Letter: Can there be Two Socialist Parties in One Country ? (1942)

Letter to the Editors from the January 1942 issue of the Socialist Standard

We have received the following enquiry : —

“Clause 7 of your Declaration of Principles seems to imply that in any given national state there can only be one political party representative of the real interest of the working class. If this is so, what are the social, political, economic or technical reasons in justification thereof? I can only think of the technical one—viz., that owing to the facility of communications—railways, postal facilities, and advertising—it is inconceivable that two or more groups should be formed simultaneously to operate an identical policy, but is this sufficient grounds for the general statement—i.e., why, on logical grounds, must this be so ?—Enquirer.”

Reply.

We think that “Enquirer,” through overlooking one obvious but important factor, has created a difficulty where none exists. If we ourselves put a question, this factor will become apparent. Our question is this: “Granted that workers in different parts of one country (and, indeed, workers in different parts of the world) come to the same point of understanding the nature of capitalism and the means of achieving Socialism, what can there be to keep them apart and in separate organisations? ”

The answer is and must be that workers with a common aim and agreed about the necessity of organising to achieve Socialism will naturally want to unite their efforts, and will do so unless something prevents them. Distance and difficulties of communication may make it convenient to have separate organisations in different areas, but cannot be a reason for having two organisations with the same object working separately in the same area. Also capitalist laws may make it necessary or at least advisable and convenient to have separate organisations for different countries, but here again the members will naturally wish as far as possible that the separate organisations shall keep in touch and work together, as illustrated by ourselves and our companion parties abroad.

Editorial Committee.