Hi
The use of democracy by the ruling class faced with the revolutionary wave was certainly a very important part of its defeat of the proletariat. Today, it is still the golden chain that shalkes the class to the capitalist state.
On the question of the large socialist parties, you say
Also, it is notable that the biggest socialist party (Labour) was completely content to work within the system (others such as the Russian Social Democrats split between the revolutionaries and parliamentaries after all). The Fabians, Social Democratic League etc were too small in membership to have an impact. "It is true that in the German party etc the right wing and the centre were marked by their acceptence of working within capitalism. But there was also a strong reaction to this by the Left which sort to struggle against the influence of these ideas. Unfortunately they lost and you know the rest. The struggle by the left to defend the revolutionary nature of the proletarian party produced many important lessons and theoretical developments for the class; for example Luxemburg's Reform or Revolution.
On the Russian party it did not split between revolutionaries and parliamentarians but over the question of the functioning of the party. The Bolsheviks used Parliament when the conditions were correct. However, the two visions of the functioning of the party were obviously related to the vision of the revolutionary process. We should forget that the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks still belonged to the same party.
On the question of de-centralisation against the party, could you explain more?
In relation the development of the party, or lack of it, in Britain you might be interested in our series of articles on this question. I cannot find the link at the moment but if you are interested we could find it.
Glad it made sense!!!
Yes, I agree that it didn't mean that there was no chance of revolution. The 1910-14 wave of strikes was certainly strong and scary for the powers that be.
However, so much of the radicalisation was blunted by the gradual extension of the franchise which created an illusion of involvement and 'people power'. Also, it is notable that the biggest socialist party (Labour) was completely content to work within the system (others such as the Russian Social Democrats split between the revolutionaries and parliamentaries after all). The Fabians, Social Democratic League etc were too small in membership to have an impact.
For me this has been an impetus for switching from orthodox Marxism and Leninism to more anarchist tendencies: the former rely too much on parties, while I believe in a de-centralized movement.
Anyway, I am starting to repeat you and myself.