Introduction

After the success of the 1917 Revolution in Russia and the rise of the Third International, the Leninist model of socialism and revolution enjoyed widespread acceptance. Nearly every revolution, rebellion or revolt that has occurred over the past hundred years has been Leninist in inspiration and in structure.

The recent collapse of these countries, however, has made clear the weaknesses and deficiencies in Leninist theory and practice. The death of the Leninist nations and their overthrow by popular rebellions were visible examples of the bankruptcy of the Leninist organizational and political model.

In the period between the World Wars, however, an entirely different trend of socialist thought had briefly flowered in Europe and the United States, a trend which rejected the Leninist model of revolutionary organization and which affirmed the complete self-emancipation of the working class from capitalist domination. This movement was “council communism”—the idea that the workers themselves should control their destiny, free from the domination of any boss or any political faction. In Europe, this movement was inspired and led by the writings of Pannekoek, Gorter, Korsch, and Gramsci. In the United States, the council movement was represented by the syndicalist Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), or “Wobblies”. In the 60’s and 70’s, council ideas took the form of militant direct actions, particularly as put forth by the “urban guerrilla” school of Renate Curcio, Carlos Marighella and Abraham Guillen.

With the rise of Leninist and Stalinist regimes in Russia and elsewhere, the Leninist conception took on the air of Holy Writ, and the dissenting council communist movement was hounded, harassed and eventually broken.

Today, however, as the fundamentals of Leninism are discredited and rejected, the theory and practice of the council communists have increasing relevance. Syndicalist and worker council theories played a large role in the Hungarian workers’ revolution of 1956, in the armed struggles which took place in Italy in the 1970’s, and in the revolts in Eastern Europe  in 1989 (spearheaded by the Polish Solidarity labor union) which swept away the Leninist dictatorships. As the major capitalist nations continue to face yet another period of economic slowdown and crisis, the theory and practice of council communism will grow in importance and relevance.

The purpose of this book is, therefore, to present a synopsis of the goals and actions of the non-Leninist council communist movement. And since, in my opinion, the council movement is the most complete expression of the outlooks and insights of Marxian philosophy, it also serves as a synopsis of the thoughts and actions of Karl Marx. Despite its mistakes and inaccuracies, the Marxian framework is important in understanding the functioning of the capitalist system.

Those who are looking for mere intellectual abstraction and theory, however, will not find it here. The council communist movement is above all a practical movement, and finds its purpose in direct working class action. Like Marx, we disdain to conceal our views, and we openly declare that our goal is that of revolution, of the overthrow of the capitalist system and its substitution by worker-managed socialism. Between “philosophy” and “revolution”, the council movement emphasizes the need for both.