Progressive Labor Party (United States)
The Progressive Labor Party (PLP) is an anti-revisionist Marxist-Leninist communist party based in the United States. It emerged from the Progressive Labor Movement in January 1962, following a significant split within the Communist Party USA (CPUSA).
Formation and Development
The PLP originated in the wake of a 1961 division within the CPUSA, resulting in the expulsion of left-wing labor activists Milt Rosen and Mortimer Scheer. Rosen, inspired by the Cuban Revolution, advocated for a new communist party to replace the CPUSA, which he deemed irredeemably revisionist.
In its initial phase, the Progressive Labor Movement remained informal, producing a monthly newsletter titled Progressive Labor and engaging in discussions across small local groups. The formal organization of the Progressive Labor Movement was launched at the Hotel Diplomat with 50 attendees from 11 different cities, highlighting the intent to write a program and develop a network of clubs to further a revolutionary socialist movement.
Political Ideology and Activities
The ideological thrust of the PLP has been fundamentally anti-revisionist, maintaining a strict adherence to Marxism-Leninism and opposing what it perceives as deviations from this doctrine. The party's activities have been geared towards the mobilization of workers, students, and other social groups, with an emphasis on direct action and grassroots organizing.
The PLP has often been involved in labor movements and has attempted to influence various social and political movements across the United States. Despite its relatively small size, the party has maintained a continuous presence in the political landscape, advocating for revolutionary changes to the existing capitalist structures.
Historical Context and Legacy
The formation of the PLP was part of a broader context of political realignments within the United States during the Cold War, particularly among leftist groups disillusioned with the perceived failures of the CPUSA. Other political entities such as the Revolutionary Communist Party USA, the Socialist Workers Party, and historical parties like the Progressive Party (United States, 1924) and the Farmer-Labor Party have all intersected or diverged in various ways with the PLP's trajectory.
The PLP's commitment to an uncompromising revolutionary ideology has distinguished it within the spectrum of American leftist politics, marking a legacy of ideological purity and activism.