Democratic centralism means adapting constantly to movement rather than hardening into bureaucracy

Evidence

Democratic centralism is “organic” because on the one hand it takes account of movement, which is the organic mode in which historical reality reveals itself, and does not solidify mechanically into bureaucracy; and because at the same time it takes account of that which is relatively stable and permanent, or which at least moves in an easily predictable direction, etc. This element of stability within the State is embodied in the organic development of the leading group’s central nucleus, just as happens on a more limited scale within parties. The prevalence of bureaucratic centralism in the State indicates that the leading group is saturated, that it is turning into a narrow clique which tends to perpetuate its selfish privileges by controlling or even by stifling the birth of oppositional forces—even if these forces are homogeneous with the fundamental dominant interests (e.g. in the ultra-protectionist systems struggling against economic liberalism). — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 777 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Expert bureaucracy came to control democratic regimes and parliaments; Organic and democratic centralism are organisational forms hiding real political relations; Democratic centralism seeks unity inductively through practice, not by abstract deduction (+10 more)

Related

• Organic and democratic centralism are organisational forms hiding real political relations (similarity 0.96)
• Bureaucratic centralism signals a ruling group hardening into a narrow clique (similarity 0.92)
• A small Italian ruling group absorbed all political personnel from subversive mass movements (similarity 0.84)
• Democratic centralism has nothing to do with abstract democracy. (similarity 0.84)
• Bureaucratic consolidation language masqueraded reform as accountability while enabling concentrated power (similarity 0.82)
• Early centralized control lets parties shift policy stances more readily (similarity 0.80)
• Decentralised coordination need not mean Stalinist centralisation (similarity 0.79)
• Successful democratic party regeneration required rapid centralization and undemocratic means (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Democratic centralism seeks unity inductively through practice, not by abstract deduction #corroborates (0.90)
• Bureaucratic centralism signals a ruling group hardening into a narrow clique #contradicts (0.88) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 777