Reformist Marxism

"The aim of all socialist measures, even of those which appear outwardly as coercive measures, is the development and the securing of a free personality. Their more exact examination always shows that the coercion included will raise the sum total of liberty in society, and will give more freedom over a more extended area than it takes away."

Eduard Bernstein

Reformist Marxism, also called Evolutionary Socialism, Marxist Social Democracy or Bernsteinism is a type of Marxism which seeks to achieve communism through the use of reformist means. Reformist Marxism is the precursor of modern Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy, as well as Liberal Socialism. Reformist Marxism today is practiced by the Japanese Communist Party.

History

Australia

The Original Communist Party of Australia was founded on the 30th of October 1920 by multiple Australian Communists. Although starting out as an Marxist–Leninist party, the party in its later years descended into Eurocommunism.

Germany

Reformist Marxism has its origins in the writings of Eduard Bernstein, who, while identifying with Marxism, felt that there were significant errors in Marx's writing, and often criticized significant parts of Marxist theory such as the idea of revolution to achieve a socialist society. His work would prove influential to later Marxist revisionists and what would later come to be known as Social Democracy.

Japan

Japanese Communism is an ideology based off of the Japanese Communist Party. It is a form of Marxism with major influences from Democratic Socialism and strong opposition to Neoconservatism in Japan and a focus on maintaining Japan's national sovereignty.

United Kingdom

The UK Labour Party was first formed on the 27th of February 1900 by the Labour Representation Committee (a pressure group that focused on workers' rights) and was initially socialist and the abolition of private property was included in the party's platform but by the 1940s, in accordance with many other socialist political parties in Europe, the abolishment of private property was dropped from their party platform and they swiftly won elections after this. However despite this moderation many groups within labour have still claimed Marxist and Bernsteinist traditions such as Bevan, Independant Labour and McDonnell these figures and party are often called in the UK "hard left" because of their often extreme beliefs. Bevan was characterised by his strong support for continuing the mass nationalisations post world war two despite the large debt that was piling up, and his opposition to Gaitskell's efforts to remove clause four from the labour party constitution (defining labour as a socialist party). Independent Labour was a separate party but often affiliated with labour throughout the early 20th century (disbanding in the 1970s) they refused to abandon their Marxist routes like the larger labour party, members included the famous writer George Orwell.

Starting under Harry Pollitt the Communist Party of Great Britain and its successor the Communist Party of Britain adopted a reformist stance of advocating for voting for the Labour Party. They, following the beliefs of Marx and Joseph Stalin, believe that socialism in the UK is possible through elections.

Beliefs

Eduard Bernstein argued that Marx had been wrong in his economic predictions, but right in his approach to social analysis. He observed capitalism was not failing, so the best path for the working class was to work within the political system to alleviate capitalism's failings. He believed that a worker's revolution required capitalism's collapse. That collapse was not forthcoming which left the working class to use political power to alleviate its own situation.

W.I.P.

Variants

Bernsteinism

Bernstein's revisionism developed from a series of articles he wrote for the SPD's theoretical journal, Die Neue Zeit, between 1896 and 1898, under the title Probleme des Sozialismus ("Problems of Socialism"). These culminated in his landmark book, Die Voraussetzungen des Sozialismus und die Aufgaben der Sozialdemokratie (1899), translated into English as The Preconditions of Socialism or Evolutionary Socialism. The book created an immediate storm of controversy within the international socialist movement. His central argument was that the reality of late 19th-century capitalism had diverged significantly from Marx's forecasts. This "moulting", as he called it, required socialists to reconcile their theories with the facts.

Philosophy

Bernstein rejected the Hegelian dialectic that formed the philosophical core of Marxism, viewing it as a "snare" and a "treacherous element" that led to dogmatic and inaccurate predictions. He argued that the dialectical method, with its emphasis on contradiction and violent transformation, was a remnant of radical Utopianism that had no place in a scientific socialist movement. Instead of dialectical materialism, he advocated for a return to the critical philosophy of Immanuel Kant and a greater emphasis on ethics.

For Bernstein, socialism was not a historical inevitability but an ethical ideal. It was something that ought to be, a goal to be striven for based on a commitment to justice and equality, rather than something that must be as a result of impersonal historical laws.

Economics

Bernstein's economic revisionism was based on his observation that capitalism was not collapsing but adapting and stabilizing. He presented statistical evidence to refute several key Marxist predictions:

Concentration of capital: While Marx predicted that capital would become concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, Bernstein argued that the number of property owners was growing, thanks to the rise of joint-stock companies and a more differentiated class structure. He showed that small and medium-sized enterprises were proving resilient, not disappearing as Marx had forecast.

Collapse theory (Zusammenbruchstheorie): Bernstein rejected the idea that capitalism was doomed to collapse through increasingly severe economic crises. He argued that the development of the credit system, cartels, and an improved world market had given capitalism greater adaptability and flexibility, making general crises less likely.

Immiseration theory: The Marxist theory of the "growing misery" of the proletariat was, according to Bernstein, incorrect. He pointed to evidence that the working class in advanced industrial countries was experiencing an improvement in its standard of living. He also argued that the middle class was not vanishing, but rather changing its character, with the rise of a "new middle class" comprising white-collar workers, technicians, and public officials.

Politics

Based on this revised analysis of capitalism, if capitalism were not on the verge of collapse and if democracy were expanding, then the path to socialism would not be a revolution, but relatively gradual, peaceful, and parliamentary reform. He argued that the SPD should "dare to appear what it is today: a democratic-socialist reform party."

Bernstein saw democracy as both the means and the end of socialism, advocating for the expansion of political and economic rights within the existing state, championing trade unions and cooperatives as key "democratic elements in industry." He rejected the concept of the "dictatorship of the proletariat" as a "barbarian" and "atavistic" idea, arguing that socialism could only be achieved democratically. While he saw the necessity for the mass strike as a defensive weapon to protect democratic rights, such as suffrage, he fundamentally believed in the power of gradual, "organic" evolution over violent upheaval.

How to Draw

Bernsteinism

Flag of Reformist Marxism

The main design of Reformist Marxism, Bernsteinism uses a variant of the Social Democracy design. The white rose on the red background is replaced with a gold rose on a red background, as to evoke communism.

1. Draw a ball
2. Fill it with red
3. Draw a golden rose in the middle
4. Add eyes and you're done!

Color Name		HEX	RGB
	Red	#CD0000	rgb(205, 0, 0)
	Gold	#FFD800	rgb(255, 216, 0)

Japanese Communism

Flag of Reformist Marxism (Japanese Design)

Another alternate design Polcompballers use for Reformist Marxism is the design of Japanese Communist Party, or Japanese Communism for short.

1. Draw a ball
2. Fill it with red
3. Add a silver gear in the middle
4. Draw a golden wheat in the middle of the gear
5. Add the eyes (preferably slanted)
6. Add a tan straw hat to the ball and you’re done!

Color Name		HEX	RGB
	Red	#E3213C	rgb(227, 33, 60)
	Silver	#BAE1E6	rgb(186, 225, 230)
	Gold	#F5AD00	rgb(245, 173, 0)

Relations

Friends

• Marxism - A great social scientist but don't you understand that revision is the basis of science?
• Iron Front - My son who hates authoritarianism like me.
• Japanese Communism - My semi-successful Japanese variant.
• Democratic Socialism - What I strive for.
• Reformism - The best way to achieve socialism.
• Steiner-Vallentyne School - My libertarian great grandson who may like markets but agrees with me in private property.
• Liberal Socialism - Socialism is merely organized liberalism. Also thanks for stopping him in West Bengal when I lost everything.
• Left-Wing Populism - All people will benefit from socialism, not just the working classes!
• Classical Social Democracy - I am a social-democrat!
• Keynesian School - A great way to build socialism, but we have to control deficits and inflation to prevent capitalists taking over.
• Social Authoritarianism - Commander Noske, the time has come execute order 66.
• Social Democracy - Great way of building towards socialism; the end goal is nothing, the movement is everything.
• Willkieism - Would've honestly preferred you over FDR, if I am being honest.
• Traoréism - I appreciate your willingness to do a peaceful coup over a messy revolution.
• Sukarnoism - You tried to balance the interests of the military, nationalists, and communists while cracking down on more revolutionary sections of the left. Shame Suharto ruined it.

Frenemies

• Eurocommunism - You finally understand me, took you long enough.
• Centrist Marxism - Most of you literally are just me saving face with dad, but I cannot tolerate your revolutionary sentiments.
• Syndicalism - Can be too revolutionary at times but trade unions are an essential part of establishing socialism.
• Radicalism - Not scientific nor Marxist but we did form an electoral alliance in Britain way back.
• Bourgeois Socialism - Could've been a good ally like the above but the time passed for that.
• Utopian Socialism - Contrary to what they say, I am not utopian but you are a pretty good ally all things considered.
• Imperialism - Bringing civilization and progress to backward non-class-conscious peoples is a good thing... but can you actually uplift and enlighten them instead of just exploiting them?
• Chavismo - You are technically a form of me but uhh, I always have considered myself "democratic" which you are certainly not.
• Third Way - Keeping socialists in government is based, but don't lose sight of that precious vision of tomorrow.
• Fiscal Conservatism - I might use some of your ideas to stay in government, but your capitalist thinking will never take back our nation!
• Dengism - Many of your insightful views on Marxism are somewhat grounded, but some of us doubt that you are a true communist. You are too Authoritarian for my taste and you still use Culture Destroyer for Cults of Personality such as the portraits in Tiananmen and on your banknotes.
• Trotskyism - I hate Leninists but your critiques of Stalin are actually pretty spot on, I do like Militant Tendency and Socialist Alternative too.
• Lassallism - Too authoritarian and deviates from true socialism, but did still start this movement in Germany so I have to give you some credit.
• Zyuganovism - It's good you finally abandon the revolutionary part and now participate in elections (even though they are rigged) but you very militarist especially in Ukraine. Anti-war activist and Social Democratic socialist Alexander Shtefanov is better!
• Libertarian Possibilism - You may be an utopian anarchist. But at least you are a utopian anarchist who understands that throwing bombs is not going to get you anywhere.

Enemies

• De Leonism - Stop calling me evil!
• Libertarian Marxism - He goes on about how "the working class cannot use the existing state machinery to establish communism".
• Social Liberalism - I am the real representation of workers, you will always be for the bourgeoise.
• Bismarckism - Got some right ideas, but I'll never forgive you for trying to suppress my party.
• Showa Statism - A bloodthirsty merciless conqueror, and a bloody hypocrite to boot!
• Anti-Japaneseism - Believe it or not you can denounce Japanese imperialism without this insane racial self-hatred. Seriously, you're not well.
• Hindutva - Hope you like losing, hindu fash. Even if I lost everything in West Bengal, the TMC was able to stop you.
• Japan LDPism - A literal Neo-Showaist even though you won the latest election you also lost your majority.
• Sorelianism - There’s norhing wrong with being a political optimist, you violent obsessed anarchist psychopath!
• Anarcho-Communism - You're just a bomb-throwing utopian, who thinks you can build socialism by destroying the only institution that can provide it.
• Classical Liberalism - Bourgeoisie thinking.
• Leninism - You claim to hate anarchists, yet your idea of destroying the bourgeois state is no different from theirs.
• Marxism-Leninism - F*ck off, Tankie! Also I'll never forgive you for what you did to Czechoslovakia!
• Maoism - Your "cultural revolution" was nothing more than pure genocidal insanity!
• Pol Potism - See? That's what I meant above!
• Marxism-Leninism-Maoism - You too! Prachanda Path is extremely based though.
• Hoxhaism - And you also.
• Italian Left Communism - You hated the United Front for bringing me in, you like authoritarianism, you hate revisionism, and your entire ideology revolves around a proletarian revolution. You're literally Leninism but worse!
• Neoconservatism - I just wish you'd finally stop that militarization and leave Okinawa.
  • - Don't you realize that I am protecting Japan from the bad socialists such as the PRC and the DPRK?
• Impossibilism - Yes, it IS possible to peacefully reform capitalism!
• Khrushchevism & Brezhnev Doctrine - As much as those Anti-Revisionists claim that we are the same. You are authoritarian scumbags who crushed me in Hungary and Czechoslovakia . I don't know why they think we are the same for some reason.

Further Information

Literature

• Evolutionary Socialism by Eduard Bernstein
• The rest of Bernstein's work

Wikipedia

• Eduard Bernstein
• Revisionist Marxism
• Reformist Socialism
• History of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
• Japanese Communist Party
• French Communist Party
• Communist Party of Australia
• Communist Party of Brazil
• Communist Party of Spain
• Patriotic Union
• John McDonnell

Videos

• Japan's Lovable Communist Revolution by Step Back History

Gallery

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