Pacificism and the SPGB
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Internationalist Communist Tendency’s blog
http://libcom.org/blog/against-pacifism-24012020
The SPGB maintain a unique position amongst self-described Marxist groups; in contrast with myriad Stalinist, Maoist, and Trotskyist tendencies, they display a clear understanding of socialism as the disappearance of class society, abolition of wage labour, and production on the basis of need, and do not peddle state capitalist illusions or the empty promises of nationalization under capitalism. However, the group is infamous for its bizarre argument that parliament and the ballot box are vehicles capable of delivering such a society. Hence, although the SPGB has to its credit consistently maintained opposition to all bourgeois factions in imperialist wars over the years – again a rare position – its strand of anti-militarism, rooted as it is by faith in capitalist institutions, falls thoroughly into the pacifist camp.
I make a difference between pacifism and the strategy of non-violent resistance. We acknowledge that there might be instances in which violence is a legitimate means to use. Peaceful resistance does not mean no resistance. It does not mean non-action. It involves direct action, like boycotts and general strikes, which are capable of paralyzing the country.
Although it may be debated, non-violent popular disobedience appears to me as a way which will increase the chances of the military refusing to obey orders. If you go over to violence, attacked soldiers will not mutiny. They will be loyal to the dictatorship and the dictatorship will have a good chance to survive.
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