- The Guardian
- Issue #2137
Theory and Communism
Graham Holton’s tribute to ‘La Passionaria’(3 March), urges the reader to explore the world, the politics and the literary work of Dolores Ibarruri. We need to read, to learn, to build a theoretical framework to fight against capitalism. We need to always link theory to practice and in building and strengthening theory, to strengthen the practice of Marxism-Leninism. We need to know who we are and what the Party is for.
Holton’s paraphrasing of Ibarruri raises some serious questions. He says that “she does not quote Marxist theory to prove her point,” and that “being a comrade is something special, something far more than merely being a Marxist. For our Party to succeed, as Communists, we work with and through the people for the class struggle.” Is not quoting theory something to be valued? If it is, then why?
Not quoting theory when it is important to know and share ideas is not good enough. It does not elevate, but diminishes the communist. Not quoting Ibarruri, is not good enough. We need at least a semblance of context. Being a Marxist and understanding and applying Marxism-Leninism is what is important.
The concept of being a comrade in its truest and richest sense comes from a communist world view and a theoretical appreciation of the world, and of the struggle that gives the Marxist-Leninist party its reason to exist.
There are political parties on the “left’ that regard Marxism as just one tendency within a broader panoply of ideas. The reader of the article could be forgiven for thinking that theory is to be watered down for the sake of ‘mass work.’ This would be to deny the central and leading role of the Party and of what ought to be our theoretical underpinnings.
William Briggs
Return to Yalta
Comrade Editor,
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met in 1945 at Yalta, Crimea. Presidents Xi and Trump could work together and help achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. Return to Yalta. Presidents Putin, Zelensky, and Trump would have direct talks. The world would watch.
Yours faithfully,
Nelson Underdown
South Australia
