[Marxism] socialist democracy and capitalist restoration

[Jon Baranov]

How should a socialist government deal with pro-capitalist parties? Those Leninists who advocate the a multiparty system attach the condition that political parties must accept the Constitution of the workers' state. It goes without saying that if a party tries to restore capitalism by force it becomes de facto illegal and must be repressed. But should parties that advocate privatization in their programmes be allowed to run for office? In bourgeois democracies, political parties can often legally advocate broad nationalization programmes, so would it not be reasonable to allow a choice of economic systems in a workers' state? There is of course the problem of preventing a declaredly socialist party from choosing the capitalist road once it is elected to office.
   
  A workers state will have mechanisms by means of which citizens can always control their elected officials, but it would be wrong, I think, to assume that direct democracy will take care of everything without rules or regulations. 
   
  I think the case of Nicaragua is instructive, where the ruling Sandinista party (wisely in my opinion) allowed its war weary citizens to vote in a capitalist party. I don't mean to make any assumptions about the opinions of Trotskyist Leninists on this issue - I don't know.
   
  Thanks a lot

 		
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