1992 saw the capitalist world unable to break out of sharp economic recession, and slide towards slump. No major capitalist country has been able to break free of recession, and relaunch sustained economic growth.
The net result is that the toll of unemployment and social misery for the working class has only increased.
The present crisis is a bitter, but utterly predictable, . conclusion to the Thatcher-Reagan years. The popularity of free market is at its owest ebb for a decade.
At the same time, there is no resolution in sight for the crisis in eastern Europe and the ex-Soviet Union. The attempt to restore capitalism has plunged these states into economic and political turmoil, with no obvious way out. Without massive growth in the world capitalist economy, the investment to carry through privatisation in the former eastern bloc will not be forthcoming.
The attempt to restore capitalism has dislocated the state planning system, and succeeded only in catastrophically reducing production levels and creating social anarchy. There is a grave danger, as the article in this issue or Poland points out, of harshly authoritarian governments emerging as a result.
Two years after the Gulf war, Pax Americana has done nothing for the peoples of the third world. Millions continue to starve, and suffer from the effects of IMF and World Bank restructuring' projects as crisis and recession are exported from the advanced capitalist west. The Rio summit did nothing for the environment except demonstrate the utter cynicism of the advanced nations, especially the US, OMEN PPORT INERS tion worldwide. now have? the park.
OSURES mien sathst Gosurd towards dealing with the crisis which will, unless tackled, lead the planet to catastrophe.
Famine in Africa and the apparently unending war in Yugoslavia are vivid symbols of where the so-called 'new world order haveled US intervention in Somalia, aimed primarily at combatting Islamic fundamentalism in the region rather than defending aid convoys, is indicative of the free hand which the US currently enjoys in organising military intervenAll this an be summed up in one phrase: capitalism is leading the planet to catastrophe. The case for socialism has never been stronger; it is the only hope for humanity. prospects do the forces fighting for socialism Everywhere the working class is fighting remobilise. - in defence of the miners. on a socialist basis. placed today. But what barbarism awaits us. been paid since the summer -lining up pathetdefensive battles in difficult situation. But 1992 has shown the ability of the working class to The year started with mass pay strikes in Germany. A general strike movement against austerity measures followed in Greece. A massive protest strike movement then developed in Italy. And finally, in the autumn, the British labour movement mobilised in huge numbers We can be sure that the working class will fight; but the effectiveness of that fight will depend on the ability of the working class to build a viable political perspective and a leadership committed to reorganising society In the 1930s Trotsky said that the crisis of humanity could be reduced to the crisis of working class leadership. Ever since then that phrase has been met with derision by those in the labour movement opposed to revolutionary socialism. That derision is especially illIt could not be more obvious that in the emerging political conflicts in Russia, authoritarian right-wing government will be result unless a powerful left wing alternative is built. It is equally obvious that in Germany politics will veer sharply to the right, with a powertul tascist surge, unless the torces of the eft can act as the backbone of resistance. The examples could be multiplied endlessly.
World capitalism is a very long way from stabilising itself and preparing the basis for another boom. Every fightback, every workers' struggle is important. But unless a movement for revolutionary social change is built out of such struggles, in Britain and internationally, picket ine of unpaid photographers would con-