Impossibilism is a Marxist theory that stresses the limited value of political, economic, and social reforms under capitalism. As a doctrine, impossibilism views the pursuit of such reforms as counterproductive to the goal of achieving socialism as they stabilize, and therefore strengthen, support for capitalism. Impossibilism holds that reforms to capitalism are irrelevant or outright counter-productive to the goal of achieving socialism and should not be a major focus of socialist politics.[1]
Impossibilists insist that socialists should primarily or solely focus on structural changes (sometimes termed "revolutionary changes") to society as opposed to advancing social reforms. Impossibilists argue that spontaneous revolutionary action is the only viable method of instituting the structural changes necessary for the construction of socialism; impossibilism is thus held in contrast to reformist socialist parties that aim to rally support for socialism through the implementation of popular social reforms (such as a welfare state).[2][3] It is also held in contrast to those who believe that socialism can emerge through gradual economic reforms implemented by an elected social democratic political party.
Impossibilism is the opposite of "possibilism" and "immediatism". Possibilism and immediatism are based on a gradualist path to socialism and a desire on the part of socialists to help ameliorate the social ills immediately through practical programs implemented by existing institutions including labor unions and electoral politics, thereby de-emphasizing the ultimate objective of building a socialist economy. This position is justified by the fact that socialists who embraced possibilism sounded and acted little different from non-socialist reformers in practice.[4][2]
The concept of impossibilism—though not the specific term—was introduced and heavily influenced by American Marxist theoreticianDaniel De Leon on the basis of theory that De Leon generated before his interest in syndicalism began. It came to be focused especially on the question of whether socialists should take part in government and pursue policy reforms that benefited the working-class under capitalism.
At the Paris Congress of the Second International in 1900, those who favored entry into government with all the implied compromises called themselves "Possibilists" while those who opposed them (those around Jules Guesde) characterized them as political "Opportunists". Conversely, the revolutionary socialists who opposed ameliorative reforms and participation in existing governments were called "Impossibilists" by their detractors because they allegedly sought the impossible by refusing to partake in the governing of capitalism.[2]
While not usually described as an impossibilist, Rosa Luxemburg opposed both reformism and vanguardism, taking the more classical Marxist perspective that revolution would be a spontaneous reaction to underlying material changes in the productive forces of society. According to Luxemburg, "[political and juridical relations of capitalism] is not overthrown, but is on the contrary strengthened and consolidated by the development of social reforms and the course of democracy.".[5][6]
Karl Marx famously critiqued reformism and immediatist/possibilist goals advocated by modern social democrats in his Address of the Central Committee to the Communist League (1850). Specifically, he argued that measures designed to increase wages, improve working conditions and provide welfare payments would be used to dissuade the working class away from socialism and the revolutionary consciousness he believed was necessary to achieve a socialist economy and would thus be a threat to genuine structural changes to society by making the conditions of workers in capitalism more tolerable through reform and welfare schemes.[3]
^ abcBrowne, Waldo R., ed. (1921). "Impossiblism, Impossibilist". What's What in the Labor Movement: A Dictionary of Labor Affairs and Labor Terminology. New York: B.W. Heubsch. p. 215. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
^ abMarx, Karl; Engels, Friedrich (March 1850). "Address of the Central Committee to the Communist League". Marxists.org. London. However, the democratic petty bourgeois want better wages and security for the workers, and hope to achieve this by an extension of state employment and by welfare measures; in short, they hope to bribe the workers with a more or less disguised form of alms and to break their revolutionary strength by temporarily rendering their situation tolerable.
^Rosenstone, Robert (November 1978). "Why is there no socialism in the United States?" (PDF). Reviews in American History.
^Luxemburg, Rosa (1986) [1900], "Chapter IV - Capitalism and the State", Social Reform or Revolution (1908 revised second ed.), London: Militant Publications
^Hallas, Duncan (January 1973). "Do We Support Reformist Demands?". International Socialism. No. 54. Retrieved 14 November 2013 – via Marxist Internet Archive.
External linksEdit
"Impossibilism," Encyclopedia of Marxism, Marxists Internet Archive, marxists.org/ Retrieved October 16, 2010.
Larry Gambone, "The History Of Canadian Impossibilism," Socialist History Project, socialisthistory.ca/ Retrieved October 16, 2010.
October 21, 2023
impossibilism, marxist, theory, that, stresses, limited, value, political, economic, social, reforms, under, capitalism, doctrine, impossibilism, views, pursuit, such, reforms, counterproductive, goal, achieving, socialism, they, stabilize, therefore, strength. Impossibilism is a Marxist theory that stresses the limited value of political economic and social reforms under capitalism As a doctrine impossibilism views the pursuit of such reforms as counterproductive to the goal of achieving socialism as they stabilize and therefore strengthen support for capitalism Impossibilism holds that reforms to capitalism are irrelevant or outright counter productive to the goal of achieving socialism and should not be a major focus of socialist politics 1 Impossibilists insist that socialists should primarily or solely focus on structural changes sometimes termed revolutionary changes to society as opposed to advancing social reforms Impossibilists argue that spontaneous revolutionary action is the only viable method of instituting the structural changes necessary for the construction of socialism impossibilism is thus held in contrast to reformist socialist parties that aim to rally support for socialism through the implementation of popular social reforms such as a welfare state 2 3 It is also held in contrast to those who believe that socialism can emerge through gradual economic reforms implemented by an elected social democratic political party Impossibilism is the opposite of possibilism and immediatism Possibilism and immediatism are based on a gradualist path to socialism and a desire on the part of socialists to help ameliorate the social ills immediately through practical programs implemented by existing institutions including labor unions and electoral politics thereby de emphasizing the ultimate objective of building a socialist economy This position is justified by the fact that socialists who embraced possibilism sounded and acted little different from non socialist reformers in practice 4 2 Impossibilist movements are also associated with anti Leninism in their opposition to both vanguardism and democratic centralism Contents 1 Origins of the concept 2 Basis in Karl Marx s work 3 Political groups 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOrigins of the concept EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Editorial The Futility of Reform by Socialist Standard October 1904The concept of impossibilism though not the specific term was introduced and heavily influenced by American Marxist theoretician Daniel De Leon on the basis of theory that De Leon generated before his interest in syndicalism began It came to be focused especially on the question of whether socialists should take part in government and pursue policy reforms that benefited the working class under capitalism At the Paris Congress of the Second International in 1900 those who favored entry into government with all the implied compromises called themselves Possibilists while those who opposed them those around Jules Guesde characterized them as political Opportunists Conversely the revolutionary socialists who opposed ameliorative reforms and participation in existing governments were called Impossibilists by their detractors because they allegedly sought the impossible by refusing to partake in the governing of capitalism 2 While not usually described as an impossibilist Rosa Luxemburg opposed both reformism and vanguardism taking the more classical Marxist perspective that revolution would be a spontaneous reaction to underlying material changes in the productive forces of society According to Luxemburg political and juridical relations of capitalism is not overthrown but is on the contrary strengthened and consolidated by the development of social reforms and the course of democracy 5 6 Basis in Karl Marx s work EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Karl Marx famously critiqued reformism and immediatist possibilist goals advocated by modern social democrats in his Address of the Central Committee to the Communist League 1850 Specifically he argued that measures designed to increase wages improve working conditions and provide welfare payments would be used to dissuade the working class away from socialism and the revolutionary consciousness he believed was necessary to achieve a socialist economy and would thus be a threat to genuine structural changes to society by making the conditions of workers in capitalism more tolerable through reform and welfare schemes 3 Political groups EditFrench Workers Party Proletarian Party of America Social Democratic Federation Socialist Party of Great Britain Socialist Party of Canada Socialist Party of Canada WSM Socialist Labor Party of America World Socialist Party Ireland World Socialist Party of IndiaSee also EditAnti Leninism Libertarian possibilism Libertarian socialism Orthodox Marxism Possibilism Reformism Revolutionary socialism Revolutionary spontaneityReferences Edit Impossiblism Marxists org a b c Browne Waldo R ed 1921 Impossiblism Impossibilist What s What in the Labor Movement A Dictionary of Labor Affairs and Labor Terminology New York B W Heubsch p 215 Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b Marx Karl Engels Friedrich March 1850 Address of the Central Committee to the Communist League Marxists org London However the democratic petty bourgeois want better wages and security for the workers and hope to achieve this by an extension of state employment and by welfare measures in short they hope to bribe the workers with a more or less disguised form of alms and to break their revolutionary strength by temporarily rendering their situation tolerable Rosenstone Robert November 1978 Why is there no socialism in the United States PDF Reviews in American History Luxemburg Rosa 1986 1900 Chapter IV Capitalism and the State Social Reform or Revolution 1908 revised second ed London Militant Publications Hallas Duncan January 1973 Do We Support Reformist Demands International Socialism No 54 Retrieved 14 November 2013 via Marxist Internet Archive External links Edit Impossibilism Encyclopedia of Marxism Marxists Internet Archive marxists org Retrieved October 16 2010 Larry Gambone The History Of Canadian Impossibilism Socialist History Project socialisthistory ca Retrieved October 16 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Impossibilism amp oldid 1139657486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
