THESES ON BOLSHEVISM
The Bourgeois Role of Bolshevism - Its Relation to World Communism

(A.P.C.F-edition  -  1935)

FOREWORD

The following pamphlet was originally issued as a "Theses on Bolshevism," by the Group of International Communists of Holland, Left Communist Groups and Council Movements of Europe.

The first English translation was published in "Council Correspondence," organ of the United Workers' Party of America, and is here reproduced exactly as appearing in that journal.

We have taken the liberty of altering the title to a more definite challenge to the Communist Party of Britain, which, dominated by the Comintern, and masquerading as a Marxian movement, calls for a challenge of its teachings. The history of the Communist Party is the history of the Comintern. All its vacillations, compromises and reformisms, are dictated by the ever changing expediencies of Bolshevism, which is called upon to complete the task of the Bourgeois Revolution.

The recent persecutions, banishments, and exilings of politically differing revolutionaries in the U.S.S.R.; the trading agreements and concessions, peace pacts and military understandings; the studied hostility to all Communist developments uncontrolled by the Comintern, are evidences of the Bourgeois limitations, economic and political, of the Bolshevik regime.

The Bolshevik Party, spearhead of the revolution, is fast becoming the stern instrument of reaction, endeavouring to stamp out every Communist aspiration of the proletariat. Such a course was dictated by the peculiar circumstances of the revolution favouring the caucus at present ruling in the U.S.S.R.

As a new revolutionary perspective is forced upon the workers of the U.S.S.R through the problems raised under the Bolshevik regime, a shifting of the axis of revolutionary thought becomes apparent.

The Theses, we are convinced, proves clearly and systematically that Bolshevism, theoretically and practically, is incapable of assuming the leadership of the working class movement for emancipation.

The Capitalistic complex of the working class movement with its multifarious Social-democratic prejudices hindering rather than developing the initiative, of the masses in the struggle for Communism exposes the need for a working class party free from self-seeking and desire for Office under Capitalism. Parliamentarism leads to revisionism and betrayal, and must be expunged from the program of the revolutionary working-class movement. To this end the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation describes the functions of a sincere and intelligent revolutionary organisation in that it :

(1) Stands for the revolutionary overthrow of the Capitalist system of exploitation, and privilege, and advocates in its stead the Workers' Industrial Republic.

(2) Preaches the class war, recognising that the present struggle between the classes can only be solved permanently in the triumph of the working class.

(3) Advocates the overthrow of the present parliamentary system of government and urges the boycotting of the ballot box as the initial challenge of the workers in the fight for economic power.

(4) Declares that the permanent crisis of Capitalism has rendered obsolete the official trade and industrial union movements but recognising the inevitability of struggle, urges the General Strike as the only effective method of industrial action.

(5) Holds that unemployment is a chronic and expanding feature of Capitalist conditions and constitutes a real menace to Capitalism; therefore urges collaboration of employed and unemployed in the fight for emancipation, and supports all demands that further the class struggle.

Printed and Published by
Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation, Glasgow.

Order :

From here the A.P.C.F-pamphlet is identical to the first English edition published as

'Theses on Bolshevism' in
International Council Correspondance
issue 3., December 1934.