NEARLY one hundred people attended the week-long Socialist Outiook residential summer school, held in North Wales in August. Held almost immediately after the defeat of the attempted Stalinist coup in the USSR, analysis and debate about the character of the coup and the future of Stalinism was a central feature of the school.
In fact, the main theme of the event, the history of the Trotskyist movement since World War neatly dovetailed with the discussion on the USSR. It provided an opportunity for the many younger comrades present - and some not so young! - to familiarise themselves with how the issue of Stalinism had been dealt with in the movement in previous years.
Plenaries and workshops dealt with issues such as the post-war defeat of capitalism in eastern Europe, the Chinese revolution and the nature of the Vietnamese Communist Party. In addition there were workshops on such diverse topics as women's liberation, ecology, sexuality and the work of Marxists in the trade union movement. Each evening a session of basic Marxism was well-attended.
Three things particulary contributed to the success of the school; first the incredibly efficient organisation by Socialist Outlook's education commission, and second their determination that the school should mark a break with the primitive educational techniques (long lecture foilowed by discussion) characteristic of so much of the Marxist left.
Discussion at the school was also aided considerably by the BLOODED (AND FIGHT AND LIGHT Protestors in Telford demonstrating against the pollce shooting of lan Gordon, who was carrying an unloaded air pistol inside. There have also been CarD John Maris The response from local police September 18 -Rally for Socialism - Manchester Town Hall, 7.30pm. Organised by Labour Party Socialists. Speakers include: Tony Benn MP', Dennis Skinner MP, Terry Fields MP. September 21 National Conference Against the Witch Hunt Banqueting. suite, Manchester Town Hall, 15pm. Speakers include: Terry Fields MP, Speaker from' Campaign Group of MPs.