Looking for input from actual people with knowledge and experience with FRSO and PSL. I asked ChatGPT to compare and contrast based on public data, and was curious if this summary was accurate?
FRSO and PSL are two different organizations with differing ideologies and approaches, primarily within the context of left-wing politics in the United States.
Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO): FRSO is a Marxist-Leninist organization formed in 1985 as the result of a merger between several smaller socialist groups. It advocates for revolutionary socialism and seeks to build a mass movement of the working class to overthrow capitalism and establish socialism. FRSO has a decentralized structure with several branches across the United States, each with its own priorities and strategies. It focuses on a broad range of issues including workers’ rights, racial justice, gender equality, and anti-imperialism.
Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL): PSL is a Marxist-Leninist party founded in 2004 by former members of the Workers World Party. It aims to build a revolutionary socialist movement in the United States and advocates for the overthrow of capitalism through mass organizing and militant action. PSL is known for its involvement in various social justice movements, including anti-war activism, immigrant rights, and racial justice campaigns. PSL has a more centralized organizational structure compared to FRSO**, with a national leadership guiding its activities and priorities. While both FRSO and PSL share a commitment to socialism and revolutionary change, they differ in their organizational structures, historical backgrounds, and specific approaches to activism and organizing.
Reading this now, thank you! So far, very insightful. Anything specific within this you’d like to highlight in relation to my OP?
I think it’s best for the whole piece to be taken in to discuss the current party ecosystem within the Anglo settler states, PSL is in the section on revisionist and Trot orgs as its structure and issues are similar to the CPUSA. USU views FRSO as a potentially better org at least ideologically, even though it is a “pre-party” formation rather than a true party like PSL.
In my opinion, PSL has wealth that allows it, at least right now, to better serve organizers. However, the ideological development of the mass and leadership of the PSL is very lacking (and deeply Americanist), which is a crit you’ll see from myself and Chunka Luta Network members a lot (some are in PSL too). PSL has money to do things that FRSO just doesn’t right now since it is not a party organization at this time, so actions are coming out of the expenses of individuals. If FRSO’s ideological development had the resources of PSL and CPUSA the movement in the Imperial Core would be a lot more interesting.
Was re-reading this. What stood out was classifying PSL as Trotskyist and revisionist. The PSL statements, program and publications I’ve read have appeared to be quite clear didn’t strike me as revisionist.
Not sure if the USU expands on this and I missed it. Perhaps you have insight or another suggested reading on that?
PSL is a departure of WWP which itself split from a formal Trotskyist sect. They don’t drop Trotskyism in essence just that they are more open to advances made by Stalin.
Trotskyist tendencies remain in PSL with a focus on majoritarianism, treating the “industrial proletariat” as the revolutionary vehicle in the Imperialist states, and placing “workers revolution” above national liberation movements.
