Principle This is a sectarian approach in itself, but it is even worse wen coupica with ine statement the comrades of Workers Power make even now on Why they decided to fuse with Workers Fight: "The decision to open discussions with them (Workers Fight) was not a casual or a chance one. In fact we had both independently adopted positions on key points of principle which divided us from the rest of the left (the general strike, abstention on the Common Market, and solidarity with all those fighting British imperialsm in Ireland).' |41 with the IMG, for example. But questions such as the particular use of the general strike slogan or whether or not to oppose British entry into the EEC are not questions or principle waien divide revolutionarie from reformists or centrists.
Regroupment critically depends on fundamental class issues of programme. Such issues as the EEC and the general strike - while important practical issues - do not fall into this category. The comparison can be drawn out by comparing these issues to the differences which existed within revolutionary Marxism in the debates between Lenin, trotsky, Luxemburg and Liebknecht, or the disputes inside the Bolshevik Party, It is quite wrong to think that differences on issues such as the EEC or the general strike can be the basis for separation of organisations. ¡nis posinon means tnat every major practical disagreement leads to a split.
No revolutionary party functioning on the basis of democratic centralism could be built in such a way Agreement with Workers Fight on certain important practical issues may have made it easier to fuse with Workers Fight, but it was a sectarian mistake to use differences on such issues as a reason for not entering IMG and other a serous ascussion -with Ine evidently a fusion of MARKET revolutionaries always pay a price for errors, it was one which could have been rapidly corrected if the ICL itself had adopted political positions leading towards a serious orientanon to revolutionary re groupment. Unfortunately, however, the sectarian error was made much worse by the fact that the resolution on which the ICL was formed excluded any other organisation as being considered revolutionary. The founding resolution of the ICL stated. example, that the RCG were a 'contemplative sect', the IMG a 'rotten bloc' (later developed as Brandlerite cenirst, une rour interanonal as d centrist obstacle', etc.. (5)
Attitude This type of characterisation of a political organisation is not just words but a question of practica alutude. It only makes sense to orient towards o groupment with an organisation if you consider that it is a revolutionary organisation - or at least it is an organisation which can be won to revolutionary and sharp' discussion with the IMG and the other organisations of the revolutionary left on general regroupment, then it can play a really important role in bringing about a much needed strengthening of revolutionary forces (1) Workers Power, 25 November 1975; (2) Statement in Red Weekly, 30 September 1976; (3) Minutes of the meeting between workers rigni and workers rower 9 November 1975;
RED WEEKLY 7 October 1976 9