lonely road to trade union breancracies: the world? nowhere the Sectarianism: ASIC S T 01 * casional witch hunting against trotskyism in the tabloid press; and whether they are deterred by their first impression of a trotskyist movement chaotically and destructively divided into The taunts of "57 varieties' and the old DESPITE the best efforts of generations of dedicated trotskyist activists to win forces to their banner, most working class militants still know little or What they do know is likely to be most in- fluenced by two factors: their reaction to oc- nothing of the politics of trotskyism. countless warring factions and currents.
tarianism"; and most of the time they have in mind not our weak but our strong side: our scrious attitude toward theory; our effort to to "easy" and "comfortable" decisions which In part the emergence of dogmatic, wooden ly independent militants sticking to basic prin- 'Reformists and centrists readily seize upon plumb every political situation to the bottom. and to advance clear-cut slogans, our hostility deliver from cares today, but prepare a sectarian politics is the negalive side of dogged. every occasion to point a finger at our "sec- ciples and refusing to bow the knee: inward looking, divisive aspect of the sects, which cut themselves off from rival schools of Leon Trotsky, fighting for the reconstruction of the Bolshevik revolutionary tradition, spelled out in 1935 what for marxists is the violent clashes between different communities which reporters classify simply in terms of religion - in the six counties of Ireland, for ex- The marxist use of the term focusses on the ample. more impact when so few people understand The snide jokes also hit harder because despite the constant exlemal pressures on the trotskyist movement, many of the most grievous wounds it has suffered have been in- flicted by its own forces: a key factor in many Stalinist jibe that 'whenever there are 3 Trots in splits and organisational problems that have cases has been the divisive role of sectarian a room they are just waiting for the split' have anything of the political background to the befallen the trotskyist Fourth Interational since it was founded 50 years ago.
quotations and references to Trotsky's pre-war portunists, the accusation of sectarianism is However sectarianism in its various forms has been a real and persistent problem in the •A wooden 'orthodox" dogmatism, expressed by political currents which have sought to "explain" everything in the post-war period by tematic development of the trotskyist programme to meet a host of new challenges, The most conspicuous weakness arising from analysis. This has obstructed any serious or sys: catastrophe on the morrow. Coming from op Fouth International. Among its symptoms: most often a compliment. class accept it. But the sectarian, in the nature of things, comes to a stop upon the first half of struggle of the workers' masses is supplanted for him [sic] by an abstract propaganda for a damaging essence of sectarianism: an indif- ference to the actual development and struggles of the workers' movement, a substitution of mere slogans and propaganda for active inter- *E is not enough to create a correct programme. It is necessary that the working the task. Active intervention into the actua] marxist programme... or sectarian in the marxist sense of the term to suffer damaging splits: the abject confusion of trench warfare hetween rival factions from the thy organisations expelling sectarian forces, or impatient sectarians finding an excuse to walk However many of the problems faced by Of course it is not necessary to be left wing the former SDP/Liheral Alliance, and the out and form something smaller and more oncemonolithic British Communist Party show that. Indeed some splits are the result of heal-
splits. This approach helped set the scene for SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 movements that have emerged since World this has been the lack of any colerent analysis ar response to the complex role of post-war Stalinism in Eastem Europe and elsewhere: but this rame problem has also brought confusion and divisions on how to respond to many of the petty bourgeois led revolutionary nationalist • Linked to the damaging impact of dogmatist has been the pernicious view that political dif- ferences could be 'resolved' by organisational repetition of fixed, ready-made formulae rather common of which is to sink into conservative than developing a living analysis of changing as a whole as a great school, with himself as a teacher there. In his opinion the working class should put aside its less important matters, and assemble in solid rank around his rostrum: then the task would be solved." (Writings 1935-6 Trotsky goes on to cxamine sume of the symptoms of sectarianism, one of the most The sectarian looks upon the life of society church. "Sectarianism' is still often osed in this way in the media, especially when referring to when properly used is much more than a handy insult to throw at opponents. Sectarianism is a breakaway movements from the catholic term to describe the relationship of a would-be The first sects were of course the warring religious factions within, and then the many dency towards sectarianism - a term which "marxist' organisation to the mass of the work- trotskyism are traceable to the continuing ten- Page 34
slogans by a rise in the tide of class struggle, pear to maintain much more of a connection strongly soctanian orientation, In Britain the ing class support, but makes no effort to con- propaganda demands, and furs its back quite is a relatively big sectarian organisation, which not only abstains from any fight lo win leading positions in the unions, but also opposes any thus reducing itself to the role of sideline critics on the main political insuce facing the British •Occasionally excited to new ultimatistic sectarians flourish most readily during periods ment, devising slogans and propaganda which stitute their own activity ("Building the Party") or tiny front' campaigns, for the mobilisation •However sume quite large organisations ap- with the working class, while claining a Militant current has comparatively large work- vert its programme into more than a few Jeliberately on ilmost any serious day-to-day work in all but one or two selected trade unions. Similarly the british Socialist Workers Party move: they believe to be panaceas, or secking to sub- serious fight in the ranks of the Lahour Party of relative downtum of the workers* of the working class.
second congress of the new Third (Communist) tarianism must continue as part of the fight to Supporters of Socialist Outlook believe that development of a scrious, rounded programme for the class struggle, coupled with a constant fight to direct the attention and energies of militants and marxists towards the central political problems and class batiles confronting the organised working class and the masses of sistent fight to uphold marxist principles of By nur efforts to reverse the pattern of splits that hascharacterised post-war British marxism we hape to create a consciously anti-sectarian, internationalist current within the otherwise Page 35 Seclananism is not cured by organisational means - eitber by growth or by splits and ex- pulsions: if is not the product of smallness as such or evil individuals, bur the outcome of constant material and ideological pressures on The fight against sectarianism is as old as the fight for n marxist organisation. Marx and En- gels in the Communist Manifesto insisted that "The Communists (ir) have no interests acparate and apan from the working class as a whole. They do a set up any sectarian prin- ciples of their own by which to shape and mould Lenin, recognising the need to combat ultra- left sectarianism, insisted upon distributing a copy of his key text Left Wing Communism: an Infantile Disorder to every delegate to the Trotsky constantly wamed against sectarian deviations as the new Fourth International took shape in the 1930s, The fight against sec- defend and extend the traditions and sectarianism can be comhatted only by the oppressed. This must run alongside a con- confused currents of the British hard left. democracy and accountabulity. the forcer of the marxist left. the proletarian movement.' programme of marxism. working class. Marxism means learning from the class struggle: here Trotsky in 1940 meets with will fall into the grip of radicalised elements of regime, dogmatic and cliched the rhetoric and violent - internal regimes designed to repress any opposition. This can in tum open the door Party, whose politics exhibited all of the most ly those coming, like the WRP, from the post- 1953 International Committee tradition, and based on charismatic "guru"-style leaders back- ed hy a dominant central bureaucratic clique, also display serious deviahons from Bolshevik •The more bizarre the politics, odious the wild-eyed the followers of any given sect, the fewer workers it will attract, and the further it the petty bourgeoisie, drifting away from any Link to the actual struggles and concerns of the and Stalinist parties, the relatively privileged position of some full-time leaders of secturian groupings, Logether with the lack of a suffi. ciently independent minded memhership, have even despotic and The most grotesque example of this was per- haps the two decades of political and financial corruption, sexual violence and personal in- timidation which was eventually exposed hy the expulsion of Gerry Healy, former general secretary of the British Workers Revolutionary Howeverother sectarian currents, particular- to a total abandonment of political principles. American trotskyist Harry De Boer, picket captain in the massive trotskyist-led classic symptoms of sectarianism. principles of intemal democracy. given rise to bureaucratic SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 working class, Minneapolis Teamster strikes in the mid 1930s. 'cull" deformations revolving around particular Though there is no comparison between the machineries created hy the social democrutic political development and organisational same political method has spawned a host of similar, smaller scale splits and ever-smaller groupings (accounting for several dozen of the organisations would get an inflatod idea of their importance, and prioritise their own narrow concers above the requirements of the work- ing members tended to grow out of all propor- the traumatic 1953 split which dealt a hammer blow to the Fourth International and stunted the growth of both the resulting rival factions. The '57 varieties") as sectarian forces chase the Hely Grail of political purity through organixa- •The isolation and persecution of trotskyist forceshas always tended to restrict the numbers involved, and therefore to foster conservative methods of small group politics in which tiny Under these conditions, personal links and tion to their political strength, leading to bizarre 'guru" figures - and occasional splits between relatively tiny and financially squeezed trotskyist movement and the vast bureaucratic thy role, and the significance of individual lead- non political factors tended to play an unheal Harry De Boer
Spain, France, Belgaum, Austna, the conserva- mediate relief, despite Washington's pressures war pathetic, £10,000 was first announced. then €250,000. Thishowever is for the wholeregion, and it is unlikely that Nicaragua will get much if anything. The solidarity campaign and the main charities launched an emergency appeal tive West German govemment, all sent im- to hlock it. The British goverment's response The worst ever disaster for Nicaraguan women mobilised by Sandinistas: what will happen to next year's planned elections? Nicaragua Never in its history has Nicaragua suffered so much. But what is less well known is the way in which the country and its government reacted ganised an extremely efficient evacuation of Jost. Three hundred schools, the fruit of many years of the literacy campaign, have been to the disaster. The Sandinista leaders or- IT IS ONLY now that the extent of the October 22 is being known. It is the military dictatorship, two years of revolutionary war, eight years of foreign aggression, and natural dis- already plagued by fifty years of damages caused by Hurricane Joan on worst ever disaster that hit this country PHOTO: Carlos Guarita/Reflex
deep crisis already following eight years of and some councils like Manchester. Lambeth and Edinburgh twinned with Blucfields and Puerto Caberas on the Atlantic Coast set up Rocovery will be an extremely slow process, in extraordinary burden as the economy was in their own appeals. The apposition newspaper's coverage of the lying areas to rafer places and shelters equiped Press censorship was brought in lo prevent some 240,000 people from the coastal or low- with food and medical supplies. Thanks to this, the death toll was limited to seventy-nine the right-wing La Prensa from creating panic. Of the main port of the Atlantic Coast, the asters such as the 1972 earthquake which flattened Managua, and the 1982 The front page of the Nicaraguan Nuevo Diarto dated October 24 had a harrowing pic- ture that looked like Hiroshima after the bomb- ing. Headline: Here war Bluefields.
Foreign aggression. Attacks have since been carried out by the contras and several civilians Despite the lack of media coverage, it is es- sential that the extent of the disaster and its elections planned for the next year, Nicaragua needs nassive aid so that the revolution can sur- political implications should be widely known. What for example will happen to the municipal be trusted to administer reliel assistance? and of incompetence, claiming that they could not was minimal and it attacked the cept any type of aid, as long as there are no con- The US govemment accused the Sandinistas goverment for 'militarising' the disaster. In- temational aid was immodiately requested by the Sandinistas, stating that Nicaragua will ac- ditions attached. Cabezas since there is no more inland access to left standing. It had a population of about But all the fishing boats, all the plantations, all lic Coast have gune. The hurricane hiew at 160 miles per hour. Less is known about Puerto centre of Crule culture, only five houses were the crops. the whole infrastructure of the Atlan- 40,000 and survived on fishing and agriculture.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 Campaign. 23 Bevenden Street, London NI vive. Long-term solidarity at all levels is the Hurricane Appeal: Nicaragua Solidarity Maria Astorga that they wanted to use the storm as another called on to come to the aid of Nicaragus, Mexico setting the example: The first plane to platfom for propaganda against the contras. But all Latin America countries have heen land was Cuban. The European Community. Heavy rains and strong winds hit the rest of the country. The percent of the population has it. The silting of many rivers and destruction of been made homeless, the main export crop, cof- fee, has been hardest hit, eighty per cent of it 15,000 square kilometers of new forest repre- sent a major ecological disaster. Page 36
work is that it captures aspects of are unchanging so much so that you often find yourself checking Glasgow and its people which and Orange walks. One of the confim in which decade they Marzaroli: the changing face most striking features of his the dates on his pictures to were laken. photographer, died carlier this Marzaroli, an Talian brought up in Glasgow from the age of Glasgow Oscar Marzaroli, the year at the age of 55. Jean Reilly V
Page 37 text by William Mellvanney, was of Grey: Glasgow 1956-1987. a photographs with accompanying who used his talent to record the His last major work Shades life and culture of the Glasgow tribute to a great photographer reproduce here a selection of pictures from that book as a an outstanding success. We collection of over 300 working class. particular his photographs of socializing, to trade union rallies from wee boys playing football, chronicle the changing face of from the 1950s onward, range working class life in Glasgow of two, is famous for his His photographs, which pictures of Scotland, in thrugh men and women working, shopping and Glasgow. SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989
massacre is pinned on him, a film happend, and he is sentenced to a killed by 'stalkers' cquipped with and children. When he refuses he freedom fighters, he takes part in from his helicopter onto a crowd commit himself to their struggle, of food rioters, unarmed women is overpowered, The subsequent but his plans to retum to his old the city, to be hunted down and directed by his superiors to fire himsolf captured and forced to sealed-off and deserted part of Taking on Richards and his 'star" in a cult television show haunts are thwarted. He finds "The Running Man", together criminals are roicased into a The studio audience and Joining with a group of of events in the cockpit is a break-out, He refuses to a vast armoury of vicious doctored to rewrite what with his fellow escapees. viewers bay for blood as Gotcha! prison camp. weapons. Man is a chilling vision of the screens on every street comer are Set in the America of 2019, it used to manipulate the emotions consumerist society. The cilies state violence and the power of Stepben King, The Running dispossessed, held in place by capitalism into barbarism. takes to the limit the logic of and stamp out any rebellion. (Amold Schwarzenegger) is Film, starring Amold Policeman Ben Richards the media Giant television future, of the decline of The Running Man BASED on a story by Schwarzenegger. team with the poor and TRACY DOYLE Reviewed by 3 AGAINST APARTHEID MM YOUTH
deep in the game area are seized cohorts proves too much for the aimed mostly at scinoc fiction tumed against them, and then (clevision transmitters hidden While this film is probably stalkers, whose wcapons are by the fugitives. Giving the kids the facts about apartheid
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 If you have ever felt real anger laughter of the film audience, this pout was not lost on them cither! watching the smiles being wiped suicide on November 12th. Craig was a long time fighter in all Istington Briefing supporter, Craig Robertson, who committed the battles of the working class and the oppressed and a fierce and frustration at the 'Gotcha!" heroes are mown down one by Thatcher's Brilain, you'llove mentality of those who never off their faces as their stalker enjoyed The Terminator and philosophy, and swallow the Judging from the peals of needed, we remain convinced that he would not wish us to Robocop), it has its share of miss him greatly, including those with whom he had many defender of socialist principles. Those who knew him will question the "loadsamoney" Cans (especially those who deep differences. If we failed to offer him the support be hypocrisy and violence of IT IS WTTH deepest sadness that we report the death of falter in the fight against oppression and exploitation. thrilling moments. Craig Robertson Obituary onc. about South Africa to start with. 1 *Perhaps I just knew too much Video comes with an information Youth Agdinst Apartheid: the showing at youth clubs, schools call for sanctions against South Africa but didn't explain what sections, with some chance to think if the video was used in between them it would keep bookiet, and is designed for sanctions were supposed to discuss and ask questions people's attention better. tone of voice hy the same woman. I thought the use of news film was too much talking in the same both strengths and weaknesses in jail I didn't know Steve Biko had the video showed why we should though I knew about Mandela in: Africa, having done sponsored a appeared to have picked up a lot hadn't realised that South Africa thing the video told me was bow didn't watch it to the end. There *know what they are trying 'One other problem was that 'I was most interested by the to do. I think it was quite good understand. But the video goes of information from it, but saw know schools only teach black million are black, And I didn't format, and this gets boring. 1 things I didn't know before. I *Another really interesting for kids who don'1 know that much about South Africa but twenty tive million people in few whites there are. Out of was gond: it was all casy to on too long in just the same had invaded Namibia. And cycle ride for Mandela. He South Africa, over twenty been murdered in prison. want to find out more. Revo Productions, a collective of YOUTH Against Apartheid is the title of a new video aimed Their first work runs for some 44 South African struggle across Reviewed by KEVIN & language for a teenage audience, offectiveness in its declared aim Kevin is concerned about South I persuaded my 13-year old son The vidco has been made hy #021-449-4428. Hire Available from Debbie unemployed youth formed in Birmingham earlier this year, Kevin to give it a "test drive" of telling the facts in simple at getting the facts of the Apartheid: the video Epstein, Martineau £7, purchase £18. Revo Productions, Centre, 74 Balden Road, Birmingham minutes, and to judge its Youth Against JOHN LISTER to young people. B32 2EH. Page 38
Gail Thompson PHOTO: Jak Kilby artist and art. They cover a wide: explore complex ideas about the Othello, from the visual work of politics, about creativity, about It is damning of the racism that range of artistic forms; from an musical career and her constant of the fire or to dip into in those spaces from the community and about struggle, exploration of the Nottinghans book, cither to devour in front relationship between society. REV establishment both historical Thompson's account of her Themselves to speak; about snatched spare ten minutes. A highly recommended scarch for new languages. pervades the British arts accessibic, though many Carnival to a critique of The pieces are eaxily Sonia Boyce to Gail whirlwind' and contemporary. 'Claiming Anthology of Black Arts Storms of the Heart; an THIS fascinating book is the In claiming spaces from the whirlwind', it allows the artists variety and quality of black Published by Camden THERESA CONWAY passions that motivate this Edited Kwesi Owusu. demonstrates not only the black artists in Britain. It today, but the issues and first major anthology of art produced in Britain Press, £12.95. Reviewed by and Culture art.
Russia after he went into exile? boards went out of fashion in ratcard to get to tho Finland station? Did he know those And so on... BookendS order — the books which could help you and your comrades fill Wo present - in no particular in the lone cold winter breaks between meetings.
Page 39 The Satanie Verses, S. Rushdie, much holocaust literature, this is densely wrought novel from the the different traditions that came Poignant, humane and beautiful of the civil rights movement in reading, fascinating account of author of Midnight's Children participants in the stormy birth An essential Christmas present about lite in Poland during the and Shame, Charactenstically Powerful collection from nine intense and majestic in scope Twenty Years On, M. Farrell to bear on these devlopments for you and your friends. (Sco haunting collection of stones Holocaust by an eye-wilness. - avoiding all the pitfalls of an undiscovered masterpiece. because of alleged insults to A Scrape of Time, Ida Fink, Viking, hbk, E12.95. Latest (ed.), Brandon, pok, £4.95. Peter Owes, hbk, £9.95. A banned all over the place the north of Ireland. Easy back cover for a Socialist Outlook special offer). Mohammed. for a number of feminist women definitive biography of the great will involve too many meetings. reading if only to see where you man, such as did he use a family Virago, pbk, E495, Enjoyable never hava socialism because it insights into the life of the great Very Heaven, Looking Back at in those long. lost, long-haired The Politics of own words of what it was like man who thought that we will pages carlier this year. Full of the 1960s. S. Maitland (ed.), and sorious accounts in their Lenin: the Novel, A. Bries, Favourably reviewed in our The Free Economy and the current regime. Well worth challenging analysis of the Penguin, pok, £6.99. The Thatcherism, A. Gamble, penetrating psychological Oscar Wilde. R. Ellman, Macmillan, phk, £7.95. Carefully argued and Paladin, pbk, E5.99. disagree with it. Strong State- days. movement, A key book iowards book will really put vou off vour Sub-titled 'survival guide to the Life, S. Morley, Methuen, plk, groen alternative is elegant, but Lather King and the SCLC, DJ laid bare by extensive research. Britain's most famous utopian socialists. Their advocacy of a. north American politics with a Fast Food Facts, T. Lobstein, poisoned entrails of capitalism important, try going without it breathtaking range of sources. ugly of fast food". This handy And if you don't think food's £5.99. Excellent biography of leading American playwright. Arthur Miller, Time Bends: a Christmas dinner, The puttid Bearing the Cross -- Martin understanding contemporary Garrow, Johnathan Cape, Camden Press, pok, $4.95. good, the bad, and the really eTans politics 1945-syle by SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 phk, 89.95. An important analysis of the important unconvincing £7.95. Shamelessly described by Wishart, phl, €7.95. A curate's and an important contribution to Glockstein, Bookmarks, pbk, Trotsky's you know it must be Time Bonh, R. Franey and G. convincing case for the defence Male Order, R. Chapman and J. Rutherford, Lawrence and egg, but one no male comrade The Labour Party: A Marxist Socialist Worker as the most Blackwell and J. Seabrook, promises a full review in the personal farewell to working McKee, Bloomsbury, pok, Faber, phk, E4,95, Elegiac €4.99. The full story of the signiFicant analysis since should fail to read. Some History, T. Cliff and D. fighting for their release, provocative thoughts on The Politics of Hope. T. good Socialist Outlook Guildford Four. Totally MIKE RAWLS Reviewed by masculinity. next issue.
YOU REV A forthright withdrawal call for
FREE DERR ENTERING ARE NOW SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 inner city development and social services, when the rich do pot pay more for washing powder The book not only looks at the Susanne MacGregor argues in privatisation, education, housing. state is to be replaced by idea services like education, street tax as part of an overall strategy, but a radical change in the social her well written and informative enterprise society you have frst pay more for, for example, a of setting a market price lor not just to undermine Labour's argues: why sbould the rich Norman Tebbit, the former She correctly explains the poll strongholds in the inner-cities. Poll tax as social In demolish the welfare state' strategy. In order to carry out services, as part of that Tory lighting, housing etc. As council's street cleaning chair of the Tory party, The book's strength is its call for British withdrawal rating system but also al such social engineering or bread in the local engineering supermarket? in charge of the poll tax, sums 1988, 66 pages, £3.95. people should be paying consensus around the welfare country, we are too sold Nicholas Ridley, the munster I think, in terms of local for what they get. It has on the idea that the rich should be made to pay nothing to do with how Economic Strategies, THIS STATEMENT From Susanne MacGregor; The Poll Tax and the rich you are. In this up the ideas behind the enterprise culture. The Enterprise Culture authority services, for other people's Centre for Local FINN JENSEN Reviewed by services. PHOTO: Andrew Moore/Reflex unification of Ireland. They argue the arguments against withdrawal however, it must be said thai part and Wayne develop on the future purposes of comparison with that too generous and uncritical. They to acquiesce in the removal of the strings attached is a problem. The More seriously, they make the out how unlikely it is that Britain guarantee for themselves a stable and provides anti imperialist with ofthe argument which Rowthor maintenance on both sides of the To argue this without spelling This book is an important one extremely madable and therefore counter-arguments in cach case. should continue to give aid for a civil liberties, to induce loyalists the authors take on, one by one, exported and not used to build a with guarantees of religious and branch-plant economy and that, moch aschal factual infonmation and present logical and concise note favourably that successive this has meant that the southern Dublin governments have been multinational companies. They Britain's moral duty, but that it Prospects for a 32 county Irish description they give of the 26 of the six countics, soems a bit point very strongly that Britain friendly neighbour in what in a true: but it is not the aim of the fail to point out, however, that present border of a low wage, economy is now essentially a removal of the troops and the willing to give aid in order to and cogent analysis. It is also would be necessary, together imperialist powers, would be strategic region. This may be On a more caulinus note. investment by foreign based overwhelmingly, the profits: authors explicitly argue that unfamiliar with the subject. would give aid without any made by multinationals are substantial period after the that not only would this be Britain, and possibly other anti imperialist movement. industrial base in Ireland. nighly skilled workforce. able to attract substantial economy, depend on the county economy, for the strong manufacturing or In addition, the brief accessible to comrades border. based trade union officer, and island from the "plantation" to the thorough account of the histoncal economist, have developed in In the final section of the book this book a coberent and well with an account of the rise of the NAOMI WAYNE, a London withdrawal from Ireland. For quarrel with. This is followed by various British attempts, such as Bob Rowthom, a Cambridge Ireland and one which socialists British rule, which developed in come to one precise conclusion: sets the scene in a history of the welcome contribution to the what makes it significant, is the authors develop this analysis to wages, housing, emigration and and republicans would have no The first section of the book and discrimination, fostered by the six county statelet togcther power-sharing, to deal with the Handards of living in the north. gaven that it coincides with phase of the struggle in the an account of the sectarianism prospects — and the clear and the 20th anniversary of the civil nghts movement and the Naomi Wayne, Polity vectarianism on employment, information on the effects of and political development of The core of the book, and Northern Ireland: the Britain must withdraw from present day. It is a brief but forthright way in which the political economy of debate and a timely one. beginning of the present conomy and its economic Bob Rowthorn and The authors provide an that reason alone it is a argued case for British analysis of the six county abundance of statistical Reviewed by JEAN REILLY Press, 1988. ensuing sir. conflict. Page 40
conclusions which may be even if one may disagree Comrade Hearse's article To its credit MT is (on not absolve Hearse from thinks the answer might its own lerms) trying to develop its programme with parts (or all) of it. challenge MT's theses fails to spell out 5O's strategy to effectively direction in which he counter-hegemonic indicating in more positive terms the concerning the legislation in this country. or amending Section 2 of Communities Act, which select those areas of EBC gives effect to the Treaty sovereignty by repealing interests of this country. This will enable it to consensus among the Such a step would be therefore reclaim its law which are in the a real and enduring The next Labour peoples of Europe. of Rome and EEC government must the European socialism: on the contrary, trade by 1992 makes it a changed in recent years, they would never allow removing all barriers to among its 17 members; The Treaty of Rome collegiate body with a their president to issue has undoubledly bocn but not to make it any perfect charter for big centre-right majority its ultimate aim of Commission is a agenda — hut once again Bruges, where she set out is how it should stay. The Mrs Thatcher's speech at common market, and that The Common Market is the College of Europe in for wrong reasons? EEC: Maggle right European cooperation. The reason in rather her vision' for future For her, the EEC is a back on the political Brussels bureaucrats Labour Party. SMASH
Oulook, no. 9), However, informative articie on the neglected to discuss: how Hearse's interesting and will the reform process there was one issue he developments in Tale USSR (Gorbachev's Thank you for Phil Gamble, Socialist Yours comradely perfectly legal, since EEC drawn from new Chris Madoc country by the consent of capitalism. law only operates in this Labour Common Market may be withdrawn at any Agricultural Policy (CAP) time the latter choosen to Safeguards Committee October 88) on the latest Phil Hearse's article (SO Dear Socialist Outiook our parliament, which Communist Party's Any answers? redrafting of the Walter Caims Single Europcan Act, and interests, not those of the also represents a threat to changes provoked by the business to shift goods and capital to suit their command an excessive EEC budger. The CAP unscathed from all the percentage of the total has emerged virtually denaturing of the soil the environment, by CAP payments still peoples of Europe. The Common encouraging the and let cach member state which can pose problems The problem for many of us in the Labour Party should keep their noses for the left as well as for non-participation in the confirmed its policy of out of domestic affairs undoubtedly focussed conference repeatedly retain its sovereignty. When the Labour is that Mrs T. has strong, centralised, authoritarian 'effectively in rapid time a
and the Social Democratic cumpean publications like world. It may he too carly to make a judgement, but towards right wing social World Marxist Review — is becoming increasingly that Moscow may apply between 'communism' there are already signs Intemationals. A more affect the relationship parties in the wester historic breach of the some glasnost to the conciliatory attitude Second and Third programme (Facing up to It is wishful thinking to recomposed, the economy can hardly compensate for writes we can agree with develop its neo-reformist while MT attempts, from descriptive level, Hearse way forward. " Fine. But industrial policies which it the environmental damage MT that 'Capitalism is changing, the working post-war consensus is the Future") is far too its own viewpoint, to is being restructured programme, we are complacent. At the therefore... the old through excessive use of paltry EEC directives on EEC member state, since convergence of socialist the lifetime of a Labour petrol lead or acid rain eliminated even within goverment. To do so govemments in every disadvantages can be nitrate fertilisers: the market food policies. believe that all these caused by common would require a regeneration of the British deemed necessary for the Labour government from under it would prevent a the Treaty of Rome and sovereignly, but from a Some would have us Thus the issue also the legislation issued Prime Minister's free perspective from the revolved around the question of national implementing the miket ideology. Lotally different state which brooks no opposition puble sector in order to open Up working class hy weakening the The book gives the history of Party, or anyone else, has come with the strategy to defeat it. It services and to undermine the "Proposals for local income up with alternatives to the old and makes no concessions' is the poll tax but does not deal Tor the privatisation of public notes that neither the Lahour required. Hence the need to rating system, which is also attack the work force in the standard of living for the Iratie union movement. unjust and unpopular.
consternation of a numher attempt to end the historic may well henefit from the create. We should watch, that such a move would division between Social If Gorbachev should political differentiation revolutionary marxists and where possible, he involved in facilitating evident, much to the Unfortunately, Hearse's Connunism' then of 'pro-Moscow' South Australia Democracy and drawn that there isn't one Of course, there isn't a which we are confronted offered up only negative thinking on the changes article is far too brief to the conclusion could be criticisms which fail to complete) but this does alterative, hut equally National sovereignty is (anymore than the MT completed alternative thesis is adequate or indicate any fresh offer much of an the full-hearted consent of on offer! the participating nations if mechanism for achieving unanimous consent of all This is not to deny the education, and consumer desirability of European cooperation must secure environmental matters, the Treaty can only be cooperation in certain it is to be effective. therefore the best "social Europe within the Profection. Such ils signatories. areas, such as believe otherwise. We are trying to prevent european SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 11 December 1988/January 1989 Statements made recently the prospect of building a and for a very told that Mrs Thatcher is socialism from gaining a made it clear that he was. foothold in this country. TUC Congress held out by Jacques Delors, the However M. Delors speaking in a personal good reason. The EEC EEC President, to the money. Such a radical tax reform way of redistributing the poverty how local authorities can use the taxation are now receiving more tax can take the money from the income tax will only be another those looking for an alternative combined with a shamp increase sympathetic consideration by Only a national progressive regions without any strings on campaigned for by the labour to the "poll tax".* But a local still has to he developed and in government grants to the renly rich (individuals and companies) This should be within the inner-citics. niovement.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK is committed to the develop- ment of a real socialist alternative both to the ravages of Thatchersim and to the grey tide of Kinnockism and new ** SOCIALIST realism. OUTLOOK
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