[Marxism] Marta Harnecker: Ideas for the struggle #4 -- Should we reject bureaucratic centralism and simply use consensus?

[sabocat59 at mac.com]

By positing consensus as the only alternative to democratic centralism, it smells like Harnecker is using a straw man of ultra democracy to reinforce neo-stalinist tendencies.  

In the IWW, which I would call democratic decentralist, we do not use consensus.  We use Robert's Rules. But we still have a hierarchy with an elected central leadership. There is a certain dynamic tension between local membership bodies and the GHQ,  allowing for vigorous debate and much autonomy at the local level.  And any member can introduce ideas for reform which are debated locally and voted on at national assemblies.  
As such, the example of the Wobblies stands as a real non straw man democratic alternative, one which works without the consensus approach criticized by Harnecker. 

Greg McDonald
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