REFLECTIONS ON WAGAR ' S WORLD PARTY

Albert Bergesen

doi:10.5195/jwsr.1996.74

Abstract

Our task is to reflect upon Wagar's idea of a world party. In case such reflections are affected by the recent historical situation of the collapse of communism/existing socialism in 1989 and the implications this has for visions of progressive politics going into the 21st century. This event colors most political thinking, although for many the response has been that existing socialism was not real socialism, or that existing socialism was but the Stalinist deformation that, if avoided in the future, the 1917 project could again be resumed and human history and social relations remade anew. I don't see it that way. What existing socialism stood for in terms of the role of a vanguard party taking state power for the larger good is, now after the fall, I think off the board as a realistic program that can be sold to anyone.

Highlights

Our task is to reflect upon Wagar ' s idea of a wor ld party. In my case such reflections are affected by the recen t historical situation of the co ll apse of commun i sm/ex i st i ng soc i a li sm in 1989 and the i mpli cat i ons th i s has for v i s i ons of progressive politics going into the 2 1st century
This event colors most politica l thinking, a l though for many the response has been that existing socia li sm was not rea l soc i a li sm, or that ex i st i ng soc i alis m was but the Stalinist deformation that, i f av o i ded i n the future, the 191 7 project cou l d aga i n be resumed and human h i story and social relat ions remade anew
What existing socialism stood fo r i n terms of the r ole of a vanguard party taking state power for the larger good i s, after t he fall, I th in k off the board a s a realistic program th a t can be s old t o anyone

Summary

Introduction

Case such reflections are affected by the recen t historical situation of the co ll apse of commun i sm/ex i st i ng soc i a li sm in 1989 and the i mpli cat i ons th i s has for v i s i ons of progressive politics going into the 2 1st century. Our task is to reflect upon Wagar ' s idea of a wor ld party .

Results

Conclusion