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of political life allowing for little Thatcher's chosen methods, the the working class, Thatcherism (hegemony). His measures for conclusion is that in its war on has so far only really scored a state of the book's title, have free economy and the strong that are the extent to which cold showers been implemented. His dissent or opposition The Free Economy and Politics of Thatcherism the Strong State: The Macmillan, £7.95 Andrew Gamble Reviewed by Jane Wells
Page 31 But without that identification of Marxism Today, to which he is a for. This omission, it is probably fair to say, stems from the set of • 6 Populam in Latin America by Adolfo Gilly, Helena Hirata, Carlos M Vilas and the PRT (Argentina) introduced perience of the So-Called Socialist Countrier by Catherine • 9 The Formative Years of the Fourth Irdernational • 10 Marxim and Liberation Theology by Michael Lowy Suhecription for 5 ksues of NSR (surface E10; 100FF; All payments to P Rousset. Preferred: French francs pay- able in a hank localed in France, postal giros to CCP Paris phenomenon as you might hope analytical tools to dig your way • 7/8 Market and Plan in Postcapitalist Societies: the Ex- air mail add 20%). Please indicate with which issue sub- NSR, 2 rue Richard-Lenoir, 93108 Montrewil, France, phrase) you're left missing one remains a useful starting point. key contributor, Nevertheless, (1933-1938) by Daniel Bensaid (lecture) (48pp, £2.50) his analysis, as far as il goes, Individual orders: PO Box 705 London SW19 1HA informed by the positions of working class (to use a well Marxism and Liberation • 11 The Bourgeois Revolutions by Robert Lochhead wor but still meaningful essential ingredient - the *the way forward for the approach. His writing is underpinning Gamble's opportunity lo use your scription begins (you may include back issues). Notebooks for Study and Research political judgements by Michael Idwy (documents) (40pp, {2) 11 541 97 T. (please avoid Eurochecks). Michael Löwy Theology Mail cheques and orders to: Thatcher: only scored a draw so far? Samary (lecture) (64pp, £3) out. (study) (40pp, f2) "The future of Thatcherism' does The working class as an active which Icaves it, disappointingly. prospects for Thatcherism at the Forthcoming: any serious consideration of the options for the working class is alternative right-wing doctrines section of the book, devoted to not deal with this central issue. absent from Gamble's account, level of 'high politics' and as a analysis. Even the concluding and currents, in the context of just short of as good a marxist struggle is almost completely Instead he considers only the completely missing from his force, vying for power with force with the potential for analysis of the Thatcher the economic outlook. Advert the International Institute for Research and Education of A "lecture" series: edited transcriptions of classes given at • I The Place of Marxism in History by Emest Mandel • 3 The Chinese Revolution - II; The Manist Praject The Notebooks for Study and Research are sponsored by A "atudien" serien: systematic studies of either particular A "documents and debales" serice: collections of docu mcrite, articles and interviews designed to update a con • 2 The Chinese Revoison - 7: The Second Chinese Revolution and the Shaping of the Maoist Outlook by Pierre Tested in the Struggle for Power by Pierre Rousset (study) • 4 Revolutionary Strategy Today by Daniel Bensaid (lec- • 5 Clas Struggle and Technological Change in Japan expericaces in a given country or a particular theme. Since 1945 by Muto Ichiyo (study) (48pp, €2.50) Number 10 out now! Amsterdam. They inchide three series: Banks pitched in too, suggesting current legislative programme is with each other'. The debate, no although its economic prospects "strong state" has been achieved is the subject of some debate in more urgent question; what do draw, but looks in strong shape Meanwhile though, Gamble months. Left Labour MP Tony in a recent television interview the labour movement, and has exhausted, we can be sure that doors on a Sunday morning to showers and aren't interfering make sure we've had our cold we do about it? Unfortunately and confident for the replay - fails to answer the bigger and Socialist Outlook over recent that once the Goverment's "they'll he knocking on our The extent to which the occupied many pages of Rousset (study) (32pp, £2) doubt, will continue, troversial question. are not too good. (study) (40pp, E2) ture) (36рр, E2), the Institute. SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 14 April 1989 candlelight in the 1973/4 miner's political developments of the last refreshingly, that there have been trying to take in the whole range found it a difficult assessment to working class defeats, But rather project: the complete domination spectrum ahout the nature of the inevitahly, behind every attempt have an analytical framework to since Thatcher carne to power in developments, Gamble explores: situation and facts. You have to events he offers an analysis loo. the context of post-war political Margaret Thatcher has been judgements which are based on commentators on all sides (and tools that are up to the job, too. resignation in 1976 is about ar political scene over the decade Thatcherism has been difficult when, at the same time, you're changes wrought in the British memories of cold nights spent Prime Minister for most of for my gencration - capecially perspective to bring to it. Dim the same sides) of the political Govemment's fortunes, which than just commenting on those Making sense of a political But it's not only those who work in and a set of analytical are all too casy to forget when I FIRST VOTED in 1979. overtime ban (those were the more than just the immediate are new to politice who have parliamentary majorities and phenomenon as profound as to assess political reality, Lie anniversary celebration of a Looking at the sweeping days) and Harold Wilson's downs as well as ups in the the success of the Thatcher Andrew Gamble's book provides a comprehensive of political life, with little beast still rages. Because. ten ycari. He reminds us, account of cconomic and decade of thumping Tory Listening to the radio hy historical experience or impending triumphalist viewed through the the make. Debate between far back as 1 go. my adult life.
ET J OUTLOOK SOCIALIST
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 14 April 1989 Thatcherism, the coming of the strong state", the former Worker's Revolutionary Party, the explosion of the WRP to its sectarian roots. It unsubstantiated assertions consistent with the 1 was somewhat perplexed by the letter in the terminal crisis of the WRP. produced a series characterisation of the political period, which documented evidence, please? Otherwise, he November 1988: Ernest Mandel at Socialist Outlook rally on Fourth International SO 12 from Trevor Wongsam, which alleges This assertion is all the more surprising as nor does it perpetuate the legacy of the WRP raries a broader problem, however. Are such legacy of which is continued in the pages of *falls into the same terminological trap as in its pages. Socialist Newsletter was one of trying to "go it alone'. But we cannot afford consideration and debate than that if we are Wongsam produces not a shred of evidence of analytical articles and leaflets tracing the inevitably perhaps for any socialist country chamcterised Thatcherism as Bonapartism; culminate in a defeat for the working class. made a systematic critique of the WRP's Marxists? You will find Tittle hasis in the tar Socialist Newsiener with a Healeyite innuendo for honest Marxist discussion. Of course, the system has foundered, Newsletter continues the WRP's legacy "bureaucratic", It deserves, and must be the few pubucations which, during the position that the miners' strike did not will appear as just one more sectarian had a contemporary expression in the substituting the politics of insult and to write off the Yugoslav way as just that Phil Hearse, in his carlier article Wongsam's remark that Socialist polemics of Marx or Lenin for such traditions of political debate among brush, can he at cast produce some ever to understand the true roots of If Wongsam — or anyone else Socialist Newsletter has never given, a good deal more serious leftist and triumphalist line and Legacy of the WRP? Communist greetings. throwaway sideswipes. Socialist Newsletter democratic socialism. Socialist Newsletter.* Peter Chowney Mike Pearse, entering into serious debate about Yugoslavia. or, more accurately, by the Communist Party. on Yugoslavia at the moment at a time when, capitalist oppressor, albeit a foreign one. And theory from the point of view of whether it is easily expressed or understood. We approach 'Yugoslavia: Who Will Take Charge?. It did Yugoslavian Communist Party leadership; or through their conquest of power, they started not. There are few intelligent articles written disturbing, and an attempt to cover up a lack in 1908, and the Yugoslay Communist Party world war, Yugoslavia was the only country the most democratic and accountable system However, I find the tendeney to write off Yugoslav socialism as purely "bureaucratic' old as the federation itself. After the sccond my definition of stalinism. It is not fully the (formerly the Socialist Workers Party) is as established following the war was arguably They became neo-stalinist parties when, enables us to understand the moving reality holds some kind of elected political office! strong socialist party was formed in Bosnia to he wholly liberated by its own partisans, incomprehensible: one in seven Yugoslave in its totality, without losing theory's inner class and of the revolution to those of their Yugoslavia has a long socialist tradition; a perspective, and explained the balances of This is a more complex assessment than to subordinate the interests of the working own emerging national bureaucratic caste. coherence. This, I believe, is the case with Congratulations on Colin Meade's article, genuinely revolutionary struggle against a after having destroyed the bourgeois state Yugoslav socialists refer to the war as the case with Hearse and Packer's definition. as Colin Meade points out, we need to be of understanding of the Yugoslav system "socialist revolution", helieving it to be a that of Heare and Packer. It might even sound awkward But we don't approach of popular socialist representation ever established even if it was also the most (albeit in a manipulative way) for that it from the point of view of whether it which he admits "baffles everybody". at least get Milosovic's position into power that may propel him into the the "independent mad' which Tito revolutionary goal. Ernest Mandel Yugoslavia strategic line and to fight for the overthrow of the bourgeois state. To this end they educated subordinated the interests of the revolution to in spite of that authoritarianism, they enjoyed Communist Party subordinate the interests of We welcome your views and comments. definition nor of theoretical analysis, but just They broke with stalinism when they took Chinese CP in the 1948 Chinese revolution? exercising state power in a workers state) — bureaucracies? But these did not exist in the The article by Phil Hearse and Dave Packer position that a stalinist or neo-stalinist party bourgeois-oligarchic (in Vietnam, colonial) state following the Moscow line. Then they Gorbachev's Russia. At the most I said that whether the Russian, Chinese, Yugoslav or manipulative than Khruschev's, not to say revolution (ie: of the working class) in its Albania). But that is neither a question of country, to those of any state bureaucracy revolution in their country (this applies to more mass support up to a certain period, is one which subordinates the interests of (defined as a hardened burcaucratic caste Or the Vietnamese CP in the Vietnamese (letters over 350 words may be edited) assessments, not in mine. To what ruling the Yugoslav revolution in 19427 Or the stalinist when they had an orientation of refusing to fight for the overthrow of the ('The way out of a tangle on Stalinism') bureaucracies, are less authoritarian and their cadres and mobilized huge masses asserted that the Chinese, Albanian and three phase appmach. The parties were distortion of my position. have never contradictions in Hearse and Packer's So the correct definition involves a I could accept Hearse and Packer's the conscions decision to change that Vietnamese states, regimes, or ruling because of the role they played in the Yugoslav, Chinese, Vietnamese state China and Vietnam, probably not to bureaucracy 2 Obviously not. To the which appeared in SO 12 contains a LETTERS Socialist Outlook, PO Box 705, revolution in 19497 To the Russian. state bureaucracy did the Yugoslav But such a definition reveals the those of the Soviet bureaucracy. Three-phase Stalinism London SW19 IHA a queation of facts. Vietnamere one. years cited! Write to: Page 32
white pe The C NUP Use For FESSIONALS sINSF say: STEDIONS H HOSP AVE OUR m USPITALS E T JR NU r Jane Kelly's review of Cliff and Gluckstein's democracy to the way debates are formulated Party in terms of the interests of the working What disturbs me is the formulation Kelly removed' (Kelly), Kelly mentions the united 12) identifies the real question today — that The Lahow Party — a Marxist History (SO itself, The desire to "remove' other working and conducted within the labour movement between Marxian socialists and the Lahour class as a whole vis-a-vis the socialist goal, seems to share with Cliff and Glockstein - gain influence, it is necessary to generate a transformative vision of the Martist left to indispensible vehicle. To progress, the left that the Labour Party is something to "be office. In this task the Labour Party is an needs to put its own house in order. This is, the way to formulate the relationship committed to removing the Tories from Marxists and the Labour Party means applying the norms of socialist front, but it seems to me that for the real dialogue between all socialists
Page 33 picket of St Stephen's Hospital in Fulham which, along with four other hospitals, faces the bulldozers. Further details of 'Hands Off Our Hospitals' campaigns and government must always look to the approval WHILE the government forges ahead with its White Paper on the National Health approach separation of Church and State and professional bodies as well as public An advanced capitalist country which has around the world which do not have perfoct struggle is still the central political question. publicity materlal available from London Health Emergency, 335, Grays Inn Rd, mind is a Biblical proverb about motes and and local campaigns have been developing across London and now into other "Hands Off Our Hospitals meetings PS Women were paid less than men for Hearse of 'mistakes — in fuct, history and Ireland an 'advanced capitalist country" analysis*. Perhaps. Bur what comes to my imperialist power(s) forced to make in the There are many liberation movements investment, which has not even begun to programmes or tactics. But that does not make us tum away from doing solidarity towns. They can also link up with battles against cuts and closures, like this work and having discussions with them. economy completely dominated by (an) "sweetheart" deals to encourage foreign of the occupying iniperialist power, its Brian Elkington in SO 12 accuses Phil - either as fact, where, after all, the national liberation Perhaps SO should step up its Irish suddenly become a reality in Britain? a part of its territory occupied, whose longterm extremicly disadvantageous Equal pay has Motes and beams rcally this will not do doing the same job' history or analysis, Penny Duggan FInn Jensen coverage? beams. opinion, the fightback is still taking shape. Service, apparently ready to defy doctors* If that was the case, it is difficult to explain sources confim that the Tamil people see the socialists should demand a withdrawal of the Being unclear about an independent Tamil why the fourth largest army in the world still the Indian occupation force in the North and pusition. What possible progressive mie can Tamil liberation front, the Liberation Tigers the Indian troops play? None, They are only have not been able to defeat a few thousand surprising that M. Manickam and Lal Silva 50,000 Indian troops. Their position n the support not oppose. (This also seems to he of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). They descnbe the terrorist organisation without support from the tactics of the LTTE, but that should not The article does not clearly say whether Indian-Sni Lankan accord, which legalised terrorists. We might disagree with some of East of Sri Lanka, scems to be: we neither doing the dirty job that the Sinhalese state nahonal stinggle is secondary to the class the position of the Revolutionary Marxist national independence until capitalism is refuse to give critical support to the main Party of Sri Lanka). This is not a scrious Indian troops as a repressive occupation has been unable to do. All independent LTTE as a petty-bourgeois nationalist overthrown in Sri Lanka, and that the make us abandon the just struggle for Eelam and the Indian troops, it is not force. And they are right! national independence. the Tamil masses. London WCT. against the spirit of socialist democracy but is Indian trops in Sni Lanka? And if we do, can both have for decades faced severe repression people in the North and East of Sri Lanka are conditions for a unified struggle to overthrow the demand for the withdrawal of the 50.000 question of whether the plantation Tamils in peoples, authors M. Manickam and Lal Silva Sinhalese working class as much as possible. The article 'Riding a tiger into a blind alley' we then give critical support to those Tamils who are fighting for a Tamil Eelam and who in Socialist Outiook 12 did not deal with the seem to agree with my original article - that an oppressed people we must surely support But it is fur from clear in M. Manickum and Lal Silva's article whether they will support chunter-productive in a socicty schooled in Ceylon Tamilk in the Northern and Eastern independent Tamil Eclam? Do we support Can we then also agree that if the Tamil SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 14 April 1989 A reply on the Tamils in Sri Lanka provinces, are one people or two different perspective, trying to unite the Tamil and Tamils in the North and East cunnot have We scem to agree that we as socialists from the Sinhalese state and community the Tamils' struggle for an independent most buming questions concering the the Central and Uva provinces, and the capitalist rule: Does that mean that the class parties from the scene is not only Leaving aside for the time heing the struggle for full democracy...to create the henefits of bourgeois democracy. situnion for the Tamils in Sni Lanka. They talk ahout 'intervening in the are involved in a war with the Indian their struggle for self-determination? Do we support the demand for an should put such a struggle in a class occupation force? Chris Madoc
So far it has been the movement. Our aim should be to drag the Upington 25 to efforts to campaign South African press, Indifference are not difficult to trace. The present in Paballelo. It is up to the small left in Anti-Apartheid In this country to little or nothing has The reasons for this League which has range of different happened in a stronghold of the ANC, the Upington 25 organisations. The Upington 25, c/o The Rural Worker, SACHED, 5 Church yet been done in coverage in the organisationally made the most campagning. in the same way as the Sharpeville 6. defendants are supporters of a anti-apartheid bring this case forcibly to the attention of the whole Cape Action anti-apartheid movement's campaigning efforts. There is absolutely no doubt that if the case had ANC Is not would be at the very centre of the intemational apparent the centre of the Anti-Apartheld Movement's became a central focus for the movement. Britain. Send letters of support and donations to: Street, MOWBRAY 7700 SOUTH AFRICA Defend the Upington 25 around the case. JANEES ARTHEID KILL NOT between 21 and 64. The youngest, Xoliswa Dube, was 17 Churches. And although the trial has received extensive need. But little support has come from the usual sources 1988 after an 18 month hearing. The accused are aged Most of the defendants have been in prison since April All of the defendents" dependents are in dire financial convicted on the bass that they were part of a crowd at the time of her arrest. She has since given birth to a which stoned the home of the municipal pollceman Paballelo township, outside Upington, a town on the of prisoner aid, such as the South African Counci of before he was killed, also by a crowd of people. border with Namibla. Most of the accused were 200 KILLED baby girl whom she has called Innocentla. THIS YEA Sharpeville 6. They on the same basis history. They have group facing the convicted of the 1985 murder of a gallows in South been convicted The Upington 25 are the largest purpose' used subject of the should be the policeman in African legal of common intemational same sort of campalgn. The 25 were against the municipal
Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Palacio Nacional Mexico DF. READ SOCIALIST OUTLOOK EVERY MONTH - demands that the Mexican state retum him allve and Mexican PRT. is still missing. Telegrams of profest and Carlos Salinas de Gortiar, Presidente Constitucional, unharmed should be sent to: Hugo Blanco released - but solidarity still needed Mexico Peruvian trotskyist Hugo Blanco (featured in SO 13) has now been released after protests in Sweden, Belglum, Switzerand, Germany, Spain, France and across Latin But Jose Ramön Garcia, kidnapped member of the Intemational solidarity action has been successful - America and the United States.
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