PLATFORMISM THREAD Ⓐ : Anarchist Leninism or Tactical Organization?

What is platformism? Where did it originate? Is it just Anarchist-Leninism? How do we organize? Any examples? etc.

All very common questions I will try to answer in this thread.

My goal is to clear any confusion on platformist basic principles and share global movements.

The first Platformist current, published the writing the “Organizational Platform of the Libertarian Communists.” This work was written in 1926 by past Makhnovian army leader Nestor Makhno, Ida Mett and other militants of the Workers Cause (Dielo Trouda)

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/dielo-truda-workers-cause-organisational-platform-of-the-libertarian-communists

The writing having been published throughout Europe was discovered by Anarchist theorist Malatesta in a Italian Pamphlet , during his initial read he discarded it for being authoritarian and use of "collective responsibility" in opposition to anarchy.

Makhno was shocked by Malatesta's rejection of his "collective responsibility" principle, he saw his rejection as baseless and dangerous for anarchist movements, as Makhno saw it as a necessity to organize a group of anarchist militants and had a collection of questions for him.

Malatesta under the reign of Mussolini did not reply for a year due to censorship, once able to reply Malatesta argued that collective responsibility, was a form of governance and in opposition to liberty, comparing Makhno's platform to that of the Bolsheviks

Makhno’s response essentially posits every mass social movement is required to form certain proposals designed to achieve a intended goal, arguing the Platform is the proper is to do this allowing the masses to find ideological principles through actions and words.

The end result between the two, was a language barrier in which Makhno and Malatesta found themselves in agreement, Malatesta conceding the use of "collective responsibility" was initially meant to mean a mutual understanding and solidarity, and he it was merely language.

So now with some backstory of the original reception to the Platform, what is Platformism? What are it’s principles?

Platformism first general principle is 'The class struggle' very self explanatory, class being our relation to capital, we as the proletarian platform, are in constant conflict with the bourgeois.

Our second general principle follows as the necessity for a violent revolution, we know class society not only relies on violence and enslavement but as well as the masses being ignorant and devoid of any consciousness, we must combat this inherent violence through revolution..

The third general principle a platformist adheres to is Anarchist/Libertarian Communism, the negation of institutions built on authority, the state, and class society, one must then arrive at a society of common ownership, free association, mutual aid and solidarity.

The fourth general principle of platformism is 'negation of democracy' we understand democracy to be incompatible with anarchy, as functionally a bourgeois form of rule The Dielo Truda word it as "Consequently democracy is but one of the aspects of bourgeois dictatorship.

Our fifth principle is the ‘negation of authority and state power’ we seek anarchy, and authority as a relation must be abolished between us as it relies on exploitation, this also applies to the state which as anarchists we also do not see a tool being worth wielding.

Our sixth principle is ‘the role as the masses in a social revolution’, the role of the platform is for the masses within it to prepare it for action, through education alongside mass organisation, two directions being the theoretical basis for the Platform,and the economic base.

The seventh general principle is 'The transition period' unlike leninists we do not seek a state as its of remnants of class society, we see this gradual stage as the period in which "a rupture with the old order of things and the installation of a new economic and social system”

The final principle is ‘anarchism and syndicalism’, the role of unionism is method of mobilizing anarchists ideas and class struggle as a common force, however we do not see unions as capable of being properly anarchised without not moving towards to reformism and opportunism.

WITH ALL THAT SAID, those are the general principles and foundations for what platformism seeks, analyzes and proposes.

MOVING on to the secondary section, what are the 4 Platformist organisational principles?

The first principle is 'theoretical unity' as we understand it theory is what guides action, it is inconceivable that as revolutionaries we can work off of differing theories guiding different actions, all activity should be commonly agreed upon by the Platform.

The second principle is tactical unity, the common tactics of the Platform is key to a movement, it prevents opposing forms of insurrection, and it allows for the the platform to decide as a consensus what to do, not a distinct set of people directing but the masses as a whole.

The third principle earlier which caused some conflict is 'Collective responsibility' not their being a set of people enforcing this , but rather a mutual agreement by the Platform, to be held accountable, for acts agreed by the individuals, with a sense of solidarity.

Our final principle is ‘federalism’, we as anarchists always rejected central organizing, we propose federalism meaning independent individuals and and The Platform initiate for a common goal,this signals free agreement of individuals and Platforms

SOURCE
https://www.nestormakhno.info/english/newplatform/org_plat.htm