THE IDEOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL IDENTITY OF AKEL

The identity of a Party is formed by three main features: its human-centred worldview, the political program it puts forth and the organizational model upon which it is structured.

AKEL, as a contemporary communist party, is guided by the ideology of Marxism – Leninism which “is developing with the continuous progress of knowledge and economic and political development.” For AKEL, this means that society is a class society and the class struggle is the driving force of progress. Consequently, AKEL defends the class, social and political interests of the working people. AKEL is a Party that believes that capitalism is not the final stage in the development of human society, but instead, another, qualitatively different world is possible: the world of socialism. This is the vision of AKEL: the construction of a democratic and humane socialist society.

AKEL believes that the great inequalities, poverty, hunger, exploitation and human alienation, wars and environmental destruction cannot be the necessary cost to pay for development and progress.

Capitalism, in relation to all previous socio-economic systems, played a revolutionary role in history, but it did so by sacrificing two sources of wealth, humanity and the environment. This revolutionary role has been exhausted long ago. In today’s era, the exploitation of both sources of wealth has been intensified to the point that human civilization is in danger. The on-going economic and social crises, as well as the environmental crisis, are expressions of the crisis of the capitalist system itself, which this system cannot overcome.

The exploitative nature of capitalism does not allow it to develop in harmony with the environment, nor can it ensure its sustainability. It has repeatedly been proven that capitalism in its long history cannot achieve growth through moderation, rationality and morality. Quite the reverse is the case; it develops at the expense of humanity, undermining the perspective of society. This is why capitalism cannot be the end of human history.

Believing in the perspective of socialism for humanity, AKEL rejects a world in which the selfish interests of the big transnational and national capital determine the fate of billions of people. We reject a world in which the predatory wars and imperialist policies cause carnage of victims and deprive entire countries and regions of the world of the hope for the future. We reject a world in which inequality and exploitation of man by man condemns billions of people to hunger and misery while the produced wealth can feed the entire population of the planet.

It is evident and proven that in all cases where and whenever the logic of profit determines all the rest, democracy suffers and functions with restrictions. The rampant freedom of the big multinational companies means oppression and exploitation for the majority of the world. Capitalism is a system that constantly generates crises and disasters.

This tragic and inhumane situation must change. And it can change within the framework of a socio-economic system where the determinant factor in the formulation of policy is not the logic of profit but the needs of people and society.

The situation can change within the framework of a system where democracy and its institutions operate without their distortion and alteration by selfish and vested interests. Within the framework of a system where there will be genuine and uninhibited freedom, equality, justice, solidarity, transparency and meritocracy. Society will have pluralism and democratic control over every form of authority that manages issues on its behalf; in a society where individual and collective human rights are fully respected. This is society is the socialist society.

The foundation of this society is the social ownership of the basic means of production. Only this social ownership can enable the rationalization of the economy, production and trade. Only then will the economy not have production and consumption as an end in itself, but will aim to meet the practical needs – intellectual and material – of society.

The social ownership of the main means of production, and its management by workers themselves, constitutes a strong foundation and springboard for the eradication of exploitation, inequality, poverty, alienation, war, oppression and discrimination. It is upon that foundation that the universal values of democracy, freedom, equality, justice, peace, solidarity, the respect for diversity, in an inextricable relation with patriotism and internationalism, can find expression and their application through specific policies.

All the above represent the cornerstone of the identity and action of the Left, which while guided by its socialist vision, does not remain inactive and passive under capitalism, but instead, struggles to ease the contradictions preventing the preparation and advent of a better future. Furthermore, we acknowledge the need to continue our ideological struggle, as well as the parameters entailed therein, taking into account the new situations.

The perspective of socialism is constructed through the waging of small and big national and transnational struggles by progressive humanity for peace and universal values, against imperialism and the predatory expansionist wars that it instigates all over the world.

Socialism is constructed through the smaller and bigger struggles against exploitation and to curb big capital’s policies; for a fairer distribution of the wealth; in order to protect and enhance worker’s rights and labour conquests; for a dignified life and to ensure people’s access to Education, Health, Culture, and Social Welfare; for more democracy and people’s participation in social struggle, for more freedom. Furthermore, the perspective of socialism is developed through the struggles against nationalism – chauvinism, racism, against any form of discrimination, social and political oppression. All the above, of course, need to be part of a greater strategic plan to overcome the existing system.

AKEL was created and developed by serving the people of manual and intellectual labour. By serving the best interests of working people, our Party objectively also represents the interests of the small and middle class strata of our people. Since its foundation, AKEL serves the interests of the vast majority of society and not the selfish interests of big capital. Harmoniously, and for the benefit of society, AKEL combines the class with the patriotic interests and through the policy it follows, it has been elevated to a national force with a leading role.

The Party was present and in the vanguard of the struggles of Cyprus for freedom and democracy against colonialism and fascism. It is actively present and is at the forefront of the struggles to defend and complete the independence of our country, for the liberation and reunification of our country and people.

AKEL is present and struggling to tackle the consequences of the economic crisis, which is the result of the global systemic crisis of capitalism, and the crisis of the banking sector in Cyprus. We steadfastly adhere to the position that the crisis cannot be addressed by implementing austerity policies that dismantle the welfare state, abolish the working people’s gains and leave no room for policies promoting growth and development. This is the reason why we are strongly against these policies. The crisis cannot be a pretext so as to impose neoliberal policies which aim at widening inequalities in the distribution and re-distribution of wealth to the benefit of big capital. AKEL continues to resist neo-liberalism and defend the workers demand for to right to work and jobs with rights; to struggle for the protection and strengthening of the welfare state, that should express its sensitivity by implementing welfare and prosperity policies, democratic education and a modern general health scheme.

Faithful to its Marxist – Leninist ideology, history and rich militant contribution, AKEL will continue to be at the forefront of our country and people’s struggle; implementing its policy always with responsibility and consistent with universal principles; with realism and flexibility, in dialectical unity with society, far from dogmatism; with sensitivity to people’s problems and open to dialogue with society; with clear positions, transparency and selflessness.

AKEL is present in the struggle for a Europe of the peoples and not of monopolies; for a Europe of peace and not of militarization; for a Europe of democracy and accountability to the sovereign people and not to big capital, oligarchies and the uncontrolled power of the technocrats in Brussels.

AKEL, being consistent to its internationalist ideology, stands in solidarity with the peoples fighting for national independence, democracy and human rights. It supports the workers throughout the world in their struggles against globalization and multinational capitalist exploitation, for social progress and socialism. It works for the coordination and unity of action of political parties and social forces that express the workers. It struggles on the side of the forces of peace against imperialism, its aggressive wars it is waging and the so-called new world order