,DEMOCRACY IS UNDEMOCRATIC 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,IA9 ,MC,KAY 

,TEXT 3 

,ONE ( ! /RANGE/ >GUM5TS AGA9/ AN>*I/ WAYS ( ORGANIZ+ IS ?AT IT IS 0UNDEMOCRATIC40 ,?IS >GUM5T IS USUALLY ASSOCIAT$ ) ,TROTSKYI/S4 ,AS IT CROPS UP ) SADLY REGUL> FREQU5CY1 IT IS WOR?:ILE TO DISCUSS ?IS ACCUSATION 9 DETAIL4 

,AN>*I/S >E = F$]ATIONS ( SELF-MANAG$ GR\PS4 ,?IS MEANS ?AT ! MEMB]%IP ( SU* ORGANIZATIONS DECIDE POLICY DIRECTLY AT OP5 MEET+S4 ,ANYONE DELEGAT$ FROM ?AT GR\P TO DO SPECIFI$ TASKS OR TO ATT5D A F$]AL MEET+ >E GIV5 A /RICT & B9D+ M&ATE4 ,FAILURE TO IMPLEM5T ?AT AGRE$ M&ATE MEANS ?AT ! DELEGATE IS 9/ANTLY REPLAC$4 ,9 ?IS WAY P[] REMA9S 9 ! H&S ( ALL & DECISIONS FL[ FROM ! BOTTOM UP4 ,ANYONE PLAC$ 9TO A POSITION ( RESPONSIBILITY IS HELD ACC\NTABLE TO ! MEMB]%IP & ANY ATTEMPT TO USURP P[] FROM ! GRASSROOTS IS /OPP$4 

,SU* =MS ( ORGANIZATION DO NOT SPR+ FROM ! BRA9S ( A FEW AN>*I/S ?9K]S1 9DEP5D5TLY ( WORK+ CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,! IDEA ( /RICT & ACC\NTABLE M&ATES CAN BE F\ND 9 ! WORKS ( ,BAKUN9 & ,PR\DHON AFT] BO? BECAME ACTIVE 9 WORK+ CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,PR\DHON RAIS$ ! IDEA DUR+ ! #ahdh REVOLUTION1 :ILE ,BAKUN9 TALK$ AB\T IT AFT] BECOM+ ACTIVE 9 ! /RUGGLES ( ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,WORK]S' ,ASSOCIATION 9 ,SWITZ]L&4 ,SO !SE IDEAS W]E DEVELOP$ )9 ! CLASS /RUGGLE ITSELF1 (T5 SPONTANE\SLY4 ,= EXAMPLE1 BO? ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE & ,RUSSIAN ,SOVIETS IMPLEM5T$ SU* A SY/EM ( IMP]ATIVE M&ATES4 

,AN>*I/S HAVE LONG >GU$ ?AT WE %\LD ORGANIZE 9 WAYS ?AT PREFIGURE ! K9D ( SOCIETY WE WANT4 ,WE (T5 CALL ?IS 0BUILD+ ! NEW WORLD 9 ! %ELL ( ! OLD40 ,MOREOV]1 9 AN>*I/ !ORY1 ! CLASS /RUGGLE IS ! L9K BETWE5 CAPITALISM & ANY FUTURE LIB]T>IAN SOCIALI/ SOCIETY4 ,WE />T TO BUILD ! /RUCTURES ( ! FREE SOCIETY :5 WE FI<T AGA9/ CAPITALISM4 ,9 SUPPORT ( \R >GUM5TS WE PO9T TO ! UNIONS1 FACTORY COMMITTEES1 WORK]S' C\NCILS1 COLLECTIVES1 COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES & O!R POPUL> ORGANIZATIONS :I* HAVE BE5 CREAT$ DUR+ NUM]\S REVOLTS & REVOLUTIONS :I* HAVE LAT] BECOME ! /RUCTURAL BASIS = PO/-REVOLUTION>Y WORK+ CLASS MANAGEM5T ( SOCIETY 7BE=E BE+ UND]M9$ OR DE/ROY$ BY EI!R ! B\RGEOIS OR SO-CALL$ WORK]S' /ATES74 

,?IS MEANS ?AT ! WAY WE ORGANIZE TODAY IS IMPORTANT TO AN>*I/S4 ,WE >GUE ?AT ONLY FRE$OM CAN BE ! S*OOL = FRE$OM4 ,?IS MEANS ?AT WE ONLY BECOME CAPABLE ( MANAG+ SOCIETY IF WE MAKE \R [N DECISIONS & DIRECTLY MANAGE \R [N /RUGGLES & ORGANIZATIONS TODAY4 ,:I* IS :Y WE /RESS ! NE$ TO ORGANIZE 9 AN OP51 DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC FA%ION 9 \R /RUGGLES AGA9/ OPPRESSION & EXPLOITATION -- SELF-MANAGEM5T TODAY IS ! F\NDATION = ! SELF-MANAG$ SOCIALI/ SOCIETY ( TOMORR[4 

,I 

,O!RS DISAGREE4 ,!Y SAY ?AT AN>*ISM 7I4E4 SELF-MANAGEM5T7 IS 0UNDEMOCRATIC40 ,!Y >GUE ?AT :ILE AN>*I/ GR\PS >E1 9 !ORY1 DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC1 9 PRACTICE A FEW LEAD]S /ILL CALL ! %OTS )\T BE+ ACC\NTABLE = IT & )\T !IR 9PUT BE+ A DECISION MADE BY ! :OLE GR\P4 ,IT IS /ILL A LEAD]%IP EXCEPT IT IS NOT DEMOCRATICALLY DECID$ & W\LD BE MADE UP BY :O HAS ! MO/ TIME1 *>ISMA1 EXP]I5CE ETC4 ,BECAUSE NOT ALL ACTIVI/S CAN ATT5D ALL ACTIVI/ MEET+S1 IT IS >GU$1 & SO A LOT ( DECISIONS >E MADE AT MEET+S ) L[ ATT5DANCE'S4 

,A HI]>*Y EXI/S1 IT IS CLAIM$1 BUT IS MASK$ BY F9E-S\ND+ RHETORIC4 ,9 FACT IT IS WORSE BECAUSE !RE IS NO /RUCTURE TO *ANGE ! LEAD]%IP ?AT EXI/S UND] ! SURFACE4 ,W\LD IT NOT1 ASK ! CRITICS1 BE F> MORE DEMOCRATIC IF SOME PEOPLE W]E ELECT$ TO REGUL>LY MEET & DO ESS5TIAL WORK & !N HOLD !SE ELECT$ PEOPLE ACC\NTABLE 9 G5]AL MEET+ ?AT EV]YONE CAN ATT5D8 

,AN>*I/S >E SOME:AT SURPRIS$ BY !SE >GUM5TS4 ,IF ?IS PROPOS$ 0DEMOCRATIC0 SOLUTION S\NDS FAMILI>1 IT IS BECAUSE IT IS4 ,IT IS REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY1 A BASIC PR9CIPLE ( LIB]AL B\RGEOIS IDEOLOGY4 ,IT SEEMS /RANGE TO AN>*I/S ?AT SELF-PROCLAIM$ SOCIALI/S %\LD BE SEEK+ TO REPRODUCE ONE ( ! PR9CIPLES ( CAPITALI/ POLITICS 9TO ANTI-CAPITALI/ MOVEM5TS4 

,MOREOV]1 ! 9FLU5CE ( ?OSE :O HAVE ! MO/ TIME1 *>ISMA1 EXP]I5CE1 ETC41 WILL1 AT BE/1 BE ! SAME AS 9 A DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC GR\P AS IT W\LD BE 9 A REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRATIC GR\P4 ,:Y DOES ?IS R5D] ONLY ! =M] 0UNDEMOCRATIC08 ,&1 9 PRACTICE1 ?IS PROBLEM WILL BE F> WORSE 9 REPRES5TATIVE GR\PS4 ,?IS IS BECAUSE ! AIM ( ! GR\P IS TO SELECT A LEAD]1 NOT MANAGE !IR [N AFFAIRS4 ,!RE=E W\LD-BE LEAD]S W\LD BE APPLY+ ALL !IR SKILLS & ABILITY TO GET ELECT$1 MAK+ USE ( !IR *>ISMA1 EXP]I5CE1 RES\RCES & TIME TO SWAY VOT]S TO GIVE !M P[]4 ,! KEY DIFF]5CE IS ?AT ! VOT]S W\LD NOT BE 9 A POSITION TO QUE/ION !SE 0LEAD]S0 :5 ! DECISIONS W]E ACTUALLY BE+ MADE4 ,!Y W\LD SIMPLY BE LEFT ) A FAIT ACCOMPLI1 BE+ R$UC$ TO SIMPLY TRY+ TO F9D BETT] LEAD]S NEXT TIME4 

,= ALL ! WORRY AB\T PEOPLE'S 9PUT NOT BE+ A DECISION MADE BY ! :OLE GR\P1 ! PROPOS$ SOLUTION ACTUALLY 5SURES ?AT ?IS IS ALWAYS ! CASE4 ,! ROLE ( ! GR\P IS1 AFT] ALL1 R$UC$ TO M]ELY PICK+ LEAD]S :O MAKE DECISIONS = !M4 ,9 REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY ANY DECISION IS NOT MAKE BY ! :OLE GR\P1 BUT RA!R BY A FEW LEAD]S :O MAY1 OR MAY NOT1 HAVE BE5 ELECT$ BY A MAJORITY4 ,LOOK AT ! ,U,K4 ,TONY ,BLAIR WAS ELECT$ BY A QU>T] ( ! POPULATION4 ,CURR5TLY HE IS IGNOR+ ! CLE> WI%ES ( ! MAJORITY & PLANN+ TO ATTACK ,IRAQ4 ,IS ?AT REALLY MORE 0DEMOCRATIC0 !N SELF-MANAGEM5T8 ,RA!R ?AN DEMOCRACY1 IT S\NDS MORE LIKE AUTOCRACY4 

,9 RESPONSE IT WILL BE >GU$ ?AT SU* A =M ( REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY IS NOT DESIR$4 ,9/EAD1 LEAD]S WILL BE HELD ACC\NTABLE MORE FREQU5TLY TO ! GR\P4 ,BUT ?IS 0SOLUTION0 RAISES MORE PROBLEMS ?AN IT SOLVES4 

,AFT] ALL1 H[ CAN ! GR\P HOLD !SE ELECT$ PEOPLE ACC\NTABLE UNLESS !Y MEET TO EVALUATE !IR LEAD]S DECISIONS8 ,& IF !Y MEET TO EVALUATE !SE DECISIONS1 !N :Y >E !Y UNABLE TO MAKE ?OSE DECISIONS !MSELVES & M&ATE 9/ANTLY RECALLABLE DELEGATES TO IMPLEM5T !M8 ,& :Y >E PEOPLE DEEM$ 9CAPABLE ( DIRECTLY MAK+ !IR [N DECISIONS ALSO DEEM$ CAPABLE ( EVALUAT+ ! DECISIONS ( !IR LEAD]S & HOLD+ !M 0ACC\NTABLE08 ,SURELY IF !Y >E ABLE TO EVALUATE ! DECISIONS MADE = !M1 !Y >E CAPABLE ( MAK+ !M !MSELVES8 ,IF !Y CAN PICK !IR MA/]S1 !N SURELY !Y >E MATURE 5\< TO DO )\T !M & GOV]N !MSELVES8 ,IF A GR\P IS CAPABLE ( SELECT+ A LEAD] & EVALUAT+ !IR DECISIONS !N ITS MEMB]S >E CAPABLE ( MAK+ ?OSE DECISIONS !MSELVES4 

,& :Y %\LD WE ASSUME ?AT EV]YONE CAN ACTUALLY ATT5D ANY SU* 0G5]AL MEET+08 ,AN 9FREQU5T 0G5]AL MEET+10 :]E ALL !Y DO IS TO ELECT LEAD]S1 WILL MAKE PEOPLE APA!TIC RA!R ?AN ACTIVE4 ,! EXAMPLE ( ! TRADE UNION MOVEM5T1 W]E MEMB]S R>ELY TURN UP TO MEET+S1 SEEMS APPROPRIATE H]E4 ,:Y ASSUME NEW HI]>*ICAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL NOT HAVE ! SAME PROBLEMS AS EXI/+ ONES8 

,&1 ( C\RSE1 BETWE5 ELECTIONS ?OSE :O HAVE ! MO/ TIME1 *>ISMA1 EXP]I5CE1 ETC41 ( ?OSE ELECT$ WILL BE APPLY+ !M )9 ! SMALL M9ORITY ( ! GR\P ELECT$ TO ANY REPRES5TATIVE COMMITTEE4 ,:Y IS ?IS NOT LABEL$ 0UNDEMOCRATIC08 ,IF SELF-MANAGEM5T IS 0UNDEMOCRATIC0 :5 APPLI$ TO ! BASE ( AN ORGANIZATION1 :Y DOES IT BECOME 0DEMOCRATIC0 AT ! TOP8 ,!RE IS NO LOGICAL REASON :Y IT %\LD & SO ! LEAD]%IP FACES ! EXACT SAME PROBLEM4 ,TO OV]COME IT 9 ! LEAD]%IP GR\P !RE CAN BE ONLY ONE SOLUTION1 NAMELY TO CONC5TRATE ALL P[] 9TO ! H&S ( ONE P]SON4 ,:Y ?IS %\LD BE CONSID]$ AS 0F> MORE DEMOCRATIC0 ?AN ! MASS P>TICIPATION ( SELF-MANAGEM5T IS H>D TO SAY4 

,9 SUMM>Y1 !RE=E1 WE CAN SAY ?AT ! SELF-PROCLAIM$ DEMOCRATS >E WRONG4 ,RA!R ?AN AN>*ISM BE+ UNDEMOCRATIC1 IT IS DEMOCRACY ?AT IS SO4 ,!IR 0F> MORE DEMOCRATIC0 ORGANIZATION SIMPLY EMP[]S A FEW LEAD]S AT ! EXP5SE ( ! RE/1 :OSE JOB IS SIMPLY TO PICK :O WILL TELL !M :AT TO DO UNTIL ! NEXT ELECTION4 ,AT BE/1 ! >GUM5TS AGA9/ DIRECT DEMOCRACY >E APPLICABLE TO REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY4 ,AT WORSE1 !RE >E F> MORE APPLICABLE TO A HI]>*ICAL SY/EM RA!R ?AN A NON-HI]>*ICAL ONE4 

,I,I 

,WE %\LD NOT =GET ?AT ?IS IS AN OLD DEBATE4 ,DUR+ ! ,AM]ICAN & ,FR5* REVOLUTIONS1 = EXAMPLE1 SELF-MANAG$ POPUL> ASSEMBLIES W]E CREAT$ 9 MANY T[NS & CITIES4 ,! WEAL?Y W]E HORRIFI$ BY ?IS P>TICIPATION ( ! MANY 9 ! AFFAIRS ( SOCIETY4 ,!Y CONSI/5TLY FAVOR$ REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY OV] DIRECT DEMOCRACY & DELEGATES4 ,!Y DID SO TO R$UCE P>TICIPATION & 5SURE M9ORITY CLASS RULE4 ,TODAY1 9 ,>G5T9A POLITICIANS >E CALL+ ! POPUL> ASSEMBLIES 0UNDEMOCRATIC40 

,IT SEEMS /RANGE TO SEE SELF-PROCLAIM$ SOCIALI/S ADVOCAT+ A /RUCTURE EXPLICITLY DESIGN$ TO RE/RICT MASS WORK+ CLASS P>TICIPATION 9 SOCIAL DECISION MAK+4 ,9DE$1 !Y >E US+ ! SAME RHETORIC AGA9/ IT AS B\RGEOIS POLITICIANS4 ,IS ?IS A CO9CID5CE8 ,P]HAPS NOT1 AS ! AIM ( ,TROTSKYISM IS1 AFT] ALL1 = ! P>TY TO SEIZE P[] ON BEHALF ( ! MASSES4 ,! IDEA ?AT ! WORK+ CLASS C\LD ACTUALLY RUN SOCIETY ITSELF IS DISMISS$4 ,TO QUOTE ,L593 

0! DICTATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAT CANNOT BE EX]CIS$ ?R\< AN ORGANIZATION EMBRAC+ ! :OLE ( ! CLASS1 BECAUSE 9 ALL CAPITALI/ C\NTRIES 444 ! PROLET>IAT IS /ILL SO DIVID$1 SO DEGRAD$1 & SO CORRUPT$ 9 P>TS 444 ?AT AN ORGANIZATION TAK+ 9 ! :OLE PROLET>IAT CANNOT DIRECTLY EX]CISE PROLET>IAN DICTATOR%IP4 ,IT CAN BE EX]CIS$ ONLY BY A VANGU>D 444 = ! DICTATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAT CANNOT BE EX]CIS$ BY A MASS PROLET>IAN ORGANIZATION40 

,TROTSKY HELD ?IS ,BOL%EVIK TRUISM 70! ,L59I/ PR9CIPLE1 9VIOLABLE = EV]Y ,BOL%EVIK1 ?AT ! DICTATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAT IS & CAN BE REALIZ$ ONLY ?R\< ! DICTATOR%IP ( ! P>TY10 TO QUOTE ! ,PLAT=M ( ! ,OPPOSITION7 UNTIL HIS DEA?4 ,HE REPEAT$LY >GU$ 9 FAVOR ( P>TY DICTATOR%IP OV] ! WORK+ CLASS4 0,! V]Y SAME MASSES10 HE >GU$ 9 #a#i#c#i1 0>E AT DIFF]5T TIMES 9SPIR$ BY DIFF]5T MOODS & OBJECTIVES4 ,IT IS JU/ = ?IS REASON ?AT A C5TRALIZ$ ORGANIZATION ( ! VANGU>D IS 9DISP5SABLE4 ,ONLY A P>TY1 WIELD+ ! AU?ORITY IT HAS WON1 IS CAPABLE ( OV]COM+ ! VACILLATION ( ! MASSES !MSELVES40 ,TWO YE>S PREVI\SLY1 HE PUT IT EV5 MORE BLUNTLY4 ,! 0REVOLUTION>Y DICTATOR%IP ( A PROLET>IAN P>TY0 WAS 0AN OBJECTIVE NECESSITY10 HE ASS]T$4 ,?IS 0DICTATOR%IP ( A P>TY0 WAS ESS5TIAL & 0WE CAN NOT JUMP OV] ?IS *APT]0 ( HUMAN HI/ORY4 ,HE /RESS$ ?AT ! 0REVOLUTION>Y P>TY 7VANGU>D7 :I* R5\NCES ITS [N DICTATOR%IP SURR5D]S ! MASSES TO ! C\NT]-REVOLUTION40 

,& YET !Y CALL AN>*ISM 0UNDEMOCRATIC0 = ADVOCAT+ & IMPLEM5T+ P>TICIPATORY DECISION MAK+ 9 ! REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLE6 ,!SE OP9IONS1 NE$LESS TO SAY1 HAVE NOT /OPP$ HIS FOLL[]S CLAIM+ ?AT ,TROTSKY OR HIS IDEAS W]E DEMOCRATIC4 

,IF WORK+ CLASS PEOPLE >E DEEM$ 9CAPABLE ( RUNN+ ! FUTURE SOCIALI/ SOCIETY DIRECTLY1 !N :Y EXPECT ,TROTSKYI/S TO SUPPORT SELF-MANAGEM5T 9 ! /RUGGLE TODAY8 ,OR1 = ?AT MATT]1 )9 !IR [N P>TIES8 

,) REG>DS TO :E!R ! REF]5DUM C\LD BE US$ AS A MEANS ( SETT+ POLICY )9 ! P>TY1 ,TROTSKY >GU$ ?AT IT WAS 0NOT POSSIBLE TO ANSW] ?IS QUE/ION EXCEPT 9 ! NEGATIVE40 ,HE GOES ON TO >GUE ?AT 0:OEV] IS 9 FAVOR ( A REF]5DUM MU/ BE 9 FAVOR ( IMP]ATIVE M&ATES10 :I* MEANT 0?AT EV]Y LOCAL HAS ! RI<T TO COMPEL ITS REPRES5TATIVE 444 TO VOTE 9 A DEF9ITE MANN]40 ,?IS MEANT ?AT A 0P>TY DECISION IS SIMPLY AN >I?METICAL TOTAL ( LOCAL DECISIONS40 ,:ILE ALL[+ ! RI<T = LOCALS TO VOTE ON 0EV]Y QUE/ION10 HE CONSID]$ IT RI<T ?AT ! REPRES5TATIVES C\LD IGNORE ?AT DECISION AS !Y HAD 0! RI<T TO WEI< ALL ! >GUM5TS0 MADE AT ! P>TY CONF]5CE4 ,! P>TY MEMB]S ONLY HAD ! RI<T TO 0SUBSEQU5TLY DEPRIVE HIM ( ITS POLITICAL CONFID5CE0 :ILE IMPLEM5T+ ! DECISIONS !Y HAD NO P>T 9 DET]M9+1 EI!R AT CONF]5CE OR SUBSEQU5TLY4 

,COMP>E ?IS TO ,M>X4 ,HE PRAIS$ ! ,COMMUN>DS ( #ahga = IMPLEM5T+ ! 0IMP]ATIVE M&ATE40 ,NE$LESS TO SAY1 ,M>X FAIL$ TO NOTE ?AT ,PR\DHON & ,BAKUN9 HAD ADVOCAT$ ?IS MEASURE YE>S BE=E IT WAS APPLI$ 9 ,P>IS4 ,H[EV]1 IT SEEMS /RANGE ?AT HIS MOD]N FOLL[]S PAY LIP S]VICE TO ?AT IDEA :ILE1 9 PRACTICE1 DISMISS+ IT AS 0UNDEMOCRATIC40 

,N[1 :Y W\LD ,TROTSKYI/S OPPOSE A =M ( DECISION MAK+ PRAIS$ BY ,M>X8 ,C\LD IT BE BECAUSE !Y1 JU/ LIKE ! B\RGEOIS POLITICIANS1 >E AW>E ?AT IT /OPS1 TO QUOTE ,5GELS1 ! 0TRANS=MATION ( ! /ATE & ! ORGANS ( ! /ATE FROM S]VANTS ( SOCIETY 9TO MA/]S ( SOCIETY08 

,:Y %\LD SELF-PROCLAIM$ SOCIALI/S BE SO AGA9/ SELF-MANAGEM5T ?AT !Y W\LD1 9 ! FACE ( ALL LOGIC & EVID5CE1 CALL IT 0UNDEMOCRATIC0 :ILE1 AT ! SAME TIME1 SUBSCRIB+ TO A ORGANIZATION /RUCTURE :I* PLACES P[] 9TO ! H&S ( A FEW8 ,! ANSW] SEEMS ALL TOO PLA94 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,FEBRU>Y #b1 #bba 3 ,DEMOCRACY IS UNDEMOCRATIC -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #g1 #bbb 3 ,DEMOCRACY IS UNDEMOCRATIC -- ,UPDAT$4 

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