PREFACE

The title of this book comprises four abstractions: revolution, humanism, anti-capitalism, and struggle, which indicate the focus and scope of the book. By 'revolution' I mean the complete transformation of the economic, social and political structures of society. By 'humanism' I mean the strand of human thought which has evolved into the modern concern for the sensitive care of the whole of humanity and the natural world from a distinctly materialist i.e. not mystical) position. In linking the two terms together, as in 'revolutionary-humanism', I wish to re-establish the previous implicit link which was utterly severed by the barbaric practice of Stalin and the sectarianism of the Bolsheviks. By 'anti-capitalist' I mean explicit opposition to the capitalist system either in part or in whole. Lastly in using the term 'struggle' I refer to all those individual or collective campaigns and diverse efforts which have been used to oppose either particular aspects of the capitalist system or the capitalist system as a whole.

There have been many struggles against the capitalist system and a number of attempts at constructing an alternative post-capitalist society. All have ultimately failed to seriously dent the capitalist system, let alone permanently supersede it. This has led many people to reject that possibility, or alternatively, to seek new and different ways to oppose capital or go beyond it. Yet in seeking new ways there is always a danger of overlooking the lessons of the past. There is also the ever present danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The book, therefore, seeks to help the reader understand the past struggles against the capitalist system. It endeavours to forewarn those who are now involved in the anti-capitalist struggle, against being led down further dead-ends. It also attempts to inform and assist those who wish to oppose splits and divisions within the anti-capitalist movement caused by the adoption of sectarian positions and dogmatic proposals.

The anti-globalisation movement has increased dramatically over the last five years and is increasing yearly. The movement is both diverse and widespread. Among the many strands within that movement are some clearly aimed at reforming the worst aspects of capitalism, others at campaigning for a more radical or revolutionary transformation of the capitalist system. Both strands I feel will benefit from considering the analysis and evaluation offered in these pages. However, it is the radical or revolutionary strand which I identify with and which I really hope to assist in some small but positive way. This revolutionary sector is also split into several component, and often competing, parts. The more traditional 'dogmatic' and sectarian anti-capitalists wish to keep the concept and practice of an 'elite vanguard' leadership intact. It is a practice which has singularly failed and the reasons for this failure, will be demonstrated in subsequent pages. Many of the new and alternative revolutionary perspectives correctly reject this authoritarian, sectarianism (the terminally contaminated bath-water) within anti-capitalism. However, in doing so, some also reject the revolutionary-humanist perspective (an exceptionally healthy baby) to which Karl Marx made a valuable contribution. I hope to persuade these particular anti-capitalists to reconsider, and some to even rediscover, Marx.