Letter: Voting for socialism (1987)

Letter to the Editors from the November 1987 issue of the Socialist Standard

Voting for socialism

Dear Editors.

After reading July's Socialist Standard I feel I must raise a few points. The "strategy" of the SPGB has always been to argue the case for socialism through propaganda and public meetings and debates, and win the "battle of ideas" so that the new society of socialism can be democratically voted in. This is exactly how you approached the General Election. In Islington, where the only socialist candidate stood, the battle was fought on the streets where literature was sold on stalls and at tube stations; in your manifesto and leaflets which were delivered to all households; in posters and stickers which clearly stated the socialist message; and at your election rally "ours was a battle of ideas". And you lost! The people of Islington were presented with the case for socialism and it was rejected, with your candidate polling fewer votes than the average loony candidate or fascist.

All this should lead socialists to ask the following questions:

1. Do people want socialism?
2. How do people develop a socialist consciousness?
3. Can socialism be simply voted in?

First of all. as you know, the word socialism is often incorrectly used to describe anything from the programme of the Labour Party to the dictatorship of a Leninist state. So initially people tend to have a rather negative attitude towards socialism, but when the ideas of genuine socialism are explained, the reaction is different. Usually people can be persuaded that socialism is a good thing, but they feel that “it will never happen" or "it's a good idea but it won’t work because of human nature”. This is the problem. People who have lived under capitalism and are used to being told what to do by people "in charge" find the ideas a bit of a quantum leap from reality. They see socialism as a kind of impossible Utopia and that "in the real world” the only practical choice at election time is between the parties that have a good chance of getting in.

It is not that people are necessarily against socialism. It is just that they don’t see the socialist case as being relevant to their lives; they see it as being "pie in the sky". You can’t expect people to vote for an ideology, a set of ideas; they will only vote for something concrete and attainable.

This brings me to my second question. Where does a socialist consciousness come from? Although you may argue that most of your members attained a socialist consciousness through coming into contact with socialist argument, it must be understood that most people are not "won over" to socialism by argument alone, as you discovered in your election campaign.

The cornerstone of socialism is the principle of solidarity and mutual aid — these are natural tendencies which don’t need to be taught. Without them socialism would be impossible. However capitalism (and preceding social systems) have made people relate to each other in a different kind of co-operative way. using authority/obedience and hierarchical systems. This is sometimes referred to as “the very fabric of our society" by the traditional right wing.

When workers actively participate in strikes or various community activities they break with the normal way of behaving — they are thinking for themselves and organising themselves rather than being organised by people "in charge ”. They have taken matters into their own hands. Many strikers, despite the material hardship, say they enjoyed being on strike. In a sense they got a taste of socialism by collectively organising and distributing food and helping each other out. Also, strikers soon realise whose side the police, the legal system and the media are on.

Of course I am not saying that experience of struggle alone is going to bring workers to socialism. Workers must also understand the nature of the present system and know and understand what to put in its place and how to establish it. However I don’t think that socialism can be established by a political party — it can only come about through the mass activity of the working class. Socialism can only be established by a mass working-class movement that is politically conscious of its aims and methods and democratically organised without leadership. It must be organised throughout the workplaces and communities across the land and be linked up with similar organisations across the world. This movement must educate its members, defend workers against capitalism and ultimately organise the expropriation of wealth production and distribution.

But can’t we just simply vote for socialism and avoid a struggle? Well, first of all. if we have a world view of capitalism, how can workers in dictatorships like Chile, South Africa and Russia change society? Just because their ruling class don’t allow them to vote does it mean they can’t have socialism or that first they must fight for "democratic" capitalism?

For those of us who live under political democracies. at election time we are asked to choose which party is to become the political component of the capitalist state. The party which is elected does not really run the country, although it does have an influence within certain limits. Major decisions taken by the government are largely based on the professional advice of the civil service, which is carefully selected, permanent and not subject to democratic control.

Behind parliament and the cabinet are the other state institutions. There is the monarchy to whom state power legally belongs; there is the House of Lords which retains the right to delay Acts of Parliament. There are the armed forces — an instrument of imperialism abroad and of repression at home. There is the police and the secret police who open mail, tap phones and exercise violence in pursuit of their aims. Then, of course, we have the judiciary which hands out punishment to whom the state defines as offenders. All this is backed up by the means of persuasion — the educational system and the media.

Behind the institutions of the state are the real masters — the big capitalists and their ruling-class buddies — the top brass of the civil service, military and police chiefs. They ensure that the country is run just how the capitalist system likes it.

Do you really believe that the ruling class and their State would allow a socialist party to mess things up?

Whether we vote for socialism or not, the fact remains that only the working class can build it from a grass roots level. There will also be a struggle between the socialist majority and the minority ruling class and their supporters. This, unfortunately. will be unavoidable.

Paul

Manchester

Reply:

Our correspondent raises a number of interesting points; we shall reply in turn to the three questions he asks;

1. At present the vast majority of people indeed do not want socialism. Even those who have heard and been impressed by the socialist case too often comment that "it's a good idea but. . ." We would agree that it is important to make socialism seem relevant and attainable; we try to do this by explaining how its establishment will solve the various problems of people's lives — how it will cope with destitution, housing shortages, boring work and so on. Our recent pamphlet Socialism as a Practical Alternative contains a great deal of material on the organisation of socialism, and shows that it is not just a nice set of ideas.

2. Socialist consciousness develops in two ways. First, as a result of workers' everyday experience under capitalism, including not only their exploitation and oppression but also their cooperation and experience in trade unions, tenants' organisations and so on. Second, as a result of socialist propaganda meetings, publications, election campaigns and radio phone-ins. We entirely agree that "Socialism can only be established by a mass working-class movement that is politically conscious of its aims and methods and democratically organised without leadership": the Socialist Party is a democratic, leaderless movement.

3. Socialism can be "voted in", though it should be remembered that this will not be a simple matter of workers voting for socialism and then sitting back and waiting for it. Socialist-minded workers will need to be prepared to take over the running of factories. farms and so on. Gaining control of Parliament will give the socialist majority control over the armed forces and police and prevent their being used against us. The top civil servants and phone tappers will be in no position to "mess things up" deprived of mass support and official sanction they could do nothing to frustrate the will of the immense majority.

The Editors.