There are reformists who sincerely desire to see fundamental social change. Their view is that they differ from revolutionaries “only” in the matter of tactics, since they share the same goals.
It is good to strive for revolution, they say, but that is way down the road, the necessity for which is understood and supported by very few. So the practical thing to do is to aim for goals that are achievable. Revolution is kind of pie in the sky. They also believe that revolution is the product of a series of reforms, that reforms are stepping-stones to revolution.
As Lenin pointed out, not only will the application of this thinking never lead to revolution, but it will not even achieve serious reforms – positive reforms, useful reforms – (for not all reforms are positive; in fact they can even be harmful, depending on the effect they have on the masses’ capacity for struggle, their unity, their political consciousness).
The fact is that revolution is not only a goal but a method. Among its principal methodological requirements is the puncturing of illusions. A reform which serves to reinforce illusions is counter-revolutionary. Palpable results – reforms – are not in and of themselves the goals of revolutionaries. They may serve to advance the revolution under certain conditions, as has been stated above. Since the masses make history, and in particular since the working class and especially its oppressed sector will be in the forefront of the movement for fundamental social change, then the goal of revolutionaries is to assist the masses and particularly its leading sector in arming itself mentally (intellectually and “spiritually”) to effectively engage in revolutionary struggle. In this effort, sadly, even well-meaning reformers often prove to be among the greatest obstacles.
