Why We Need to Build a Revolutionary Party

What we stand for

Revolutionary parties alone cannot change the world, but without a revolutionary party we cannot abolish capitalism.

A revolutionary party must be present in political movements (Photo: Guy Smallman)

Revolutionary parties alone cannot change the world. But without a revolutionary party we cannot abolish capitalism.

Almost all fundamental change begins with the movement of large numbers of people. Strikes, marches, occupations and campaigns are crucial.

Today, hope lies in the great movement for Palestine, the strikers and militants in the workplaces, and the tens of thousands who took to the far right last month. It lies in those who are taking to the streets for environmental disasters, trans+ rights and women’s liberation, and many other issues.

However, people involved in these movements do not have a single worldview. Some find it crucial to convince members of parliament, while others want to organize a select group to carry out acts of sabotage or dramatic actions.

Some people call for more militancy, while others urge moderation. Revolutionary socialists say that mass action and the working class using its power at the point of production is the key to change. We need to organize ourselves into a party to advocate our cause within political movements and the working class.

Unless revolutionaries consciously organize themselves to convince others, the prevailing views of parliamentarians, trade union leaders and NGO organizations will prevail.

The politics of compromise can overwhelm ideas aimed at tackling oppression at its roots and combating exploitation.

Revolutionaries in Germany in the 1930s tragically lost the argument for a united front against fascism combined with anti-capitalism. The result was the victory of Adolf Hitler.

Revolutionary organizations in Egypt in 2011 or Sudan in 2019 failed to win enough people to overthrow the entire system. Mass movements toppled dictators, but brutal rulers returned, crushing hopes for change.

A reformist party like the Labour Party wants to represent the working class and wider society. It accepts people with rotten views on migration, LGBT+ people or Palestine. In fact, it often pushes such views from the top down.

You can argue a hundred reactionary things for Labour before breakfast, but as long as you vote the right way you’re welcome.

Labour is hierarchical and undemocratic. Members must support MPs, councillors and civil servants. People like Keir Starmer see members expressing disagreement as an unfortunate necessity.

A revolutionary party believes that the actions of the working class are necessary. It means that workers can use all their power to overcome capitalism and transform themselves in the course of struggle.

The party must therefore encourage the direct participation of the working class. A revolutionary party is therefore a party of leaders in the workplace, in local areas and communities.

Those who understand the need for revolution are often a minority. These people must organize together to win larger numbers for revolution.

But they cannot compromise in the pursuit of growth. Revolutionaries must work in unions and political movements without accommodating reactionary ideas. The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) does not accept racists and sexists. We do not accept members who think climate change is a hoax or do not support the Palestinians.

Joining a revolutionary party means more than paying £5 a month, although paying money is important. We want members to take politics seriously and be actively involved in whatever way they can.

We ask all our members to take ideas, history and theory seriously, to read our publications and to come to our meetings if possible. Working class people can change the world, but they have to organize to do so. We are up against a ruthless and centralized capitalist ruling class, so we must have our own countervailing power.

If you want to fight all the symptoms of capitalism and organize for a revolution, you should join the SWP.