No Compromise

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man”

George Bernard Shaw’s “Maxims for Revolutionists”

Despite Shaw’s blatant sexism (he was so sexist and racist), he is right. Being reasonable and compromising is just endorsing the status quo. So it sucks that today compromise has been put forward as such an important virtue in politics, and most of all on the left. Where did this culture of celebrating selling out, giving up ideals and capitulating with out a fight develop? I’m sure it has something to do with the rise of neo-liberalism, the defeats of the working class and the general retreat of the left, but I’m no sociologist so I have no evidence to back that up. However there is no shortage of evidence of how compromise is now lorded.

The most blatant glorification of compromise come went the untimely death of Green Party co-leader Rod Donald in late 2005 (I’m about to speak ill of the dead, but it will be all political and not personal, so please forgive me). Every obituary and commentator brought up and venerated his willingness to compromise. Also they praised how he led the Green Party from a small party of ideals (none that I have anytime for, but ideals none the less) to a mainstream party that would compromise what few principles it pretends to have left. Compromise was held up as the greatest of all human traits and a prerequisite for social change and political legitimacy. However, when it comes down to it, for all their compromise, what has Green Party got to show for it? Nothing of any real consequence, that’s what.

It is easy to write off the Greens (and I do) as middle class, white liberals, pretty bourgeoisie, eco capitalists who sold their soul to get into parliament, but the “proper” left seem to be doing no better. The Trade Unions are in a perpetual state of compromise to the bosses and the Labour party. The Supermarket lockout was the biggest most militant union victory in a long time, but objectively the final deal was still a compromise (union democracy was also compromised to get the workers to accept the deal).

So where do New Zealand revolutionaries stand in this world of compromise? In the last elections most anarchist’s voted for the greens. Socialist Worker is more interested in working on projects like RAM than being revolutionaries. The Workers Party has made no effort (at least publicly) to push for increased democracy in Unite union. Also, any pretense the Worker’s Party have of building a revolutionary student movement at Victoria University is laughable. Just read the VUWSA President's columns for the two worker party members here and here.

What do today’s revolutionaries think is going to happen in the future when the workers are sick of compromises with the bosses and the system that exploits them? They will not be inspired by RAM; they won’t be looking for an organization that put union democracy on the back burner. When the students rebel they won’t look toward student association presidents that spent more time working with uni management than organizing students.

Now I’m sure the revolutionaries that I’ve bad mouthed here will justify their compromises by claming something along the lines that they are just engaging in mass workers or student or community or grassroot organizations, and if they acted like I want, all uncompromising and ultra left revolutionary like, then they would seem crazy and nobody would listen. I do think they do have a point. I have seen plenty of people who come across as nutters when they try to talk about revolution to ordinary folk. However there must be away for revolutionaries to articulate themselves in a coherent way without compromising. It’s been done before and I’m confident that it can be done again. It should be noted that, particularly in times of low struggle, you will often look crazy when you are fighting against the commonsense of the status quo, no matter how articulate you are. If you don’t want to ever look crazy well then like Joe Hill sings; If you like sluggers to beat off your head, then don't organize, all unions despise, If you want nothing before you are dead, shake hands with your boss and look wise.

There maybe times when revolutionaries do have to make tactical retreats and make temporary compromises. In these rare cases, revolutionaries should regretfully acknowledge them as compromises (there is nothing more ridiculous than revolutionaries trying to making their compromise out to be victories) and they should be part of an overall (uncompromising) strategy of moving forward.


In conclusion, what is the point in me, or you, or any other revolutionaries compromising when there is a huge number or reformists, social democrats and liberals who will not hesitate to compromise? All the compromise options are already well covered with plenty of people in reserve to take up the compromise banner. There is just no shortage of people who are willing compromise, but there is a desperate shortage of people who will not compromise.