THE OPPRESSION of black people, of women and of lesbians and gay men is tied up with the division of society into different classes.
The particular forms are different today-than for example under slav. is suit integral to captansm. Eno ruling class consciously tries to whip up prejudice to maintain their own domination—as the Tories are doing around This means that socialists have to fight against both structural discriminaseated bigotry-including amongst working class people.
Socialist Outlook has always seen the autonomous organisation of the oppressed as an important part of this struggle to build a movement for liberaWe have been central to the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights, active in many parts of the women's movement and fought for Labour Party Black Sections and black caucuses within the trade unions.
This right to self-organisation exWe support the right of autonomous organisation even after the socialist revolution itself. Fighting for liberation LCLGR led historic, and sucessful fights ot Lobour Party conference The lesbian and gay movement should not wait for the eradication of homophobia before organising for its demands—it will be stronger if it calls for support from other sections of working people.
So we fight for organisations and campaigns to support the specific demands of the specially oppressed and we fight for our own ideas in the organ. isations.
There have been times when they have been left to fight alone, without support of socialists or trade unionists. Victores have occasionally been wor in this situation. But the chances are much better if there is unity.
It is militant action such as that of the Suffragettes and the Black Panthers that have won-not an approach based on parliamentary lobbying and asking nicely.
This model, for example, was followed by the National Abortion Campaign which has successfully morganised in defence on the rights escablished in the 1967 Abortion Act.
initially started by a small group of committed socialist feminists-who certainly waited for no man —the campaign was eventually able to gain support of the TUC and a number of national trade unions Ultimately the fight for liberation— for a society in which women, black people and lesbians and gay men are truly equal-is a central part of the get for a genuine socialist society A socialism that is worth fighting for has to be one that is committed to an end to all discrimination and prejudice. A socialism that is achievable has to involve at its core the most oppressed sections of the working class.
There are none so fit to break the chains as those that wear them. pressed peoples for national liberation is an essential part of Socialist Outlook's politics.
This is not because we think nation. alism is a solution to the problems of the world's working class and peas. antry.
But upholding the right of national self-determination is an intrinsic part of There is the world of difference besween tie nabonalism or the oppressca and the nationalism of the oppressor. One celebrates struggle and resistance. the other worships oppression and reactionary ideas.
It is from within the struggle for national freedom that workers and peasants can begin to recognise their own interests and see how they are different from the sections of their ruling class which claim to be for libera.
It is particularly important that socialists in imperialist countries support against their own ruling class.
To duck this issue is to pander to national chauvinism-even when radical sounding phraseology is used as a dodge.
For socialists in Britain this means support for the struggle for the libera. tion of the oldest colony, Ireland.
The people of Ireland as a whole have the right to determine their future.
We collaborate closely with Fourth Socialist Democracy who work with the national liberation movement at the sanic amic as powng torward a suaicky to link this with the struggle for social. ism in Ireland.
Socialists in Britain only cam the right to criticise the way in which the struggle is conducted in so far as we support the right to carry it out.
Socialist Outlook supports the strugwithdrawal. Our support is criticalwe reserve the right to disagree with the tactics pursued in that struggle—but it is always unconditional.