De Leonism vs. Orthodox Marxism

Attribute	De Leonism	Orthodox Marxism
Founder	Daniel De Leon	Karl Marx
Role of the state	Transitional state to socialism	Dictatorship of the proletariat
Revolutionary strategy	Industrial unionism	Proletarian revolution
Class struggle	Focus on economic struggle	Focus on political struggle
Ownership of means of production	Collective ownership	State ownership

Overview

De Leonism and Orthodox Marxism are two distinct ideologies within the broader spectrum of socialist thought. While both share a commitment to the principles of socialism, they differ in their approaches to achieving a socialist society. De Leonism, named after American socialist Daniel De Leon, emphasizes the role of industrial unions as the primary vehicle for revolutionary change. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, follows the teachings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, focusing on the importance of class struggle and the eventual overthrow of capitalism.

Historical Context

De Leonism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, influenced by the labor struggles of the time. Daniel De Leon, a prominent figure in the Socialist Labor Party, advocated for industrial unionism as a means to achieve socialism. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, traces its roots back to the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the mid-19th century. Their works, including the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, laid the foundation for Marxist theory and the revolutionary struggle against capitalism.

Key Principles

One key principle of De Leonism is the concept of industrial unionism, which posits that workers should organize themselves into industrial unions based on their respective industries. These unions would then collectively seize control of the means of production and establish a socialist society. In contrast, Orthodox Marxism emphasizes the importance of class struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. Marx and Engels argued that the working class must overthrow the capitalist ruling class to achieve socialism.

Role of the State

In De Leonism, the state is seen as a tool of the capitalist class, serving to maintain the status quo and oppress the working class. Therefore, De Leonists advocate for the abolition of the state as part of the revolutionary process. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, acknowledges the role of the state in the transition to socialism. Marxists believe that the working class must seize control of the state apparatus to dismantle capitalism and establish a dictatorship of the proletariat.

Internationalism

Both De Leonism and Orthodox Marxism share a commitment to internationalism, recognizing that socialism must be a global phenomenon. De Leonists believe that workers around the world must unite to overthrow capitalism and establish socialism on a global scale. Similarly, Orthodox Marxists advocate for international solidarity among the working class to combat the forces of imperialism and capitalism. Both ideologies reject nationalism and promote the idea of a classless, stateless society.

Revolutionary Strategy

De Leonism advocates for a revolutionary strategy centered around the industrial union movement. De Leonists believe that workers, organized into industrial unions, have the power to bring about a socialist revolution through strikes, boycotts, and other forms of direct action. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, emphasizes the need for a vanguard party to lead the working class in the revolutionary struggle. Marxists argue that a disciplined party of professional revolutionaries is necessary to guide the proletariat to victory.

Conclusion

While De Leonism and Orthodox Marxism share a commitment to socialism and the overthrow of capitalism, they differ in their approaches to achieving these goals. De Leonism focuses on industrial unionism as the primary vehicle for revolutionary change, while Orthodox Marxism emphasizes class struggle and the role of a vanguard party. Both ideologies have made significant contributions to socialist theory and practice, shaping the course of revolutionary movements around the world.