The task of building an international is not unheard of. Many comrades have dedicated their lives to it, and some have also lost their lives fighting for a future worth living in. At the current stage of capitalism’s crisis it is apparent that it would be a waste solely to fight for small scale reforms that the ruling class are unable and unwilling to afford. The only way forward is a revolution that can overthrow the entire system. As inflation keeps on rising, wages keep on sinking, bombs keep on dropping and the rich keep on exploiting- the working class will keep on fighting. However, most of the struggles currently being pursued by the working class ‘leaders’ are isolated. Only a united working class is capable of a successful socialist revolution.
The international is there to connect the workers of the world, educate communists in Marxist theory and eventually lead the working class to victory. It gives comrades all the tools needed to fulfill their revolutionary duties. The RCI is building sections in over 70 countries. All sections are fighting the same fight and are using the same methods, under different circumstances. One thing all these sections have in common though, is their attitude towards revolutionary finance.
Why a revolutionary international without revolutionary finance is a lost cause
Even as communists we are not spared by capitalism. We are not building a communist international in a bubbe of socialism that can escape the rules of capitalism. We are fighting against capitalism and for communism within the current money-dominated system. We are constantly a target for those whose system we are trying to tear down.
The ruling ideas in every society are those of the ruling class. The capitalist minority has the money to control the media, and push their desired narrative, such as western media’s unified imperialist rhetoric when Israel’s war on Gaza began after 7th October. For our paper to have independent ideas, Marxist ideas, that aren’t tainted by some capitalist whose interests are inherently opposed to those of the working class, we need to be financially independent.
‘The Communist’ and every other paper of the RCI is a paper for the working class, financed and written by the working class. The articles in this paper were not written by professional journalists, they were written by people like you and me: mothers, fathers, students, workers- all working to get by, busy holding their heads above water in this world flooded by crises and conflicts. This obviously is not the most efficient way to write a paper. That is why the larger, more developed sections of the RCI employ a full-time apparatus, comrades who can invest more of their time into revolutionary work. The monthly financial contributions of the comrades pay for their wages, as well as a portion of the other costs of running a revolutionary organisation. They spend their time writing, reading, educating and organising. This is the next big step in building towards an official Australian section of the RCI, it will give the comrades qualitatively better articles, which will lead to better education, better meetings, and more time to spend on other important revolutionary tasks. These are some of the reasons why finances cannot be a secondary discussion. They are inherently political and affect revolutionary work directly.
What is to be done in Australia?
Alongside the comrades of the RCI all over the world, the Australian comrades are dedicating their time and energy into building an organisation that will be able to achieve what the Bolsheviks achieved in Russia in 1917. Day-to-day tasks don’t differ from those of comrades in the UK, the US or Italy. We are building a cadre organisation with educated Marxists that are capable of raising the class consciousness of the working class and who can cut through the bosses’ lies and hypocrisy. The branches all over Australia attend weekly meetings, go out and sell the paper to find new communists, and educate themselves by reading and discussing various topics. However, as explained previously, a political organisation can only be on top of its political duties if it is on top of its finances. Comrades are saving up money, paying monthly financial contributions and discussing finances to build a strong party. This money goes towards printing flyers, printing the paper, organising a national congress and eventually investing in a full-time revolutionary.
Even though Australia is one of the most politically boring countries (the federal elections have proven this), the average citizen is struggling. Struggling to pay rent, struggling to find affordable food and heaps more. Even the most ‘non-political’ Australian will eventually have to go to the barricades and start resisting. There is no doubt that these people will be looking for an organisation that represents the working class’ interests unconditionally and without compromise. That is why the RCI in Australia needs to be build now!
We need you!
If you agree with the ideas presented in this paper, this is the organisation for you! Get in touch with the nearest branch and get active. Help us build this International and fight for a future worth living!
If you are not too sure about joining, feel free to get in touch anyways, our comrades will gladly answer any of your questions. If you do not have the resources (time and energy) to become a member, but agree with what we are fighting for and want to show solidarity, then support us financially! No contribution is too small, each and every dollar is irreplaceable and will help us build the organisation that will lead the working class to victory.