Welcome!

You have taken your first step on a long journey. In joining the RCO, you are joining not only a revolutionary pre-party cadre organisation dedicated to ending the capitalist system, but an organisation of comrades, fellow revolutionaries who practice the highest forms of solidarity, cooperation, and discipline.

In this handbook, you will find everything you need to know in order to familiarise yourself with our principles and procedures, explained simply and with the aim of helping you find your feet in our organisation. Remember, if you do not understand something, or if you need help at all, speak to one of our cadre members. They were once like you, and they will be more than happy to help you.

In conclusion, welcome! We could not be happier to have you join in our fight, and hope to march alongside you to carry the banner of communism to victory. Fight on comrade, be brave, be smart, and most of all, look out for each other.

- a Comrade

​

Organisational Principles

Our organisation does not function like other organisations. We are not a non-government organisation, we are not a trade union, nor are we a political party in the traditional sense. All of these organisations have different aims, and their structures reflect those aims to a greater or lesser extent. Just as one uses a specific tool for a specific task, so different political goals require different forms of political organisation. For the task of making a communist revolution, we need a specific tool - the weapon of the Party.

A Pre-Party Fighting Organisation

The Revolutionary Communist Organisation is not a revolutionary mass party. The task of forging such a party is considerably more advanced than what our organisation is currently capable of mustering - it will be the task of thousands of militants in the coming struggles against capitalism.

The RCO is an organisation that is dedicated to a single aim: to win the unity of the socialist movement into an ecumenical (meaning: big tent) party of revolutionary socialism, of communism, of the international proletarian revolution.

The RCO, as it currently exists, is a propaganda group. A propaganda group is a small organisation who carries a specific message to a specific audience. Our message is the unity of the socialist movement. Our audience is socialists, militant workers and youth, and those rapidly becoming socialists.

Programmatic Unity

To be a member of the RCO you must accept the programmatic documents of the organisation. That does not mean you need to agree to every single letter! It may be the case that you have some minor disagreement with the program, or the wording of the Points of Unity. These documents will be changed and amended by the membership as we develop our political perspectives.

Acceptance means that you are willing to unite and fight around these documents, you are happy to be bound by them, and you accept that they are what makes our organisation

what it is. They are the basis for our political unity, our propaganda and our agitation, and our entire message of social revolution.

Studying and grasping these documents, and engaging with the ideas behind them is your first and foremost duty as a member of the RCO. In order to become a cadre in the RCO, you must complete the Short Course based on these documents. This is necessary to ensure all members have familiarised themselves with the programmatic documents and their context.

Socialist Unity, Marxist Unity

We are an organisation of scientific socialists. This means that we adhere to the political tradition that originates with the work of Karl Marx and flows through a variety of political movements and intellectual traditions. We draw broadly from the tradition of scientific socialism, encouraging an open-minded political approach that takes into account the strengths and weaknesses of various political tendencies within scientific socialism. It is important that our organisation has a common political basis, because only by sharing a political framework can we fight together effectively.

While we are scientific socialists, we do not expect our members to conform to a specific tendency within Marxism, nor do we expect all members to agree on all matters of doctrine. Instead, we prioritise “programmatic unity” - that is unity around our core documents and specific principles and demands. As long as one is willing to accept and fight for our platform and obey our rules, they are welcome to be a member of our organisation.

Democratic Centralism

The structure of our organisation is based on the principles of Democratic Centralism. Put simply, Democratic Centralism holds that organisations should be both democratic - functioning according to participation and majority decision, and centralist - organised in such a way that each part is subordinated to the whole. This allows decisions to be made effectively, and with the capacity to affect the entire organisation.

Democratic Centralism also means that once a decision has been made, we are all expected to follow through on it. It means unity in action - our leaders are accountable to

our decisions, and our representatives must speak and act on behalf of our collective decisions, not of their own accord. It means being able to discipline each other, call each other in, and set a standard of conduct for the entire organisation. It also means that we are fundamentally a collective - we should discuss and think as a group before acting, and all members are subordinated to our common tasks.

Democratic Centralism also means that we are not just entitled to engage in debate and disagreement - it is necessary. A good comrade is a thinking comrade, a critical comrade, and a humble comrade. We are free to publish our views within the organisation as a whole, even when we disagree with the leadership, we are free to criticise each other in the pages of our press. That is just as important to democracy as accountability and discipline.

Membership

When we first apply to join the RCO, you become an Applicant Member. This means that you are going to spend some time in the organisation, growing accustomed to its structures and practices, and being educated on its ideas. When your time as an Applicant Member is over, you will talk to your comrades, and hopefully be approved as a full, Cadre Member of the organisation - a person who has full rights and responsibilities.

Expectations, Rights, and Responsibilities of Membership

A member of the RCO is active, politically educated, and consistent. We expect all our members to be politically active in our organisational structures, carry out tasks assigned to them, and to educate themselves on Marxist ideas. To be considered active, a member of the RCO must participate in at least 80% of their cell’s political activities. In addition, members must participate in broader organisational activities on a monthly basis, such as attending committee meetings, writing for our organisation’s publications, participating in non-compulsory reading groups, or undertaking a political assignment.

Comrades are expected to be diligent, to solve problems where they arise, and act as part of a collective, not a lone activist. We are also expected to act towards each other and our fellow travellers in a spirit of solidarity and comradeship - we don’t have to be friends, but we do need to work together. Even when we disagree, we do so respectfully and intelligently - even if debates can get heated at times.

Members of the RCO are not individual activists linked together in some network: they are members of a single political organisation that works in concert and undertakes all work collectively. We carry out our political work under the aegis of the organisation, and when we do so we are representatives of the organisation.

As a cadre member you also have various rights. You are entitled to attend meetings and vote on important matters, to join working groups and other voluntary bodies, and to run for election to leadership positions. You are also entitled to a freedom of criticism, the ability to raise debate and publish your views in our publications. You have the right to be critical, to be heard out, and to have your ideas put to a vote.

Dues

An organisation needs money, and the source of money will determine the orientation of that organisation. An organisation that is dependent on government grants cannot anger the government, and an organisation run by a philanthropic board cannot truly struggle against capital. As such, the RCO raises its money from its members and supporters, working together to fund our activities. This means that we are a dues paying organisation. The rate of dues are set by Congress or by the Central Committee. Some comrades choose to donate more on a regular basis, to help pay the rent on office spaces or to cover certain costs.

Education

As a member of the RCO, you are expected to engage in the study of revolutionary ideas. However, you do not have to undertake this study alone. As an Applicant Member, you are expected to attend and complete the Short Course, a study program designed to give you a good basic understanding of our program and organisation. Following this, you will complete the rest of the Socialism School, which includes a course on Revolutionary Strategy and an Introduction to Scientific Socialism. These courses are organised on a city or cell-wide basis. Following this there is the Lenin Schools on Critical Political Economy and the struggle for a Mass Socialist Workers Party, to familiarise yourself with important parts of our political orientation.

All cells hold regular reading groups on topics selected by the Education Committee. These reading groups are known as the Party School, and topics change seasonally. You are also encouraged to organise and attend reading groups on a variety of topics. Studying theory doesn’t have to be a lonely or difficult task - it is a vibrant part of our political life!

Organisational Structure and Practices

Cells

The most elementary organisational unit of the RCO is the cell. Cells are usually small, having upwards of 3 members, and are organised on the basis of common political work, such as in a working class neighbourhood, a school or university, a trade union caucus or movement committee. It is through cells that we conduct our daily work - they organise propaganda, they intervene in activities and hold public events, and they are the level at which we meet and make decisions. At its core, the cell is a militant reading group - it educates its members and sets them to work in the struggle to build a mass socialist party.

Cells are meant to be small, flexible bodies. When they get too large, they usually split and divide in order to undertake more work or focus their efforts. Cells elect a chairperson and a secretary, and particularly large cells may elect a steering committee once they exceed seven members. In general, cells should include a mix of more experienced and less experienced cadres.

In addition to cells, there are also city-wide or regional steering committees. These bodies can be made by cells or the Central Committee, and allow for coordination between cells for broader activity and joint work. In large cities with lots of cells, they may be very active bodies. Usually these bodies will oversee all-city meetings, called sections, that make decisions and elect the steering committee.

Conference and the Central Committee

The most important body in the RCO is the General Conference. The Conference represents the entire organisation, and is empowered to make decisions about anything within the organisation that it sees fit. It can change the Organisational Rules, it can approve and amend documents, merge, divide, and dissolve cells and other party structures. It also elects important officers, most importantly, the Central Committee.

Conference is made up of delegates from local cells or sections. In time, it is likely that you will be made a delegate, and you will come along to conference to participate in the voting. Being a delegate is a position of great responsibility, as you must try to think about your cell, the entire organisation, any caucuses or other groups you may be part of, as well as your own ideas and proposals.

The General Conference elects the Central Committee. This body is tasked with leading the organisation through the periods between congresses, as well as carrying out the decisions made by congress. The Central Committee appoints other committees, organises publications, issues communiques, and all manner of other important work. You can get in contact with a member of the Central Committee through the RCO’s internal communications.

Meetings

Meetings are the basic way we make decisions in the RCO. When we meet, reports are given by relevant comrades, and proposals are made on a variety of topics, which are then debated and voted on. Meetings can often be dull, with much talk of procedure and planning. However, they are vital, and you should endeavour to speak up on your views and perspectives. Motions to be discussed can be proposed ahead of time, or during the meeting.

Being in meetings can be intimidating at first, but here are some helpful reminders for all comrades:

↳  Be polite, don’t speak over others, and indicate when you want to speak by raising your hand.

↳  Speak clearly and loudly, and stand up when you are talking.

↳  Take notes on your tasks coming from the meeting, and keep a diary noting days

and times of upcoming events and deadlines.

↳  When we vote, we do so by a show of hands, and majority rules. A tie means the

motion has failed.

​

Committees

At times you may be invited to participate in (or even convene) a committee. A committee is basically a group of comrades with a shared task or area of work, and they divide the labour up amongst themselves. Committees can be established within a cell, or across multiple cells (under the guidance of the Central Committee or a City-wide body). Whatever body oversees the committee needs to approve its existence, and committees should report back on their work regularly. Committees don’t operate publicly - they exist internally to the organisation and they cannot run their own publications.

Caucuses

The RCO currently has three caucuses that represent areas of work amongst specifically oppressed sections of the working class - youth, women, and queer-LGBT people. These caucuses are internal bodies that oversee these areas of work. In future, more caucuses may be formed if necessary. To join a caucus, reach out to one of the members of the caucus steering committee.

Tendencies

As our organisation grows, we will not always agree. That is fine, in fact, it is healthy for an organisation to have disagreement. Sometimes, these disagreements may be over a strategy, or over a point of theoretical difference, or over a philosophical change. When these matters affect the direction of the organisation, comrades are able to form Tendencies - formal groupings that exist openly within the organisation and can campaign openly for their views in cells and the General Conference. Tendencies are also welcome to publish their own materials, distribute them, and organise themselves as concrete groups in the organisation.

Publications

A vital task of the communist organisation is conducting propaganda and agitation. The central part of this is through our publications. The Partisan is our monthly newsletter, and it is vital that comrades write for it, read it, discuss it, and distribute it. It is the primary method through which we can get our message out to people, and it is important that we treat it as central to our political work. As our movement grows, there will be many

more publications that develop based on locality, area of work, or targeted at specific groups.

Mass Work

Often, you will be asked to join in mass work - this means work outside of organisational business, in the social movements, distributing propaganda or otherwise. Perhaps you will go tabling for the RCO to build our presence and recruit new militants. Or maybe you will attend a union meeting with other comrades, to agitate for a certain position.

When doing public work, remember these tips:

•  Be respectful to our potential political allies, do not denigrate or talk down to people. But also do not hold back on criticisms, and on clarifying our position.

•  Caucus with comrades before and after meetings, discuss strategy and positions, and argue strongly for our position. When on political work, we are representing the organisation’s line, and we vote together.

•   Be polite, friendly, and courteous. Do not go back on your word, be upfront and honest, and follow through on what you say. We are building an organisation, we need people to respect and trust us

​

​

Welfare, Discipline and Conduct

Discipline means different things in different contexts. In a capitalist army, it means being willing to follow orders no matter what. For parents in the patriarchal family, it means children should conform to a particular model of behaviour. In a revolutionary organisation, discipline is something we impose on ourselves and on each other. We are expected to carry out tasks, think clearly and critically, and support each other as comrades. That is what discipline means. A member of the RCO should be willing to work consistently and diligently on their assigned tasks, without seeking out status or reward - the organisation and the socialist movement is always put first, and politics is always in command.

​

At times, the organisation may need to take steps to discipline members. This could be because they have informed the organisation to the state, or not practised necessary security culture. Or it could be because they have engaged in predatory or misogynistic behaviour. In these situations, the cell or a higher body is expected to act to resolve the situation in a way that upholds our organisational integrity and conforms with our principles. The Discipline and Control Committee advises the Central Committee on these matters, as well as investigating complaints.

We are a revolutionary organisation, a feminist organisation, an anti-racist organisation, a pro-queer organisation. We expect all comrades to conform to these values and the expectations they set. We cannot and do not want to police people’s daily behaviour, but if it undermines the solidarity of the organisation, affects our capacity to undertake political work, and harms its members - it is organisational business.

Remember - always behave in a comradely, professional, and principled manner around each other. Politics is always in command here - the organisation is not a social space, nor is it a dating pool, nor is it a place to make new friends. It is a disciplined political organisation. Our members are revolutionaries by trade, professional militants first and foremost, with a consistent, militant, educated outlook. We cannot afford ill discipline if we want to uphold the unity of our organisation.

Staying Sustainable

Step by step, even the longest march can be won. We are not in a sprint. The revolution is not around the corner, and it may take a long time for us to be victorious. That means that we need you to be with us for the long haul. We cannot make the revolution if we are going to burn ourselves out.

As such, we encourage comrades to work within their limits, to be honest about what they can and cannot do, and be mindful of the need to take time off from political work from time to time. It is best to know your limits and act within them, then it is to over stretch and over exert oneself.

If you are having difficulties, be they political, mental, or personal, be sure to speak to your cell’s steering committee, or a Cadre member that you trust. We are here to help each other, and often can give advice on these matters.