Organic and democratic centralism are organisational forms hiding real political relations

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 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Democratic centralism means adapting constantly to movement rather than hardening into bureaucracy; Democratic centralism seeks unity inductively through practice, not by abstract deduction; Bureaucratic centralism signals a ruling group hardening into a narrow clique — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 777 (+2 more)

Related

• Democratic centralism means adapting constantly to movement rather than hardening into bureaucracy (similarity 0.96)
• Bureaucratic centralism signals a ruling group hardening into a narrow clique (similarity 0.92)
• Democratic centralism has nothing to do with abstract democracy. (similarity 0.86)
• A small Italian ruling group absorbed all political personnel from subversive mass movements (similarity 0.85)
• Bureaucratic consolidation language masqueraded reform as accountability while enabling concentrated power (similarity 0.81)
• Decentralised coordination need not mean Stalinist centralisation (similarity 0.81)
• Early centralized control lets parties shift policy stances more readily (similarity 0.80)
• The corporatist state is plutocratic in structure despite its populist base (similarity 0.79)
• Progressive parties use democratic centralism while regressive ones become unthinking bureaucratic executors (similarity 0.79)
• Democratic centralism seeks unity inductively through practice, not by abstract deduction (similarity 0.78)
• Representation requires organic cohesion, not merely formal delegation from masses to leaders (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Democratic centralism means adapting constantly to movement rather than hardening into bureaucracy #qualifies (0.80)
• Democratic centralism seeks unity inductively through practice, not by abstract deduction #contradicts (0.75)
• Bureaucratic centralism signals a ruling group hardening into a narrow clique #qualifies (0.75) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 777