The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-06-03
BY J. STEM
The Importance Of Revolutionary
Theory

A L the present time the theory OF
a revolutionary Marxism is of spe-
cial Importance for the Communist
parties. The tasks dictated to the
Communist parties by the historical
situation demand a high degree Of
theoretical knowledge and experience
on the part Of the Communist parties.
AS a general rule the Importance of
theory for the party is dependent
upon the role which the party is called
upon to play In the system of the
other working class organizations.
The party represents the general and
highest form of organization, leading
and guiding all other labor organiza-
lions in the struggle. In order to
enable the party to see its marching
route clearly before It, the light OF
revolutionary theory must be cast
upon the road. Lenin told us that the
struggle is not merely twofold-the
political and the economic struggle,
but that there is still third struggle
to be faced-the theoretical one. Ac-
cording to Lenin's view the party is
called upon to act as leader in all
these three struggle. From Lenin's
standpoint the party is the fulcrum Of
all three factors, the organizatory, the
political, and the theoretical.
THE working class as totality is as
L little competent to enter the arena
of theological struggle as 1t is capable
Of consciously leading its own strug-
gle for emancipation in the spheres
of economics and politics. The theory
of Marxism, Of scientific Communism,
does not spring up automatically, as
elementary force, in the ranks Of the
whole working class. SO long as the
overwhelming mass of the working
class is suppressed and exploited, and
held in ignorance by capitalism; so
long as It is permeated by the narrow
interests of the trade unions and
guilds representing the interests Of
individual professions only, 1t is I'M
able to rise simultaneously and direct
ly to the level Of the theology Of scien-
tifc Communism.
Scientific Communism is based sole
ly upon a whole number of philoso-
phical. historical, and economic theo-
ries which have preceded it. In order
TO grasp scientific communism, 1t is
necessary to go beyond the narrow
confines Of the interests Of this or
that trade or profession, and to regard
the social historical process as a whole.
II is thus a mistaken idea to believe
that Communist ideas originate In the
working class with fatalist Inevitable
ity, under the influence of the me-
chauical pressure exercised by eco
nomic development. The development
of the working class into Communist
theology is an irregular process. The
most advanced and active section OF
the working class first appropriate
these ideas. It is the duty Of this &C
tive section to raise the broad back
ward masses to their level, to edu-
cate them up to the stage which they
themselves have reached by their own
experience In the economic and politi-
cal struggle.
THE role played by the party, and
l. its decisive function, we're express
ed by Lenin in the formula of the
"correlations between spontaneity and
consciousness" The party is the con-
scious expression of the spontaneous,
effectively historical process. In or
der that the party may be rendered
capable Of acting competenty as the
conscious and active leader Of the spon-
taneous mass movements, and of
adopting the right political strategy
and tactics, it most imperatively re-
quires a correct comprehension Of the
laws Of capitalist development.
But the knowledge of the general
laws of capitalist social development
does not in itself render a party cap
able Of leading the struggles Of the
working class; for this another capac-
ity is required; that Of making an eff
fcient concrete analysis Of any given
special historical situation. This task
10 uOH0NOl Ohly RNooApAO " N~hAO'o -
the policy of the party is based upon
a strictly scientific MARKHAM founda-
ton. The carrying out of such pol
icy requires more than a mere "em-
pirical assembling of things" the
mere knowledge Of certain political
rules and tactical standards estab-
lished by empirical experience. It
requires a capacity to extract the
core, the actually decisive driving
forces Of social historical development,
out of every individual historical situa-
ton, by means Of the methods of dia-
lectic materialism. In an historical
epoch replete with social catastro-
Plies and dislocations, the capacity of
thus applying dialictic methods be-
comes OF eminent Importance. Under
tho conditions caused by the raging
speed OF social historical development,
we cannot approach social phenomena
metaphysically without falling into
error, that is, we must not isolate
these phenomena. or remove them