Marxism vs. “Direct Action”

In its senile decay, capitalism offers no hope of a better future to millions of people around the world, particularly the youth. In the absence of a mass workers’ party able to offer a way forward, some have turned to individual solutions. Attacks on individual capitalists are greeted with both widespread approval from many young people, particularly on social media. This bears some similarity to the wave of individual terror and violence that spread across Russia in the late 19th century, known as Narodnism. Many, also, look to other forms of “direct action” in a desperate attempt to “do something now” in the face of genocidal war-mongering abroad and widespread corruption and wealth concentration at home. 

These tactics are the product of desperation, but as Marxists, we need to take a sober approach to the question of tactics and strategy. How do we evaluate and choose tactics? Is the question of violence or non-violence one of principle? How do we justify our strategy?

This discussion will be introduced by Josh Lucker, a leading member of the RCA in St. Louis.

Reading list:

Articles

• Why Marxists Oppose Individual Terrorism – Leon Trotsky
• Their Tactics and Ours – Josh Lucker
• Marxism and Direct Action – Phil Mitchinson
• Direct Action vs. Class Struggle – Joe Russell

Books

• Their Morals and Ours – Leon Trotsky
• Socialism on Trial – James P. Cannon 
• To the Masses: Proceedings of the Third Congress of the Communist International, “Theses on Tactics and Strategy” – John Riddell
• Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution, Part One: “The Birth of Russian Marxism” – Alan Woods

Podcasts/Videos

• The Limitations of Direct Action – Joe Russell
• Their Morals and Ours: Marxism vs. Pacifism – Ben Gliniecki