP]CUSSIONS4 ,ELIZABE? ,GURLEY ,FLYNN1 ,JOE ,HILL'S 0REBEL GIRL10 WAS ! *AIRWOMAN ( ! ,U4,S4 ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY & HAD HEAD$ ! DELEGATION TO ! #ha ,P>TY MEET+4 7,! ,U4,S4 DELEGATION ALSO 9CLUD$ ! ,*ICAGO JEWEL]1 ,MORRIS ,*ILDS - AKA 0,SOLO0 - A LONG TIME ,F,B,I ASSET1 :O WE N[ KN[ WAS ! S\RCE = BO? ,N4,Y4 ,TIMES REPORTS47 ,IMM$IATELY AFT] ! ,MOSC[ MEET+1 ,GURLEY ,FLYNN T\R$ ! C\NTRY TO REPORT BACK TO ! P>TY4 ,I WAS AT TWO SU* MEET+S4 ,! FIR/ WAS = A DEF9ITELY ATYPICAL GR\P ( RANK & FILE COMMUNI/S 9CLUD+ MY P>5TS4 ,! MEET+ 9CLUD$ A NUMB] ( KN[L$GEABLE ACTIVI/S :O W]E NOT DOCILE RECEPTACLES = ANYONE'S L9E & :O READ ! ,N4,Y4 ,TIMES4 ,GURLEY ,FLYNN WAS ASK$ AB\T ! REPORTS ( A SPLIT BETWE5 ,*9A & ! ,SOVIET ,UNION & CATEGORICALLY D5I$ ?AT IT HAD HAPP5$1 LAUN*+ 9TO A HEAVY ATTACK ON2 0COMRADES :O RELY TOO MU* ON ! CAPITALI/ PRESS & ITS LIES & DI/ORTIONS04 

,AT A MEET+ ( ! DI/RICT LEAD]%IPS ( ,WA%+TON & ,OREGON ! V]Y NEXT DAY1 A MEET+ L>GELY POPULAT$ BY HACKS :O W\LD NEV] ?9K TO RAISE EMB>RASS+ QUE/IONS OR TO QUE/ION ANY?+ ?AT CAME FROM P>TY AU?ORITY1 ,GURLEY ,FLYNN BEGAN H] REPORT QUITE DIFF]5TLY4 ,I /ILL REMEMB] ! WORDS QUITE WELL3 

',COMRADES1 ,I REGRET HAV+ TO REPORT ?AT ! ,*9ESE COMRADES HAVE FALL5 9TO COMPLETE ADV5TURISM & PETTY B\RGEOIS LEFTISM & HAVE SPLIT ) ! 9T]NATIONAL COMMUNI/ MOVEM5T & ! WORK+ CLASS40 

,:Y ! DIFF]5CE 9 REPORTS8 ,I ASK$ AT ! TIME & WAS TOLD ?AT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ORGANIZE & PLAN SU* DISCUSSIONS C>EFULLY 9 ORD] TO 0MA9TA9 MORALE & DISCIPL9E40 ,?AT IS :AT 0C5TRALIZ$ GUIDANCE0 MEANT TO ME 9 ! ,U4,S4 COMMUNI/ P>TY1 & IT LOOKS REM>KABLY LIKE :AT ,MAO IS PU%+ 9 ! ,*9ESE ,P>TY 9 ?IS P]IOD4 ,! DISCUSSION ONLY HAPP5S 9 A MANAG$ FRAMEWORK AFT] ! P>TY LEAD]%IP DECIDES :AT IS A 0FL[]0 & :AT IS A 0WE$0 = A CADRE ( SL[-WITT$ G>D5]S PRONE TO FITS ( DEPRESSION40.<#e#d.> 

,?IS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE ( ! 9FAM\S 9COH]5CE ( ! POLITICAL L9E ( COMMUNI/ P>TIES1 :I* PEOPLE ASSOCIATE ) ! REPRESSIVE TIMES UND] ! SOVIET BUREAUCRACIES & SECRET POLICE4 ,AGA9 IT IS NOT ISOLAT$4 ,IT ISN'T ! EXCEPTION1 BUT C5T]S >\ND ATTEMPTS TO MANAGE 9=MATION & P]CEPTION ( EV5TS4 ,?IS IS NATURAL ( C\RSE = PEOPLE1 BUT IT IS A DIFF]5T ANIMAL :5 A PAID 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ HI]>*Y1 >M$ ) AN IDEOLOGY ( SELF-APPO9T$ LEAD]%IP ( ! FUTURE REVOLUTION1 USES IT TO MA9TA9 !IR [N DOM9ANCE4 

,I HESITATE TO PUT A REF]5CE 9 TO ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY BECAUSE ( IT'S 9FAMY = P]SONALITY CULTS & A BROAD CONS5SUS AMONG ! LEFT ( IT'S QUE/IONABLE ACTIVITY4 ,YET ! QUALITY1 DETAIL1 & REFLECTION GIV5 BY ,MIKE ,ELY FROM ! ,KASAMA ,PROJECT CONC]N+ ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY'S HOMOPHOBIC POSITIONS %[S 9 DETAIL SIMIL> MANIPULATIONS ( DEBATE & 9T]NAL DISCUSSION BY C5TRAL BODIES AS WAS SE5 ABOVE4 ,! SECRECY ASSOCIAT$ ) !SE P>TIES MAKES SU* CONFESSIONS ( 9T]NAL ACTIVITY VALUABLE 9 UND]/&+ H[ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ GR\PS 9 \R TIME FUNCTION4 

0,FROM #aig UNTIL #b#a1 ! ,R,U_/,R,C,P HELD ?AT HOMOSEXUALITY WAS 9COMPATIBLE ) REVOLUTION>Y COMMUNI/ GOALS & IDEOLOGY4 ,GAY M5 & LESBIANS C\LD NOT BE MEMB]S4 ,=MAL PROGRAMMATIC /ATEM5TS HELD ?AT HOMOSEXUALITY W\LD BE ABOLI%$ UND] SOCIALISM ?R\< IDEOLOGICAL /RUGGLE OR 0RE$UCATION40 ,! P>TY'S WRONG & BACKW>D VIEWS BECAME RA!R NOTORI\S ?R\< ! #a#i#hS1 AS ! ,A,I,D,S CRISIS EXPLOD$ & ! ,REPUBLICAN ,RI<T S\<T TO EXPLOIT ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL BIGOTRY4 

,:AT IS LESS WELL KN[N IS H[ SU* VIEWS W]E MA9TA9$4 ,9 ! E>LY #a#i#gS IT WAS SAID ?AT GAY PEOPLE C\LDN'T BE COMMUNI/S BECAUSE !Y W]E A SECURITY RISK ( BLACKMAIL4 ,!N AFT] ! P>TY'S F\ND+ 9 #aige ! /RESS WAS ON WAYS HOMOSEXUALITY WAS L9K$ TO 0B\RGEOIS DEG5]ACY40 ,!N AFT] #a#i#h#h1 ! >GUM5T WAS ?AT HOMOSEXUALITY HAD TO BE REJECT$ BECAUSE MALE HOMOSEXUALITY WAS 7SUPPOS$LY7 9H]5TLY HO/ILE TO WOM5 & LESBIANISM WAS 7SUPPOS$LY7 9H]5TLY A MANIFE/ATION ( LIFE/YLE RE=MISM4 

,9 O!R WORDS1 OV] ! FIR/ ?IRTY-PLUS YE>S ( ! ,R,U_/,R,C,P1 ! 5D V]DICT 7! 9COMPATIBILITY ( HOMOSEXUALITY ) COMMUNISM7 REMA9$ ! SAME1 :ILE ! PUBLIC JU/IFICATIONS = ?AT POSITION MORPH$ ) TIME4 ,& !RE W]E ESS5TIALLY NO OP5 DISCUSSIONS ( !SE VIEWS ALL[$ )9 ! P>TY'S RANKS1 ?\< CONTROV]SY & DEBATE 9CREAS+LY RAG$ >\ND ! P>TY'S Y\? BRIGADE 7,R,C,Y,B74 

,BY ! LATE #a#i#iS1 !SE ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL POLITICS W]E SO CONTROV]SIAL 79SIDE & \TSIDE ! P>TY7 ?AT IT W\LD HAVE BE5 IMPOSSIBLE TO CREATE A NEW PROGRAM )\T MAJOR *ANGES4 ,! QUE/ION WAS OP5$ BRIEFLY BUT !N %UT D[N :5 ! DISCUSSION PROV$ HI<LY VOLATILE4 

,! ME?OD US$ = CUTT+ (F ?IS DEBATE IS REVEAL+3 ,! NEW P>TY ANALYSIS ACKN[L$G$ ?AT HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT 9H]5TLY C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y1 BUT 9SI/$ ?AT ! ,P>TY'S LONG-/&+ CONDEMNATION ( GAY PEOPLE HAD NOT COME FROM ANY 9FLU5CE ( ANTI-GAY BIGOTRY4 ,! ]ROR1 IT WAS SAID1 CAME FROM G5]AL PROBLEMS ( ME?OD & R$UCTIONISM1 NOT FROM ANTI-GAY PREJUDICES )9 ! ,P>TY4 

,IT WAS (FICIALLY >GU$ ?AT ! QUE/ION ( HOMOSEXUALITY ITSELF HAD NEV] BE5 A C>D9AL QUE/ION1 BUT ! ME?OD US$ TO CRITICIZE ! P>TY'S PREVI\S POSITION HAD TO BE CONSID]$ A C>D9AL QUE/ION4 ,TRANSLAT$3 ,! P>TY W\LD /ILL NOT CONSID] ! PREVI\S ANTI-GAY ]RORS A HUGE DEAL1 BUT IT W\LD CONSID] ANY DISCUSSION ( POSSIBLE HOMOPHOBIA AMONG LEAD]S TO BE COMPLETELY 9TOL]ABLE4 ,ALSO CONSID]$ HO/ILE TO ! P>TY3 ,ANY DISCUSSION ( :Y ! *ANGE 9 L9E HAD TAK5 SO LONG1 ANY APPRAISAL ( ! HUGE POLITICAL CO/ TO ! REVOLUTION BECAUSE ( ?IS ]ROR & ANY DISCUSSION ( 0! CLOSET0 )9 ! P>TY 7I4E41 WAYS ?AT SECRETLY GAY OR BISEXUAL MEMB]S MAY HAVE BE5 =C$ TO D5Y !IR SEXUAL ORI5TATIONS74 

,9 %ORT3 ,! P>TY HAD ADOPT$ A NEW 7& TRULY BETT] APPROA*7 TO HOMOSEXUALITY1 BUT SLAMM$ ! DOOR H>D ON ANY REAL EXPLORATION ( ANTI-GAY BIGOTRY AMONG COMMUNI/S & ITS REAL-WORLD CONSEQU5CES4 

,:AT EM]GES FROM SU* ME?ODS IS A P>TY :]E DISCUSSIONS >E MADD5+LY CONF9$ & RITUALIZ$4 ,!Y G5]ALLY TAKE PLACE ONLY AFT] POSITIONS 7OR EV5 A :OLE NEW SYN!SIS7 HAVE BE5 =MALLY ADOPT$4 ,QUE/IONS >E 0OP5$0 SO A NEW OR?ODOXY CAN REPLACE AN OLD ONE1 & !N DISCUSSIONS >E SLAMM$ %UT AGA94 ,?R\<\T ?AT PROCESS READY AGREEM5T IS EXPECT$4 ,REAL DISS5T IS ASSUM$ TO BE BACKW>D 7OR WORSE740.<#e#e.> 

,RA!R ?AN SEE+ A NUANCE >\ND H[ A POLITICAL C5T] CAN FACILITATE GREAT ?\<T1 DISCUSSION1 & CADRE DEVELOPM5T1 WE SEE ! OPPOSITE4 ,IT ISN'T ?AT A !ORY SU* AS DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WILL RESOLVE ALL ON-!-GR\ND PROBLEMS = US4 ,YET DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM MAKES ITSELF VULN]ABLE BY CLAIM+ TO BE A !ORY1 :I* DOES C5T] >\ND ! POLITICAL DEVELOPM5T ( ITS MEMB]S 9T]NALLY1 & A VANGU>D =CE EXT]NALLY4 ,?AT FRAM+1 COMB9$ ) AN 9/ITUTIONALIZATION ( A DIRECTIVE HI]>*Y CREATES A PROBLEMATIC 5VIRONM5T 9 :I* ! DEVELOPM5T ( A CULTURE ( CRITICAL ?9K+1 CADRE DEVELOPM5T1 & ! ABILITY TO BE FLEXIBLE & ADAPTIVE IS SUPPRESS$ RA!R ?AN FACILITAT$4 

,RET>DATION ( ,DEVELOPM5T 

,LIMITATIONS ON DEBATE & A COMM&-/RUCTURE ( P>TY ACTIVITY GOES H& & H& ) HOLD+ BACK ! DEVELOPM5T ( COMPET5T CREATIVE ORGANIZ]S4 ,SU* A !ME IS REPEAT$ BY ACROSS T5D5CIES4 ,L\IS ,PROYECT DISCUSSES ! CULTIVAT$ SUBS]VI5CE ( MEMB]S TO LEAD]%IP 9 ! ,SOCIALI/ ,WORK]S' ,P>TY4 

0,I ALWAYS REMEMB] ONE RECURR+ TYPE ( 9CID5T FROM MY DAYS 9 ! ,S,W,P LEAD]%IP ?AT SYMBOLIZES = ME ONE ( ! BIGGE/ PROBLEMS ) :AT'S COME TO BE CALL$ ,L59ISM4 ,& ?AT IS :5 SOME BIG DEVELOPM5T W\LD TAKE PLACE1 & Y\NG] COMRADES --& DISPROPORTIONATELY WOM5 COMRADES-- W\LD ASK ME :AT 0WE0 ?\<T ( IT4 ,IT HAPP5$ TIME & AGA91 >\ND ! ,VIETNAMESE 9VASION ( ,CAMBODIA1 ! OV]?R[ ( ! ,GR5ADIAN REVOLUTION>Y GOV]NM5T BY ! ,CO>D FACTION 7YES1 9 ! NAME ( 0DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM071 ! ,P]UVIAN EMBASSY 0CRISIS0 9 ,CUBA & ! SUBSEQU5T ,M>IEL BOATLIFT1 ! ,IRANIAN ,REVOLUTION4 ,:AT DO 0WE0 ?9K ( IT4 ,?AT WAS ! QUE/ION4 ,ACCEPTANCE ( :ATEV] TRU? WAS AB\T TO BE REVEAL$ WAS ASSUM$1 AUTOMATIC1 UNQUE/ION$40.<#e#f.> 

,! ,AUTONOMIA1 A BROAD MOVEM5T ( ,ITALY'S UPSURGES DUR+ ! #a#i#gS1 WAS KN[N = IT'S CREATIVITY & NOVEL !ORY 9 SOCIAL /RUGGLES BO? 9SIDE & \TSIDE ! WORKPLACE4 ,YET1 :5 ONE ( ! AUTONOMIA GR\PS TRANSITION$ FROM A RA!R UN=M$ REVOLUTION>Y GR\P+ TO A ,M>XI/-,L59I/ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ GR\P1 SIMIL> PROBLEMS BEGAN TO EM]GE4 ,WE SEE ?IS DISCUSS$ 9 A BLOG AB\T ,BIG ,FLAME 7AN AUTONOMI/ GR\P FROM ,5GL& 9 ! #a#i#gS71 :I* DREW FROM ?AT TRADITION4 ,!IR ANALYSIS DRAWS FROM ,ITALIAN PRIM>Y S\RCES )9 ,LOTTA ,CONT9UA O!RWISE UNAVAILABLE 9 ,5GLI%4 

0,LOTTA ,CONT9UA'S ORGANIZATION PRIOR TO #aigc WAS RUDIM5T>Y4 ,AP>T FROM DECISION-MAK+ AT NATIONAL CONV5TIONS1 IT WAS RUN BY A GR\P ( OLD FRI5DS 7,S(RI 9 HIS #aigf CONGRESS SPEE* CONFESS$ TO A 0PRIVATE PATRIMONY074 ,!N ?+S *ANG$3 0,! !ORETICAL & POLITICAL =MATION ( CADRES1 ! ELECTION ( LEAD]S1 ! 9DIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES ( ! MILITANT 9 ! FRAMEWORK ( COLLECTIVE DISCIPL9E1 ! DIVISION ( TASKS & SPECIALIZATION 444,IT IS NO?+ ELSE ?AN ! DISCOV]Y ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & ! ?IRD-9T]NATIONALI/ CONCEPT ( ! P>TY0 7,BOBBIO P#a#c1 TRANSLATION ,DELLA ,PORTA P#h#h74 ,AS A RESULT FROM #aigc ONW>DS 0! POSSIBILITY ( COMRADES CONTRIBUT+ TO ! =MATION ( ! POLITICAL L9E WAS R$UC$2 ! RESPONSIBILITY = ! MAJOR DECISIONS WAS EV] MORE CONC5TRAT$ AT ! TOP ( ! PYRAMID40.<#e#g.> 

,?\< SOME >E LOOK+ TO DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A WAY TO MOVE BEYOND ! 9ABILITY ( ! MOVEM5T TO DEVELOP PEOPLE1 FACILITATE GREAT] CREATIVITY & /RATEGY 9 ACTION1 ETC41 HI/ORICALLY WE SEE EV5 9 ! AUTONOMI/ W+ ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM A T5D5CY TO R$UCE SU*4 ,DON ,HAMM]QUI/1 AGA9 DRAW+ FROM HIS EXP]I5CE 9 ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY ,U,S,A1 DESCRIBES A REPRESSIVE CAMPAIGN ?AT RAN AGA9/ SU* DEVELOPM5T4 ,CRITICISM & 5GAG+ ! POSITIONS ( LEAD]%IP W]E SE5 AS ATTACKS1 & 9T]ACTIONS AMONG ! BASE TO DEVELOP IDEAS W]E ACTIVELY REPRESS$ & DISC\RAG$4 

0,ONE ( ! IMPACTS ( ! ,SOVIET DOM9ATION ( ! 9T]NATIONAL MOVEM5T 9 ! PRIOR DECADES WAS ! CLOI/]+ & SANITIZ+ ( IMPORTANT ASPECTS ( REVOLUTION>Y !ORY & ! RELEVANT 9TELLECTUAL HI/ORY4 ,! ,SOVIET ID5TIFI$ COMMUNI/ P>TIES ACTIVELY DISC\RAG$ ANY /UDY ( PRIM>Y WRIT+S 9 ! COMMUNI/ TRADITION - SPECIFICALLY ,CAPITAL - & OPPOS$ ANY ATTEMPTS TO PLACE MAJOR !ORETICAL CONTRIBUTIONS & DEBATES 9TO !IR ACTUAL HI/ORICAL CONTEXT4 ,9/EAD1 A LI/ ( 'GOOD' & 'BAD' AU?ORS1 A FEW SANCTION$ PIECES FROM ,5GELS1 ,M>X1 & ,L591 & SOME T]RIBLE ATTEMPTS AT SUMM>IZATIONS & POPUL>IZATIONS FROM H\SE 9TELLECTUALS W]E PRES5T$ AS A F9I%$ & CLOS$ SCI5TIFIC SY/EM ) SIMPLE LESSONS TO BE 9T]NALIZ$ & OBEY$ - BUT ) NO?+ ?AT *ALL5G$ OR WAS MEANT TO BE *ALL5G$4 

74447 

,9 #a#i#f#h1 A GR\P ( US 9 ! ,C4,P4,U4,S4,A4 W]E DISCIPL9$ BY ! ,NATIONAL ,BO>D & A LITTLE LAT] ,I WAS PUT ON TRIAL BE=E ! ,NATIONAL ,COMMITTEE = 0FACTIONALISM04 ,A NUMB] ( ISSUES W]E 9VOLV$1 ONE ( :I* RELAT$ 9DIRECTLY TO ,AL?USS]4 ,WE W]E *>G$ ) 5GAG+ 9 0HORIZONTAL0 DISCUSSIONS )9 ! P>TY & OP5+ UP ?OSE DISCUSSIONS TO 9DIVIDUALS & GR\P+S \TSIDE ( ! P>TY4 7,! HI/ORICAL PREC$5TS = ?IS =M ( DISCIPL9E 9 ! ,COMMUNI/ MOVEM5T /RET* BACK TO ! #a? ,CONGRESS ( ! ,C,P,S,U1 BUT IT WAS PRETTY MU* UNKN[N BE=E ?AT TIME4 D4H47 ,\R P>TICUL> 0FACTIONAL0 DISCUSSIONS C5T]$ >\ND A DOCUM5T ?AT *ALL5G$ ! ,P>TY'S PROGRAM :I* WAS !N 9 A DRAFT =M40.<#e#h.> 

,IT IS NOT SIMPLY ?AT !SE ORGANIZATIONS FAIL$ TO FACILITATE GREAT] DEVELOPM5T1 BUT ?AT !Y W]E ORGANIZ$ AGA9/ SU* HAPP5+4 ,!RE W]E SY/EMATIC ATTEMPTS TO PREV5T ! GR[? & 9DEP5D5T ?\<T AMONG CADRE1 & A DISCIPL9>Y REGIME ?AT W\LD RESPOND TO POT5TIAL NEW P[]S4 ,OBVI\SLY1 A RETRIBUTIVE OR ADV]S>IAL ORI5TATION T[>DS ! MULTIPLICATION ( LEAD]%IP 9 ! MOVEM5T IS REACTION>Y & SUICIDAL4 ,?AT HI/ORY RAISES ! QUE/ION >\ND H[ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM CAN CAPITALIZE ON ! /R5G? ( SU* DISAGREEM5T & DEVELOPM5T1 GIV5 IT'S ROTATION >\ND AN AXIS ( ?AT POLITICAL C5T]4 

,CONCLUSIONS 9 ,PRACTICE 

0,A BETT] WAY ( POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ?AN ,/AL9I/ HI]>*Y NE$S TO BE F\ND4 ,BUT ! UND]LY+ PROJECT - COH]+ REVOLUTION>Y-M9D$ ACTIVI/S 9TO A COLLECTIVE BODY ( CADRE - REMA9S A CRUCIAL TASK = CON/RUCT+ ANY EFFECTIVE LEFT40.<#e#i.> 

--,MAX ,ELBAUM 

,= G5]ATIONS ( RADICALS ATTEMPT+ TO BUILD REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS ?AT CAN *ALL5GE CAPITALISM1 NEI!R ! LEGACY ( COMMUNI/ MOVEM5TS NOR ITS !ORIES HAVE BE5 NEUTRAL4 ,! *ALL5GES ( BUILD+ A REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T 9 \R CONJUCTURE HAS A NEGATIVE SYN]GY ) ! C5TRALIZ+ IMPULSES ?AT DRIVE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,SIMPLY PUT1 ! *ALL5GES ( ORGANIZ+ \TSIDE ( A TIME ( MOVEM5TS & ) LITTLE HI/ORICAL LEGACY PASS$ ON FROM PREVI\S G5]ATIONS >E =CES ?AT PU% PEOPLE T[>DS C5TRALIZ+ %ORTCUTS ?AT !Y HOPE WILL G5]ATE ! NECESS>Y /RUGGLE4 ,9 FACT TYPICALLY ! OPPOSITE OCCURS1 /RUGGLES >E HELD BACK BY ! CONS]VATIVE & DOM9AT+ T5D5CIES ( !SE GR\PS4 ,:ILE WE %\LD NOT CONCLUDE ?AT SU* REPREH5SIBLE ACTIVITY SE5 ABOVE IS AUTOMATICALLY DRIV5 BY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ !ORY1 WE %\LD RECOGNIZE ?AT SU* T5D5CIES RESIDE DEEPLY )9 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A POT5TIAL1 & 9 FACT CANNOT BE CLEAV$ FROM IT SIMPLY BY CRITIQU+ BUREAUCRACY & APPLAUD+ DEMOCRACY4 ,:ILE ?IS BR[S+ ( REC5T HI/ORY IS 9H]5TLY 9COMPLETE & SELECTIVE1 TAK+ A BROAD VIEW WE CAN SEE ?AT IT RAISES S]I\S *ALL5GES = ANYONE TRY+ TO REVISE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AWAY FROM IT'S BUREAUCRATIZ+ & C5TRALI/ ORI5TATIONS4 ,IT ISN'T ?AT SU* EXAMPLES >E ! ONLY TYPE ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 BUT RA!R ?AT ! FI<TS & DEVIATIONS OCCUR >\ND A C5TRAL AXIS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ?AT EXPOSE ITS 9H]5T WEAKNESSES4 

,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM ,\TSIDE ( ,TIME & ,SPACE 

,NOT ALL DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/S EMBRACE ,L59ISM H[EV]4 ,SOME GR\PS 9 ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA HAVE REJECT$ !IR =M] ID5TIFICATION ) ,M>XISM & ,L59ISM1 & 9/EAD CALL$ !MSELVES DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ & DIALECTICAL MAT]IALI/ )\T O!R ID5TIFICATIONS4.<#f.> ,!RE IS A POSSIBILITY !N ( >GU+ ?AT EV]Y?+ ,I DESCRIB$ ABOVE IS ACTUALLY BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM & ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WAS NOT PRACTIC$ HI/ORICALLY1 EV5 ?\< PEOPLE CLAIM$ IT4 ,= 9/ANCE ! ,PU]TO ,RICAN ,SOCIALI/ ,WORK]S ,MOVEM5T 7,M,/7 CRITICIZES SU* A CONCEPTION3 

0,WE SOCIALI/S :O ASPIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO UNIFY+ BROAD SECTORS ( ! WORK+ CLASS & PEOPLE 9 ONE OR SEV]AL MASS ORGANIZATIONS1 FRONTS1 OR MOVEM5TS SEEK+ POLITICAL P[]1 CAN'T EV5 POND] ?AT POSSIBILITY IF WE'RE W$D$ TO AN ORGANIZATIONAL CONCEPTION ACCORD+ TO :I*1 9 ORD] TO FI<T = A COMMON GOAL1 ALL MEMB]S ( AN ORGANIZATION MU/ OBEY A POSITION EV5 IF A L>GE SECTOR DOESN'T AGREE ) IT4 ,SU* A CONCEPTION NOT ONLY ATTEMPTS TO HOMOG5IZE1 NEGLECT+ ! EXI/+ HET]OG5EITY1 BY MEANS ( A MAJORITY VOTE2 EV5 WORSE1 CONV]T+ 0DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM0 9TO A FUNDAM5TAL CRIT]IA = BE+ P>T ( AN ORGANIZATION1 IT SACRIFICES ! CONCRETE CONTRIBUTIONS ?AT ! M9ORITY SECTOR CAN MAKE 9 ?OSE ASPECTS :]E !RE IS AGREEM5T40.<#f#a.> 

,UNLIKE ! ,BOL%EVIK CONCEPTION :]E DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS A PROP]TY ( ORGANIZATIONS 7E4G4 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATIONS71 ?IS >GUM5T HOLDS ?AT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS M]ELY A PROCESS OR A ME?OD = ! 9T]NAL FUNCTION+ ( REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATIONS 7E4G4 ORGANIZATIONS DO OR DON'T PRACTICE DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AS A PROCESS1 BUT !RE >E NO DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATIONS74 ,UND] SU* A CONCEPTION1 DEMOCRACY IS ! COLLECTIVE PROCESS BY :I* WE COME TO HAVE UNITY1 & C5TRALISM IS :]E WE DEVELOP A COMMON C\RSE ( ACTION1 POSITION1 OR L9E4.<#f#b.> ,! ,M,/ = EXAMPLE REJECTS ! DISCIPL9E ( M9ORITIES TO ! MAJORITY TRADITIONAL TO MO/ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ ORGANIZATIONS4 

0,ADH]5CE TO A SOCIALI/ POLITICAL ORGANIZATION IS A VOLUNT>Y ACT1 FREELY AGRE$ UPON1 ?AT %\LDN'T BE M$IAT$ BY CO]CIVE ?REATS OR DISCIPL9>Y MEASURES4 ,DISCIPL9E 9 A SOCIALI/ ORGANIZATION IS A CONSCI\S ME*ANISM ?AT ALL[S ! UNIFICATION ( 9DIVIDUAL WILLS TO /RUGGLE = COLLECTIVE GOALS4 ,WE'RE CONV9C$ ?AT ONCE A DECISION HAS BE5 TAK51 ! MAJORITY 7?OSE :O VOT$ 9 FAVOR7 %\LD HAVE ! MA9 RESPONSIBILITY ( PUTT+ IT 9 PRACTICE2 ! M9ORITY 7?OSE :O VOT$ AGA9/7 %\LD HAVE ! OPTION ( /&+ BY IT OR NOT4 ,! ORGANIZATION %\LD NOT =CE ANYONE1 UND] ?REAT ( DISCIPL9>Y MEASURES1 TO /& BY A DECISION ?AT MAY H>M ! PR9CIPLES ( CONSCI5CE ( ONE OR MORE ( ITS MEMB]S40.<#f#c.> 

,! DIALECTIC BETWE5 DEMOCRACY & C5TRALIZATION SUPPOS$LY W\LD YIELD A MORE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION ?AN O!R ME?ODS BECAUSE ( ! 5GAGEM5T ( ALL 9 ! DECISION1 /RUGGLE1 & ! BACK & =? BETWE5 PRACTICE1 IDEAS1 & UNITY4.<#f#d.> ,NOTABLY ABS5T IS ! COMMITM5T TO C5TRAL BODIES ) DIRECTIVE P[]S4 ,?IS W\LD SEEM TO SOLVE SOME ( ! PROBLEMS ABOVE BY ELIM9AT+ ! CONFLATIONS ( P[] & POSITION1 C5TRALISM & UNITY1 ETC4 

,! PROBLEM IS ?AT ?IS IS NOT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 & IT FAILS TO ANSW] ! PROBLEMS ( ORGANIZ+ BY SIMPLY TRY+ TO CLEAVE ! HI/ORICAL BAGGAGE ?AT SURR\NDS ! CONCEPT4 ,?IS >GUM5T IS FUNDAM5TALLY FLAW$ BECAUSE IT ATTEMPTS TO TAKE A MAT]IAL CONCEPT ROOT$ 9 HI/ORY1 AB/RACT AWAY ALL CONTEXT1 & PUT 9TO ITS PLACE ANO!R4 ,BEH9D EV]Y 9TELLECTUAL MOVE LIKE ?IS1 !RE'S AN OBJECTIVE REALITY4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM DID NOT COME \T ( NO:]E1 BUT WAS A CONCEPT BUILT 9 ! /RUGGLE :I* DEVELOP$ ITS [N TRADITION1 !ORI/S1 & PRACTICES4 ,AN ATTEMPT TO CONTE/ ?AT TRADITION & >GUE = ANO!R NE$S TO BASE ITSELF NOT M]ELY ON ASS]T+ A DIFF]5T SEMANTIC MEAN+1 BUT ON REAL PRACTICES & 5GAG+ ) H[ ! !ORY DEVELOP$1 :]E IT CAME FROM1 & :Y ?IS !ORY ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM IS JU/ ?AT & NOT SOME O!R !ORY4 ,MOREOV]1 IF AMBIGUITIES PLAGUE ! !ORY ITSELF1 SIMPLY CUTT+ AWAY ! BUREAUCRATIC ELEM5TS ( ! !ORY DOESN'T NECESS>ILY GU>ANTEE ?AT Y\'LL AVOID ! WOR/ ( ! C5TRALIZ+ T5D5CIES4 ,?AT IS1 IF WE DO NOT (F] A CLE> ALT]NATIVE TO :Y DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM T5D$ TO PRODUCE REPRESSIVE BUREAUCRATIC /RUCTURE1 WE MAY SIMPLY REPRODUCE IT4 

,FUR!RMORE1 POLITICALLY ?IS IS QUE/IONABLE4 ,FIR/1 :Y ATTEMPT TO AHI/ORICALLY RECON/RUCT ! !ORY AT ALL8 ,IF !RE IS A RECOGNITION ( ! NE$ TO PULL ! !ORY AWAY FROM ! TRADITION ?AT ELABORAT$ IT1 :Y NOT AB&ON ! PROBLEMATIC CONCEPT AS WELL8 ,:Y IS IT BETT] TO KEEP DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 & TRY TO >GUE AGA9/ EV]Y?+ ?AT IT WAS SEP>ATE FROM ! HI/ORY & PEOPLE ?AT DEVELOP$ IT8 ,SECOND1 :Y DO SO )\T ANY ATTEMPT TO 5GAGE ?AT DEBATE1 9/EAD M]ELY CA/IGAT+ ALL ! ACTUAL DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ TRADITION AS BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALI/8 ,IF WE LEVEL ATTACKS ON ! !ORY1 IT IS BETT] TO 5GAGE ?AT TRADITION & (F] AN ALT]NATIVE ?AN IT IS TO M]ELY EX-COMMUNICATE IT OR SEMANTICALLY *ANGE DEF9ITIONS4 ,?IRD1 CAN IT EV5 BE TAK5 S]I\SLY AT ALL :5 SOMEONE ATTEMPTS TO PUT =W>D IDEAS :I* CLAIM A HI/ORICAL CONCEPT BUT FAIL TO 5GAGE OR EV5 ACKN[L$GE ! CONTEXT \T ( :I* IT WAS BORN8 ,IT BORD]S ON BE+ UNPR9CIPL$ OR 9T5TIONALLY MISLEAD+4 ,! RESPONSE ?AT ! HORRORS ( ,RUSSIA OR ,*9A W]E NOT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ IS UNSATISFY+1 IT ATTEMPTS TO SKIRT REAL ISSUES BY CREAT+ SEMANTIC MOV+ T>GETS4 

,!SE >E ! PROBLEMS 9H]IT$ :5 WE ATTEMPT TO TAKE UP !SE TOOLS UNCRITICALLY1 & ATTEMPT TO BRU% REAL PROBLEMS UND] ! RUG )\T CONFRONT+ !M4 ,M]ELY US+ A LABEL 7BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM7 TO ATTACK PRACTICES Y\ DON'T LIKE & DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM = ?OSE Y\ DO FAILS TO ADDRESS ! ACTUAL IMPORTANT DEBATES ?AT PRODUC$ BO? 9SI<TS & ]RORS4 ,?IS MOVE IS ESS5TIALLY IDEALI/1 & WORKS AGA9/ ! BE/ ( ! REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T1 :I* IS ! ATTEMPT TO GR\ND \R IDEAS 9 ! CONCRETE MOVEM5TS ( ! POPUL> CLASSES1 ITS HI/ORY1 & ITS T5D5CIES & TRADITIONS 9 /RUGGLE4 

,WORSE1 IT SEEMS TO OBSCURE ! ]RORS & FAILURES ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9 A TIME :5 WE DESP]ATELY NE$ TO MOVE BEYOND !M1 RA!R ?AN TO PASS OV] !M 9 SIL5CE4 ,! FALL\T IS ?AT WE W\LD BE 9V5T+ A NEW !ORY :ILE US+ A NAME FROM ANO!R HI/ORY4 ,?IS GIVES LEGITIMACY & SPACE TO ?AT REAL ! PROBLEMS ?AT EXI/ )9 ?AT TRADITION & DIS>MS \RSELVES AGA9/ ?OSE PRACTICES4 ,IT PUTS US ONLY 9 A POSITION TO >GUE = ! 0REAL0 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM AGA9/ ! 0REAL0 BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM ?AT BORD]S ON RELIGI\S OR CANONICAL EX]CISES LESS ?AN REAL REVOLUTION>Y WORK4 ,S9CE !RE >E O!R CONCEPTS1 O!R TRADITIONS1 & WORK )9 ! /RUGGLES ( ! PROLET>IAT ?AT W]E \TSIDE1 AGA9/1 & BEYOND DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 !RE IS LITTLE REASON TO KEEP FLAW$ CONCEPTS & UNCRITICALLY 9H]IT ! BAGGAGE ?AT POISONS ! B5EFITS4 ,! AMBIGUITY >\ND ! ELEM5TS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ !ORY CREATES REAL PROBLEMS4 ,!SE >E NOT PROBLEMS :I* CAN BE M]ELY AVOID$ BY REF9+ ! T]MS4 ,WE NE$ DIFF]5T CONCEPTS & PRACTICES ALL TOGE!R4 

,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM 9 ,\R ,TIME 

,:ATEV] MAY BE SAID ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 7& IT %\LD BE REJECT$71 ! MOTIVATIONS ?AT L$ TO ITS DEVELOPM5T >E RADICALLY DI/9CT FROM \R SITUATION4 ,IF WE LOOK AT ! BIR? ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & ITS MATURATION1 NEI!R CASE IS ANALOG\S TO \R [N4 ,WE DO NOT LIVE 9 ! POLITICAL CLIMATE ( ,RUSSIA OR ,ITALY 9 #aie OR #a#i#a#i1 NOR ! ECONOMIC CLIMATE ( ,*9A 9 #aici OR #a#i#e4 

,TAK5 9 ITS MO/ BROAD & DILUTE =M1 WE CAN LE>N FROM ! NECESSITY ( HAV+ AN 9T]NAL PROCESS & LIFE ( AN ORGANIZATION ( COM+ TO UNITY1 DECID+ ON ?AT UNITY1 & BE+ S]I\S & COMMITT$ TO EXECUT+ \R PLANS BAS$ ON \R COLLECTIVE DEMOCRACY4 ,?IS IS TOO G5]AL TO BE CALL$ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM )\T MAK+ EV]YONE ALREADY DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/S1 BUT IT IS A BASIC !ORY %>$ ) NON-AU?ORIT>IAN TRADITIONS & CAN BE SE5 AS ! DIAMOND WE CAN EXTRACT FROM ! RUFF4 ,MOREOV]1 IT'S AN 9SI<T LO/ ON MO/ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/S1 GIV5 ! DANG]\S CONFLATIONS ( PR(ESSIONAL REVOLUTION>IES1 C5TRALIZATION1 & DISCIPL9E4 

,! MORE CRASS 7& MO/ POPUL>7 =M ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 ) ITS SUBMISSION ( ! BASE ( ! P>TY TO ! DECISIONS ( C5TRAL COMMITTEES ) M&ATE P[]S.<#f#e.> W\LD F>E & DOES F>E MIS]ABLY 9 \R 5VIRONM5T4 ,?\< C\NTLESS PUBLICATIONS TODAY TRY TO >GUE ?AT PRACTIC+ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM WILL SOLVE GAPS 9 CONSCI\SNESS & PRACTICE1 DISORGANIZATION1 & FAILURES ( SOCIAL MOVEM5TS1 9 PRACTICE WE (T5 SEE ! OPPOSITE4 ,?AT IS IF ONE IS EV5 ABLE TO DO ! M5TAL GYMNA/ICS NECESS>Y TO IGNORE ITS ROLE 9 BR++ AB\T REPRESSIVE /ATE CAPITALI/ DISA/]S4 

,IT IS TOTALLY UNCLE> H[ ?IS W\LD BE A USEFUL ME?OD = BUILD+ REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION N[4 ,GIV5 ?AT ! LEFT ITSELF IS DE=M$ & ISOLAT$1 & ITS !ORY />KLY AB/RACT$ FROM PRAXIS1 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM /ULTIFIES ?AT SITUATION4 ,FOCUS+ ON C5TRALIZ+ LEAD]%IP :5 ! LEAD]%IP ITSELF IS ISOLAT$1 LACKS PRACTICE1 & REFLECTS ALL ! PROBLEMS ( ! DOM9ANT SOCIETY IS A RECIPE = MALICE4 ,!RE'S A DIFF]5CE BETWE5 A POLITICAL SECT C5TRALIZ+ LEAD]%IP & A REVOLUTION>Y P>TY DO+ SO 7NOT ?AT ?AT IS LESS PROBLEMATIC EI!R74 ,IT'S A LOGICAL LEAP TO ASSUME ?AT MIMICK+ ,L59'S P>TY 9 \R TIME WILL HAVE A SIMIL> EFFECT AS ! TIME IT >OSE \T (4 ,9 ACTUAL FACT ?IS APPROA* RISKS 7OR GU>ANTEES7 C5TRALIZ+ DE=M$ LEAD]%IP & MAK+ CONCRETE ! LEFT'S ALI5ATION FROM /RUGGLE4 ,BY FETI%IZ+ ! 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ POLITICAL C5T] 9 A TIME ( DEEP LEFT ALI5ATION1 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9T5SIFIES ! WOR/ DYNAMICS ( ISOLAT$ MICRO-SECTS4 ,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM 9 \R TIME !N IS EV5 MORE PROBLEMATIC4 

,TROTSKYI/S' ANALYSIS ( A CRISIS ( LEAD]%IP 9 ! WORK+ CLASS.<#f#f.> MAKES ?IS PROBLEM /ILL WORSE1 S9CE !RE IS ALREADY IS A CRISIS ( LEAD]%IP ( ! LEFT6 ,M]ELY CODIFY+ ?AT LEAD]%IP ) DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM MAKES ! PROBLEM WORSE4 ,HI/ORICALLY WE CAN SEE H[ ?IS HAS NOT WORK$ \T 9 PRACTICE EI!R1 AS ! REVOLUTION>Y LEAD]%IP ( ,TROTSKYI/S 9 ! UNIONS 9 ! ,U,S HAS YIELD$ A RE=MI/ PRACTICE4 ,DESPITE #h YE>S ( ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE & LEAD ! UNIONS1 :5 ?AT LEAD]%IP WAS A*IEV$ USUALLY ! RE=M]S BECAME RE=MI/S1 & 9 MANY CASES REPRESS$ WORK]S /RUGGLE JU/ AS ! REACTION>Y LEAD]%IP ( ?OSE 9/ITUTIONS DID4 ,:ATEV] M]IT MAY BE SAID ( HAV+ LEFT LEAD]%IP ( BUS9ESS UNIONS 7NOT MU*71 IT IS CLE> ?AT ! LEAD]%IP 79 ! FEW PLACES IT WAS SUCCESSFUL7 EVAPORAT$ 9 POSITIONS ( P[]1 OR AT LEA/ LEFT US LITTLE REVOLUTION>Y LEGACY WE CAN PO9T TO AS SUCCESSES4 ,?AT /RATEGY HAS LEFT US M]ELY ) ! SAME ORGANS ( RE=MISM1 REPRESSION1 & /AGNATION4 

,T[>DS A ,FRE% ,ORGANIZATION 

,TO SOLVE ! T5SION ( BUREAUCRACY & REPRESSION 5DEMIC TO DEMOCRATIC C5TRALI/ PRACTICE1 WE NE$ DIFF]5T CONCEPTS & DIFF]5T PRACTICES4 ,9DE$ ?IS PROBLEM ITSELF IS BIGG] ?AN DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,LIKE ANY SECTION ( HUMAN HI/ORY1 WE CAN & MU/ LE>N FROM ! EXP]I5CES ?AT EM]G$ FROM SU* MOVEM5TS4 ,!RE >E POSITIVE ELEM5TS ?AT SPEAK TO \R SITUATION TODAY1 BUT AS WE HAVE SE5 DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM C>RIES ) IT 9H]5T DANG]S ?AT DEM& A CRITICAL DEP>TURE4 

,LIKEWISE ! M>XI/ TRADITION HI/ORICALLY HIT A =K 9 ! ROAD ) ORGANIZATION4 ,! F\R MA9 CURR5TS ( M>XI/ POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ALL RAN AGR\ND BY ! 5D ( ! LA/ C5TURY4 ,SOCIAL DEMOCRACY1 :I* ,M>X & ,5GELS HELP$ F\ND1 EV5TUALLY LO/ ALL ILLUSIONS ( REVOLUTION 7IF IT EV] HAD ANY74 ,MU* ( ! ORIG9AL SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC =CES MOV$ TO A RE=MI/ GRADUALISM ( *ANGE )9 ! CAPITALI/ /ATE1 & 9 MO/ CASES CAME TO EMBRACE ! M>KET & CAPITAL FROM ! HALLS ( P[]4 ,9DE$ TODAY IT IS SOCIAL DEMOCRACY ?AT IS AMONG ! DRIV+ =CES ( AU/]ITY & NEOLIB]ALISM1 EV5 IF APOLOGETIC1 & ?IS IS TRUE FROM ,EUROPE TO ,9DIA & ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA4 

,AMONG ORGANIZ$ REVOLUTION>Y ,M>XI/ ?\<T1 FOCO OR GU]RILLA !ORY & ,L59ISM REMA9 :I* >E ! BA/IONS ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4 ,! FAILURES ( FOCO !ORY 9 ,LAT9 ,AM]ICAN GU]RILLA MOVEM5TS ACROSS ! PA/ DECADES APPE>S TO HAVE AID$ 9 ITS WAN+4 ,M>XI/-L59ISM ITSELF1 :ILE /ILL SIGNIFICANT1 HAS SUFF]$ 5ORM\S BL[S ) ! DECL9E ( ! ,SOVIET BLOCK & ,*9A'S EMBRACE ( ,M>XI/ CAPITALISM4 

,ON ! LIB]T>IAN SIDE1 MO/ ( ! ,M>XI/ ULTRALEFT 7EXCEPT ! ,BORDIGUI/S :O EMBRACE A C\S9 ( ,L59ISM PURG$ ( ITS DEMOCRATIC ELEM5TS7 AB&ON$ ORGANIZATION ALL TOGE!R 9 FAVOR ( SPONTANE\S REVOLUTION &_/OR DET]M9I/ IDEAS ( REVOLUTION AS A =M ( REVOLUTION>Y DE/9Y4 ,POLITICAL & MASS ORGANIZATIONS ALIKE >E SE5 TO C>RY 9H]5T RE=MI/ OR REACTION>Y POT5TIAL :I* B>S ! DOOR1 OR AT LEA/ UNTIL ! SPONTANE\S EM]G5CE ( REVOLUTION>Y =MATIONS AMONG ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,9/EAD1 ULTRALEFT ?9K]S TURN TO ! 9T]NAL DYNAMICS ( CAPITAL ITSELF TO DELIV] REVOLUTION4 ,CONSEQU5TLY AMONG MO/ C\NCILI/S & ! ULTRALEFT NO !ORY ( ORGANIZATION REMA9S1 EV5 ! EXP]IM5TS ) WORK]S ORGANIZATION ( !IR E>LY ]AS HAS BE5 AB&ON$4.<#f#g.> 

,L59I/ SUB/ITUTIONISM 7! P>TY SUB/ITUTES ITSELF = ! CLASS7 & ULTRALEFT FAI? 9 SPONTANE\S REVOLUTION ILLUM9ATES ! SPECTRUM ( ! PROBLEM4 ,FAC$ ) ! HI/ORICAL DEFEATS ( ! #b? C5TURY1 ! PRES5T /ATE ( M>XISM REVEALS DEEP T5SIONS 9 TRY+ TO CON/RUCT ANSW]S BUILD+ ORGANIZATION BEYOND SUB/ITUTION1 BUREAUCRATISM1 AU?ORIT>IANISM1 OR RE=MISM4 ,FAC$ ) ! DEAD 5DS ( SOCIAL DEMOCRACY1 ! BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALI/ TRADITION ( ,L59I/ 9SPIR$ MOVEM5TS1 & DET]M9I/ FAI? ( ! LIB]T>IAN M>XI/ CURR5TS1 M>XISM 9DE$ TODAY FACES A CRISIS ( ORGANIZATION4 

,!RE >E O!R EXP]I5CES WE CAN DRAW FROM H[EV]4.<#f#h.> ,SEP>AT$ BY CONT95TS & DECADES 9 TIME1 ! ORGANIZ$ AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ MOVEM5T (T5 CAME TO SIMIL> CONCLUSIONS 9 !IR /RUGGLES4 ,! ,*9ESE ,%IFUI/S1.<#f#i.> ,KOREAN ,AN>*I/ ,COMMUNI/S 9 ,MAN*URIA1.<#g.> ! ,URUGUAYAN & ,>G5T9IAN ESPECIFI/AS1.<#g#a.> ,EUROPEAN PLAT=MI/S1.<#g#b.> & ,ITALIAN DUAL ORGANIZATIONALI/S1.<#g#c.> PUT =W>D LIB]T>IAN CONCEPTIONS ( ORGANIZATION BAS$ ON ! RUPTURES ( FROM #aiag TO ! #a#i#gS4 ,BUILT FROM ! DEEPE/ REVOLUTIONS TO HAVE *ALL5G$ CAPITAL 9 ! #b? C5TURY1 ?IS BROAD TRADITION REPRES5TS A GLOBAL PRAXIS ( ORGANIZATION AP>T FROM RE=MI/ & AU?ORIT>IAN EXP]I5CES4 ,COMMON TO ALL IS A CONCEPT ( LIB]T>IAN ORGANIZ$ ACTION ) COMMON /RATEGY1 ANALYSIS1 & GOALS ?AT IS AT ONCE /RATEGIC & BAS$ UPON COLLECTIVE DEMOCRACY4 

,DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM RAISES REAL QUE/IONS = ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS AS WELL ( C\RSE4 ,9 A REVOLUTION>Y SITUATION ( REPRESSION1 H[ CAN WE ADDRESS UNEV5NESS 9 \R =CES8 ,H[ CAN WE MA9TA9 ! DEMOCRATIC DECISIONS ( COLLECTIVITIES1 :ILE UNIT+ TO CREATE COMMUNISM DIRECTLY8 ,?\< ! ANSW]S >E FLAW$1 IT'S DANG]\S TO \T ( H& DISMISS ! PROBLEMS4 ,H]E ! AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ TRADITION HAS A LOT TO GIVE4 

,FIR/1 !RE IS ! CONCEPT ( ORGANIZATION AS A POLE = ! DEVELOPM5T ( IDEAS 9 ! /RUGGLE ( ! POPUL> CLASSES4 ,RA!R ?AN A HI]>*ICAL CONCEPTION ( A DIRECTIVE M9ORITY1 ?IS TRADITION SEES ! V]Y FUNCTION ( ORGANIZATION TO MULTIPLY CAPACITY1 & ?AT LEAD]%IP IS AB\T A LIB]T>IAN P$AGOGICAL RELATION%IP ( DEVELOP+ PRAXIS ?R\< ! BACK & =? BETWE5 IDEAS & ACTION4 ,RA!R ?AN 9/ITUTIONALIZ+ LEAD]%IP 9TO A PR(ESSIONAL P>TY CLASS1 AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ ORGANIZATIONS 9TEGRAT$ AN $UCATIONAL ME?OD 9TO !IR WORK AS RANK & FILE SOCIAL MOVEM5T MILITANTS1 & 9T]NALLY ?R\< TRY+ TO ELEVATE ALL MEMB]S & C\NT]ACT ! REPRODUCTION ( CLASS1 RACE1 & SEX HI]>*IES TRANSMITT$ 9 CAPITALI/ & /ATI/ RELATION%IPS4 

,SECOND1 ?IS TRADITION (F]$ ! IDEAS ( UNITY A*IEV$ ?R\< COLLECTIVE ACC\NTABILITY4 ,RECOGNIZ+ ! NE$ = COORD9ATION & /RATEGY DOES NOT IMPLY NECESS>ILY SPECIALIZ$ AU?ORITIES EI!R TO IMPOSE OR !ORIZE IT4 ,AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP$ PRACTICES >\ND BOTTOM UP ACC\NTABILITY & HORIZONTAL COORD9ATION ( REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLE4 ,EXP]I5CES 9 ,SPA91 ,URUGUAY1 & ,ITALY = EXAMPLE1 %[$ BO? ! P[] & NECESSITY = OV]COM+ ! FALSE DI*OTOMY ( ! 9T]V5TION ( M9ORITIES 9 9SURRECTION>Y MOM5TS ) ! IMPOSITION ( ! WILL ( A DIRECTIVE M9ORITY4 

,LA/LY1 AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ ORGANIZATIONALI/S HAVE %[N ! ABILITY TO CREATE MODELS = BUILD+ REVOLUTION>Y CURR5TS NOT JU/ 9 HEAT ( B>RICADES DUR+ REVOLUTIONS1 BUT 9 \R TIME1 9 ! CORE & P]IPH]Y C\NTRIES1 & TO *ANG+ REALITIES4 ,RA!R ?AN SEE+ ORGANIZATION AS A TIMELESS ME?OD1 !RE IS RECOGNITION ( DIFF]5T TASKS 7$UCATIONAL1 MOVEM5T1 & 9SURRECTION>Y7 9 DIFF]5T TIMES4 ,DI/9CTIONS BETWE5 CONCEPTS LIKE SOCIAL WORK & SOCIAL 9S]TION1 ! BATTLE ( IDEAS1 & QUE/IONS ( DIFF]5T CONJECTURES & PHASES >E SPREAD ACROSS ! LIT]ATURE4 

,9/EAD ( A PROJECT ( TRY+ TO RESURRECT A PURIFI$ V]SION ( DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 WE NE$ \R [N !ORY ?AT CAN BREAK AP>T ! AMBIGUITIES1 & MAKE ELABORATE ! REVOLUTION>Y PROCESS ( MASS /RUGGLE & REVOLUTION>Y DEVELOPM5T4 ,TO DO SO 9 A TIME ( L[ /RUGGLE1 RUL+ CLASS ASSAULTS & ! ALI5ATION ( ! LEFT FROM PRACTICE REQUIRES A !ORY = \R [N TIME4 ,NO SU* !ORY OR PRACTICE WILL COME PREPACKAG$1 & NO CRITIQUE WILL PROVIDE US ) A P]FECT %IELD4 ,/ILL ?R\< UND]/&+ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM & ALT]NATIVES1 WE CAN BETT] PREP>E = BUILD+ \R [N4 

,SCOTT ,NAPPOLAS IS A ,MIAMI BAS$ HEAL? C>E WORK]4 ,HIS WORKS HAVE BE5 PUBLI%$ BY ,A,K PRESS1 ,P,M PRESS1 ,BLACK ,CAT ,PRESS1 ,TURBUL5CE1 ! ,9DU/RIAL ,WORK]1 ,?\<TCRIME ,9K1 & ,AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ ,REVIEW4 ,?IS PIECE WAS ORIG9ALLY PUBLI%$ BY ,MIAMI ,AUTONOMY @& ,SOLID>ITY4 

.<#a.> ,*RETI51 ,T4 #b#g4 0,L59'S !ORY ( ! P>TY40 ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,REVIEW1 ,NO4 #e#f1 ,NOVEMB]-,DECEMB]4 

.<#b.> ,H>MAN1 ,C4 #a#i#i#h4 0,= DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM40 ,9T]NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,J\RNAL1 ,NO4 #h4 

.<#c.> ,B,J4 #b#d4 0,! ,CRISIS )9 ! ,LEFT3 ,!ORY1 ,PROGRAM1 ,ORGANIZATION40 ,DECEMB] #c#a1 #b#d4 ,FRE$OM ,ROAD ,SOCIALI/ ,ORGANIZATION_/,ORGANIZACION ,SOCIALI/A DEL ,CAM9O P>A LA ,LIB]TAD4 

.<#d.> ,COMMISSION ( ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE ( ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION4 ,HI/ORY ( ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION 7,BOL%EVIKS74 ,%ORT ,C\RSE4 ,NEW ,YORK3 ,9T]NATIONAL ,PUBLI%]S1 #a#i#c#i1 P4 #a#i#h4 

.<#e.> ,A FAIR ASSESSM5T W\LD REQUIRE A MULTI-VOLUME BOOK ) EXT5SIVE HI/ORY & 9VE/IGATION ( MORE !ORI/S4 ,I HAVE /ROVE TO MAKE ?IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO RADICALS ) SOME KN[L$GE ( ! HI/ORY & TRADITIONS SO ?AT IT MAY HELP \R MOVEM5T ?9K MAT]IALLY AB\T \R /RATEGY & MOVE =W>D4 ,?AT IS MY PRIM>Y MOTIVATION4 

.<#f.> ,VAN1 ,NGO4 #b#a4 ,9 ! ,CROSSFIRE3 ,ADV5TURES ( A ,VIETNAMESE ,REVOLUTION>Y4 ,A,K ,PRESS4 

.<#g.> ,= AN 9TRODUCTION TO ! DISCUSSION ON ! /ATE CAPITALI/ NATURE ( ! =M]-SOVIET /ATES !RE >E A NUMB] ( S\RCES4 ,C,L,R ,JAMES' ,/ATE ,CAPITALISM & ,WORLD ,REVOLUTION IS A GOOD ACC\NT FROM ?IS P]SPECTIVE4 ,BORDIGA ALT]NATIVELY >GU$ ?AT ! ,U,S,S,R WAS M]ELY CAPITALISM PLA9 & SIMPLE1 BUT UN=TUNATELY ,BORDIGA'S WRIT+S >E NOTORI\SLY OBSCURE & 9FREQU5TLY TRANSLAT$4 ,A GOOD SECOND>Y S\RCE IS ,AUFHEB5'S DISCUSSION ( ! DEBATE 9 !IR #aiig #f? ISSUE REPR9T$ = FREE ON LIBCOM H]E3 LIBCOM4ORG4 ,REC5TLY SOME AN>*I/ COMMUNI/S & P>TICIPATORY ECONOMICS ADH]5TS HAVE >GU$ ?AT SU* ECONOMIES REPRES5T A UNIQUE TYPE ( ORGANIZATION C5T]$ >\ND A DICTATOR%IP ( A MANAG]IAL OR BUREAUCRATIC CLASS4 

.<#h.> ,BOTTOMORE1 ,T4,B4 #a#i#i#a4 ,A ,DICTION>Y ( ,M>XI/ ,?\<T4 ,BLACKWELL ,PUBLI%+1 ,MALD51 ,M,A1 PP4 #a#c#d-#a#c#f4 

.<#i.> ,PROYECT1 ,L\IS4 0,ONCE MORE ON DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM40,L\IS ,PROYECT3 ,! ,UNREP5TANT ,M>XI/4 ,DECEMB] #c1 #b#a4 ,! AU?OR DREW FROM ,PAUL ,LEBLANC'S BOOK AB\T ,L59 & ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,P>TY4 

.<#a.> ,L591 ,V,I4 #a#i#f4 ,REPORT ON ! ,UNITY ,CONGRESS ( ! ,R4,S4,D4,L4,P3 ,A ,LETT] TO ! ,/4 ,PET]SBURG ,WORK]S4 ,M>XI/ ,9T]NET ,>*IVE4 

.<#a#a.> ,SEE ,L59'S ,ACC\NT ( ! #bND ,CONGRESS ( ! ,R4,S4,D4,L4,P4 ,M>XI/ ,9T]NET ,>*IVE4 

.<#a#b.> ,= ?IS TIME P]IOD SEE ,L59'S COLLECT$ WORKS FROM ! #a#i#a-#a#i#c ]A P>TICUL>LY HIS REPORTS FROM ! P>TY CONGRESSES & ,:AT IS TO BE ,DONE81 ,ROSA ,LUXEMB\RG'S ,ORGANIZATIONAL ,QUE/IONS ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRACY = A S5SE ( ! DEBATE FROM ,L59'S LEFT1 & ,TROTSKY'S ,\R ,POLITICAL ,TASKS FROM ! ,M5%EVIK SIDE ( ?+S4 

.<#a#c.> ,L591 ,V4,I4 #a#i#b4 ,:AT ,IS ,TO ,BE ,DONE4 ,M>XI/ ,9T]NET ,>*IVE4 

.<#a#d.> ,?IS IS TRUE BO? ( ,GUEV>I/ 9SPIR$ ,FOCO GR\PS & ! ,S\!RN ,CONE URBAN GU]RILLA MOVEM5TS ?AT DREW FROM ! WORK ( AN>*I/-M>XI/ ,ABRAHAM ,GUILL54 

.<#a#e.> ,L591 ,V4,I4 ,:AT ,IS ,TO ,BE ,DONE4 

.<#a#f.> ,L591 ,V4,I4 ,:AT ,IS ,TO ,BE ,DONE4 

.<#a#g.> ,SEE ,L>RY ,GAMBONE'S >TICLE 0,! ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION3 ,AN ,AN>*I/ ,VIEWPO9T0 ,JUNE #a#f1 #b#i4 ,PORCUP9E ,BLOG4 

.<#a#h.> ,I AM 9DEBT$ TO ! COMM5TS ( ,DON ,HAMM]QUI/ ?R\<\T ?IS ESSAY1 ?\< HE W\LD LIKELY TAKE ISSUE ) MY ACC\NT ( HI/ORY4 ,= MORE ON ,L59 9 G5]AL & OBJECTIONS TO CONFLAT+ UNITY & C5TRALIZATION1 SEE ,DON ,HAMM]QUI/'S >TICLE 0,L591 ,L59ISM1 & ,SOME ,LEFTOV]S0,SEPTEMB] #b#c1 #b#i4 ,SKET*Y ,?\<TS ,BLOG4 

.<#a#i.> ,RAB9[IT*1 ,ALEX&]4 #b#d4 ,! ,BOL%EVIKS ,COME TO ,P[]4 ,PLUTO ,PRESS4 

.<#b.> ,SEE ,ANTON ,PANNEKOEK'S ,WORK]S ,C\NCILS FROM ,A,K ,PRESS = A P>TICUL>LY LUCID DESCRIPTION ( ! SEP>ATION ( UNION BUREAUCRACY FROM ! 9T]E/S ( ! WORK+ CLASS4 

.<#b#a.> ,BOL%EVIK REPRESSION ( OPPOSITION IS N[ WELL KN[N1 BUT WOR? REPEAT+4 ,9T]NALLY1 OPPOSITION WAS TOL]AT$ = A TIME BUT P>TICUL>LY UND] ,/AL9 ALL SU* OPPOSITION WAS EV5TUALLY DE/ROY$4 ,A FAM\S CASE ( ?IS OCCURR$ UND] ,L59'S AU?ORITY & WAS ! LEFT COMMUNI/ ,WORK]S' ,OPPOSITION1 =CIBLY DISB&$ 9 #aibb BE=E ,/AL9 REA*$ ASC5DANCY4 ,P]HAPS ,L59'S MO/ REACTION>Y & RI<T-W>D LOOK+ BOOK DEALT ) SU* 9T]NAL & EXT]NAL LEFT COMMUNI/ OPPOSITION 9 ,LEFT-,W+ ,COMMUNISM3 ,AN ,9FANTILE ,DISORD]4 ,EXT]NALLY1 ! ,BOL%EVIKS S\<T TO CONSOLIDATE P[] VIA ! REPRESSION ( ! ,MAKHNOVS*9A 9 ,UKRA9E1 ,KRON/ADT WORK]S1 & ! ILLEGALIZATION ( ALL POLITICAL OPPOSITION SOCIALI/1 COMMUNI/1 & AN>*I/4 ,MU* IS ALREADY WRITT5 ON !SE TOPICS4 ,SEE ,ALEX&RE ,SKIRDA'S ,NE/OR ,MAKHNO - ,AN>*Y'S ,COSSACK3 ,! ,/RUGGLE = ,FREE ,SOVIETS 9 ! ,UKRA9E1 #a#i#a#g-#a#i#b#a OR ALT]NATIVELY ,MAKHNO'S [N ?REE P>T MEMOIRS NEWLY TRANSLAT$ FROM ,RUSSIAN BY ,BLACK ,CAT ,PRESS 9 ,$MONTON4 ,= ,KRON/ADT1 SEE ,PAUL ,AVRI*'S ,KRON/ADT1 #aiba OR HIS ,RUSSIAN ,AN>*I/S4 ,IAN ,MC,KAY ALSO PROVIDES A DETAIL$ ACC\NT 9 0,KRON/ADT #a#i#b#a3 ,! 5D ( ! ,BOL%EVIK ,MY?40 

,TROTSKY'S DEF5SE ( ! ASSAULT IS 9 HIS ,HUE & ,CRY ,OV] ,KRON/ADT #ai* 4 ,ALEX&RA ,KOLLONTAI'S ,! ,WORK]S' ,OPPOSITION OR ! NUM]\S HI/ORIES AVAILABLE ON LIBCOM4ORG GIVE A GOOD BACKGR\ND ON LEFT COMMUNI/ 9T]NAL ,BOL%EVIK OPPOSITION4 ,MAURICE ,BR9TON'S ,! ,BOL%EVIKS & ,WORK]S' ,CONTROL COV]S 9 DETAIL ! /RUGGLES BETWE5 ! WORK+ CLASS & ! RIS+ /ATE-CAPITALI/ CLASS :I* F\ND ITS EXPRESSION 9 ! ,BOL%EVIK P>TY4 ,?IS WORK 9CLUDES DETAIL$ DISCUSSION ( ! EVOLUTION ( ! SOVIETS & ! ATTACKS ON !M BY ,M5%EVIKS & ,BOL%EVIKS4 ,L59'S ,LEFT-,W+ ,COMMUNISM3 ,AN ,9FANTILE ,DISORD] IS HIS REJO9D] TO ?OSE CRITIQUES AT ! TIME4 

.<#b#b.> 0,! FACTIONAL GR\P ( ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALI/S 7,SAPRONOV1 ,OS9SKY1 ,V4 ,SMIRNOV & O!RS7 OPPOS$ ! ,P>TY L9E ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPM5T4 ,US+ PHRASES AB\T DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM1 ?IS GR\P SPOKE AGA9/ ! USE ( SPECIALI/S1 AGA9/ C5TRALIZ$ /ATE ADM9I/RATION1 AGA9/ ONE-MAN MANAGEM5T & ! P]SONAL RESPONSIBILITY ( MANAG]S ( 5T]PRISE'S2 !Y 9SI/$ ON UNLIMIT$ CORPORATE MANAGEM5T40 ,L591 ,V4,I4 #i? ,CONGRESS ( ! ,R4,C4,P47,B471 #a#i#b4 

.<#b#c.> ,WORK]S' ,OPPOSITION WAS A GR\P ?AT PROPOS$ WORK]S SELF-MANAGEM5T & OPPOS$ P>TY DICTATOR%IP TO ! RULE ( ! WORK+ CLASS ITSELF4 ,!Y COLLABORAT$ ) O!R GR\PS 9SIDE & \TSIDE ! P>TY4 0,IGNATOVITES OR 0A GR\P ( ACTIVI/S ( ,MOSC[ CITY DI/RICTS0 WAS AN ANTI-,P>TY AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ GR\P1 HEAD$ BY ,Y4 ,N4 ,IGNATOV1 DUR+ ! TRADE UNION DISCUSSION ( #a#i#b-#b#a4 ,ITS ACTIVITY WAS LIMIT$ TO ! ,MOSC[ ,P>TY ORGANIZATION1 BECAUSE IT HAD NO 9FLU5CE AMONG ! CITY'S WORK]S & RANK-&-FILE ,P>TY MEMB]S4 ,BE=E ! ,T5? ,P>TY ,CONGRESS1 IT CAME \T ) TWO PLAT=MS3 ! CURR5T TASKS ( ! TRADE UNIONS1 & ,P>TY ORGANIZATION4 ,! ,IGNATOVITES %>$ ! AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ VIEWS ( ! ,WORK]S' ,OPPOSITION2 !Y SET ! TRADE UNIONS 9 OPPOSITION TO ! ,SOVIET /ATE1 D5I$ ! ,P>TY'S LEAD]%IP 9 SOCIALI/ CON/RUCTION3 OPPOS$ DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM2 DEM&$ FRE$OM ( DISCUSSIONS1 & WANT$ ! ,P>TY MEMB]%IP TO CONSI/ ( WORK]S ONLY4 ,!Y ALSO DEM&$ ! H&OV] ( ! ADM9I/RATION ( ! ECONOMY TO AN ORGAN ELECT$ BY ! ,ALL-,RUSSIA ,TRADE ,UNION ,CONGRESS04 ,L591 ,V4,I4 ,! ,P>TY ,CRISIS4 #a#i#b#a4 

.<#b#d.> #i? ,P>TY ,CONGRESS ( ! ,R4,C4,P47,B47 

.<#b#e.> ,IBID4 

.<#b#f.> ,= MORE ON E>LY ,GRAMSCI'S RELATION%IP & WORK ) ! ,ITALIAN AN>*I/S SEE ,LEVY1 ,C>L4 #a#i#i#i4 ,GRAMSCI & ! ,AN>*I/S4 ,B]G ,PUBLI%]S4 

.<#b#g.> ,GRAMSCI1 ,ANTONIO4 ,TRANSLAT$ BY ,QU9T91 ,H @& ,SMI?1 ,G,N4 ,SELECTIONS FROM ! ,PRISON ,NOTEBOOKS4 ,9T]NATIONAL ,PUBLI%]S1 ,N,Y4 #a#i#i#b4 ,PP4 #a#h#h-#a#i 

.<#b#h.> ,IBID4 

.<#b#i.> ,IBID4 

.<#c.> ,IBID4 

.<#c#a.> ,GRAMSCI1 ,ANTONIO4 #a#i#f#h4 ,! ,MOD]N ,PR9CE & ,O!R ,WRIT+S4 ,9T]NATIONAL ,PUBLI%]S4 

.<#c#b.> ,BORDIGA1 ,AMADEO4 #a#i#f#e4 0,CONSID]ATIONS ON ! P>TY'S ORGANIC UNITY :5 ! G5]AL SITUATION IS HI/ORICALLY UNFAVORABLE40 ,M>XI/ ,9T]NET ,>*IVE4 

.<#c#c.> ,BORDIGA1 ,AMADEO4 #a#i#b#b4 0,! ,DEMOCRATIC ,PR9CIPLE40 ,M>XI/ ,9T]NET ,>*IVE4 

.<#c#d.> ,SEE ,DAUVE1 ,GILLES4 #b#h4 0,CONTRIBUTION TO A ,CRITIQUE ( ,POLITICAL ,AUTONOMY40 ,LIBCOM4ORG4 

.<#c#e.> ,IT %\LD BE SAID ?AT ,BORDIGA WAS NO ULTRA-LEFT V]SION ( ,/AL94 ,ONE ( HIS MA9 CONTRIBUTIONS IS ! CRITIQUE ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION AS CAPITALI/1 & UND]/&+ REVOLUTION 9 T]MS ( ! ABOLITION ( CAPITALI/ SOCIAL RELATIONS4 ,HE REJECT$ DEMOCRACY1 BUT 9/EAD CALL$ = FAIRLY RADICAL ABOLITION ( ! BASIS ( ALL OPPRESSION1 & ?\< UNABLE TO BREAK FROM ! ,BOL%EVIKS' RIGID C5TRALISM W5T BEYOND MO/ COMMUNI/S 9 DEM&+ SOCIALISM 9 AN ]A ( /ATE CAPITALISM & !ORIES ( PRODUCTIVE =CES4 

.<#c#f.> ,CAMMATTE1 ,JACQUES4 #a#i#g#b4 0,ON ,ORGANIZATION40 ,LIBCOM4ORG4 

.<#c#g.> ,I AM FRI5DLY TO ! IDEA ( ?IS AS A HI/ORICAL MOVE1 OR 9 TRY+ TO UND]/& ! ?\<T ( A FIGURE4 ,TO UND]/& ,GRAMSCI WE C\LD TRY TO GIVE HIM SOME MORE L9E4 ,FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( TRY+ TO RECON/RUCT DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM ?IS W\LD OBLIT]ATE ANY MAT]IAL OR HI/ORICAL BASIS ( ! CONCEPT1 & BE M]E SEMANTICS4 ,?AT IS1 ASSUM+ ,GRAMSCI IS A SA9T WON'T HELP US UND]/& DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM \TSIDE ( IT'S DIRECTIVE AU?ORIT>IAN ROLE4 

.<#c#h.> ,SPECIFICALLY ! URBAN GU]RILLA MOVEM5TS 9 ! S\!RN CONE ( ,S\? ,AM]ICA DREW EQUALLY FROM AN>*I/ !ORI/ ,ABRAHAM ,GUILL5 AS !Y DID ! /RUCTURALI/S1 ,MAOI/S1 & ,GUEV>I/S4 ,?IS IS EVID5T 9 DIV]SE GR\PS FROM ! ,F$]ACION ,AN>QUI/A ,URUGUAYA PRE-#a#i#hS1 ! ,TUPAM>US1 & V>I\S ,BRAZILIAN & ,>G5T9IAN GU]RILLA GR\PS4 

.<#c#i.> ,H>NECK]1 ,M>TA4 #b#b4 0,%\LD WE REJECT BUREAUCRATIC C5TRALISM & SIMPLY USE CONS5SUS80 ,L9KS1 ,9T]NATIONAL ,J\RNAL ( ,SOCIALI/ ,R5EWAL4 

.<#d.> ,IBID4 

.<#d#a.> ,IBID4 

.<#d#b.> ,IBID4 

.<#d#c.> ,ELBAUM1 ,MAX4 #b#f4 ,REVOLUTION 9 ! ,AIR3 ,SIXTIES ,RADICALS ,TURN TO ,L591 ,MAO & ,*E4 ,V]SO4 ,PP4#a#e#i 

.<#d#d.> ,IBID1 P4 #agc 

.<#d#e.> ,IBID1 P4 #age 

.<#d#f.> ,IBID1 P4 #agf 

.<#d#g.> ,OX=D ,COMMUNI/S4 0,BUREAUCRATIC ,C5TRALISM & ,9EFFECTIV5ESS40 ,M>* #b1 #b#a4 ,OX=D ,COMMUNI/S4 

.<#d#h.> ,KWOBA1 ,BRIAN4 0,NEW ,BEG9N+S ,= A ,NEW ,TIME40 ,OCTOB] #h1 #b#a4 ,UNITY & ,/RUGGLE4 

.<#d#i.> ,HO1 ,F]D1 ,$44 #b4 ,LEGACY TO ,LIB]ATION3 ,POLITICS @& ,CULTURE ( ,ASIAN_/,PACIFIC ,AM]ICA4 ,A,K ,PRESS4 ,PP4 #bdi 

.<#e.> ,ELBAUM1 ,MAX4 #b#f4 ,REVOLUTION 9 ! ,AIR3 ,SIXTIES ,RADICALS ,TURN TO ,L591 ,MAO & ,*E4 ,V]SO4 ,PP4 #ae 

.<#e#a.> ,IBID1 P4 #agc 

.<#e#b.> ,IBID1 P4 #age 

.<#e#c.> ,PROYECT1 ,L\IS4 #b#a4 0,CRITICAL ,COMM5TS ON ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM40 ,JULY #a#f1 #b#a4 ,L\IS ,PROYECT3 ,! ,UNREP5TANT ,M>XI/4 

.<#e#d.> ,HAMM]QUI/1 ,DON40,L591 ,L59ISM1 & ,SOME ,LEFTOV]S0,SEPTEMB] #b#c1 #b#i4 ,SKET*Y ,?\<TS ,BLOG4 

.<#e#e.> ,ELY1 ,MIKE4 0,N9E ,LETT]S TO \R ,COMRADES1 ,GETT+ ,BEYOND ,BOB ,AVAKIAN'S ,NEW ,SYN!SIS40 ,DECEMB] #b#g4 ,KASAMA ,PROJECT4 

.<#e#f.> ,PROYECT1 0,CRITICAL ,COMM5TS ON ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM40 

.<#e#g.> ,! ,BIG ,FLAME4 0,LOTTA ,CONT9UA40 ,MAY #cO1 #b#i4 ,! ,BIG ,FLAME #a#i#g-#a#i#h#d4 

.<#e#h.> ,HAMM]QUI/1 ,DON4 0,AL?USS] ,COMM5TS40 #b#i4 ,SOJ\RN] ,TRU?4 

.<#e#i.> ,ELBAUM1 ,REVOLUTION 9 ! ,AIR1 P4 #a#h4 

.<#f.> ,= 9/ANCE EL ,MOVIMI5TO ,SOCIALI/A DE ,TRABAJADORES 9 ,PU]TO ,RICO1 & SOME EX-,MAOI/ GR\PS 9 ,HAITI & ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA4 

.<#f#a.> ,MOVIMI5TO ,SOCIALI/A DEL ,TRABAJADORES4 0,:AT IS ! ,M,/ & ,:AT ,DOES IT ,FI<T =80 #a#i#i#i4 ,MOVIMI5TO ,SOCIALI/A DEL ,TRABAJADORES 

.<#f#b.> ,MACK&AL1 ,JAN4 0,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM40 #b#i4 ,UNPUBLI%$ MANUSCRIPT4 

.<#f#c.> ,MOVIMI5TO ,SOCIALI/A DEL ,TRABAJADORES4 0,:AT IS ! ,M,/ & ,:AT ,DOES IT ,FI<T =80 

.<#f#d.> ,MACK&AL1 0,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM40 

.<#f#e.> 0444 ,ALL DECISIONS ( HI<] BODIES %ALL BE ABSOLUTELY B9D+ ON L[] BODIES & ON ALL ,P>TY MEMB]S0 FROM ! #f? P>TY CONGRESS ( ! ,R4,S4,D4,L4,P4 9 #a#i#a#g4 ,AS REPORT$ BY ! ,/AL9I/ (FICIAL HI/ORY DUR+ ! PURGES ( ! #a#i#c'S ,HI/ORY ( ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION 7,BOL%EVIKS74 ,%ORT ,C\RSE4#a#i#c#i1 P4 #a#i#h4 

.<#f#f.> 0,ALL TALK TO ! EFFECT ?AT HI/ORICAL CONDITIONS HAVE NOT YET 0RIP5$0 = SOCIALISM IS ! PRODUCT ( IGNORANCE OR CONSCI\S DECEPTION4 ,! OBJECTIVE PR]EQUISITES = ! PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION HAVE NOT ONLY 0RIP5$02 !Y HAVE BEGUN TO GET SOME:AT ROTT54 ,)\T A SOCIALI/ REVOLUTION1 9 ! NEXT HI/ORICAL P]IOD AT ?AT1 A CATA/ROPHE ?REAT5S ! :OLE CULTURE ( MANK9D4 ,! TURN IS N[ TO ! PROLET>IAT1 I4E41 *IEFLY TO ITS REVOLUTION>Y VANGU>D4 ,! HI/ORICAL CRISIS ( MANK9D IS R$UC$ TO ! CRISIS ( ! REVOLUTION>Y LEAD]%IP04 ,TROTSKY1 ,LEON4 #a#i#c#h4 ,! ,TRANSITIONAL ,PROGRAM 7,! ,DEA? ,AGONY ( ,CAPITALISM & ! ,TASKS ( ! ,F\R? ,9T]NATIONAL74 

.<#f#g.> ,P]HAPS AN EXCEPTION TO ?IS IS ! NON-BORDIGUI/ ,ITALIAN LEFT COMMUNI/S REPRES5T$ BY ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY - ,BATTAGLIA ,COMUNI/A4 ,IT'S A WOR?Y 9VE/IGATION1 ?\< NOT )9 ! SCOPE ( ?IS >TICLE TO DEBATE ?AT CURR5T4 ,EI!R WAY ! T5SION BETWE5 DET]M9ISM & ORGANIZATION IS OBVI\S 9 ?IS TRADITION1 & ?\< !RE IS 9CR$IBLY VALUABLE LESSONS TO BE F\ND !RE1 ! ABS5CE ( EI!R A !ORY OR PRACTICE ( REVOLUTION>Y AG5CY )9 DEMON/RATES !IR PA? 9 ?\<T4 

.<#f#h.> ,! TREATM5T ( ! AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ TRADITION H]E WILL BE NECESS>ILY SURFACE LEVEL ONLY = WANT ( SPACE4 ,/ILL ! REF]5CES %>$ H]E GIVE /EPP+ (F PO9TS = GO+ 9TO ! LESSONS ( ?IS TRADITION4 

.<#f#i.> ,DIRLIK1 ,>IF4 #a#i#i#a4 ,AN>*ISM 9 ! ,*9ESE ,REVOLUTION4 ,UNIV]SITY ( ,CALI=NIA ,PRESS4 

.<#g.> ,KI-,RAK1 ,HA4 #a#i#h#f4 ,HI/ORY ( ! ,KOREAN ,AN>*I/ ,MOVEM5T4 ,AN>*I/ ,PUBLI%+ ,COMMITTEE4 

.<#g#a.> ,%>KEY1 ,PAUL1 $4 & TRANS4 #b#i4 ,F$]ACION ,AN>QUI/A ,URUGUAYA3 ,CRISIS1 ,>M$ ,/RUGGLE1 & ,DICTATOR%IP #a#i#f#g-#a#i#h#e4 ,KATE ,%>PLEY ,LIBR>Y4 

.<#g#b.> ,SKIRDA1 ,ALEX&]4 #b#b4 ,FAC+ ! ,5EMY3 ,A HI/ORY ( ,AN>*I/ ,ORGANIZATION FROM ,PR\DHON TO ,MAY #a#i#f#h4 ,A,K ,PRESS4 

.<#g#c.> ,CRAP>O1 ,SAV]IO4 0,AN>*I/ ,COMMUNI/S3 ,A QUE/ION ( CLASS40 ,JUNE #b#e4 ,ITALIAN ,AN>*I/ ,COMMUNI/ ,F$]ATION 7,FD,C,A74 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#b1 #bba 3 ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM 9 ,PRACTICE & ,IDEA -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,DEMOCRATIC ,C5TRALISM 9 ,PRACTICE & ,IDEA -- ,UPDAT$4 

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HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/