Some leftist over here consider our party to not be fully marxist/leftist whatever.
Now, would I say our party (PVDA/PTB) is perfect? No. Would I say it is the furthest an actual marxist party would go in my country? Yes. Is it therefore the best party I could join and become active in? Probably.
I participate in a lot of discussion within the party. I’m openly ML. I have my own views and the official party line doesn’t always support it. Nonetheless it is the party I see the most potential in to make actual change.
It made me think. What would you consider the bottom line for joining a party?
Side note: going to sleep now, will read replies next morning.
As well as what others have said, it needs to practice criticism and self-criticism and apply class analysis properly. This is, I admit, essentially rewording what others have said, so not really an addition.
I think you’re right to go with the party that has some chance of making change. So long as/especially if they accept you as an ML. So many ‘broad church’ organisations keep the MLs in the tool shed next to the cemetery.
The left in most of the west is basically nonexistent. If you read Lenin you see him talking about this party or that paper and this politician and that idea. Even though he had lots to criticise, at least there was something to criticise. Not every organisation will get it right. But we need a selection of groups trying to do it right. The ones that get it wrong can be praised for the attempt and one will eventually breakthrough. Instead there are lots of community groups and several ‘Marxist’ parties that don’t seem to do much.
Ideally, if course, we’d learn from history and everyone would start from the most advanced point we know of – an ML vanguard. But right now that seems a bit of a fantasy as the self-proclaimed ML parties are weak and keep doing weird shit. MLs can still bring class consciousness to other welcoming orgs.