capitalism even greater attacks on living standards. Second, the Tories the Tories need to inflict massive new defeats on the working class. The problem in doing so is twofold. First, the world economy is going into a new recession, which will hit the booming finance sectors of the economy, and necessitate have to face a working class which, despite all the defeats it has suffered, is still massively unionised and capable of In Europe, the cxamples of France and Spain this year have shown that there is a general upturn in the levels of working class combativity, In Spain especially, a working class thought to be smashed and demoralised has responded with struggles of near gencral strike proportions. It is virtually impossible that Thatcher can carry through her third term without encountering working class resistance on sustained outbursts of struggle and militancy.
every available asset to pay fur tax cuts to the rich, despite a growing economic crisis. And of course the trade unions face production lines and determination to reshape not only the economy but the whole now: the labour movement for its part needs to prepare to going to be no Labour government quickly riding to the workplaces, will be the battlefields marked out by the Tory of British socicty. These attacks are being prepared even light back with a new tenacity, recognising that there is The cause is far from hopcless: the run-up to the election carworkers and others. These strikes may have embarrassed Neil Kinnock and the TUC leaders who tried and failed to stop them, but they are the sure sign that workers arc still waves of strike action by teachers, civil Thesc, together with the a new onslaught. a grand scale especially as millions of workers discover that The task for the left, as we arguc below, is to link themselves and give leadership to the coming struggles, bur also to provide what Neil Kinnock cannot and will not Thatcherism is incapable of providing the kind of genera- lised prosperity which has been promised for the market provide — a socialist vision capable of galvanising resistance in the Labour Party and the trade unions. For the fact is that although Neil Kinnock's election campaign was slick and popular with many constituency activists, it offered nothing in terms of a radical way out of Britain's economic and social crisis. Indeed, as many people noticed, there was much in common between the policies of the Labour Party and those of the Alliance. The conclusion we need to draw is the opposite of those who want a new 'left" realignment with
ready to fight. Arthur Scargill's speech to the Yorkshire miners' gala drew the biggest applause of the whole day when In taking their axe to education and to jobless youth, the Tories are risking a political fightback by students and working class and black youth on a scale not seen for many With all the signs pointing to a further swing to the right by most union leaders since the clection it is clear that there is no easy guarantee of success for those workers who take up The challenge before the left in the unions, in the campaigns and in the Labour Party is to develop a program- me of action to give confidence and leadership to the struggles that do break out. Socialist Outlook will be taking he called for direct action now to resist the Tory attacks. ycars. The seeds of resistance are being sown. up that challenge. sections of the disintegrating Alliance. What is needed is a new left realignment in the labour movement which will already, and the millions more who will desert Thatcher in the futurc, to mobilise them around a programme of socialist reach out to the millions disaffected with Thatcherism What are the crucial areas of struggle in which the Housing has been one of the areas of public spending most devastated by Tory cuts since 1979; now Thatcher wants to hive off whole council estates to private manage- ment and ownership, while municipal house-building grinds. to a virtual halt. Rack-renting private landlords will be districts is aimed at dispersing the present Labour-voting inhabitants and supplanting them with Tories, It is clear encouraged, while profiteering development of inner-city working class will have to confront Thatcher? SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 2 July/August 1987
Italian Communist Party suffers poll defeat Italian clections is significant electoral strengthening of the in many respects. While the THE RESULT of the recent
government is undeniable, this governmental parties between: the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, the major was achieved through a squeezing of the minor
P.C.I. policy. This was not, however, the right. The successes of the therefore not a salution to the: bourgeois political Icadership. Rivoluzionaria, section of the and the oppressed, There has a defeat of the working class nut been any simple shift to which the Lega Comunista Proctarian Democracy on caused directly by its own Greens and of the lists of suffered a serious defeas, At the same time, the Comminist Party (CM) coalition partners. It is long standing crisis of
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 2 July/August 1987 very important in this respect. organisation in struggle and of Consigliare in the communist; led Con confederation will be Ievels, a positive radicalisation It is difficult to toresee now months abead. The campaign referendum, the reopening of The working class needs to These two results certainly express, although at different next autumn's budget should development of forms of self- organised to the artacks that unions, such as Democrazia our with renewed vigour by regardless of what form the will undoubtedly be carried mobilisation, and be on the political agenda opposition will have to be regain the initiative, The policies within the trade what will happen in the bureaucracies and their Certainly the strongest MARCO VALSANIA the new government. the opposition to the for the anti-nuclear coalition takes. months abcad. party's internal crisis, and how 1.7% (642,021 votes) and now of 26,650 is a pre-1968 kind of Democracy inreases its vore to it will affect their burcaucratic nuclear mobilisations over the Turin -5.3%) and in working expressing especially the anti- class arcas (near Milan up to The Greens enter parliament last year, with 969,534 votes result. A closer look presents: an even worse picture: losses serious but it is probably too To the left of the Cp there often more than 3-4% in thc Jeadership will react or what has cight MPs (+ I) and one are particularly heavy in the big ciries), thirteen MPs and for the first time, their vote Bologna -4%, Naples -5%, 67). The political blow is were some positive results. (2.5% nationally and very effect it will have on the one senator, Proletarian big cities (for exampic, carly to assess how the control of the workers' Natta, leader of the Italian Communist Party share of the vore. The lusses of governmental parties possible: It couldn't and cannot provide of the Genoa dockworkers and the teachers, where significant 1983 result with 34,35, while and esperially by the struggles forms of selforganisation have recouped a little on their poor threatened by Fiar's rakcover, disorganisation of movements. recently been proved again in void left by the Cp which has awarded a 2.9% increase lor (800,000 votes!). Their share any answer for the fight bark bourgeoisie, gerring a 14.3% the development of the anti- The Christian Democrats devcloped. It is the political referendum to stop nuclear centres, in the fight of the the CP amounted to 3.3% good services done to the Craxi's Socialist Party is of the working class, the nuclear mass movement around the demand of a workers at Alla Romeo, made the success of the potential for which has austerity policies and its search example, in the siting of cruise together with thar of the union fragmentation of demands, rhe The political crisis which led intelligence been more evident. But, in spite of all this, the cr positive factor in this context. responsable for the weakening has been politically paralysed Fourth International, stood its about as a result of the power. social expenditure) but never. The CP's political strategy. for fall legitimacy in the eyes: become more and more fake.. government partners. Rarely opposition in parliament has unpopular in its policies (for leaderships, has been largely sliding scale of wages and in It has allowed a government strong to continue in office. of the bourgeoisie as a party missiles, and the cuts in the own. candidares. represent a struggle between the major Italian political institutions to the early clections came As a consoquence of its of workers struggles, the have the degeneration of and the contempr for the capable of responsible' acceptance of capitalist electorate's needs and government, the CP's that has always been
UPFRONT had stepped up their onslaughr speed-up and fresh disciplinary againsr the worklorce, forcing unilaterally announced thar it EVEN BEFDRE the election, Austin Rover management in new shift patterns, more will be taking a three-year The company also actin.
scheme — saving them 7:27 In response, workers have contributinns to the pension press shop, it mass meeting shown a real willingness 1o fight back, In the Swindon of their wage bill (E80m). *holiday from making
may win — has been lörced to (L/B40 and OAPs) IE registering attempt to overrule the branch See the back coper for registration their struggles tire after time accommodation with socialists. Participants in 'Outiook for as well as food, a social and a unofficial mass meeting in an decision and call a plant-wide leadershups that have sold our concessionary rail fares to the with disabilities to all plenary sessions and most workshops in London; access for people Registration for the wholc belore 31 August, £2.00 can With management on the AUSTIN ROVER SHOP workers desperately need a workend is £10.00 (waged). be deducted from all of the 18.00 (students) and £5.00 ballot for the vacant: post. professionally run creche; the lengths of calling an rampage, Austin Rover registration categories. break in the bankrupt There will be a Socialism' can get