Why Peoples’ International?
Democracy and Socialism
We are for democratic socialism. Socialism as a concept implies democracy. Then why do we have to talk about the two concepts separately? Or why do we need to add an adjective “democratic” to go with the word “socialism”? Are there other varieties of socialism that do not embrace democracy? Responses to these questions are complex and need to be understood in the context of social transformation from capitalism to socialism. In the recent past, the world, in particular the former Soviet Union and the Eastern Europe, did undergo many negative experiences where socialism was adjunct of bureaucracy. Whatever way we interpret this phenomenon, it has had a pessimistic reflection on socialism and socialists.
Democracy brings different perceptions to different social groups. To some, democracy means electing a leader and a government for a couple of years in the hope that the elected leader and the government will represent the interests of the majority without discriminating against minorities. Even if people wish to recall such elected leaders and governments, they usually cannot do so until their term expires. On the other hand, some others topple the elected governments and leaders using military force, occupy those countries, install regimes that are supportive of them and call it democracy. For us, democracy is something different. It represents the possibility of collective decision making by people about collective action for the common good of the people.
Democracy and socialism go hand in hand. Democracy cannot be achieved without socialism. That is why we talk about democratic socialism. There are organisations which still call themselves socialists, while having deserted socialism and contribute to the crimes of the capitalist system against the people. Such organisations even do not have democratic organisational structures based on elective principles. Only in democratised organisations, all members can decide questions on political campaigns and determine the line of tactics of the organisation. That is why we need to reclaim the idea of democracy among socialists to enable collective decision making about collective action for the common good of the people. To achieve this objective, we need to promote grassroots level participation in the process of collective decision making concerning common good.
Freedom of discussion and unity of action is our theme. Our appeal is to develop a socialist movement based on an organisation democratic and centralised, with universal and full freedom to criticise, while not disturbing ‘the unity of action’ decided by the organisation. Such a movement needs to ensure discussions in the press, meetings and committees. At the same time, when a line of action is decided after ‘broadest and freest’ discussions, no criticisms should be made when organisation faces a crunch time. Only a congress can decide otherwise.
Let us work towards building such an organisation.
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