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 always been inversely proportional to that of the real labor movement. As long as the sects are justified (historically), the working class is still not ripe enough for an independent historical movement. As soon as it reaches this maturity, all sects are essentially reactionary. Meanwhile, there has been repeated in the history of the International what history proves everywhere. The obsolete endeavors to re-establish and to maintain itself within the newly gained form.

"And the history of the International was an incessant struggle of the General Council against the sects and the endeavors of amateurs, who try to maintain themselves against the real movement of the working class within the International." (Letter to Bolte, dated November 23, 1871.)

As examples of these sectarian tendencies, which time and again attempt "to re-establish and to maintain themselves" within the International Working Men's Association, Marx mentions the Proudhonists in France, the Lassaleans in Germany, and the Bakuninists in Italy and Spain. He adds in the same letter:

The decisions, 2 and 3 of the London Conference of the I. W. M. A., forbid all sectarian names of the sections, branches, etc., and provide for their exclusive designation as branches or