Then, there is the case of Scotland. Not only did the Labour Party lose seats, but the Conservative Party did too. Instead the Scottish National Party, a nationalist social democrat party, won these seats. This appears to be an interesting twist in comparison to the state of England and Wales, for a somewhat progressive force in the UK had triumphed in the elections within Scotland. Again, as it must be reiterated and repeated until it is well understood: Social democracy is heavily-flawed and clearly seeks to generally sustain the status quo. But, in this case, the Scottish National Party’s primary agenda is the independence of Scotland from the UK, if that is what the people of Scotland desire. This is a potentially progressive feature. Beneath the general norms of typical liberal parties, this party may very well possess a character that could undermine the imperialist UK by disassembling it from within. The fact that here, the bourgeois media, particularly in Scotland, appear less aggressive towards the Scottish National Party is somewhat alarming. So, the actual application of national independence may vary greatly and could very well further UK imperialism and strengthen capitalist tendencies within a newly-created Scottish state. It may suggest that it is in the interests of the bourgeoisie for Scotland to become independent. The question of Scottish independence, however, remains a complicated affair, but one with a potential for proletarian liberation, if achievable in the same circumstances as national independence.8 The national question of Scotland, although perhaps not as important to the international community as the tried and failed efforts of the social democrats and democratic socialists in the Western world, remains an important matter to note.







‘But what does this all mean for Australia? That’s all in the UK!’

﻿





Indeed, it is all in the UK. But the events that have transpired and continue to transpire in the UK are proofs of our theory and also provide us with a means to learn and to develop our theory and to improve our own practice in Australian conditions. This is why we look abroad, at times at the strongholds of capitalism and imperialism themselves, because Australia is not too dissimilar from the general imperialist and capitalist mould of the Western world.

We can conclude that, when our own social democrat and democratic socialist parties fail in elections through errors in policy it is in large part due to their general incapability to maintain their promises and the potent influences of bourgeois media and other liberal outlets. So it is important for the Australian Communist Party to step in to fill the void. Otherwise, the masses will turn to right-wing parties with their bourgeois solution. If we do not intervene, do not show our own program, do not declare our own goals, do not provide our own means to achieve these ends and do not succeed in our actions, the masses will have nowhere to go except right-wing groups. Bourgeois media will continue to encourage this anti-proletarian behaviour among the masses for as long as capitalism exists. So, we must combat liberalism and supply proletarian media that supports and fosters class consciousness. We must forge our position to the Australian masses, stand and triumph where the “left” parties fail.

“The Australian Communist Party must step in. This is how we can gather the support of the masses, leading them towards genuine, realistic solutions to the problems of capitalism”

We see this so clearly in our conditions. In our own elections this year, the Labor Party failed to gather a majority against the Liberal-National Coalition,9 despite a gain of 14 seats in the previous election.10 This should not surprise us, as the Labor Party consistently fails to improve the lives of the working class during periods of recession and crisis. As a result, the Labor Party is quick to fall out of favour among many, even in the working class.

It is in situations such as these, in particular in post-election seasons and during recessions and crises that the Australian Communist Party must step in. This is how we can gather the support of the masses, leading them towards genuine, realistic solutions to the problems of capitalism. Through this, we raise class consciousness across the working class, allowing them to realise the power in their hands to change society for their betterment.

Of course, the Australian Communist Party, as a new and developing party, could not seize the initiative. We cannot change the past – so be it! At least now we know very well about the role that the Australian Communist Party must play in the future. Only through our interventions can we show the shortcomings of social democracy, present realistic solutions to the problems of the Australian condition and reveal that the capitalist institutions of Australian society will only continue to worsen the plight of the working class.



Here, we know what we must do

We must focus on the proletariat. We, as Mao said, must: “act in accordance with the needs and wishes of the masses.”11 We must apply a proper strategy where we experience the frustrations of the proletariat as the social democrats, democratic socialists and other idealist parties fail to satisfy their needs and wishes. We must learn from them and develop from them. We must allow them to realise their conditions and to represent them in their struggle against the bourgeoisie and the capitalist system.

Thus, we stand different from the other parties, for we become actively involved in the life and development of the proletariat

We must focus on the opponents of the proletariat: the bourgeoisie, its propaganda machine, its state apparatus; the conservatives, the liberals, the social democrats and the fascists. We must fight against bourgeois influences that seek to undermine the proletariat. We must thoroughly analyse, scrutinise and criticise the opponents of the proletariat, undermining their efforts to prolong the capitalist system.

Thus, we stand different from the other parties, for we incorporate our anti-capitalist theory into our practice and act accordingly

We must strengthen and consolidate the proletariat, arming them with theory and through practice. We must act and adapt to the changing situations of the world, learning from the mistakes and successes of others and applying them to our conditions. We must lead the proletariat and truly represent them in their struggle against capitalism and its components, championing the movement in its pursuit for revolution and socialism.

Thus, we stand different from the other parties, for we promote a revolutionary dialectical materialist course of action



We must know precisely what is to be done. We must continue to champion a revolutionary course of action. It is the course that clearly states and aims to destroy the existing bourgeois foundations, that aims to build new, proletariat foundations, that aims to construct socialism upon these new foundations. It fundamentally seeks to destroy the private bourgeois ownership of the means of production. We must incorporate this understanding into our practice to develop the proletariat against the bourgeoisie.

Thus, we stand different from the other parties, for we refuse to promote liberal institutions and ideology and only encourage Marxism and revolution as the final means to overcome the flaws and misfortunes of the capitalist system

We strive to not err like the social democrats and democratic socialists did in the UK and Australia as we continue to expose the clear, objective way forwards for the working class. We will stand our ground and oppose the constant attacks of the bourgeoisie against the plight of the proletariat. We will not compromise with the bourgeoisie for anything less than that complete removal from society. Then, unlike the social democrats and democratic socialists, we shall be closer to achieving victory for the working class.

REFERENCES

1 See all 2019 UK general election results in the BBC article: <https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2019/results>

2 See all 2017 UK general election results in the BBC article: <https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2017/results>

3 See an image of the 2019 UK exit poll in the Irish Times article: <https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/uk-election-2019-exit-poll-decisive-conservative-party-win-predicted-1.4113024>

4 See Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party (1948) for the complete quote. Available at: <https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf>

5 See all 2010 UK general election results in the BBC article: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/>

6 See Vladimir Lenin, The State and Revolution (1918) for a general understanding of a Marxist perspective on the state apparatus. Available at: <https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/>

7 See Vladimir Lenin, The State and Revolution (1918) for the complete quote. Available at: <https://www.marxists.org/ebooks/lenin/state-and-revolution.pdf>

8 See Joseph Stalin, Marxism and the National Question (1913) for a general understanding of a Marxist perspective on independence movements. Available at: <https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1913/03a.htm>

9 See all 2019 Australian federal election results in the ABC article: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results>

10 See all 2016 Australian federal election results in the ABC article: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/>

11 See Mao Zedong, The United Front in Cultural Work (1944) for the complete quote. Available at: <https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-3/mswv3_21.htm>

See Mao Zedong, Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong (1966), in particular, Chapter 11: ‘The Mass Line’ for more quotes about the involvement of the Party with the masses.