Sandra Rein on Rosa Luxemburg: Reform as a Means, Revolution as the Goal

[Cheese Sandwich]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=KZdEZTjNCoY

[socialist_n_TN]

1. I've read Rosa's pamphlet several times and discussed it several times..........

and I don't think Rosa actually THOUGHT that reform led to revolution. She wasn't against reforms because reforms are a way to ease the burden on the working class, but I don't think that she ever advocated the reformist method. Quite the opposite IMO.

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. Yes I think the video is basically in agreement.

Rosa said a social revolution is necessary, but also that joining in struggles for reform is necessary for building class consciousness and building a movement. And for the important connection between theory and practice.

But importantly she also emphasized that reform without a revolutionary goal is a dead end trap. I think that's what you're pointing out.

There was another video from this too, making a similar point.

Rick Wolff("As Long as There is Capitalism Reforms Will Be Undone&quot :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=hq1rTZArsBU

[socialist_n_TN]

3. RE: the second vid and it's title.......

I think that we've been seeing the undoing of the social democratic reforms of capitalism ever since Reagan and Thatcher. So I definitely agree with the title.

[Cheese Sandwich]

4. I want to go back and read that essay again.

It's been several years. I skimmed it just now and I think your original point was correct. These videos are giving a certain spin on Rosa's theory of change. And they're telling one story, and it's true, but they are also leaving out some important parts about what happens when it becomes clear that the potential for reform within the system is exhausted.

[socialist_n_TN]

5. Actually I don't think that Rosa saw reform as a means to ........

change the system at all. She was a revolutionary all the way. She just saw reforms as a side issue that did a couple of things. 1) Reforms do help the proletariat in their daily lives, so that's a worthwhile endeavor in itself. But I think that the most important thing that Rosa thought fighting for reforms does is to put the communist in a leadership role FOR the proletariat on issues that affect them directly which, along with education, increases the consciousness of the workers who the communist fights with for these reforms. And I guess also fighting for reforms would lead to experience fighting the system in general, experience that would held down the line in a true revolutionary situation.

That's my take anyway, FWIW.