Connolly and the Revolutionary Party

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“CONNOLLY ANG THE REVOLUTIONASY

In the experience of the Irish working class, the role of the Leninist party has not becn gre..t. That this has: been so is no accident any more than was Russia's development of such . form of org:nisation ind it® enjoymert of that organis tion's success. The compiretive ccuses of Russia's achievcinent snd Ireland's fnilure lie in the two countrics' different levels of economic development. Thr highly socislised,(if not, relative to total popul.tion, large) Russian proletariat was morc suited to develop its socialist consciousness than ws the workin? cluss of Ireland. The latter's most socialised elements (in Ulster) had their division of skills reinforced by the rvligious issuc. .s ~ whole its members lost their natural leadcrs on the emigrant ships. The Russian working cl:ss produced the Bolshevik Larty 3; its comrades in Ircland could not (until faced with the example of October 1917 ) advance beyond the I.7.G.W.U. cnd the Irish Citizen Army. Except for brief periods, the Irish worker could not look for revolutionary leadership to any van- Cuard political body, whether for his own island alone or for hoth the British Isles, This last point is relcvant. In Commolly's time, all Irclard wes port of the single State of the United Kingdom. There was the possibility th .t a revolutionary party might develop to lead the workcrs of both Britain and Ircland. Such a development would have bee: Ap Hs with the organisational etrategy of Bolshevism, which Trotsky summed up as follows; “ihercus in nationally homogeneous sbates the bourzcois revolutions devcloped powerful centripetal tindcencics, rallying to the idea of overcomins, purticul-:rism, as ir France, or overcoming natiors1 disunion, as in Italy and Germany - in netionclly hetcrogencous states on the contrary, such as Turkey, Kussic,austri+-Hung ry, the belated bourgcois revolution relcased ccuntrifuenl forces. In spite of the apparent contrariness of these processcs when oxpre= ssed in mechinical terms, their historical function wos the same, In both cases it Was a question of using the national unity «s.2 fundimental industrial reservoir.

Germany hed for this puppose to be united, sustria-Hungery to be divided,Lenir énrly learned the inevitability of this devclopm nt of centrifusal national move ~ meny¥s in Russia, and for many years stubbornly fought most particularly against Rosa Luxemburg - for that famcus paragraph nine of the old party programme which formulated the right of nations to self determination ~- that is, to complete separation as states. In this, the Bolshevik Party did not by any means undetake an evangel of separation, It merely assumed an obligation .to strusgle implacably against every form of national oppression, including the forcible retention of this or that nationality within. the boundaries of the general state. Only in this way could the Russian proletariat gradually win the confidence of the oppressed nationalities.

"But that was only one side of thu matter. The policy of Bolshevism in the national sphere had also another side, apparently contradictcry to the first but in reality supplementing it. Within the framework of the party, and of the work-~crs' organisations in general, Boshevism_insisted unona rigid centralisim. imnlan

-16- : taint of nation. 1330. which night set the workers one acainst the other or disunite them. While flatl ing: o the boureois states the right to impose compulsoty citizenship, or even a State lansuagee \j a national minority - Bolshevism at the same time made it a veril sacred task to unite as closel possible, by means of voluntary class disci the workers of different netionelities, Thus it flatly rejected the national- federation principle in buildin; the partys 4 revolutionsry organisation is not the prototype of the future state, but merely the instrument for its creation. An instrument oucht to be adapted to fashionin,; the product; it ought not to include the product. Thus a certralised oranisation can gusrantee the success of revolutionary strug;‘le - even where the task is to destroy the centralised oppression of nationalities." - History of the Russian Revolution, Vol. III p.p. 40-41, Sphere Books Ltd. London, 1967. (Present writer's emphasis) "In contrast to this, it is a good iden - following: the method of contrasts - to compare it with the policy of the Austrian social demersts. Bolshevism, based itself upon the assumption of an outbresk of national revolutions continuing for decades to come, and instructed the aavanced workers in this spirit. The Austrian social democracy, on the contrary, submissively accomodated itself to the policy of the rulin, class; it defended the compulsory co citizenship of ten nations in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and at the same time, being: absclutely incapable of achievin; a revolutionary union of the workers OF these different noticnalitics, fencéd them off in the party and in the trade unions with vertical partitions," Ibid P. 59, emphasis as before.

“aistory hes provided on ineormurable checkup of the two policies on the nutionsl question. Wherens 4ustria-Hungary, whose proletariat was cducated in the spirit of 2 cowordly halfway policy, went 911 to pieces under . form] shake-up, and morcover the initintive in this process w.s taken in the min by th. notional sect= ions of the Social Dumoerctic party, in Russia on the ruins of Czarisn a now stoto composed of nationalities has been for ried, ond has been closcly welded together hth cconcmbeally anc politicclily by the Bolshevik Perty.

"uh tever may be the further destiny of the Sovict Union - and it is still for from. quict haven - the m.tional policy of Lenin will find its plece amon; the etcrnel tr:.surce of monkind." Ibid P. 62.

Tan SEILLBIRTH OF J2TTED KTeGDOM BOLSABVISu, though less drum.tic, the nvtion l policy of the revolutionary lft of the Britiso Isles before October 1917, wey vo 2S tach os that of the austre -Hunge ricn Secial Democrats, wi example cf how not te oo about it. The only Inbour peliticeal crpanisition that trie’ to bridge the Irish Sea wos the petit bourcecis and rofcermist Independent Labour Party. For the remindor, sc far were circunstenees from thesc of Czarist Russin, that it wis 2 sipn of progress rether than ethorwisc fer Socinlists to form separate orgunis:tions for Britcin xn? Ireland - not cry in the politiecl, This vos shown by the fact that in formins the 4 — but alsc in the industri-.1 sphere. T ere toe Jorcs Larkin wes not only breakin, fro: British but from burcrucratic eontrol By his net he created the macleus of whet woult de the lendinm: pacc-sotter in indus striol action in the British Isles fur yerrs to cone, oven -fter 1918. In the british Isles, the situation ws an early munifestation of whet wos te peeve 2 free qucet international occurrence throuyh the twenticth century; the undceveleosed wobkin: class of the cclony, advancing and outpscins the ancient metropolitan proletariat.

be nan -Il[7=the world's first industrisl enpitelisn. From this thoy vcre Able cnjoy the buncfits (mn pany din relation bo enpitrlts 3; sr undiése ¢o ui coluadest) of thoir esuntey's menep ly position. Lenin suv.

Th vt bats es se Woo duc ty the sritish: verkoy r "1... section cf of the proletariat allows it moe bow ch Sta of Capit: tlic ig Pro wecss © He ne C ry © £ eur coisic.” Inperislisy, the H Muscew, 1976, p.103. This result acveloped in Britein an? (if apythinr.:;, more ) oe ie rotestant workers of North Hast Ircelen’. Arcncst the workers vies ; atten developed much more slowly. Partly this wos boenuse the were epont on supsidising the more mumerous peas ot pure! Iwse doveloped ors Wer artly it was beccuse the nodern Irish Tres Union Sritain. without the industry of the other artisans ond unskillec transport c of debour im countries where it cxisted, wis censpicucus North wast. The. or -snisstion cf th. Irisn.unskillee wos, hones of the Sritish unicns with theie ene win? pure eHG interest la Irelend. Fron 1997, it wos run by the Trish 7 Union in oppesitiun te the dts Kinglenm laoeurborou)ertey, The rei. Colt.

events were to show, ot: unsatisfnet Metin Segxeteoc poonent of the Lebour in the lom: run. It corteirly ccult i : power Far the linits of a "One Sips Union". Lonethcoless, its cireunet~ it on inevitole auvel. opment ant the best thet couls be done py the Labo toof the YK.

Tovecs? ON COS y r in the twe wires he worlé's first in Wcdlige clase movuriunt nan it was in Russ mut the example of aa the These + Yeets offcotead lecisively the mre-test «f , olly. Connolly's thecretienl pre cornence cette. vith his deck row? 2 the Trish ui peats ¢ hiv foot in both Inich ond uritieh world.

ercowte ( or lene the neces to erete ) 2p i od clrsses thet cult leat thus te vietury in the closs we Xr ~ oe arma OO, > @ JQ2CS wi a vpon Set to the qucstion -f the p litigal erecisetion 7 hee Cunbren up Rio personel cont cts. as wlil “e seon, ides of os shyt is terme) Descer tic Contralisn EUS wb oF ofairw:, cfficioney, rotacr thon te libethor levels. Lt Ti this cuipiricisma, Conpeolly's attitule te tenticn, fitted mn turally. His first attempt ( 2 po Aletinet von 2 party the Tvish sc Me oN cntircly Trish Wy Te werspoctive, Lt wes thrown erntic beterntion, ond, leter,

1911. ) eet ty wy Longue (— in thee thon fribure Sceiciist Lv without «© lows, hi in thaw U.K. all ta ¥ 2 $2 Imilion von Kec in ecnvirein: cuy of toe ol Cxiste’. c Tg de \ 1 JA oe a. a 4 . but hed he beww able eG Por the better, he Lt woul2 cor ate irly not ll-uritish \ nations] issue. Jut this couls that history woul courrd’, onl hav’ it hove. With on nc con tre he OT OP seritein oo Trelen', the ov'iden ere history oul theiv evevtual seimure of 7 The trouble ( arn? it is verv bio troo lo thet this is conjceturc. In fret, the rol) cecnemie Vetwoon the woekore of lirdtedin . Trcler? (for. eentor then 7 Glvse in the sel

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wLice Russice notin nv litics) me of the workers oi

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such « poerty - practio.l weru wobble ols to be Aspen cee o WA OO VE ew vlres sagf JPR UR DNS opel inte the 1 tterts livecraticn scetion for tus whole, noe Trelan’? hel levelitus TOG ORG. Vhis fact rm ) rovd ivels ( or, rath q veons of Un bbigk Teles. Un ners S relrvene: Supe tii consi ee tie ox. of the I.C.F.2.) it is reccsas wiLly re vionally 1 7 ak

TH. SUTUS

(f the Verth Ishuvisin 78.” “ATL in. Jeve ciple. . ashuvite ‘Taturnati: Tine’ within cit, le stetes. its principle roquirces Lepublic of dveiunt, Bed © C LB eel. CVE Orie

TAF 1 ig s0lshceviks ereey out of 1 wee » the eto te eroups ra iots (Trotsly — haber Lhizt be Co mites Last duterpmetionel till it the murcouczacy of the U.5 BH.

Jolshevisi. per sc. Ruther, thoy the Internsticne1" They are curre Fourth tober tired The 4 pene ties ud aecepte. ag reasens for permnn Tirdy, perty ether ro. ienel li iui te, Par tof the lifficulty with the 5.7T.0.0.'s th Ey tach une snr c “sur “4 manner os Connely ent Vii. se the motu 1 ifen was put th: vt the 3.1.0.0 ws: we rem f: omnes Sri tish ain thas Ircland is «a Sritish ave-colo: Lhe “ritish Mepire, The noone isotic noreplice ( Party Groanisotior pp 10-11 )oy rerarkii.: on the preetiesl fficultics Cistenee , “travel restricti. my, Lar laveur i supa tion) in the woy ef such a unit, The trou'le them coul?t heve beun uses 2s ay, umonts a ninst the ar unernts for the principle cf party wm vty aan Gitner at the Biaolish Cheimoel ov a wits of mop mori Britain's) cowl vo extenle? to a cin le .reun for the or tac stetos . the E.E.C. Despite Marxist cencept of Tape wicdiety loon an interns:ti thea, the U.S.4. lone: wntes of Seite in, of th. other Burepecn States, of the capitalist countrics ( ExCunt Joper - on! this. cmpire tic tl niliterily). Yo fi. At for a scei islist sucicty ir bau -ritish Isles alors ae ster TuSO seve.) oy “gorkers' state nec s the support ef : F at if revelution in the writish Isles ul vy the revoluticnory ac tis . Kars s mst be omv~mnisce! in 7 scetion for KK.

S of sation: olly cee ab ted revolution ( they iseticnliy (se the 3.1.0.0. woul’? have it oat relo, aa citizenship ri of thon. The terms: “or ago thoeo of bac BoP lors of the frien =, Gt NAS © Mone pe sy the’ tecision of how te usc th To* Heath, but with Ar alisn ultivnte 1s -ritain trlism fcll, trish Capit:lism coal’ survive ckors clsewk a peas) ar

NY OQ ~20— a cee ee PE eee SRE ER cE te ON ne nt a en eR ae ce cee te te ee and Dlessel by &merican capitelism. The constitution: 1 ferns thet the B.I.C.0. “ismisses cuntcmptucusly ( Tobit. pp 5- -6) Svbress + political veclity that Livides state power in the Jritish Isles 2s it ious not Detewoon Eneolant ant Wales ant Sectlani. But, then, why 2 32 ccunty secti:n ? Surely the 3.1.0.0. is cerrect when it ssys ( Tbit. p 5 ) "If only the constitutions] fori of the state is token into account, it leats te a Unite? Kir.ctom party, which inchves Northern Irel nia party | of Scuthern Irclant". Superficially perhwos, it is ecrreuct, Tut here to We are de lin: with s political reslity, «ni one ‘that wis not unknown to the 3olshuviks. | The Northern Irish Protestants. fat their own state power yntil L 1eTe.

If the current crisis ents without 2 Proletarian Revolution, they will engey it a it. Their subsorlinition to critain was n ted more in the ceeonoriie than. in: the military. om.thed,political fivlis. As for .s the mecherics of sivte power wis coneurnel, the Unionists hula frec hini te 1969, sn? a considera mle influence te 1972. Logically then, it mi;ht be oonclutc!? thet the correct form ef om-cnisaticn- would be that of the Stalinists up till 19703 one Co:wmnist Party each for the Six anil the Pwurty Six Counties.

7 Here ncoim, there isa sna,' 3 the relntiendhip of forces in the Six Counbics. means that.a Workers! Repuvlic Of Rerthern Irclan’? with ary rel authority over that territory coul. exist only, 2s 2 catalyst for Reveluticn or 2 lar or stage. The smishis. of Oran power will be as necuso ry 2 port of the Irish Revoluticn 2s will be the lstructicn of 211 more lircetly clerienl power of ALL ccnominotions, borthern Lrolen’ (net t just its Parliveent) is or expression of Orun ce power 3 ony successful revelutitn will sweep it rwwy. The Hotetersnia of the proletarint in Irelant will cover 211 32 ccurtivs, wether Ty thomselves, or ss part cf.0 .rcater. proletaricn unit cf the itis hn Isles, Burene, or 1s we intcnld, as‘sccn 2s possible the whole worl.

It is .these facts that tecilte our territerial basis ef or smisctircn.

( Te be eonelvtc’ ) a an a a i a nt ee a a A RN