Maximum programme
Encyclopedia
In Marxist theory, a maximum programme consists of a series of demands which will achieve socialism
.
The concept of a maximum programme comes from the Erfurt Programme of the SPD
, later mirrored by much of the Socialist International
. The maximum is contrasted with a minimum programme
of immediate social demands. In the short term, parties were to pursue only the minimum programme of achievable demands, which would improve the lives of workers until the inevitable collapse of capitalism
. These groups believed that the achievement of a minimum programme would enable them to become mass parties and pursue their maximum programme.
The Communist International developed the alternative idea of transitional slogans
, seeing the minimum/maximum division as leaving social democratic parties always campaigning only for their minimum programme and not clearly planning a route to achieve their maximum programme, though the eventual Programme was more in line with a maximum programme than with transitional slogans.
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
The concept of a maximum programme comes from the Erfurt Programme of the SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, later mirrored by much of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
. The maximum is contrasted with a minimum programme
Minimum programme
In Marxist theory, a minimum programme consists of a series of demands for immediate reforms and, in far fewer and less orthodox cases, also consists of a series of political demands which, taken as a whole, realise key democratic-republican measures enacted by the Paris Commune and thus culminate...
of immediate social demands. In the short term, parties were to pursue only the minimum programme of achievable demands, which would improve the lives of workers until the inevitable collapse of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. These groups believed that the achievement of a minimum programme would enable them to become mass parties and pursue their maximum programme.
The Communist International developed the alternative idea of transitional slogans
Transitional demand
In Marxist theory, a transitional demand either is a partial realisation of a maximum demand after revolution or an agitational demand made by a socialist organisation with the aim of linking the current situation to progress towards their goal of a socialist society.-Development of transitional...
, seeing the minimum/maximum division as leaving social democratic parties always campaigning only for their minimum programme and not clearly planning a route to achieve their maximum programme, though the eventual Programme was more in line with a maximum programme than with transitional slogans.