But not all revolutions end in success for the working class and the poor. A revolution can overthrow a government but leave the capitalist system intact. In the last century, most revolutions ended in this way, giving the capitalists time to regroup and recover control.
The most successful revolution was in Russia in 1917. That was because the workers and peasants did not stop at half measures. Democratic councils of workers, soldiers and peasants were formed and took the power. A militia of workers took the place of the capitalist police. Although the revolution failed to spread and was overthrown by Stalinism, its early years were days of hope for all humanity.
REVOLUTION fights to bring alternative centres of power into existence as the embryos of a future socialist republic. In every strike, mass movement and action of the workers, we fight for democratic councils of delegates from the workers and the poor. These workers? councils must become the ruling power in society.
REVOLUTION as a group does not employ the tactic of small groups engaging in property destruction. Instead we support mass self-defence to resist police attack and shut down summits of the major capitalist institutions.
In every confrontation with the capitalists’ police and military, we fight for organised self-defence of the masses. These initiatives can form the embryos of workers? defence squads or militia to stop police repression and murder, overthrow the state and stop the capitalists regaining power through a military coup.
In this way, REVOLUTION campaigns everywhere to build up an alternative power to that of the capitalists, linking the struggles of today to the revolution of the future.
For 300 years, capitalism has ruined the lives of untold millions. It has threatened nuclear holocaust and environmental meltdown. It has brought humanity the concentration camp, genocide, aerial bombing and ethnic cleansing. It is reducing the fruits of human culture to dollars, cents and tawdry trash.
Generation upon generation has resisted it, fought it, sacrificed safety, security and life itself to stop it wrecking their lives. They have not yet succeeded, but they did not fail. The struggle is not over. From their sacrifices we draw inspiration, we learn priceless lessons and we muster the courage we will need to finish the job.
As capitalism goes global, so does the revolution. Young workers, students, unemployed, of the world – unite! We have a future to reclaim, a world to free from fear and a new life to build for all humanity.
ONE SOLUTION – REVOLUTION!
