'Socialism is the next inevitable
stage of social evolution'
Below is an excerpt from America's Road to Socialism, which contains five talks given by James P. Cannon in December 1952 and January 1953 in Los Angeles. It is one of Pathfinder's Books of the Month for September. Cannon, born in Kansas in 1890, joined the Socialist Party at the age of 18. He was an organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World before and during World War I and became a founding leader of the Communist Party. Expelled in 1928 for leading a political fight against Stalinism, Cannon helped found the Socialist Workers Party, serving as SWP national secretary and national chairman. Copyright © 1975 by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by permission.
BY JAMES P. CANNON
Almost as soon as I was old enough to look around and see and think for myself, I rebelled against the poverty, injustice, and all-around crookedness of capitalism. I became a socialist and joined the movement when I was a boy, and have been working at it ever since.
And if I made a mistake, I can't say I wasn't warned. Quite a few practical people who were interested in my welfare and thought I was marked for success in life began to shake their heads sadly when they heard me popping off on the street corners about socialism.
"It's a fine idea, son, but it'll never work," I was told. "It's against human nature." "There always have been rich and poor and there always will be. Be a realist. Don't waste your life on a utopian dream that can never be realized. If you want to get ahead in this world, you've got to be practical and look out for Number One."
I mention this to show you that I know all the arguments against socialism. I heard them more than forty years ago. And I won't say that I didn't pay attention to them. I did. Especially the argument that socialism is a utopian dream that can never be realized. I was then, as I am now, inclined to realism, and I never saw any point in expending energy on impossible and unrealizable projects. The argument that socialism is not practical and not realizable worried me.
It was this troubled frame of mind that brought me, more than forty years ago, to an open forum such as this, conducted by the Socialist Educational Society in Kansas City. I went there in search of more detailed information about this thing called socialism, which had charmed me and inspired me with its grand promise of the future society of secure peace and abundance for all; a society based on equality, solidarity, and comradeship.
It was at that forum that I got my introduction to the ideas of Marx and Engels, the ideas of scientific socialism. From the discussions of that forum and the further study inspired by them, I became acquainted with Marx's analysis of capitalism, and his sweeping assertion that socialism is not only a good idea, but is the next inevitable stage of social evolution; that the further development of capitalism cannot lead to anything else but its downfall and the socialist reorganization of society.
That did it. That settled all my youthful doubts about practicality and realizability of the idea. It convinced me theoretically, and that is the firmest conviction there is, that all the forces of history were working on my side, on the side of socialism, and that all I had to do was lend a hand, along with others, to help the historic process along.
Compared to the privilege of participating in this magnificent historical mission, all the so-called practical concerns of life and the possible material rewards of conformity seemed trivial to me more than forty years ago, and they still do. I have never changed my mind about this question in all the intervening years. That was not because of dogmatic obstinacy, but simply because I saw no good reason to change my mind. …
If I grew stronger in my socialist convictions as the years passed by, it was because it appeared to me that the development of events was confirming in life the analysis and predictions of Marx.
It was Marx himself who said that no social system can be superseded until it has exhausted its progressive capacities. If capitalism is capable of further progressive development on a world scale, and is therefore invulnerable against any attempts to change it in a radical manner, then there is not much point in arguing that socialism would be a better system.
But on the other hand, if capitalism has lost its progressive character and become reactionary, has ceased to grow and expand and develop the productive forces of the people, upon which all human welfare is based; if it has entered into its period of decline and decay — then the optimistic defenders of capitalism are in the wrong. They are the real utopians of the present day.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments