Enduring Lessons from the IMG's Early Journey
Lesson's from Pat Jordan's 1972 "Aspects of the History of the IMG"
[Note: the next post has a deep dive podcast that dives more deeply into this topic].
Looking back at the early history of the International Marxist Group (IMG) offers invaluable insights for revolutionary organisations grappling with the challenges of today. It is a history marked by struggle, growth, setbacks, and crucial learning experiences. Embracing the spirit of serious self-assessment, a hallmark of a truly revolutionary party as Lenin insisted, allows us to draw lessons not just from successes, but perhaps even more profoundly from mistakes and difficult periods. This article draws mostly on Pat Jordan’s Aspects of History of the IMG but also contributions attributed to IMG figures like Tariq Ali, seeks to be an accessible guide for contemporary militants. Comments and references should be dated: Jordan’s history was written in 1972, whereas the IMG continued until 1982. The latter half of the 1970s was its most successful period.
The Vital Practice of Self-Criticism
A recurring theme, particularly in Aspects of History of the IMG, is the absolute necessity for regular and honest self-assessment. The document notes that political weaknesses and inadequacies become much more apparent when an organisation actively intervenes in the class struggle, rather than merely commenting on events. Mistakes that might be minor for a group focused solely on propaganda can be highly damaging for a party aiming to lead. A fundamental theoretical evaluation of past work is seen as immensely strengthening to the organisation. This commitment to political honesty is contrasted with the arrogance of sectarian and subjectivist approaches. As the IMG Basic Documents state, reflecting a Leninist perspective, the willingness to openly discuss and learn from past experiences, even where events did not verify prognoses, is "the sign of a serious party".
The Substance of Ideological Clarity
The history of the IMG provides stark warnings about the nature of unity and regroupment. A critical lesson highlighted is never to mistake paper agreement with real ideological fusion. Regroupment is necessary, but it demands thorough clarity on political positions. Coming together based on confusion or undisclosed differences should be “eschewed at all cost”. Principled regroupment must always be the aim.
Cultivating Cadre and Managing Growth
Periods of rapid growth, where diverse new forces join the organisation, present significant challenges. The sources suggest that integrating these new members without diluting core political principles requires a period of very wide discussion and a process of selection before full integration into the cadre. The solution is not to restrict debate but to emphasise propaganda for the organisation's general conceptions and robust internal education. This is crucial, as without a firm grounding for the cadre and constant theoretical elaboration, there is a risk of collapsing into pragmatism, leading to further errors.
Navigating Entry and Maintaining Identity
The use of entry tactics, such as working within larger organisations, is discussed with caution. The experience highlighted involves inherent ambiguities in the entry tactic itself. While committed to maintaining an "open face" and distributing their own literature even while engaged in entry work, there was a potential for adaptation. Aspects of History of the IMG notes instances where an entry orientation contributed to organisational responsibilities clashing with the ability to build the IMG itself, partly due to a lack of publicly organising in the IMG's name. There were also periods of overcaution related to security stemming from entry work, which hindered recruitment of worker militants. The idea of simply "waiting for lefty" – a left current to emerge within the Labour Party – proved utopian. The IMG’s said that attempts to gain control of the Labour Party are a "totally revisionist concept which today borders on absurdity". Those advocating entry into the Labour Party today are described as "political necrophiliacs" entering a "corpse". While a well-planned entry specifically for recruitment might be considered, it needs to be linked with struggles against bureaucracy. The overarching lesson is to be cautious with entry tactics, ensuring that a clear political identity and principles are maintained, and avoiding constraints imposed by the bureaucracy of the host organisation. The sources note a tendency for slogans and demands developed within entry work to be considered self-sufficient, a significant danger.
The Balance of Strategic Patience and Theoretical Rigour
Building a revolutionary organisation involves balancing the desire for immediate impact with the necessary theoretical and practical work. The concept of moving rapidly "From a Propaganda Group to a League for Revolutionary Action" was viewed” as an adaptation to impatience and a search for shortcuts, potentially leading to ultraleftism. However, actively intervening in aspects of the class struggle is described as much more significant than merely commenting. Revolutionaries must attempt to lead and analyse concrete struggles. This necessitates constantly developing theory; the notion of relying solely on an ideal program drawn up in the past must be rejected. Propaganda must be both agitational and educative, notably when lacking a mass base. A firm grounding of the cadre and ongoing theoretical work are essential to prevent collapsing into pragmatism when the political situation evolves rapidly. The sources underscore the need for a "serious and conscientious effort to regain all the territory we have held" and build an adequate task force.
Engaging with Wider Social Movements
The IMG's experience, particularly its involvement with the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC), demonstrates the positive potential of engaging with broader social movements. Working with the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation and the North Vietnamese/NLF laid the groundwork for a mass campaign that radicalised thousands of young people and influenced the pattern of British Left politics. The VSC work helped build the IMG's cadre force and political standing, allowing it to win over important cadres and gain political leadership within emerging currents. The IMG was able to project its politics, gain contacts, and distribute its literature through VSC meetings and conferences, consciously orienting towards the labour movement.
Beyond anti-imperialist movements, the sources also reflect on engaging with other struggles, including the women's movement and Irish work. Mike McNair’s IMG History notes the principled stance on the Irish struggle and efforts to agitate on this issue as a great credit to the IMG. Similarly, the need to engage with social movements like women's liberation and anti-racism is acknowledged. While recognising the need for the organisational autonomy of movements of the oppressed, particularly in the context of women's liberation and lesbian/gay liberation movements, revolutionaries are urged to aspire to political leadership within these movements and avoid treating them as entirely politically autonomous. Strategic approaches are needed to engage without losing a distinct political perspective.
Understanding the Labour Aristocracy and Its Influence
The IMG framed the British working class's dominant ideology as Labourism. Understanding the ideological hold of social democracy is presented as crucial. The dual nature of the trade union bureaucracy – resting on workers' organisations while also being an instrument of employer pressure – means it is bound to differentiate into right and left tendencies during a crisis, reflecting the pressures of class forces. This requires a careful sociological assessment, rather than relying on individual psychology. This ideological hold, rooted in the central position of British capitalism and imperialism, also influenced the attitude of the British working class towards others, such as the Irish, Indians, and Black people. The failure to distinguish between the organisational hold of the Labour Party and its ideological hold led to analytical errors among various left groups. Revolutionary organisational intervention is seen as having a role in breaking this ideological grip.
By carefully examining the history of the IMG, its struggles, and its self-identified weaknesses, revolutionary organisations today can gain valuable perspectives on the complex tasks of building a party capable of intervening effectively in the class struggle, relating to broader movements, and developing the theoretical clarity necessary for fundamental social change. The path is fraught with challenges, but a serious attitude towards errors and a commitment to political honesty pave the way forward.