Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1998, page 21
London, published a 16-page weekly newspaper, and led large movements on specific
issues, which at times dominated the domestic British political scene. In short, the CWI
could possibly be considered the most successful Trotskyist organization in the world since
the 1930s.
However, during 1991, a huge dispute erupted within CWI‟s ranks over whether to remain
inside the Labor Party. This led to a split in early 1992, during which the organization‟s
original founder and many others were expelled. They instantly set up a new Trotskyist
international, still committed to entrism. The CWI reconstituted itself as a new “open” party
named Militant Labor, since relaunched in early 1997 as The Socialist Party. The evidence is
that both groups have since sharply declined, and that the remains of the CWI, in particular,
may now number no more than a few hundred members. CWI‟s theoretical beliefs, its
organizational practices, and the 1992 split are assessed in light of the extent to which they
match the criteria under discussion. The data are also reviewed from the standpoint of
Lifton‟s (1961) suggested criteria for what he termed ideological totalism. Finally, the
implications for the ideological underpinnings and organizational cultures of political
organizations (particularly those on the left) are examined.
Defining Traits of Cults
Broad agreement exists in the literature on general characteristics that delineate cult
groupings. AFF (American Family Foundation) defines cults as:
A group or movement exhibiting great or excessive devotion or dedication to
some person, idea, or thing, and employing unethical manipulative or coercive
techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and
family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and
subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension
of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group
and fear of leaving it), designed to advance the goals of the group‟s leaders, to
the actual or possible detriment of members, their families or the community.
(1986, pp. 119-120)
Langone (1988) further proposed that cults tend to share the following characteristics:
1. Members are expected to be excessively zealous and unquestioning in their
commitment to the identity and leadership of the group. They must replace
their own beliefs and values with those of the group.
2. Members are manipulated and exploited, and may give up their education,
careers and families to work excessively long hours at group-directed tasks
such as selling a quota of candy or books, fund-raising, recruiting and
proselytizing.
3. Harm or the threat of harm may come to members, their families, and/or
society due to inadequate medical care, poor nutrition, psychological and
physical abuse, sleep deprivation, criminal activities, and so forth. (p. 1)
These conditions broadly match those which Singer (1987) suggested characterize thought-
reform programs --that is, attempts to reframe a person‟s sense of individuality, core belief
systems, and overall self-concept within a totalistic ideology that “explains everything.”
Specific measures which might be employed in such an effort include:
1. Controlling an individual‟s social and psychological environment, especially
the person‟s time.
2. Placing an individual in a position of powerlessness within a high-control
authoritarian system.
London, published a 16-page weekly newspaper, and led large movements on specific
issues, which at times dominated the domestic British political scene. In short, the CWI
could possibly be considered the most successful Trotskyist organization in the world since
the 1930s.
However, during 1991, a huge dispute erupted within CWI‟s ranks over whether to remain
inside the Labor Party. This led to a split in early 1992, during which the organization‟s
original founder and many others were expelled. They instantly set up a new Trotskyist
international, still committed to entrism. The CWI reconstituted itself as a new “open” party
named Militant Labor, since relaunched in early 1997 as The Socialist Party. The evidence is
that both groups have since sharply declined, and that the remains of the CWI, in particular,
may now number no more than a few hundred members. CWI‟s theoretical beliefs, its
organizational practices, and the 1992 split are assessed in light of the extent to which they
match the criteria under discussion. The data are also reviewed from the standpoint of
Lifton‟s (1961) suggested criteria for what he termed ideological totalism. Finally, the
implications for the ideological underpinnings and organizational cultures of political
organizations (particularly those on the left) are examined.
Defining Traits of Cults
Broad agreement exists in the literature on general characteristics that delineate cult
groupings. AFF (American Family Foundation) defines cults as:
A group or movement exhibiting great or excessive devotion or dedication to
some person, idea, or thing, and employing unethical manipulative or coercive
techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and
family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and
subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension
of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group
and fear of leaving it), designed to advance the goals of the group‟s leaders, to
the actual or possible detriment of members, their families or the community.
(1986, pp. 119-120)
Langone (1988) further proposed that cults tend to share the following characteristics:
1. Members are expected to be excessively zealous and unquestioning in their
commitment to the identity and leadership of the group. They must replace
their own beliefs and values with those of the group.
2. Members are manipulated and exploited, and may give up their education,
careers and families to work excessively long hours at group-directed tasks
such as selling a quota of candy or books, fund-raising, recruiting and
proselytizing.
3. Harm or the threat of harm may come to members, their families, and/or
society due to inadequate medical care, poor nutrition, psychological and
physical abuse, sleep deprivation, criminal activities, and so forth. (p. 1)
These conditions broadly match those which Singer (1987) suggested characterize thought-
reform programs --that is, attempts to reframe a person‟s sense of individuality, core belief
systems, and overall self-concept within a totalistic ideology that “explains everything.”
Specific measures which might be employed in such an effort include:
1. Controlling an individual‟s social and psychological environment, especially
the person‟s time.
2. Placing an individual in a position of powerlessness within a high-control
authoritarian system.
