What is the Communal Network?
The Communal Network is a decentralized network of class-independent working-class organizations, individuals, communists, and socialists committed to crossing the bridge from democratic reforms to socialist revolution. The network connects workers to collaborate on revolutionary projects, wage class struggle, fight for democratic, social and economic reforms, and build mass working-class organization.
Why the Communal Network?
The Communal Network was founded in response to the vast, independent creative organization of the masses. There are over 500 groups in America fighting for social, democratic, and economic reform. Many others are loose-knit or small activist circles that are not being accurately recognized or recorded—so the number could be significantly higher. As Sankofa Communists, we wish to recognize and record the existence of these organizations and individual workers, and to aid them in struggle by connecting them to other workers who can support their cause.
The Communal Network was also founded to break away from the straitjacket of vanguard parties, which too often result in bureaucratic decay or cults of personality. As of today, our material conditions are not suitable for vanguard parties. The working class is educated on the ideas of socialism and now needs to be involved in the phase of pre-production—allowing a more spontaneous and creative energy of the working class to come up with solutions to their problems. As Lenin himself said: "Socialism cannot be decreed from above. Its spirit rejects the mechanical bureaucratic approach; living, creative socialism is the product of the masses themselves."
Why Join the Communal Network?
You should join the Communal Network if you are looking to get organized but often don't have the time, bandwidth, or energy to commit to being a professional full-time revolutionary—but still want to partake in class struggle and utilize your skillset as a worker for the greater good.
You should also join if you have the goal of a mass workers' party in mind. We hope this vast network will eventually inspire a mass workers' party to emerge organically.
You should also join if you are an organization looking to be more connected to other organizations in your city and collaborate on projects, aid, and are seeking more volunteers.
Being in the Communal Network allows individuals and organizations to:
- Break isolation and strengthen relationships with each other and their communities
- Access the new socialist society invading the old order from within—its philosophies, its forms of organization, and the modern thought shaping our political climate today
- Collaborate on projects and struggles that no single organization could win alone
We are also looking for organizations that want to join the Communal Network and build coalitions with Sankofa and other organizations.
How the Network Functions
The Communal Network does not make decisions for its member organizations. Each organization retains full autonomy over its internal affairs and its participation in network projects. When joint decisions are needed, organizations may either:
- Send a delegate to represent their organization in network-wide discussions and votes.
- Decide collectively among their members and instruct their delegate accordingly.
No organization is bound by a network decision unless it has agreed to be. The network is a space for coordination, not command.
What Are the Requirements to Join the Communal Network?
In order to join the Communal Network, we are looking for individuals and organizations that align with these Six Principles of Unity:
- Class independence. No member in the network may subordinate itself to any capitalist party or institution. This means no organizational dependence on the Democratic or Republican parties, no acceptance of their direction or funding as a condition of the type of political activity you engage in, and no permanent electoral allegiance to any capitalist party.
- Anti-oppression and anti-abuse. No member in the network may tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, or any type of abuse or other form of oppression within its ranks or in its practice.
- Internal democracy. Each member must maintain democratic processes for decision-making and accountability. While the form of democracy may vary, no organization may be structured around unaccountable leadership.
- Solidarity across difference. Network members commit to treating one another with respect and engaging in friendly, consensual, principled discussions and relationships.
- Collective responsibility. Network members commit to supporting one another's struggles where possible, sharing resources and information as they see fit, and prioritizing the needs of the working class.
- Agreement with the Immediate Program. Member organizations and individuals are encouraged to support the Immediate Program—the shared demands we fight for in the current period as points of struggle toward socialism. Members may fight for specific demands within the program separately as individuals, organizations, or collectively, according to their capacity and priorities.
This does not prohibit tactical electoral support. Network members may endorse or vote for candidates—including Democrats, independents, or third-party candidates—when they judge that doing so advances working-class interests. Such support must be tactical, accountable to the movement, and never a substitute for building independent working-class organization. Network members that receive funding from foundations, non-profits, or political organizations that are democrat endorsed must not allow the conditions of that funding to determine their political positions, their choice of tactics, or their relationships with other network organizations.
What is the Joining Process?
Do you agree with everything listed here? If so, please complete the form below to get in touch with an SCP Contact. We will then discuss the communal network with you in greater depth, learn more about you as an individual or organization, and notify you within 24 hours of our decision to approve or deny your membership in the communal network.
