,! ,P>TY & ,CLASS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ANTON ,PANNEKOEK 

,TEXT 3 

,PUBLI%$3 ,MOD]N ,SOCIALISM1 NO4 #b1 PAGES #g-#a4 ,W9T] #a#i#d#a4 
,TRANSCRIB$3 BY ,DAVID ,WALT]S_/,GREG ,AD>GO1 ,DECEMB]1 #b#a4 
,PRO($3 & CORRECT$ BY ,MEG5 ,DEV9E1 ,JULY #b#a#a2 ,MICAH ,MU]1 #b#a#g4 
,NOTE3 ,A V]Y CLOSE V>IANT ( ! #aicf TEXTS 0,P>TY & ,WORK+ ,CLASS0 & 0,! ,P>TY & ! ,WORK+ ,CLASS04 

,! OLD LABOR MOVEM5T IS ORGANIZ$ 9 P>TIES4 ,! BELIEF 9 P>TIES IS ! 
MA9 REASON = ! IMPOT5CE ( ! WORK+ CLASS2 !RE=E WE AVOID =M+ A 
NEW P>TY--NOT BECAUSE WE >E TOO FEW1 BUT BECAUSE A P>TY IS AN 
ORGANIZATION ?AT AIMS TO LEAD & CONTROL ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,9 OPPOSITION TO 
?IS1 WE MA9TA9 ?AT ! WORK+ CLASS CAN RISE TO VICTORY ONLY :5 IT 
9DEP5D5TLY ATTACKS ITS PROBLEMS & DECIDES ITS [N FATE4 ,! WORK]S %\LD 
NOT BL9DLY ACCEPT ! SLOGANS ( O!RS1 NOR ( \R [N GR\PS BUT MU/ ?9K1 
ACT1 & DECIDE = !MSELVES4 ,?IS CONCEPTION IS ON %>P CONTRADICTION TO ! 
TRADITION ( ! P>TY AS ! MO/ IMPORTANT MEANS ( $UCAT+ ! PROLET>IAT4 
,!RE=E MANY1 ?\< REPUDIAT+ ! ,SOCIALI/ & ,COMMUNI/ P>TIES1 RESI/ 
& OPPOSE US4 ,?IS IS P>TLY DUE TO !IR TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS2 AFT] VIEW+ 
! CLASS /RUGGLE AS A /RUGGLE ( P>TIES1 IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONSID] IT 
AS PURELY ! /RUGGLE ( ! WORK+ CLASS1 AS A CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,BUT P>TLY 
?IS CONCEPT IS BAS$ ON ! IDEA ?AT ! P>TY NEV]!LESS PLAYS AN ESS5TIAL 
& IMPORTANT P>T 9 ! /RUGGLE ( ! PROLET>IAT4 ,LET US 9VE/IGATE ?IS 
LATT] IDEA MORE CLOSELY4 

,ESS5TIALLY ! P>TY IS A GR\P+ ACCORD+ TO VIEWS1 CONCEPTIONS2 ! 
CLASSES >E GR\P+S ACCORD+ TO ECONOMIC 9T]E/S4 ,CLASS MEMB]%IP IS 
DET]M9$ BY ONE'S P>T 9 ! PROCESS ( PRODUCTION2 P>TY MEMB]%IP IS ! 
JO9+ ( P]SONS :O AGREE 9 !IR CONCEPTIONS ( ! SOCIAL PROBLEMS4 
,=M]LY IT WAS ?\<T ?AT ?IS CONTRADICTION W\LD DISAPPE> 9 ! CLASS 
P>TY1 ! 0WORK]S0 P>TY4 ,DUR+ ! RISE ( ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRACY IT SEEM$ ?AT 
IT W\LD GRADUALLY EMBRACE ! :OLE WORK+ CLASS1 P>TLY AS MEMB]S1 P>TLY AS 
SUPPORT]S4 ,BECAUSE ,M>XIAN !ORY DECL>$ ?AT SIMIL> 9T]E/S BEGET SIMIL> 
VIEWPO9TS & AIMS1 ! CONTRADICTION BETWE5 P>TY & CLASS WAS EXPECT$ 
GRADUALLY TO DISAPPE>4 ,HI/ORY PROV$ O!RWISE4 ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRACY REMA9$ A 
M9ORITY1 O!R WORK+ CLASS GR\PS ORGANIZ$ AGA9/ IT1 SECTIONS SPLIT AWAY 
FROM IT1 & ITS [N *>ACT] *ANG$4 ,ITS [N PROGRAM WAS REVIS$ OR 
RE9T]PRET$4 ,! EVOLUTION ( SOCIETY DOES NOT PROCE$ ALONG A SMOO?1 EV5 
L9E1 BUT 9 CONFLICTS & CONTRADICTIONS4 

,) ! 9T5SIFICATION ( ! WORK]S' /RUGGLE1 ! MI<T ( ! 5EMY 
ALSO 9CREASES & BESETS ! WORK]S ) R5EW$ D\BTS & FE>S AS TO :I* 
ROAD IS BE/4 ,& EV]Y D\BT BR+S ON SPLITS1 CONTRADICTIONS1 & FRACTIONAL 
BATTLES )9 ! LABOR MOVEM5T4 ,IT IS FUTILE TO BEWAIL !SE CONFLICTS & 
SPLITS AS H>MFUL 9 DIVID+ & WEAK5+ ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,! WORK+ CLASS 
IS NOT WEAK BECAUSE IT IS SPLIT UP--IT IS SPLIT UP BECAUSE IT IS WEAK4 
,BECAUSE ! 5EMY IS P[]FUL & ! OLD ME?ODS ( W>F>E PROVE UNAVAIL+1 
! WORK+ CLASS MU/ SEEK NEW ME?ODS4 ,ITS TASK WILL NOT BECOME CLE> AS ! 
RESULT ( 5LI<T5M5T FROM ABOVE2 IT MU/ DISCOV] ITS TASKS ?R\< H>D 
WORK1 ?R\< ?\<T & CONFLICT ( OP9IONS4 ,IT MU/ F9D ITS [N WAY2 
!RE=E1 ! 9T]NAL /RUGGLE4 ,IT MU/ REL9QUI% OLD IDEAS & ILLUSIONS & 
ADOPT NEW ONES1 & BECAUSE ?IS IS DIFFICULT1 !RE=E ! MAGNITUDE & 
SEV]ITY ( ! SPLITS4 

,NOR CAN WE DELUDE \RSELVES 9TO BELIEV+ ?AT ?IS P]IOD ( P>TY & 
IDEOLOGICAL /RIFE IS ONLY TEMPOR>Y & WILL MAKE WAY TO R5EW$ H>MONY4 ,TRUE1 
9 ! C\RSE ( ! CLASS /RUGGLE !RE >E OCCASIONS :5 ALL =CES UNITE 9 
A GREAT A*IEVABLE OBJECTIVE & ! REVOLUTION IS C>RI$ ON ) ! MI<T ( 
A UNIT$ WORK+ CLASS4 ,BUT AFT] ?AT1 AS AFT] EV]Y VICTORY1 COME DIFF]5CES 
ON ! QUE/ION3 :AT NEXT8 ,& EV5 IF ! WORK+ CLASS IS VICTORI\S1 IT IS 
ALWAYS CONFRONT$ BY ! MO/ DIFFICULT TASK ( SUBDU+ ! 5EMY FUR!R1 ( 
REORGANIZ+ PRODUCTION1 CREAT+ NEW ORD]4 ,IT IS IMPOSSIBLE ?AT ALL WORK]S1 
ALL /RATA & GR\PS1 ) !IR (T5 /ILL DIV]SE 9T]E/S %\LD1 AT ?IS 
/AGE1 AGREE ON ALL MATT]S & BE READY = UNIT$ & DECISIVE FUR!R ACTION4 
,!Y WILL F9D ! TRUE C\RSE ONLY AFT] ! %>PE/ CONTROV]SIES & 
CONFLICTS & ONLY ?US A*IEVE CL>ITY4 

,IF1 9 ?IS SITUATION1 P]SONS ) ! SAME FUNDAM5TAL CONCEPTIONS UNITE 
= ! DISCUSSION ( PRACTICAL /EPS & SEEK CL>IFICATION ?R\< DISCUSSIONS 
& PROPAG&IZE !IR CONCLUSIONS1 SU* GR\PS MI<T BE CALL$ P>TIES1 BUT 
!Y W\LD BE P>TIES 9 AN 5TIRELY DIFF]5T S5SE FROM ?OSE ( TODAY4 
,ACTION1 ! ACTUAL CLASS /RUGGLE1 IS ! TASK ( ! WORK+ MASSES !MSELVES1 
9 !IR 5TIRETY1 9 !IR REAL GR\P+S AS FACTORY & MILLH&S1 OR O!R 
PRODUCTIVE GR\PS1 BECAUSE HI/ORY & ECONOMY HAVE PLAC$ !M 9 ! POSITION 
:]E !Y MU/ & CAN FI<T ! WORK+ CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,IT W\LD BE 9SANE IF 
! SUPPORT]S ( ONE P>TY W]E TO GO ON /RIKE :ILE ?OSE ( ANO!R CONT9UE 
TO WORK4 ,BUT BO? T5D5CIES WILL DEF5D !IR POSITIONS ON /RIKE OR NO /RIKE 
9 ! FACTORY MEET+S1 ?US AF=D+ AN OPPORTUNITY TO >RIVE AT A WELL 
F\ND$ DECISION4 ,! /RUGGLE IS SO GREAT1 ! 5EMY SO P[]FUL ?AT ONLY ! 
MASSES AS A :OLE CAN A*IEVE A VICTORY--! RESULT ( ! MAT]IAL & 
MORAL P[] ( ACTION1 UNITY & 5?USIASM1 BUT ALSO ! RESULT ( ! M5TAL 
=CE ( ?\<T1 ( CL>ITY4 ,9 ?IS LIES ! GREAT IMPORTANCE ( SU* P>TIES 
OR GR\PS BAS$ ON OP9IONS3 ?AT !Y BR+ CL>ITY 9 !IR CONFLICTS1 
DISCUSSIONS & PROPAG&A4 ,!Y >E ! ORGANS ( ! SELF-5LI<T5M5T ( ! 
WORK+ CLASS BY MEANS ( :I* ! WORK]S F9D !IR WAY TO FRE$OM4 

,( C\RSE SU* P>TIES >E NOT /ATIC & UN*ANGEABLE4 ,EV]Y NEW SITUATION1 
EV]Y NEW PROBLEM WILL F9D M9DS DIV]G+ & UNIT+ 9 NEW GR\PS ) NEW 
PROGRAMS4 ,!Y HAVE A FLUCTUAT+ *>ACT] & CON/ANTLY READJU/ !MSELVES 
TO NEW SITUATIONS4 

,COMP>$ TO SU* GR\PS1 ! PRES5T WORK]S' P>TIES HAVE AN 5TIRELY 
DIFF]5T *>ACT]1 = !Y HAVE A DIFF]5T OBJECTIVE3 !Y WANT TO SEIZE 
P[] = !MSELVES4 ,!Y AIM NOT AT BE+ AN AID TO ! WORK+ CLASS 9 ITS 
/RUGGLE = EMANCIPATION BUT TO RULE IT !MSELVES & PROCLAIM ?AT ?IS 
CON/ITUTES ! EMANCIPATION ( ! PROLET>IAT4 ,! ,SOCIAL-,DEMOCRACY :I* 
>OSE 9 ! ]A ( P>LIAM5T>ISM CONCEIV$ ( ?IS RULE AS A P>LIAM5T>Y 
GOV]NM5T4 ,! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY C>RI$ ! IDEA ( P>TY RULE ?R\< TO ITS 
FULLE/ EXTREME 9 ! P>TY DICTATOR%IP4 

,SU* P>TIES1 9 DI/9CTION TO ! GR\PS DESCRIB$ ABOVE1 MU/ BE RIGID 
/RUCTURES ) CLE> L9ES ( DEM>CATION ?R\< MEMB]%IP C>DS1 /ATUES1 
P>TY DISCIPL9E & ADMISSION & EXPULSION PROC$URES4 ,= !Y >E 
9/RUM5TS ( P[]--!Y FI<T = P[]1 BRIDLE !IR MEMB]S BY =CE 
& CON/ANTLY SEEK TO EXT5D ! SCOPE ( !IR P[]4 ,IT IS NOT !IR TASK TO 
DEVELOP ! 9ITIATIVE ( ! WORK]S2 RA!R DO !Y AIM AT TRA9+ LOYAL & 
UNQUE/ION+ MEMB]S ( !IR FAI?4 ,:ILE ! WORK+ CLASS 9 ITS /RUGGLE 
= P[] & VICTORY NE$S UNLIMIT$ 9TELLECTUAL FRE$OM1 ! P>TY RULE MU/ 
SUPPRESS ALL OP9IONS EXCEPT ITS [N4 ,9 0DEMOCRATIC0 P>TIES1 ! SUPPRESSION 
IS VEIL$2 9 ! DICTATOR%IP P>TIES1 IT IS OP51 BRUTAL SUPPRESSION4 

,MANY WORK]S ALREADY REALIZE ?AT ! RULE ( ! ,SOCIALI/ OR ,COMMUNI/ 
P>TY WILL BE ONLY ! CONCEAL$ =M ( ! RULE ( ! B\RGEOIS CLASS 9 
:I* ! EXPLOITATION & SUPPRESSION ( ! WORK+ CLASS REMA9S4 ,9/EAD ( 
!SE P>TIES1 !Y URGE ! =MATION ( A 0REVOLUTION>Y P>TY0 ?AT WILL 
REALLY AIM AT ! RULE ( ! WORK]S & ! REALIZATION ( COMMUNISM4 ,NOT A 
P>TY 9 ! NEW S5SE AS DESCRIB$ ABOVE1 BUT A P>TY LIKE ?OSE ( TODAY1 ?AT 
FI<T = P[] AS ! 0VANGU>D0 ( ! CLASS1 AS ! ORGANIZATION ( 
CONSCI\S1 REVOLUTION>Y M9ORITIES1 ?AT SEIZE P[] 9 ORD] TO USE IT = ! 
EMANCIPATION ( ! CLASS4 

,WE CLAIM ?AT !RE IS AN 9T]NAL CONTRADICTION 9 ! T]M3 0REVOLUTION>Y 
P>TY40 ,SU* A P>TY CANNOT BE REVOLUTION>Y4 ,IT IS NO MORE REVOLUTION>Y ?AN 
W]E ! CREATORS ( ! ,?IRD ,REI*4 ,:5 WE SPEAK ( REVOLUTION1 WE SPEAK ( 
! PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION1 ! SEIZURE ( P[] BY ! WORK+ CLASS 
ITSELF4 

,! 0REVOLUTION>Y P>TY0 IS BAS$ ON ! IDEA ?AT ! WORK+ CLASS NE$S A 
NEW GR\P ( LEAD]S :O VANQUI% ! B\RGEOISIE = ! WORK]S & CON/RUCT 
A NEW GOV]NM5T--7NOTE ?AT ! WORK+ CLASS IS NOT YET CONSID]$ FIT TO 
REORGANIZE & REGULATE PRODUCTION47 ,BUT IS NOT ?IS AS IT %\LD BE8 ,AS ! 
WORK+ CLASS DOES NOT SEEM CAPABLE ( REVOLUTION1 IS IT NOT NECESS>Y ?AT ! 
REVOLUTION>Y VANGU>D1 ! P>TY1 MAKE ! REVOLUTION = IT8 ,& IS ?IS NOT 
TRUE AS LONG AS ! MASSES WILL+LY 5DURE CAPITALISM8 

,AGA9/ ?IS1 WE RAISE ! QUE/ION3 :AT =CE CAN SU* A P>TY RAISE = 
! REVOLUTION8 ,H[ IS IT ABLE TO DEFEAT ! CAPITALI/ CLASS8 ,ONLY IF ! 
MASSES /& BEH9D IT4 ,ONLY IF ! MASSES RISE & ?R\< MASS ATTACKS1 MASS 
/RUGGLE1 & MASS /RIKES1 OV]?R[ ! OLD REGIME4 ,)\T ! ACTION ( ! 
MASSES1 !RE CAN BE NO REVOLUTION4 

,TWO ?+S CAN FOLL[4 ,! MASSES REMA9 9 ACTION3 !Y DO NOT GO HOME & 
LEAVE ! GOV]NM5T TO ! NEW P>TY4 ,!Y ORGANIZE !IR P[] 9 FACTORY & 
WORK%OP & PREP>E = FUR!R CONFLICT 9 ORD] TO DEFEAT CAPITAL2 ?R\< 
! WORK]S' C\NCILS !Y E/ABLI% A =M UNION TO TAKE OV] ! COMPLETE 
DIRECTION ( ALL SOCIETY--9 O!R WORDS1 !Y PROVE1 !Y >E NOT AS 
9CAPABLE ( REVOLUTION AS IT SEEM$4 ,( NECESSITY !N1 CONFLICT WILL >ISE 
) ! P>TY :I* ITSELF WANTS TO TAKE CONTROL & :I* SEES ONLY DISORD] 
& AN>*Y 9 ! SELF-ACTION ( ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,POSSIBLY ! WORK]S WILL 
DEVELOP !IR MOVEM5T & SWEEP \T ! P>TY4 ,OR1 ! P>TY1 ) ! HELP ( 
B\RGEOIS ELEM5TS DEFEATS ! WORK]S4 ,9 EI!R CASE1 ! P>TY IS AN OB/ACLE 
TO ! REVOLUTION BECAUSE IT WANTS TO BE MORE ?AN A MEANS ( PROPAG&A & 
5LI<T5M5T2 BECAUSE IT FEELS ITSELF CALL$ UPON TO LEAD & RULE AS A 
P>TY4 

,ON ! O!R H& ! MASSES MAY FOLL[ ! P>TY FAI? & LEAVE IT TO ! 
FULL DIRECTION ( AFFAIRS4 ,!Y FOLL[ ! SLOGANS FROM ABOVE1 HAVE CONFID5CE 
9 ! NEW GOV]NM5T 7AS 9 ,G]MANY & ,RUSSIA7 ?AT IS TO REALIZE 
COMMUNISM--& GO BACK HOME & TO WORK4 ,IMM$IATELY ! B\RGEOISIE EX]TS 
ITS :OLE CLASS P[] ! ROOTS ( :I* >E UNBROK52 ITS F9ANCIAL =CES1 ITS 
GREAT 9TELLECTUAL RES\RCES1 & ITS ECONOMIC P[] 9 FACTORIES & GREAT 
5T]PRISES4 ,AGA9/ ?IS ! GOV]NM5T P>TY IS TOO WEAK4 ,ONLY ?R\< 
MOD]ATION1 CONCESSIONS & YIELD+ CAN IT MA9TA9 ?AT IT IS 9SANITY = ! 
WORK]S TO TRY TO =CE IMPOSSIBLE DEM&S4 ,?US ! P>TY DEPRIV$ ( CLASS 
P[] BECOMES ! 9/RUM5T = MA9TA9+ B\RGEOIS P[]4 

,WE SAID BE=E ?AT ! T]M 0REVOLUTION>Y P>TY0 WAS CONTRADICTORY FROM A 
PROLET>IAN PO9T ( VIEW4 ,WE CAN /ATE IT O!RWISE3 9 ! T]M 0REVOLUTION>Y 
P>TY10 0REVOLUTION>Y0 ALWAYS MEANS A B\RGEOIS REVOLUTION4 ,ALWAYS1 :5 ! 
MASSES OV]?R[ A GOV]NM5T & !N ALL[ A NEW P>TY TO TAKE P[]1 WE HAVE 
A B\RGEOIS REVOLUTION--! SUB/ITUTION ( A RUL+ CA/E BY A NEW RUL+ 
CA/E4 ,IT WAS SO 9 ,P>IS 9 #ahc :5 ! F9ANCE B\RGEOISIE SUPPLANT$ ! 
L&$ PROPRIETORS1 9 #ahdh :5 ! 9DU/RIAL B\RGEOISIE TOOK OV] ! 
RE9S4 

,9 ! ,RUSSIAN REVOLUTION ! P>TY BUREAUCRACY CAME TO P[] AS ! RUL+ 
CA/E4 ,BUT 9 ,WE/]N ,EUROPE & ,AM]ICA ! B\RGEOISIE IS MU* MORE P[]FULLY 
5TR5*$ 9 PLANTS & BANKS1 SO ?AT A P>TY BUREAUCRACY CANNOT PU% !M 
ASIDE AS EASILY4 ,! B\RGEOISIE 9 !SE C\NTRIES CAN BE VANQUI%$ ONLY BY 
REPEAT$ & UNIT$ ACTION ( ! MASSES 9 :I* !Y SEIZE ! MILLS & 
FACTORIES & BUILD UP !IR C\NCIL ORGANIZATIONS4 

,?OSE :O SPEAK ( 0REVOLUTION>Y P>TIES0 DRAW 9COMPLETE1 LIMIT$ 
CONCLUSIONS FROM HI/ORY4 ,:5 ! ,SOCIALI/ & ,COMMUNI/ P>TIES BECAME ORGANS 
( B\RGEOIS RULE = ! P]PETUATION ( EXPLOITATION1 !SE WELL-MEAN+ 
PEOPLE M]ELY CONCLUD$ ?AT !Y W\LD HAVE TO DO BETT]4 ,!Y CANNOT REALIZE 
?AT ! FAILURE ( !SE P>TIES IS DUE TO ! FUNDAM5TAL CONFLICT BETWE5 ! 
SELF-EMANCIPATION ( ! WORK+ CLASS ?R\< ITS [N P[] & ! PACIFY+ 
( ! REVOLUTION ?R\< A NEW SYMPA!TIC RUL+ CLIQUE4 ,!Y ?9K !Y >E 
! REVOLUTION>Y VANGU>D BECAUSE !Y SEE ! MASSES 9DIFF]5T & 9ACTIVE4 
,BUT ! MASSES >E 9ACTIVE ONLY BECAUSE !Y CANNOT YET COMPREH5D ! C\RSE 
( ! /RUGGLE & ! UNITY ( CLASS 9T]E/S1 AL?\< !Y 9/9CTIVELY 
S5SE ! GREAT P[] ( ! 5EMY & ! IMM5S5ESS ( !IR TASK4 ,ONCE 
CONDITIONS =CE !M 9TO ACTION !Y WILL ATTACK ! TASK ( SELF-ORGANIZATION 
& ! CONQUE/ ( ! ECONOMIC P[] ( CAPITAL4 

,FROM 3 ,M>XI/S4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,M>* #a1 #bba 3 ,! ,P>TY & ,CLASS -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #h1 #bbb 3 ,! ,P>TY & ,CLASS -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
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