The Red Star Collective functions as a communist group based on agreement with and adherence to the principles of democratic centralism, criticism and self-criticism, the mass line, and unity-struggle-unity. These principles must also be the organizational basis of a pre-party formation and of the party.
Democratic centralism is the foundation of all communist organizations at all times. The organization is democratic to the extent that positions are subject to discussion by all members; once a decision has been reached, however, all members must uphold the will of the majority. This dual character of democracy and centralism is further reflected in the establishment of the leading organs of the organization. The leadership must be chosen democratically and be subject to criticism and review, but once chosen must have the authority to make decisions and have directions carried out. In point of fact neither democracy nor centralism can be effective unless combined. It is the democratic procedures of the organization that achieve unity among the membership based on principles, thus creating the confidence which enables centralism to be practiced. Democracy without centralization, without order and direction, becomes anarchy. The application of democratic centralism at any time will vary in accordance with the objective conditions and the nature of the communist organization.
The mechanism of criticism and self-criticism helps democratic centralism to function properly. The work of all members – from the rank and file to the leadership of the organization – must be subject to constant examination by themselves, by their comrades, and by the masses. In this way members’ errors can be corrected, the organization’s work advanced, and trust developed both within the organization and between it and the masses. Members must welcome criticism and willingly do self-criticism, recognizing it as a positive practice aimed at improvement and not retribution. Members must not fear to make decisions or take actions as long as they are based on the general line of the organization.
Communists must maintain close links with the working class and the masses through the mass line. It is the proletariat and its allies who will make the revolution in Canada, and communist organizations – particularly the party – must act as their advanced section and not as entities unto themselves. As Mao Tse-tung put it, Marxist-Leninists must “take the ideas of the masses (scattered and unsystematic ideas) and concentrate them (through study turn them into concentrated and systematic ideas), then go back to the masses and propagate and explain these ideas, until the masses embrace them as their own, hold fast to them and translate them into action, and test the correctness of these ideas in such action. Then once again concentrate ideas from the masses and once again go to the masses, so that the ideas are persevered in and carried through. And so on over and over again in an endless spiral, with the ideas becoming more correct more vital and richer each time.” (Mao Tse-tung, Selected Works, Vol. 3, p. 119). In situations where objectively a certain change is needed yet subjectively the masses are not conscious of this need, communists must work patiently to convince the masses why the change should be made, and only when this is done proceed to implement it.
Communists must always work for unity and against splits. They must seek out ways of resolving the contradictions among themselves and among the people. This involves starting from a desire for unity, struggling over the differences in order to achieve unity, and finally uniting on a higher basis as a result of the conclusions drawn from the struggle. Only when it is clear that a contradiction has become irresolvable is it correct to make a break. At such a point, of course, the break must be made and a clear line drawn. Communists may never sacrifice their principles in order to maintain some unwarranted unity or to gain some temporary advantage.