Editorial 2
Why we are joining the Resistance
IN A NEW venture, arising from a new spirit of cooperation and unity on the left, we are about to launch a new monthly newspaper. As a result, This will be the last issue of Socialist Outlook to appear in its current form.
The new paper will bring together the International Socialist Group , which has produced Socialist Outlook as a newspaper since 1991, along with the Socialist Solidarity Network , and a number of independent marxists, who will work with us to sponsor, write for, sell and help finance its production. An editorial board will be elected to ensure that the widest cross-section of supporters are directly involved in the process. The first issue will be out in time for the anti-war demonstration on September 28.
Internationalism will be a central core of the new paper. Today the US war drums against Iraq are beating ever louder while the massacre and oppression of the Palestinian people by the Zionist state continues. Despite the growing pressure against war on Iraq, Blair continues his sycophantic relationship with Bush – and continues to drive forward neo-liberalism at home and abroad.
In this context our task is not just to unite and reach out to the widest audience on the British left, but seek new ways to link up with radical movements developing on the world stage. One year on from September 11, US imperialism has certainly not succeeded in one of its key war aims – to silence the voices of dissent expressed in the anti-globalisation movement. In many ways that movement is stronger today than it was 12 months ago – though clearly in the US itself the reactionary government offensive did weaken it initially.
But in other parts of the globe, resistance to the war in Afghanistan and to the overall war drive has been fully incorporated into the aims of Global Justice movement.
Thousands of new young activists have come onto the streets in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in opposition to privatisation and poverty – like the 40,000 who have been demonstrating in South Africa as we go to press.
At the same time as the Global Justice movement and anti-war movements are mobilising against the increasing inequalities meted out by governments and corporations to the millions of working poor across the globe, new political formations are being created and strengthening: they are a response to the fact that today social democratic parties and governments not only fail to resist this drive for ever more profit, but often lead the charge.
The growth of the Socialist Alliance is part of the same process that had led to the creation of the Left Block in Portugal, or the Red Green Alliance in Denmark or Rifondazione Comunista in Italy or the Scottish Socialist Party.
These new broad socialist parties are absolutely essential tools in fighting for an alternative to the murderous system in which we live. This understanding will be central to the creation of Resistance.
The ISG, the SSN, and the many individual socialists who are coming forward to sponsor the new paper agree on this perspective. There is both the opportunity and a need to organise around these issues through the production of such a newspaper. We will be putting our political and organisational resources into Resistance to help ensure that it is successful.
This does not mean that there are no disagreements amongst those launching this new paper. We come from different traditions and different experiences, so this is natural.
Such different experiences will only enrich our work around the new paper, however, since we share a common aim – to play an important and constructive role in the reshaping of the left, which is going on today in Britain and internationally, and which is reflected in the SSP and the Socialist Alliance.
The ISG, of course, will continue to fight for the political ideas that define us as an organisation and as the British Section of the Fourth International.
We will produce Socialist Outlook in a new format, with reduced frequency. We will maintain the ISG web site and continue to produce leaflets and pamphlets in our own name.
At the same time we will be fighting to build Resistance and working closely with all those who support and sponsor it. We hope all Socialist Outlook readers will agree with us that the launch of Resistance is an important step forward, and will want to join us as readers and supporters of the new paper.
See subscription form and launch statement .