I welcome John Laurence's criticism of my review of International Socialism. He rightly says that the SWP recognises the expansion of world trade.
I think the SWP still Ignores two Important things. Firstly, a "triad" three opposing economic and political zones around the EU, the USA and Japan - Is carving up the world market. Secondly, a single-currency "super state" will be established a the core of the European single market. These things are not cast in stone. However, the SWP Is not responding to these.
The SWP should recognise this "triad", which Increasingly rests on large multinational corporations. The revenues of the biggest zoo mutuaatonais now equal one-quarter of the world gross product. They were built up by active political interventions by capitalist governments over 20 years. Circulating capital has rapidly concentrated in the 'triad"*: 56 per cent of the world total was there in 1982; It was around 89 per cent in 1989.
The SWP must also admit that the EU is now a real world power. The European single market continually expands: the Czech republic and Slovenia will probably The World Trade Organisation negotiations showed that the EU Is a real glant over world prices and the terms of trade. SWP leader Chris Harman still writes that such talk is in the realm of fantasy".
John's account of British difficulties over European Integration Is quite true. However, that won't prevent a "hard core" of states using the Euro and unifying still further.
Labour will probably keep the UK outside the first round of the Euro. Nothing much may come out of the current intergovernmental conference in Amsterdam. Even so, only a massive renewal of Europe's working class organisations can prevent the establishment of that "hard core".
Today, the odds are against that radical renewal happening in the short term. In order to change those odds, the Fourth France are bullding the EuroMarches. Shouldn't the SWP'S comrades bulld them too?
Duncan Chapel, London N4 The higher education ofspute involved many more than just teaching staff There are problems with the Importantly the offer agrees to Please note the following in-