So the Party's Over? Marxism and Political Strategy after "the Fall"

It is asserted that the reestablishment of socialist political parties must be placed ahead of the development of socialist political platforms for two reasons: to ensure that socialist political parties will actually be re-created & to take advantage of the creative & transformative character of political processes. Two benefits of engaging Marxism in terms of strategic action are identified: (1) the transformation of structured contexts in which political strategies are generated & (2) the increased awareness of political & organizational structures gained by actors. Several differences between Leninist & social democratic conceptualizations of political parties are recognized, eg, Leninism's overthrow of capitalist systems by destroying existing states & social democracy's use of democratic initiatives to gradually change existing states. The prospects of establishing an alternative to Leninist & social democratic treatments of politics are considered. The need to acknowledge both the integral role played by the party in accomplishing the socialist project & the party's constantly changing nature is expressed. 24 References. J. W. Parker