In one sense, the concept of organization for this age is pretty simple. The network centered by a consistent press.
On the one hand this press is the voice of the organization, conveying its program and mission, and the conclusions of political policy and strategy of the network as it grows and expands.
On the other hand the press is porous, open to what is emerging, open to people’s ideas as they are beginning to form. What I call the press in fact will be many forms of communication from leaflets and tweets to all forms of social media and weekly local papers (print and online).
At the center of the network is a paper (print and online) that is the voice of the organization/network as a whole. Anyone can contribute to the center paper as well as their regional, local and specific papers. It will be a fully functioning network of communication, always moving toward a more encompassing more complete understanding of what people must do to dismantle the ruling class and its state.
It will be a process of growth not just an organization. Though people will come to feel confident in it as an organization they can trust to act in their interests.
Electronic technology makes it possible. Global, national, regional, local all intertwined and connected through the common interest of the objective communist class, the new proletariat, the poor and dispossessed (whatever this new social force comes to be called).
A revolution whose essential social force is an objective communist movement against the State (global, national and local) does not require a vanguard party. It does not require the discipline of Peters’ Manual democratic centralism. It does require leadership.
Within every collective, within every gathering of human beings, leaders emerge (sometimes unintentionally, sometimes because they seek it). The Soviet system recognized this. All leaders were selected (elected) by the people they were to represent and serve. From the bottom up.
We need our leaders to emerge from the objective communist movement, true proletarian intellectuals.
But given capitalism’s hold on our minds, given the ruling elite’s superb ability to manipulate our thinking, given that we are the products of our backgrounds, so very different and diverse, leaders emerging from the spontaneous movement will necessarily be limited in their understanding of the whole.
Thus, we come to the key question of cadre. Cadre are the scaffolding. They carefully and intelligently hold the whole together. Their role is to “see the future in the present” and to “see the interests of the whole in the particular.” Through communication and education they guide the vast whole toward the common goal. That is, getting rid of this system and replacing it with one that serves the people and planet not the exploiters.
Cadre are prepared for their responsibility through the study of Marxism, the science of society. The principles of dialectical and historical materialism.
They learn, and over time master, the methodology of analyzing history, and the laws of development of society as they apply to the present. This scientific approach prepares them to lead intelligently and openly throughout the whole network.
They do not hold dominate positions; there is no hierarchy. They lead through the value of their ideas and ability to teach and convey those ideas.
All this is possible. Could be done right now. At least as a beginning.
Except for one thing. The concept of leadership is totally messed up in the world right now because all of our experience of leadership comes from class society, from hierarchy and the sense that leaders must be above and outside the followers.
It is time to take a leap, to sublate to a new form of organization and leadership for our time.
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