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Sectarianism

The term ‘sectarianism’ is frequently used yet its multiple characteristics and varied effects are rarely described or evaluated. This is a particular problem within the anti-capitalist movement. Sectarianism there, as elsewhere, is divisive, degenerative and it sabotages the struggle against capital and for a post-capitalist society. So good are they at causing splits and divisions among themselves and other anti-capitalists, that if the sects did not already exist, then an astute ruling class would probably want to invent them. There are essentially two forms of sectarianism, political and religious. Both types propose and project elitist and dogmatic solutions to social and economic problems, which they insist are the ‘only’ solutions to creating a better future. Only their sect can ‘lead’ the rest of us to improving the world as we know it. Here is an example from a now defunct anti-capitalist sectarian group discussing the class struggle at its 5^th Conference:

"We are part of that struggle, the most important part, because of Marxist consciousness... [and] because our Marxist theory is an accurate guide to the needs of the class, we are able to lead workers into struggles which educate them very quickly." (Document re Socialist Labour League (SLL) Fifth Annual Conference (emphasis added))

The group no longer exists, having split itself into warring pieces – despite its claim to accurate Marxist consciousness – yet not before it did considerable damage to the anti-capitalist cause. Few sectarian groups had such open arrogance frequently to proclaim themselves to be the most important part of the anti-capitalist struggle; but some come pretty close and many secretly think it. Here is another example:

"Only revolution can save our class and the whole of humanity from the horrors of capitalism, and the revolution requires the re-forged Communist Party – that is the sole reason why the Provisional Central Committee of the Communist Party of Great Britain exists." (The Leninist, 1991)

The two groups quoted, as with many others, saw themselves as different from the rest of us by virtue of their superior knowledge and self-declared leadership role. Many who have just a little acquaintance with sectarian anti-capitalists may draw the conclusion that this kind of arrogant, elitist and dogmatic behaviour is an integral part of being an anti-capitalist, but it is not. Long ago, anti-capitalists were carrying out struggles against sectarian patterns of behaviour. For example, no one could accuse Karl Marx of not being a life-long anti-capitalist, and he had – among many other warnings against sectarianism – this to say:

"The sect sees its raison d’etre and its point of honour not in what it has in common with the class movement, but in the particular shibboleth which distinguishes it from the movement." (Marx to Schweitzer, 1868)

Likewise Lenin and Trotsky could not be accused of being lukewarm in terms of anti-capitalist commitment, but even they had their particular moments of struggle against sectarianism. For example:

"Marx and Engels taught the socialists to rid themselves at all costs of narrow sectarianism." (Lenin, Works, vol 12, p.373)

"Sectarianism presupposes a narrow homogenous group, bound internally by deep and unshakeable conviction, despite the contradictions between this conviction and historical development." (Trotsky, Writings 1930-31, Pathfinder, p.252)

Despite Marx's and Engel's warnings, and despite Lenin's and Trotsky’s numerous and eloquent condemnations, many of their followers are deeply mired in the ruts of sectarianism. Not all individuals or groups exhibit the more bizarre forms of sectarianism but there are more subtle versions which are harder to detect. To help us discover any, here is a short list of the main characteristics of sectarianism as depicted by Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky:

1. sectarians maintain they have the solution, the ‘key’ to problems in their doctrines or principles;
2. the reason for their existence is some ‘special’ criteria which set them apart from the rest;
3. sectarians have a religious-type unshakeable belief in their correctness and humanity's ‘need’ for them;
4. sectarians carry out serious struggles against each other even in the face of common danger;
5. sectarians often elevate trivialities to the level of principles in order to keep themselves separate or split;
6. sectarians often shout loudest for unity whilst continuing to undermine it by their actions;
7. sectarians are often extremely bitter polemicists and frequently poison the atmosphere of debate;
8. sectarians are often boastful and arrogant in their actions and their certainty of being ‘correct’;
9. sectarians are generally satisfied by logical deductions and the use of abstractions;
10. sectarians, explicitly or implicitly, demand that the whole opposition movement should follow them.