Gorbachev, and there was a howl of right-wing protest against the INF deal, While US imperialism is quite prepared to exploit Towards peaceful coexistence? ONE velvet glove. the deal will be minimal, we have to look at why agreement for a limited reduction in intermediate entering into a new era of major nuclear disarmament? DECEMBER'S Washington summit, resulting in the nuclear missiles, has raised important questions about the future of superpower relations, and hence of world politics. Does the INF agreement mean that we are Does this mean a new cra of co-management of world crisis between the USA and Russia? Our answer to the first question is 'almost certainly not', and to the significance. To see why the real change resulting from second probably not'. In our view, it has suited all sides involved in the INF deal to overplay its real Gorbachev and Reagan wanted the deal.
The Reagan-Gorbachcy summit, and the INF deal, in the left. So what attitude should socialists take? I *detente' between the superpowers means more con- even limited concessions on human rights, and reduc- tions in nuclear weapons — meaningful ones, by the USA as well — then much of that we can accept. After are not for matching imperialism missile for missile, or against any disarmament by the Soviet But it is quite wrong for people in the peace movement to believe that we are now on course for major nuclear disarmament, or that the threat of have led to great confusion in the peace movement and tacts between the pcoples of the cast and west, some Union as part of a more global disarmament process. nuclear war is receding- The Soviet Union desperately wants ncw moves towards a diminution of the arms race because Gorba- chev's perestroika project desperately needs the econ- omic leeway which would be provided by major reductions in arms spending. What particularly wor- ries the Soviets is Reagan's Star Wars project, comper- ing with which would potentially devastate economic rcform. On the other hand the Soviet burcaucrats fear that if they did not compete with Star Wars, eventually US military superiority would be so great as to lead, at the very least, to US military and political pressure on the Soviet Union, and at the unthinkable worst, even to a pre-emptive strike against the socialist camp'. Would the Soviet Union be able to prevent an invasion of Cuba, for example, knowing that the US could shoot
America or any other part of the world. If detente" If we do not accept the illusions of many in the Union to manoeuvre, to demand a rcal disarmament process and to mobilise international public opinion to that end. However, we do not accept their right, as part of that, to do dirty counter-revolutionary deals at the expense of the workers and peasants in central meuns that — a counter-revolutionary co-management ists should be dead against it. And in reality it is this Finally, there should be no illusions that we can in fact achieve a 'non-nuclear world' so long as imperial- ism exists. The USA is never, ever, going to give up its peace movement, we do accept the right of the Soviet of world affairs, "peaceful cocsistence" — ilien social- kind of detente' which Gorbachev is looking for. ful coexistence as the only way to avoid the effects of down most, if not all, of its nuclear missiles? Could Us military pressure even on the central front in Ger- or Czechoslovakia be repelled if the Soviet Union were not sure of the effectiveness of its nuclear deterrent? These are real nightmares for the Sovict bureaucracy, which sces no way of defending itself, trying to develop a broad offensive towards nuclear disarmament, which will start with intermediate and short range weapons and then 'escalate" to strategic weapons. The Soviet Union wants a new era of peace- competition on the Star Wars front. To get it, Gor- bachev is prepared to make very bold moves on human Gorbachev has responded to this situation by other than military parity with imperialism.
guarantee against the threat of nuclear war. While supporting any real steps toward significant muclear vention world wide: against US intervention in central revolutionary guerrillas in Afghanistan and for the nuclear weaponry, which it sees as the ultimate guar- antec of the survival of the imperialist world system. Only the workers taking power, a socialist world can disarmameni, the main tasks for socialists in the west are to fight against Star Wars and US military inter- America: against US support for the counter- withdrawal of the Us fleet from the Gulf. At the same time, we have to demand a real extension of glasnostto democratic rights for the Soviet working class, rights of trade union and political self-organisation, for political pluralism. for the end of bureaucratic rule • SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 Jorary/February 1988 away a lot more than the US. Gorbacher will quite porters and sympathisers, the fate of socialism is rights — at least for the intelligentsia and the dissi- dents' — and to make major concessions on both matters in particular. This may mean reducing Soviet aid to Nicaragua, and even abandoning Soviet allies in Afghanistan to what would be a very nasty fate at the In the INF deal itself the Soviet Union has given happily abandon Nicaragua if he thinks it will lead to a new arms deal. This is the logic of 'socialism in one country': for the Soviet bureaucrats, and their sup- international questions in general, and military hands of the Us-backed mujahadeen guerrillas. coextensive with the state interests of the USSR.
still commanding mass support Hussein joint right to represent in principle to ditch the goal of themselves had no clear idea of for instance — understandably record, particularly since 1982 This rime, though certainly among the Palestinians, he is: Palertinian self-determination the Palestinians and agreeing weaker that ever before ITis - his signing of the Arman how to achieve the aims they The experience of thr uprsing in the occupied agreement giving King folinwers, though they alicnated many of his believed it: middle cast would not be worth in support of their brothers and Palestinian population of Track expulsions wither away to nine: individuals and they have scen these nine become the focus of continuing a month later. For The Palestinians have been among their enemies, and the has united in a one day strike encouraged by the divisions paid in terms of imperialist territories. They have seen interests in the rest of the demonstrations are still the first time the whole sisters in the occupied Israel's threat of mass while the storm even if this means particular manages to ride pur the Palestinians. Paradoxically anti-Iranian alliance cemented arca. Already there have been reports of student and muslim confrontations with the police. making tactical concessions tis and a substantial number of spark that ignites the whole For imperialism it is very September which included at the last Arab summit in demonstrations in Egypt important that Egypr in perhaps, the right-wing resulting in violent fundamentalist-led Israeli terror in Gaza arrests: receiving following the first two. retaliation' bombing raids into Israc!'s almost weekly so-called Wet THe kind of support the nothing remarkahle, compared conditions on the Gaza refuger camps, they really are to more to the numbers killed by Israci emotional tirade agaust Israel delivered by nonc other tian a embarrassed to be associated wenty-two Palestinians shot weeks of the uprisings in the in Lebanon six vears ago, or civilisation than they have Palestinians being killed in dead in two wooks is really south Lebanon. As for the occupied territories, their indeed. to the numbers of closest allies may soon be So wiience cornes this of an 'affront to human Palestinians have been with them. After all. always been.
against Israci in the UN over its The reason for imperialism's British foreign office minister? handling of the rebellion, and its almost unprecedented vote practice on deportations? condemnation of Israel's What provoked the Us
tyres of the Palestinians is far Gaza and the West Rank. It removed from the seroets of reactions to the stones and hes rather in the current
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 January/February 1998 Territories will have given them Irom his trading in the aims of insufficient, with or withour an witnessed Arafar gain borhing strengthened and imperialism struggle, they have seen their mass action achieve what the The forces on come out ol this subscantially: win Palestinian acceptunce of moderation of Arafat will he international conference, to favoured by the right in the the left of the PLO will have "diplomatir manocuvring" the Palestinian liberation ANNA WAGSTAFF a clearer iden. Having may well find that the an imperiaher backed PLU never did. " January 1988 - Palestinians demonstrate against Israeli oppression SOLDON deportations. They have seen a for the last few cars and which Tuperialium appears now 10. which Arafar has been pushing Us spearheading the attack on world-wide attention with the Arafar has aclueved the sratus conterence on the middle cast Israel has opposed, Yet again umperialism turns in times of sell-determination; who can Israel's "illegal" practice of arhieving the international. derlaring unequivocally in ofthe "moderate to whom now convince them that violence leads nowhere? British foreign minister he pining its hopes on lavour of Palestinian Lrouble. Gulf scaces, could actually have further weakened the prospecte Israel, given sufficient internat These, then, are rhe reasons future, tip the balance against why Israel finds irs immodiate imperialisti. For even it Isracl substantial funds to flow into could quell the Palestinians by force, the price thar would be interesis coming into conflict Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Egypt from the oil rich states financial hold over Mubarak which could possibly, in the Egype's separare peace with uf the Clamp David accord. The provisions for fairly will weaken America's with the interests of pressure. middle east, where, historically nervousness abour the fature of Iranian offensive against Saudi extreme volatility of the entire for anti-impcrialist sentiment: its control over the region. An threatening the stability of the always acted as a major focus fundamentalism that they see For, despite appearances. countries is perhaps less of a British navies patrolling the strength, in an indication of the P'alestinian struggle has Gull waters, far from being against Terac under present condinons could well be the Iranian victory, or even an the presence of the US and Arabia or any ul the Gull worry to them than is the A Palesunian aprising Indicative of imperialist imperialism's extreme rising tide of Islamic whole region.
UPFRONT bur other aspects of reform will the wishes of the international chormous dilliculties with its apposition have been pur off go ahead in accordance with Ceauseseu has been having debt is Romania: Nicolac have precipitated mass Another country in Munetury Fund. standards and 70 per cent for there was no overall majority some democratisation' bur price increases which might in the clertorare Planned. Gorbachev's casualties of those eligible voted. Of those had results — only 68 per cent voting. 66 per cent voted for reforms and lower living the package of economic in Eastern Europe With cconomic stagnation and the ruling communist parties of glasson (openness) in the Sovict some mcolerable strains withm Uninn are beginning to create other countries of the Warsaw perestroila (restructuring) and THE CURRENT pulicies of Pact.
STOP CLAUSE 27 massive foreign debts at home, democratisation, you have the ingredients for massive social Party (KSC) withnur so much stooge in Czechoslovakia for secretary of the Communist the past eighteen years, Las Gustav Husak, Kremlin as a thank vet for all the Europcan leadets came 20: Increasingly sharp Soviet power. plus demands for criticism of the Brechnev been removed as general connomic and political period when most east hand work. In Poland. crisis.
supported the amendment, as a Commans on 14 December, by showing the strength of feelings themscives hoth from the issue demonstration at the House of amendment. But in the labour them to retbink their position: movement activists has forced the Labour front bench to the airmg Resistance to this new general and from left Labour needs the strongest possible of lesbian and gay rights in attack urgentlv needs to be councils who have actually tovetuent the whole insue done something about it. useful way of disrancing of outrage among many Trshian, gay and labour It remains to be seen Initially, in effect they whether they will now attark has hern awful. electivcly oppose the Bue cbc 700-strong Knight amendment attacks lesbian and gay rights bail The Till Knight amendment, tume is rigin for a frontal arrack advisors, social workers as wrll va lesbian and gay rights. This received front the government, shows that sections of rhe Trity may well forexhadow muves to I'lie amendent is part of a Predictably, the response of as those appointed specifically cover for bigorry and violence been naming a campaign le the sarking of openly lesbian and the suppurt which it has London Ecering Standard has and gay tearhen education: ngainst Inshians and gays. It Iesbian and gay rights, Thr to work on lesbian and pas right have decided that the implications, and in giving attack the provisions of the attack is serious in its legal growing backlash agaibst 1967 scyual offences act. forth. rights. government's local governmenr any mention of homosexuality m bill has brought the question of support lesbian and gay rights; schools can be outlawed Twill at those local suthrities which lesbian and gay contres and so action will strike a major biow Iesbian ard gay rights back to: of promote in the right wing polestially provide the courts, wowir make it illegal lor docal hamesexualit or 10 fund any dines the same. The definitiun and backward parents will a held day: The thrcor of court organisation which allegedly Tory MP's amendment is so wide-ranging, that virally The Konghtamendment rhe centre stage of British aurharities to do anytlung have taken initiatives to THE JILL KNIGHT amentiment to the which promotes polirius: SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 January/February 1988 rebuff in the recent relerendur is showing signs of filling