The Necessity and Possibility of Temporary Revolutionary Compromise in Socialist Politics

Abstract

The world today is experiencing numerous crises, including livelihood (or reproduction) crisis, climate crisis, and crisis of democracy. None of these crises can be solved within the limits of capitalist society. The only solution to these crises is the establishment of a socialist society, i.e. an egalitarian, prosperous, democratic, solidaristic society beyond the rule of capital. The establishment of such a society is possible only on the basis of the struggles of the masses. This struggle requires principled commitment to socialism and principled opposition to capitalism. This struggle also requires principled compromises. Marxism is not a dogma, and it is a guide to action, so it rejects sectarianism (or ultra-leftism). The latter approach rejects, among other things, the idea of united front struggle which may require temporary tactical compromises with not-so-revolutionary forces. In this article, on the basis of Vladimir Lenin’s written work, I discuss why such an approach must be rejected by Marxism.