ORGANIZED LABOR IN BRAZIL: The Struggle Continues by Stanley Gacek month was somewhere around 25 percent, Collor also announced that he would be dis­ with a minimum wage equivalent to only 25 charging 360,000 public employees. percent of its real worth in 1940. Although the CUT did not call for a 0 nly a few months ago, President Fer­ Although Collor's wage and price pol- general strike during the first sixty days of nando Collor de Mello's stringent economic icy was both illegal and unconstitutional, the Collor administration, several individ­ package appeared to have paralyzed the the Brazilian judiciary simply ran away ual unions decided to assume their risk. Brazilian labor movement. Due in part to from the controversy. A majority of the Overcoming their initial shock over the the actions of individual unions and the Rick Reinhard/ Impact VWuala Collor plan, many workers took voice of organized labor, however, to the streets in order to recover Collor's economic plan has begun to from the overwhelming losses in unrawl and his popularity has fallen. real wages (215 percent since Janu­ Shortly after his March, 1990 ary, in many cases) and to oppose inauguration, Collor el\ioyed a public the government's threats of dis­ approval rating of well over 70 per­ charge resulting from reorgani­ cent. This figure partially reflected zation the right. Ironically, he I that they would take "under ad vise ment" a ers, faced with massive layoffs following the had stolen certain planks from the PT's petition to enjoin Collor's measures. The elimination of the state port authority, went (Worker's Party) platform. For example, Congress, preoccupied with Collor's stellar continued on. page 2.1 his promises to tax the rich were points that popularity ratings and the recent Octo- PT candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had ber elections, authorized the personal emphasized during the 1989 presidential and corporate savings freeze on April campaign. A few on the conservative side, DEMOCRATIC LEFT 11. such as rightwing guru Roberto Campos, Founding Editor excoriated the Collor administration for Michael Harrington (1928-1989) seizing private property by means of the Strikes on the Rise Managing Editor savings freeze. (Brazilian magazine mag­ The Brazilian labor movement, in­ Michael Lighty nate Roberto Civita quipped that if Lula cluding the militant, leftwing CUT (Singie Production had tried the same thing, he would have Central of Workers), was justifiably in­ JaneWelna been put on the first plane to Cuba.) But it timidated only six months ago. Both the Editorial Committee also came as no surprise that many of Bra­ CUT and the more conservative, pro­ Joanne Barkan, Sherri Levine, Neil zil's wealthiest citizens were tipped ci1 ahead corporatist CGU (General Confedera­ McLaughlin, Maxine Phillipe, Jan of time and managed to protect their assets. tion of Workers) openly criticized the Rosenberg, Mitch Horowitz Collor's new wage and prioe policy pushed Collor plan, but they did not call for a Democratic Left (ISSN 016403207) Brazilian workers to the wall. According to nationwide, general strike. In March, is published six timea a year at 15 Dutch Street, the 1989wagelaw, thereweretobemonthly such an action appeared politically un­ Suite 500, New York, NY. Subscription $8 salary increases based on hikes in the con­ tenable and economically suicidal given regular; $15 i.nBtitutional. Po.tmaater: Send the impending recession. The Mannes­ addre88 changes to 15 Dutch Street, Suite 500, sumer price index. The Collor plan, how­ New York, NY 10038. • ever, initially "prefixed" wages and prices, mann Steel Company of Minas Gerais DEMOCRATIC LEFT ii published by the giving workers a 5 percent wage once every had already "persuaded" its workers Democratic Soci.ali.sU o( America, 15 Dutch three months. In spite of Collor's claims (with the threat of permanent layom to street, Suite 500, NY, NY 10038 (212)962-0390. that inflation had fallen to zero percent for accept a 30 percent reduction in both April, 1990, the Interunion Department of hours and pay, over the protests of the Signed articles eipress the opinions of the Statistics and Socio-Economic Studies union's leadership. In addition to threats authors and not necessarily those of the (DIEESE) argued that real inflation that of retrenchment in the private sector, organ.uat1on..

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 2 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 Janie Higgins DEMOCRATIC LEFT not even lived up to their pledge to provide an amount equal to 15 one hundredths of 1 percent of their economic output as aid i to the poorest nations. Natu­ rally Sweden and other Scanda­ Brazil's Labor Movement vian countries along with the by Stanley Gacek . . . Page 2 Netherlands already provide more than that amount. In 1989, DSAction & On the Left the U.S., Canada, Japan, New ... Page4 Zealand, Australia and West­ ----- ern Europe gave the poorest ( Special Report: nations $12 billion, which un­ Allende Mourned. This less it increases to $36 billion in Socialist International 1990 time Chileans honored former current dollars by the year 21>00, . . . begins Page 7 Socialist President Salvador will not make a tangible differ­ Allende in a huge public funeral, ence in Jiving standards. Ac­ The One Left Standing e despite the wishes of former cording to French Foreign Min­ feature article by Harold Meyerson y dictator (and still army com­ ister Roland Dumas, these coun­ mander) Augusto Pinochet. The tries " will never escape from Socialist International Women Alameda Bernardo O'Higgins, their v1c1ous circle of Emergency Resolution on Third World Debt Santiago's largest boulevard, was misery.. .without outside sup­ lined full with people waving port." In typical Bushian fash­ Interviews & Excerpts Socialist and Chilean flags as ion, vagueness characterized the e the funeral procession moved U.S. response: promise an in­ by. Despitehavingbeenapoliti­ crease without settinga specific 2 cal adversary of Allende's, target. Maybe its time to forgo Review: Christian Democratic President a nuclear sub or bomber... but Continental Divide: The Values & Institutions Patracio Aylwin's government then again, that might be too helped the Allende family or­ specific or the Pentagon too of the United States & Canada ganize the funeral. In another deserving. by Seymour Martin Lipset swipe at Pincochet's regime, Reuiew by Neil Mc!Aughlin .. .Page 21 Aylwin honored the estimated 2 Inequality Increases at thousand people killed in the af­ termath of the 1973 coup whose Home, Too. Not only are remains have not been returned poor countries poorer and the On the Cover: Prague, Czechoelovalcia. to their families, and thus urged U.S. less competitive interna­ Photo by Henrik Sa.xgren / 2 Maj / Impact Visuals. All photos inside are by Donna Binder /Impact Visuals Chileans to "bury violence and tionally as a result of Reagan­ unless otherwise indicated. intolerance forever." Bush economic policies, a jump in unequal pay for the same work in the U.S. has created Nort~ Sout~ Still Still enormous new disparities. Most job, same seniority earns $21/ ard Freeman, "the wage spread Still Waiting. Events in striking, the lowest paid work­ hour). According to these econo­ means [many workers] no longer Eastern Europe and now the ers got 29.2 percent less in 1987 mists, this new 80s-style ine­ make it into the middle class. Middle East may have further than they got in 1970. We all quality comes from the prolif­ And they are working just as obscured the worsening socio­ know about the gender gap in eration ofsmall companies and hard as people did 30yearsago." economic plight of Third World wages, the disparity in average a weakening of workplace mores The bottom line is more people countries. Even with the cold earnings between whites and which would have in the past who earn Jess. Sounds like its war over, the Bush-league U.S. blacks and hispanics, but now, inhibited a Michael Milken from time for increased unionization, government is afraid of increas­ acarding to the New York Times, getting (let alone keeping) $550 truly progressive taxation, P.x­ ing its paltry aid to the poorest economists are really worried: million. Other analysts empha­ panded civil rights protections, countries, mostly African, for men of the same age and educa­ size the impact of capital's at­ and job training; in other words, fear of being forced to reduce tion are earning vastly different tack on unions, especially the Jess Republicanism and more aid to other "deserving" recipi­ salaries (such as a mechanic at effects ofderegulation and two­ Democrats committed to demo­ ents. Since 1981, the U.S. and Pan Am earning $16/hour, while tier wage agreements. Accord­ cratic left politics. Maybe voters other industrialized nations have at American Airlines, the same ing to Harvard economist Rich- will pleasantly surprise us .

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 3 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 DSAction

Resources DSA has published a new giveaway bro­ environmental activists. This socialist per­ ($20 plus $3.00 for shipping). Published by chure, "Health Care for People Not for spective combines red/green politics and is Oxford University Press, this insightful Profit: The Need for a National Health available for$8/yr. ContactJ. Hughes, Ed., account "provides a rare look into the Care System." Over 1000 copies were dis­ c/oChicago DSA. inner workings of the Communist Party tributed during the American Public Health that- despite Healey's best efforts-refused .Association annual meeting in New York to reform," says Barbara Ehrenreich, who City, September 30 - October 3, and hun­ also notes, that "mostly this is the engaging dreds more were given out at the public Collector's Item and personal story of one of the American event held during the Socialist Interna­ Willy Brandt, President oft.he Socialist Inter­ Jeft's most brilliant and fearless women - a tional Council Meeting on October 9th. The national, got his and you too can get a com­ pioneer in the '30e and role model for activ­ brochure makes DSA's argument for fun­ memorative sweatshirt from the recent So­ ists in the '90s." damental reform of the U.S. health care cialist International Council meeting. Only system and includes quotations from DSA 144 of these white sweatshirts were printed Honorary Chair and long-time health care with the distinctive fist and rose over the analyst/activist Barbara Ehrenreich, DSA American flag on the front with " Demo­ Election Endorsements Vice-Chair Congressman Ronald Dellums, cratic Socialists of America" underneath The DSANPAC has endorsed two congres­ Gerry Hudson, Vice-President of Drug, and with the message on the back, "The So- sional candidates: DSA'er Democrat Neal Hospital, and Health Care Employeess Un­ Abercrombie seeking to regain the House ion Local 1199, Linnea Capps, M.D., Chair seat representing Honolulu, Hawaii, and of APHA Socialist Caucus, and political ac­ independent socialist Bernie Sanders mak­ tivist Ron Sable, M.D. Copies of the bro­ , inghissecondbid forVermont'sloneHouse chure can be obtained from the DSA Na­ seat against frosh congressman Republican tional Office, 15 Dutch Street, Suite 500, Peter Smith, who beat Sanders in a close New York, NY 10038, (212) 962-0390. three-way race in 1988. Both candidates could use financial support to pay off debts Also as part of DSA's campaign for a na­ as they have encountered typically well-fi­ tional health care system, new buttons are nanced Republican opposition in very close available with the message, "Health Care contests. Checks can be made out and sent for People, Not for Profit. Democratic to DSANPAC and will be forwarded to the Socialists of America." These attractive respective campaigns - be sure to indicate black on purple square buttons not only which candidate or if both in an accompa­ deliver a socialist message, they enhance nying note. any wardrobe! For bulk orders, contact the DSA National Office. Events "Socialism and Sexuality" is the quarterly On October 13th, sixty students and trade newsletter and discussion bulletin of the union activists gathered at Harvard Uni­ DSA Youth Section's Lesbian/Gay/Bisex­ versity for DSA's second annual Campus­ ual Caucus focussing on issues ofconcern to Ehrenreich presents eociaJist souvenir. Labor Institute. Joe Faherty, the next those communities. Arecentissue included President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO articles on international lesbian and gay cialist International Discovers America, Co­ welcomed the participants who proceeded and bisexual activism organized through lumbus Day '90, New York City." You can to enjoy a full day of discussion on " talking IUSY, the International Union of Socialist purchase this limited edition sweatshirt by union," international labor solidarity, build­ Youth. F

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 4 NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 1990 Central Kentud;y DSA sponsored a been working together in his last few suoceesful forum on October 8th featur­ tours to promote democratic socialist poli­ ing Bill Bishop, columnist for the Herald­ tics. Emphasizing songs with biting so­ Leader, who spoke on the topic "State cio-political commentary from his recent Politics and the Progreeaive Community." EP, " Internationale," Bragg gave open­ The Local's current activist projects in­ ing rape about current events, talking clude a letter-writing campaign urging about the collapse of Stalinism, home­ the House Intelligence Committee to take lessness, and the crisis in the Middle Best.on DSA is. very active in the cam­ up the allegations raised in the Houston East, and urging the young crowds to paign opposing Question 3, a measure Poet that some of the bankrupt savings checkouttheDSAtable. Inaninterview that would slash Ma&larhusetts state taxes and loans provided funding to covert CIA with Scott Frizlen and Fred Gustafson to'88 levels and throw the state economy actions. in TN! Allegheny Socialist, Bragg said and budget into chaos. DSA'ers are doing that he appeals to his American listener's weekly phonebanking and canvassing in Chicago DSA sponsored a conference sentiments ofjustice and compassion in coajunction with efforts by unions and on the need for a national health plan at­ advocating socialism because they seemed other progressive groups. DSA'er Jim tended by 110 people on September 15th. to respond better to this than to the con­ Marzilli, former chair of Boston DSA, Summaries of the conference have been ventional arguments they've been con­ won the Democratic primary for a State prepared by the Local. This conference is ditioned to ignore. House of Representatives seat in Arling­ part of the Local's on-going organizing ton, M.A , aided by a fundraiser organ­ efforts in support of a national health New York. City DSA not only provided ized by DSA, and is now the frontrunner care plan. The Local is fundraising, leaf­ 50 volunteers to the SI and SIW meetings, in the general election. letting and canvassing for DSA'er Ron they also kicked off that week's activities Sable's campaign for Alderman of the with a book party for Dorothy Healey's l.democratic socialism and DSA mem­ year slot. Both have received the en­ throughout the country, including Pitts­ bership. On Labor Day, NYC local activ­ dorsement of Santa Monica for Renters burgh, Washington, D.C., Rochester, New ists gathered over 500 signatures for the Rights, the progressive politi­ ------.. American Solidarity petition cal organization in Santa campaign to win anti-scab leg­ Monica. islation, and as we go to press, Peace Now they are walking the picket line Twin Cities DSA in Minne- with strikers "permanently re­ sota continues its resurgence In the midat of the crilia in the Gulf and the unfolding disaster in placed" at the Daily News. with on-going support of Paul Jenisalem, the Peace Now movement baa tried to keep alive the Wellstone's campaign for the dialogue between the left in Iarael and the PLO. In the MCOnd DSA Locals throughout the week of the Gulf crilia, Peace Now re-eatabliahed private dialogues U.S. Senate seat currently held country have been sponsor­ by Republican Rudy Boechwitz. with central Palestinian leaden in the occupied territories. The.e meetings have been brutally frank. In answer to the Palestinian.a, ing forums, participating in Local activists are doing lit­ a Peace Now representative calculated that about two yeara had demonstrations, and organ­ erature drops and helping to been loat by the -ming alliance between Yaair Arafat and Saddam izing letter-writing in oppo­ raise money for this water­ Huaaein. sition to the U.S. military shed campaign. Wellstone is buildup following Iraq's in­ the Democratic Party and At presa time, Peace Now wu calling for an inquiey into the ahootinga on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Peace Now plan.e to vasion of Kuwait on August Democratic Fanner-Labor can­ 2nd. Almost all DSA locals didate and has been endorsed pre.uure the Israeli government to strengthen the inquiey conunia­ aion to en.sure full invetigative powen and to ensure that ita recom­ meeting in the last two months by every major union in Min­ mendationa will be heeded. Al-Hamiahmar, the newapaper of devoted some time to a dis­ nesota (except the Teamsters). Mapam, Iarael'a aociali8t party, questioned the official Likud gov­ cussion of the crisis. Some As a professor at Carlton Col­ ernment story regarding eventa leading up to the Jenisalem locals, such as San Diego, •hooting. lege, Wellstone has mentored are active in coalitions which many DSA Youth Section ac­ condemn the Iraqi invasion tivists. As we go to press, he Peace Now contends that their me.uage of "real aecurity and peace," brought about through a two-state aolution, is more and protest the U.S.'s unilat­ and Boschwitz are even in the important than ever. eral military actions. Pen- pol.ls, with Republican fortunes insula/Stanford DSAorgan- fading. Contributions, made out to Well­ York City, and Loe Angeles set-up tables ized a day-long teach-in about the his­ stone for U.S. Senate, can be sent to the and met with Marxist folk-rocker Billy torical, cultural as well as political di­ DSA National Office and will be fcrwarded Bragg during his recent U.S. concert to the campaign. tour. Bragg and the Youth Section have 1 mensions of the confilct.

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 5 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 Welcome!

Opening Remarks by Willy Brandt Mayor David Dinkins Remarks

As this is our first Council in the United States, we should - as A fter decades of struggle, the dream of a world liberated from a matter of courtesy and respect -- introduce ourselves to the the crushing weight of fascism and totalitarianism is quickly American people, with whom we have much in common: We share becoming a reality-- from the shanties ofSoweto to the crumbling the same historic political values of personal freedom, justice and bricks of the Berlin wall. democracy; likewise we detest dictatorship and any discrimination I am pleased to welcome so many distinguished political lead­ against individuals, whether because of their creed, race or sex. ers to the City ofNew York as the Socialist International Council Since the early 1950s, when this International of independent begins its first meeting on American soil. I am delighted to bejoined political parties was re-established in Western Europe, we have by my friends from the Democratic Socialists of America, who have challenged communism. The Leninist hubris of a party laying sole been strong supporters of mine all along. claim to unmistakable truths was totally alien to social democrats. America does not have a mass democratic socialist movement. But we have also always challenged the totalitarianism of the other But, in the past, this country was a leader in the democratic extreme: the fascist and reactionary regimes in Europe, in Latin socialist cause -- contributing such legendary figures as Eugene V. America, and elsewhere. Debs, Norman Thomas, A. Philip Randolph, and my friend Michael By demonstrating our solidarity with the oppressed world­ Harrington, whose recent death we mourn and whose presence we wide, we have been able to established close bonds beyond Europe. miss so terribly. I think we can justly claim that since the mid-'70s our family of Michael Harrington taught our entire country of the wide­ political parties has become an International in the true sense of spread existence of poverty, of the "other America." He devoted the word. By now, we have as many member parties from Latin his life to fighting injustice and oppression, and his words in­ America as from Europe, and we are happy to have with us parties structed and inspired all of us who knew him and heard him. I from Asia and Africa and also from North America. know that it was significant to Michael that he was the first The names of our member parties differ due to different American Honorary President of the Socialist International; and I national traditions. Being conscious of the more than a century­ wish he were here today, to join me in welcoming you to his home long struggle for workers' participation and international solidar­ town. ity, this democratic family of parties calls itself the Socialist Inter­ Today, we must rededicate ourselves to Michael's mission-- to national --still like the association founded in Paris 1889 a hundred close the yawning gap that exists between the rich and the poor in years after the French revolution. so many nations of the world.I first met Michael during the civil I know that the word rights movement, when the American "socialist" does not have Socialist Party garnered its forces in a very favorable connota­ the struggle for equality and justice tion for many Americans led by the Reverend Doctor Martin and, nowadt\)'S I am afraid, Luther King, Jr. for people in other places, Of course, poverty knows no race too. Let's face it, social­ or national origin, but it is a stinging ism has been descredited fact that, in this country, economic by the mess created in the deprivation and race too often go hand­ so-called "socialist coun­ in-hand. The demoaatic oocialist move­ tries." But there should ment has helped us to recognize this be no doubt that what ex­ link; and, in the words of A. Philip isted in Central and East­ Randolph, it has provided us with "a ern Europe was anything world perspective, and the basis of the but democratic socialism concept of the indivisibility of democ- (or social democracy, as I racy, freedom, and peace." prefer to call it). , Socialist ideals have played a pow- Therefore, we have •1111111-llilll• erful role in this ci~y and in this coun- wholeheartedly welcomed try·· which have served as gateways the peaceful revolutions of 1989 which dismantled the Iron Cur­ for millions of immigrants, many of whom were socialist activists. tain and the Berlin Wall. We are delighted that the various parts Public education, a strong and vibrant trade union movement, and of Europe are growing together, and that we can welcome here many great cultural institutions are products of the socialist friends who for many years had been prevented from joining us. movement. As Eugene Debs said, socialists believed in an America When we talk about substance instead oflabels, as we should, there I of "great possibilities, of great opportunities, and of no less great is no reason to hide our record on peace, human rights, and justice. probabilities."

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 6 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 n y g l- ii d l e tl !. !-.. "c .. ~ .!3 i::Q 11 e 0~ Q ~ j ll. DSAHosts Socialist International SOCIALIST by Jim Cliapin Led by Bogdan Denitch, DSA's Perma­ INTERNATIONAL 1990 nent Representative to the Socialist In­ ternational, the DSA delegation to the So­ cialist International (S.I.) included Hon­ orary Chair Cornel West, Pat Belcon, DSA NYC NPC member, Motl Zelmanowicz, a DS.Aer active in the Jewish Labor Bund, Jo-Ann Mort, DSA NPC member, Jack Sheink­ US A man, President of ACTWU, NYC Com­ missioner ofFinance Carol 0'Cleireacain, Terri Burgess, Chair of DSA Youth Sec­ tion. Skip Roberts, Chair of DSA's SJ. Committee, welcomed the Council to the United States on behalf of DSA. As part of its role as a "host party," DSA organized a reception for SI dele­ gateson October 8th. The Drug, Hospital, and Health Care Employees Union Local a special 1199 and AFSCME District Council 37 sponsored the reception held at Local 1199's continued next page report e Willy Brandt e Audrey McLaughlin • David Dinkins e • Jack Sheinkman e Jose Francisco Pena-Gomez • Anita Gradin •

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 7 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 Chapin FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEA Continued from preuw1111 page

headquarters, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor Center. S.I. General Secretary Luis Ayala introduced Local 1199 President and The One New York State Democratic Party Vice­ Chairman Dennis Rivera, who graciously welcomed the delegates on behalf of his 75,000 member union. SJ. Preeident Brandt responded by thanking the unions for ''bring­ by Harold Meyerson Europe was anything but democratic so­ ing the delegates back to the movement," cialism." provoking cheers from the 300 attendees. With communism's collapse, the so­ While the socialist leaders meeting in On the following evening, a multi-ra­ cialist project -- modestly formulated, to New York acknowledged that the effects of cial audience of 500 heard Brandt speak create a world that is not entirely a corpo­ communism's collapse have lapped over to t warmly of the late Michael Harrington at a rate subsidiary - is once more the exclusive discredit even some social-democratic par­ B DSAsponsored public event, which also fea­ province ofsocial-democratic parties. (Given ties that have been staunchly anti-commu­ u tured Jose Francisco Pena-Gomez, leader their limited electoral base, the Greens are nist from the outset, most viewed the threat p of the Dominican Republic PRD, Jack Sheink­ more an on-again, off-again ally of the so- as short-lived outside Eastern Europe. The man, President of deeper problem AC'IWU, Clare Short, is that, on a British Labour Party na tion-by-na­ MP, DSA Vice-Chair tion basis, ad­ Bogdan Denitch, and vances in social Mexican opposition democracy have Senator Porfriro Mu­ slowed to a crawl noz-Ledo. DSA Hon­ since banks and orary Chair Barbara corporations Ehrenreich was the went global dur­ moderator. ing the '70s. During the S.I.W. meeting, DSAco-spon­ Blocked from any sored a reception for major advance at the S.I.W. delegates the national attended by 150 women level, the move­ at the Workmen's ment is turning Circle. Jo-Ann Mort to international welcomed the interna­ political bodies tional guests on behalf such as the Eu­ ofDSA giving a special ropean Commu­ recognition to the DSA nity or the UN Youth Section. On to offset interna­ Sunday, October 7th, tional markets, the NYC DSA Feminist Cot: International solidarity that has eluded Europe may be realizable at last. as once they de­ Branch hosted an in- veloped national spiring gathering (attracting over seventy­ cialists than they are a rival.) As they met agencies t.o regu­ five people) at Deborah Meier's home. Tes:;a last month in New York, the Socialist Inter­ late national economies. Which is precisely Hebb of the Canadian NDP spoke eloquently national had again beoome IM international. why the Socialist Interns tional matters more of their recent victory in Ontario, and its But how much is the exclusive fran­ now than it used to. importance for social democracy in North chise on socialism worth in so capitalist a Under Brandt's leadership, the S.I. has America. DSA's S.I. W. delegation included moment as 1990? "I know the word 'social­ been converted from a rather tired and pur­ Chris Riddiough, a DSA Vice-Chair, Ruth ist' does not have a very favorable connota­ poseless European council into a genuinely Spitz, DSA NIC member, Amy Bachrach, tion for many Americana, and nowadays I global body that charts the agenda for much DSA NPC member, and DSA delegates Jo­ am afraid for people in other places, too," of the world left. The doctrine of Common Ann Mort, Terri Bergess, and Pat Belcon. Willy Brandt, the former West German Security, which the USA and the Soviets More than seventy DSA members from chancellor who has headed the S.I. since embraced at the Reyltjavik summit in place New York and New Jersey locals acted as 1976, stated in his opening address. "Let's of the unlamented strategy of mutual as­ volunteers and over fifty people contrib­ face it -- socialism has been discredited by sured destruction, was formulated by an uted financially to support the events. We the mess created in the so-called 'socialist S.1.-originated committee chaired by the hope that it will be less that eighty years be­ countries.' But there should be no doubt late Swedish Premier Olof Palme. Any seri­ fore the S.I. meets here again! that what existed in Central and Eastern ous discussion of re-allocating the world's

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 8 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 • FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE

A genuinely global body Left Standing charts the agenda for much of the world left.

resources to include the South -- the impov­ longtime non-Leninists who have just gender equality in wages, parental-leave policy, aid to the Third World -- the most ll erished nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin changed their name to the Unified Party of 1f America -- begins with the market alterna­ the Left - would love to get in.) It heard prosperous, healthy and egalitarian nations on the planet are those that have had long 0 tives proposed by a similar group chaired by from both Egyptian and Israeli member Brandt himself. Over the last decade, it was parties on the conflict in the Gulf. (Israeli periods of social-democratic rule. ·- And yet, the social democrats are play­ I­ to the S.I. that the Sandini9tas (not a member Labor Party members have used earlier S.I. ing on capitalist terrain, and they know it. t party) came to secure Western opposition meetings to meet with their Palestinian e to the contra war, and it was at the S.I. counterparts, however.) "No one has to convince us that market forces are indispensable for economic n where the African National Congress won Moreover, twenty-eight of the S.I. 's growth," Brandt said, "but we also believe e. significant support for its battle against ninety-one member parties are in govern­ apartheid. And in New York last week, the ment, even in this Year of the Market. that private interest must be attuned to the public interest in social justice and ecologi­ l­ SJ. strongly opposed any use of force in the Socialists are governing in France and Spain, cal survival." Since the '70s, socialism (and tl current Gulfcrisis not conducted under the in Austria, Sweden, and Australia. Last e auspices of the U.N. month, surprising even themselves, Can­ in America, liberalism) has been struggling rl (Which is not to say the S.1.'s formal de­ ada's New Democratic Party (NDP), an S.I. to catch up with the newly global economy. d liberations are wildly exciting. Invariably, member, came to power in the provincial Electronic banking and transnational cor­ s resolutions have been agreed upon before elections in Ontario, the state that com­ porations have smashed the state well be­ ·- they reach the floor. Stylistically, the meet­ prises about one-third of Canada's popula­ yond the capacities, if not the fantasies, of ings reveal less class solidarity than the tion. The NDP campaigned with consider­ the most fervent new leftist. As the social- dissimilarity ofnational styles. Proceedings able assistance from the feminist and envi- . ists discovered in France when they came to 't veer from a stultifying parliamentary pro­ Miller Photography It priety, to brilliant presentations, to florid 11 displays of rhetoric. During one of these l­ displays, a friend who has attended S.I. g meetings for some years leaned over to note 11 that the speaker was "one of the great IS blitherers of all time." Still, the blitherers I­ can be party leaders, foreign ministers, heads I­ of government -- they're never ruled out of r. order.) l- Much of the credit for remaking the s, International goes to Brandt, who assumed 1- its presidency determined to break social 11 democracy out of its European ghetto. In I- the past fourteen years, the SJ. has grown y to include ninety--0ne member parties from 'e acrce! the world. The S.1' s Secretary General, Luis Ayala, is a Chilean who fled his home­ land in the aftermath of the 1973 military coup. The New York Council meeting was ·-y addressed by Salvadoran social-democratic h leader Guillermo Ungo (an S.I. Vice-Presi­ dent) and attended by former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D'Escoto. It ad­ niltted as new members the social-demo­ Dennis Rivera, center, President of Local 1199, with Luis Ayala, SJ. s- cratic parties of Estonia and Lithuania -­ Secretary General, and Willy Brandt, President of Socialist International. n over the mumbled doubts amongsome dele­ power in 1981 after twenty-seven years of e gates over the dubious politics of many of ronmentalist movements, forces with which conservative rule, a social-democratic trans­ i- the Eastern European social democrats - many of the S.I. member parties are now formation in one country was all but impos­ 's and considered the applications of numer­ closely aligned. Finally, by every available ous others. (The Italian Communists -- index -- average income, infant mortality, sible. Faced with higher wages and more

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 9 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATU

humane working conditions in fields as environ­ Unraveling of the East France, capital mental policy, social While many Euroeocialists are eager to simply packed up policy, industrial replace the NA'fO/Warsa w Pact security struc­ and moved else­ norms, and monetary ture with a more pan-European model (a where. If policy. Environ­ vision the Bush administration fiercely socialism is more mental policy is es­ opposes), most believe that the political and int.ernational and sential. We have a very economic unification of Europe will not in­ the S.I. playing a small continent with clude the East for at least a generation. The somewhat Jots of people and a European Community will likely take on as weigh tier role hell of a lot of pollu­ new members Austria, Finland, Iceland, Nor­ than before, the tion. We can't man­ way, Sweden, and Switzerland·· Western, if credit is consid­ age these problems at historically more neutral (and more social­ erably Brandt's, our micro-national democratic) nations - and draw the line but the funda­ levels, so we need to there. The gaps between Northern and mental reason is create a wider politi­ Southern Europe, even between Sweden and that capital cal space in which to Greece, pale beside that between Western ism got there first. Dinah Leventhal Interna­ tional Level­ ing Upward Some social- ists don't even NBW YORK, T HURSDAY, OCTOBBR II, 1990 discuss socialism in national terms Clare Short of Great Socialists Ponder a Changed World anymore. I asked Britain's Labour Jean-Pierre Cot, Party. the ebullient, Oxford-accented Frenchman who heads the Socialist Group in the European Parlia­ ment (they have 180 of the 518 seats ·· the largest party there), what the socialist project will consist of over the next ten or twenty years, on both a national and an interna­ tional scale. "Nationally, it's not very interesting," n striking contrast he told me. "What is interesting is that we I to the news blackout engineered against have to have a European policy. We have to the "Euroeocialism and America" Conference in give a socialist content to Europe." What December, 1980, the recent Socialist International Council meetingreoeived con­ socialism is about over the next generation, siderable press attention. Well-placed articles appeared in The New York Times he said, is an international leveling upward and The Washington Poet, along with a series of articles in New York Newsday, - increasing the power ofsuch bodies as the including a column, "Socialists Zap Lenin," by Pulitzer prize-winning columnist European Community to ensure that wages Murray Kempton. The LA Weekly did a cover story on the meeting and National and working conditions in Spain, say, do Public Radio's Morning Edition aired a four minute report. Of course, the Wall not undercut those in Germany. For West­ Street Journal could not resist taking a shot at socialists meeting at the Waldorf­ ern Europe, if nowhere else, this is a plau­ Astoria (I guess they decided to skip the delegates reception at the headquarters sible agenda for the next few decades: the of Drug, Hospital and Health Care Employees Union Local 1199). El Diario, a international solidarity that has eluded Spanish language newspaper and The Forward, a Yiddish language weekly, also Europe may be realizable at last. covered the meeting. --ML "It won't be easy," Cot continued. "The European construction has been basically market.oriented. After all, we created the Common Market in 1957. The name in itself is a program, and not a very socialist implement our policies. That's our task for and Eastern Europe. The apprehension that one at that. Our task is to get the European the next thirty years •• creating a full­ hungover the S.I. Council wasn't simply the Community to have more power in such fledged European welfare state." result of the Gulf crisis: the social democrats

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 10 NoVEM8ER-0ECEM8ER 1990 .... FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATU tJ

are fearful of the unraveling of the East. in Poland by one-third." American socialist cial). The problem is, the political space "I visited East Germany just three days Bogdan Denitch foresees that women in opened by communism's collapse is being to before it merged into the new Germany," particular will be considered expendable in filled chiefly by a range of right-wing and the new, shrunken work force of the East. nationalist parties. Objectively, as Lenin­ 'UC- Sten Andersson, the Swedish foreign minis­ (a ter, told me. "Unemployment is now about Eastern Europe merely inspires fear; ists used to say, communism turns out to iely 15 percent, and they expect it to increase to the disintegrating Soviet Union inspires have been the transition to tribalism and lnd 20 or 25 percent.-not counting the people terror. Members of European parliaments neo-fascism. m­ who have dropped down to half-time work. with particular responsibility for the East "Socialists emerge from the inequities he And the eastern part of the new Germany, turned again and again to such questions as of capitalism," said one governmental offi­ as remember, is in far better shape than Po­ who will control the Soviet missiles when cial. "It will be awhile before there are large or­ land, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bul­ the USSR disintegrates (likely the KGB -­ numbers of Eastern European socialists." garia -- the East Germans have help from but who will control the KGB?), and the rise Such socialists as already exist, moreover, ' if al­ their bigger brother. Still, their standard of in street crime in Moscow ("far worse than aren't clustered in socialist parties, but tend me living will decrease. It has already decreased New York," said one foreign-ministry offi- to be spread acroee the hodgepodge of par­ d ties that partook in communism's fall "In md Hungary," said one member of a Western parliament, "there are social democrats in ~rn the Free Democrats, in Fidesz [the youth "A Pressing Matter • • • group party], in the Socialists [the new name for the reformed communists] and We Must Not Confuse Capitalism with Democracy." the Social Democrats. But there are Fried- Communism has collapsed and the dignity; and dignity can't be bought and manite conservatives and nationalists in whole world looks toward America as a sold on the open market. l each of those parties, too. The multiparty model for future societies. But, what will Everyday in this land, workers rise our friends from abroad see if they truly up and demand dignity on the job. They look at our nation? demand fairness, even though they must Resolutions Growing inequality, over five mil­ struggle against the most oppressive lionchildren livinginpoverty, increasing corporate and governmental onslaught homelessness, the collapse of our public known to any workers in the industrial­ The form.al business of Socialist education system. Fan1ilies - working ized world. International Women Bureau and families -- who can't bring themselves I have stood beside textile workers Socialist International Council meet­ out of the cycle of poverty, the growing in the South who work in near-sweat­ ings is to adopt official positions on assault on the public sector, the raiding shop conditions for minimum wage sala­ the issues and themes add.reseed of workers' pension funds, tens of thou­ ries, with no health coverage. I have during the aeeeions. At the October sands of workers thrown out on the street watched them vote for union representa­ meetings in New York City, the S.l.W. because of faulty management and greedy tion and then, after they have won union and S.I. pa.seed resolutions on such leveraged buy-outs. recognition, wait more than three years issues as the plight of indigenous We must not confuse capitalism with for the company to comply with the law. pe<>ples around the world , capital democracy. Democracy is a precious inal­ I have met single mothers who, be­ punishment, a program to bridge the ienable right that ensures social and cause of their union activity, have been north-eouth divide, and a new economic equality to all, butonlyifevery­ fired from their jobs and must travel common security approach to east­ one enjoys social and economic equality. more than fifty miles each way to work west relations. The SJ. Council also Our vision of America is of a demo­ for $3.80 an hour in another town so they pa.seed resolutions on the situation in cratic nation which is, as yet, unfulfilled can feed their children. This is not hap­ countries including Haiti, Guyana in its dream. Present social and eco­ pening in predepression Anlerica; this is and South Africa. and adopted a reso­ nomic trends threaten the very demo­ happening today. lution in support of U .N. coordinated cratic values which we as a nation profess In today's world economy, finding actions in the current Gulf Crisis. ways to raise the wages of workers in the to hold dear. Space limitations prevent the publica­ Let's keep in mind -- the revolutions third world is now an imperative for tion of all these resolutions, but you workers in the first world. International we say take place in Eastern Europe were can obtain copies of resolutions t'e\'Olu tions for democracy. Workers, joined solidarity has always been a matter of adopted at the S.I. and S.I.W. meet­ human decency and social justice -- to­ by students and intellectuals, marched ings by sending $3.00 to cover photo­ through the streets shouting "freedom day, it is a pressing matter of the welfare, copying and shipping costs to DSA, 15 peace and freedom for us all. and democracy." Dutch Street, Suite 500, New York, The embrace of the market will not NY 10038. For another $2.00 you can bnng forth true democracy. Democracy Excerpted from ACT\VU President Jack also reoeive an issue of the official S.I. Shemkman 's presentarion to the public m~empowerment; democracy means journal, Socialist Affairs. forum on Ocotber 9, 1990. Its

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 11 NovEMBfR-DECEMBER 1990 systems haven't really sorted out the politi­ trial West to the nations of the South is .37 sees a challenge to social-democratic egali­ cal differences yet." percent of the Western nations' gross tarianism when Swedish society moves more IMF as Comecon domestic product, ranging from a high of completely to its post-industrial phase. The other international dimension of 1.1 percent in Norway to a low of.21 percent "What happens when technology de­ the socialist project is that cluster of issues in -- you guessed it -- the USA. By the mands more and more education, so that 15 to 20 percent of the people will be left out­ known as "North-South" -- how to create a calculations of Bettino Craxi, leader of the political counterweight to a world market Italian socialists, a 5 percent cut in military side the new work force?" Andersson won­ in which the poor nations grow poorer. expenditures rould enable the West t.o double ders. "But we must adhere to our position George Fernandes, the leader of the rail its aid to developing nations. that every human being has the chance to unions of India, noted that the bill for one Those social democrats who discussed be 'inside' the society. In the old days, we room for one night at the Waldorf (the site socialism in terms ofnational agendas came could tell the majority, 'Vote for us and of the Council meeting) exceeds the annual from two kinds of countries: those suffi­ you 'JI have a better life.' Today, we have to per capita income in his nation and through­ ciently backward in economics or politics tell them, 'Vote for us and you'll help the out South Asia. that they were playing catch-up with the others to have a better life -- and that will Bringing the claims of the South to the European community, or those where so­ also constitute a better life for you, by keep­ North has become central to the S.I. "Last cialism has become inextricably intertwined ing the gaps inside the society from widen­ year, while we were all excited about East­ with national identity -- that is, Sweden. ing.' And politically, that's a more difficult ern Europe, we completely forgot about the Sten Andersson, formerly the general sec­ task. Still, we have to take the risk. Our South," said Jean-Pierre Cot. "But the South retary of the Swedish social democrats and next election will be an ideological one, but didn't forget about us. Saddam Hussein, in currently Sweden's foreign minister, fore- that's good for us. We will have to preach a way, is an expression of the revolt of the South against the North. It's an ugly revolt, It is for that reason that Moscow Univer­ and I have no sympathy for Saddam Hussein "Democratic Socialism sity recently conferred the degree of Doctor and his aggression, but the South will con­ Honori.s Causa (Honorary Doctor) on our tinue to pop up in one way or another if we Must Prevail in the Chairman Willy Brandt, and the President of the Soviet Union paid tribute to him by saying don't do something about it." South and North" that Gorbachev was a believer in Brandt's "What we need," said Leonel Brizola, Winning and losing is a law ofdemocracy . great moral and political leader1hip. the newly elected socialist governor of the The fact that some of our brother parties who Having completed the political democra­ province of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, "is an took over the reins of government in the la.st tization of the continent, the curent task of equivalent to the peacefu~ democratic revo­ few years lost them Jc.ter does not mean a the socialists is to prevent the debt crisis from lution in Eastern Europe. The International rejection of democratic aocialism. Democracy destroying the democratic process already underway. Secondly, the Socialist Interna­ Monetary Fund is our COMECON [com­ is characterized by a balance ofpowers. When they are not in power, the socialists are the tional, in solidarity with labor, must help munistEastem Europe's common market) majority party in the opposition and in the complete the political liberation ofthose coun­ - an economic system that takes money labor and peasant movement in Latin Amer- tries still governed by lim.ited democracies, as from poor countries to help capitalize the ica. is the case with some Central American na­ rich." To understand the dimension of the So­ tions and Haiti. The S.I. fleshed out Brizola's vision cialist International's solidarity and activism The fight for the economic independence ofour countries and for the equitable interna­ with some incremental proposals. The av­ through its chairman, its general secretary, and its Latin American committee, it is enough tional cooperation which will enable us to erage level of foreign aid from the indus- simply to cite the meetings held in the la.st two overcome the grave obstacles that foreign years in major Latin American capitals and debt poses to our development must be the and the frequent missions sent to support fundamental concern of the Latin American member parties, particularly when they are social democrats. IC we cannot resolve the I nterestingly enough, Lane Kirkland, involved in electoral stuggles. economic crisis, the political democratization President of the AFL-CIO, delivered one The International offered its critical sup­ which has cost so much in effort, aacrificea, of the most militant speeches at the port to the Sandinista National Liberation and blood will be a Cru.itle&ll ta.tk. New York Council meeting. He spoke of Front and is to be congratulated on the fact The Berlin Wall has fallen ··demolished "the myth that the collapse of commu­ that, partly in respon.se to approaches from by the irresistible battering ram of democratic socialism and the people'• struggle. We have nism is the victory ofcapitalism and the high-level social democratic leaders but also as a result ofa change in its thinking, the Sandin­ now demolished the wall of privilege which final vindication ofraw market theory. ista Front held an exemplary election, permit­ prevented political democracy from complet­ ... Millions upon millions have found ted the free organization of parties, accepted ing its mission of assuring for our people the out, in the hardest way and in grueling electoral defeat, carried out an orderly transi­ blesaings of prosperity. detail, exactly what is wrong with the tion of power, and has cooperated in the de­ Democratic socialism must prevail in jungle of the unregulated marketplace." militarization of the country. both the South and the North. Nee-liberal­ The fact that we were able to count on the ism, with its unjust privatizations, will be a Kirkland continued, "Both [com­ passing storm that will not fertilize the munism and capitalism] have something presence of the new social democratic parties of Eastern Europe, as well as representatives thiraty Latin American soil with abundant elemental in common. Both can atom­ ofthe highest level of the reformed communist water and the benefits of economic and social ize society by reducing humans to the party of the Soviet Union, at the most recent justice. Only democratic socialism, working level of isolated survivors. Both can be meetings of the Socialist International is the for the welfare of the people, can finally liber­ lethal to the institutions of civil society best possible proof that Mikhail Gorbachev ate us from the exploitation of man by man. that make life t.olerable t.o ordinary people. and the people who finally destroyed the com­ Excerpted from Jose Francisco Pena- Gomez' They are not so much opposites as mir­ munist leviathan con.sider themselves identi­ speech to the Socialist International Council, fied with the principles of democratic social­ October 8, 1990. ror images." ism.

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 12 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 that without solidarity in society, there is applying for membership: from West Afri­ percent of the Mongolian work force, and ultimately no survival." can states, the Philippines, Korea, Mongo­ the form that Stalinization took in Mongo­ At the other end of the spectrum of lia ... lia, not surprisingly when you think about political development are the North Ameri­ Mongolia? I sat down beside the young it, was the forced collectivization of the can social democrats -- but even here, Can­ man seated behind the "Mongolian Social herds.) Badarchiin himself is the son of Democratic Party" placard and asked him, ~t­ ada went into fast-forward last month with herdsmen, and he went home during the in­ the victory of the NDP in the Ontario elec­ with all the tact I could muster, how a campaign to explain his party's platform. on tions. The social-democratic agenda that social-democratic party had emerged in "They understood when I told them we to party leader Audrey McLaughlin outlines Mongolia. Badarchiin Dorjgotov told me opposed force in politics," he said. "But I we for Canada is notable for how far it goes about the demonstrations in March which must tell you, all the radio and TV they've nd beyond the agenda: say, of the U.S. Demo­ had toppled the old Communist regime, ever heard has been communist ideology. It to aaticcongreesional leadership. "We'd begin about how the reform Communist govern­ has been hard to make the herdsmen un­ he with fair and progressive taxation," says ment had set multiparty elections in Au­ derstand what social democracy is." gust, about how the Mongolian Social Demo­ In an instant, I was home. "Ah," I said, ~11 McLaughlin, who represents the Yukon in tp­ the Canadian parliament, "then implement crats had formed in the spring on a plat­ "they're like Americans." e n- labor-market policies" -- a series of feder­ form of democracy, a market economy and 1lt ally funded job retraining and relocation social protections, and about how they had r programs modeled after Swedish employ­ placed third in August's parliamentary elec­ Harold Meyerson, Executive Editor of LA ut ment policies, which are currently holding tions, pulling down 10 percent of the vote. Weekly where this article first appeared, is a ch unemployment levels to roughly 1 percent. Badarchiin spoke more than passable Eng­ member ofthe DSA National Political Com­ Should the NDP enter the next federal elec­ lish, which he learned during the early Gor­ mittee. tions with a strong chance of winning, bachev years McLaughlin adds, she anticipates "consid­ at Moscow's erable unrest from the United States. I International mean, in your last election, the word 'lib­ Relations In­ eral' -- a pretty benign word in the Cana­ stitute, where dian vocabulary -- came in for great dis­ he informally avowals." studied radi­ Uniquely among the industrialized de­ cal reform. mocracies, of course, the USA has never But, I had a major socialist movement. It's an persisted, who issue of no small concern to the S.I., which in Mongolia sees the USA's adherence to market priori­ knew from so­ ties as a major stumbling block to the crea­ cial democ­ tion of a more egalitarian world. Talk to racy? The Leonel Brizola and he'll tell you that what party, he an­ the world needs is an American Gorbachev swered, was who will disenthrall the USA from its ro­ rooted in in­ mance with markets. Talk to Jean-Pierre tellectuals Cot and he'll tell you that one goal of a and workers, unified Europe will be to create a social­ with some democratic counterweight to the USA, in limited sup­ turn creating "a less-lopsided world." 1 port from the The failings of American socialism were herdsmen. much on my mind as I walked toward the (Herdsmen back of the hall, through the rows of new and farmers DSA Delegates Comel West and Pat Beloon. parties from around the world that were compose 60 ------Join Us! Members of the Democratic Socialists of America work in every day-to-day struggle for social justice. We bring a strategy for building alliances among all the movements for social change. And we bring a vision of a society that can satisfy the demands for dignity and justice -- a socialist society. Join the people working to bring together all the movements for social change ... and to bring together day-to-day battles and long-term strategies and visions. Join DSA. Send me more information about democratic socialism. =Enclosed find my dues : _ $50 sustaining;_ $35 regular;_ $15 limited income (dues include subscription to DEMOCRATIC LEFT). I want to subscribe to DEMOCRATIC LEFT: _ $8 regular _ $15 sustaining. • ·ame and Address: Phone: Union/School/Affiliation: ------

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 13 Nov™BER-DECFMBER 1990 Socialist Int.ernational Women Meet in New York City WOMEN by Chris Riddiough actions. The resolution on capital pun­ ishment demanded an end to this inhu­ mane penalty, while that on indigenous For the first time in history, So­ AND people sought to focus the 1992 Colum­ cialist International Women met in the bus anniversary celebratioos on the plight United States--on October 5th and 6th of Native Americans throughout the in New York City (just before the meet­ western hemisphere. ing of the Socialist International). In debate on each of these, adding THE Formed in 1907 by women from fifty­ some spark to the dialogue were the ex­ eight countries - including Clara 1.etkin pressed differences between the Ameri­ -- S.I. Women has emerged in the last can delegations, DSA and SOUSA In decade as a group representing the inter­ each case, SD USA sought amendments DEBT eection of socialist and feminist think­ to weaken the resolutions' criticisms of ing. The meetingin New York included US policies, while DSA, with the major­ some sixty representatives of forty so­ ity of S.I. Women, supported a strong cialist parties worldwide. Among the critique. delegates were ministers of national by Saskia Sassen For many of us, this was our first governments, party leaders, and mem­ experience with S.I. Women. It was an bers of parliaments. T here are two characteristics about the energizing experience to meet with The focus of the meeting was on debt we need to be clear about if we are women from every continent and from women and foreign debt. Opening speak­ going to address the question f women and many countries ers from Venezuela, Senegal, and the the debt with a view where socialism Dinah Leventhal United States (both DSAand the Social towards action. i; oot just a good Democrats USA had representatives) One is the that debt idea, but a real framed the debate. Saskia Sassen, a is not a natural disas­ part of the po­ DSA member in New York, addressed ter, but is made, mostly litical agenda. the impact of debt on women. She manmade. The other is Upcoming outlined the dynamics of foreign debt, that from the perspec­ meetingsofS.I. noting that it is not a natural disaster, tive of lenders what Women will but rather manmade. Lenders, she matters is net the loans focus on repro­ added, are primarily concerned with as such, but interest ductive rights interest since that's where they make payments on those and environ­ their money . [See following article.] loons. Lenders want o~ mentalism. Debate at the S.I. Women meeting erating loans, that is U.S. social­ was very different from political dis­ how profit is made. ist--feminists cussion in U.S. left activist organiza­ If debts are pro­ have an oppor­ duced then we need to tions. Delegates gave prepared remarks tunity in future focusing on debt impacts in their own identify the mecha­ meetings to par­ countries. This was in part due to the nisms through which ticipate actively multilingual nature of the meeting. this production of debt in the interna­ Simultaneous translation in English, has occurred. Further­ tional debat.e on French, and Spanish made it difficult more, in the case of the issues of con­ to have spontaneous discussions. Fur­ so-called Third World temporary im­ ther, many of the delegates represen~ debt crisis we are deal­ portance. In ruling or opposition parties and thell" ing with a mechanism doing so, we may statements were in the nature ofsemi­ that is clearly system­ be able to make official speeches. atic insofar as its found ourowncontri- "Real" debe.te took place to a greater in countries with dif­ butiona to the extent during the resolutions session ferent types of leader­ debate and we on the last day of the meeting. Three ship and economic or­ may also learn resolutions were di.so 1seed: foreign debt, Saskia Sa.seen, ganization. much to help us put our ideas into a capital punishment, and indigenous broader context. left, and Joanne people. The first of these was a call for Barkan. The available evidence reduction of debt and service payments shows strongly that a Chris Riddiough, DSA Vice-Chair, by 50 percent, cancellation of the debt certain type of development model is at the chaired the DSA delegation at the So­ for the poorest countries, and other heart of the economies of countries that cialist International Women meeting. have been plunged into debt. This model, the model dominant in the literature on

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 14 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 how countries can modernize and in IMF and World Bank circles, has several fea- tures: - an emphasis on exports and integration into world markets - state financing of the costly infra.struc- ture required for an export economy (dams and irrigation systems for agriculture, but only for large scale commercial agriculture; unport of basic goods and inputs for large scale industrialization projects, etc.); - continuing support by the state and for- eign lenders of a private sector that is to manage, own, and profit from such large scale projects.The consequences over time of the implementation of such a develop- ment model have become quite evident; debt is a built-in feature of such develop- ment models; - export orientation has carried with it, inevitably perhaps, a neglect of the internal the market and local consumption needs; are - the nature of export sectors that could and ~ get foreign financing was typical, such that riew small-holder agriculture, small factories pro- Indigenous Peoples ducing with local inputs for local markets, Jebt and indigenous practices for raising the sas- productivity of land,... were all neglected )Stly of the Americas and driven out of business; r is SI Women Emergency Resolution - the profits of the development model for private sectors associated with export were ~:~ often significant, and hence a good reason f3.11S to continue supporting the model even as No discussion of global poverty can be com­ Native American communities. rest signs of national disaster grow; plete without examining the plight of indige­ ose - the oosts of export development are largely nous peoples around the world. In country Another example worth mentioning are Latin op- carried by the state and by workers whose after country, whether in the industrialized American indigenous ethnics who suffer the t is North or the developing South, it is the indige­ worst i.aju.stices and exploitation, being con­ wages are gradually reduced to starvation nous people of those lands that suffer most. statly denied the most elementary of human levels in order to "compete" in the world On them a double burden of poverty falls. rights. ~ro- markets; the state cuts services and other ho Globally, we see a trail of unresolved land expenditures to meet debts, and eventually claims and entitlements, destruction of cul­ There are many countries with a similar history. ha- resorts to extreme measures such as sharp ture and language, displacement and abject As we approach 1992, we will be commemorating tich increases in the prices of food, the last step poverty especially for children, whether their the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to bt country is rich or poor. America. There are many different perspectives in a long series of steps geared towards 1er- on this conunemoration since some indigenous extracting the last drop of revenue out of the Canada is a case in point. Thia summer Can­ peoples are still, after 500 yeara, the victim.a of tbe population, while the wealthy export ada has faced a major crisis with their won dislocation, disease, poverty, suffering the de­ 'rid e\"er larger amounts of their profits and native peoples. The blockade at Oka, Quebec struction of their lands used as toxic waste ~al- wealth, either clandestinely or openly, to to save a piece of sared land has only focussed dumps and the destruction of rain forests. m safe foreign banks abroad. attention on the problems for indigenous peoples, it has not even begun to solve them. Socialist International Women calls on all mem­ !m- The overall effect for a growing num- md Words will not work any more -- now there can ber parties to ensure that indigenous peoples are ber of countries, especially in Africa and only be action to begin to address aboriginal able to tell their story and tragedy by providing ~if- Latin America, has been untenable levels of ter- concerns. equal funding and support to these groups dur­ national debt, rapid increases of poverty, ing the 1992 commemorations. We call on gov­ or- rap:d declines of the middle class, and rapid In the United States, the federal government ernments around the world to take action on the mcreasesin capital flight. It has becomeevi- has a long history of broken treaties with outstanding issues of land claim settlements, native American.s. Native lands, even sacred human rights, political rights and personal d.:nt cw the development model sold around lands, have been appropriated by private in­ safety of indigenous peoples. We call on our ~ce the wnr d by development specialists, the t a dustry and government for use in mining, member parties in Socialist International to be­ IMF, the World Bank, and their various manufacturing, and waste disposal. Inade­ come advocates for these issues. Socialist Inter­ ·he ~t.es has failed and led to a fatal ne- quate services have resulted in high infant national Women urges the United Nations to lat g!a=: of local initiatives. These neglected mortality rates, shortened life spans, high un­ focus attention on the plight of indigenous lel, employment and extreme impoverishment in peoples in 1992. b:al p."'og:"2IIlS are the institutional arrange- on ce.-its that involve the majority of the I

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 15 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 population. astafrm of those spheres where they had children and household generally. I don't What these countries have been left held a measure of control over resource al­ want to suggest that everything was won­ with is massive debt. The debt and the para­ location in the household and over elemen­ derful in those days, but rather that condi­ phernalia of refinancing are now the key tary means of production (food, weaving, tions of continuing empowerment existed mechanisms connecting many Third World and kindred activities). in a way they do not exist today. countries to the leading banks and interna­ From the perspective of the debt, this A second important aspect about the tional institutions, and moetly, to the so­ has meant that women have been recruited debt and women is the withdrawal of more called First World. to contribute to pay for the debt. That is to and more state support for various social The place of women in the saga of the say, from an historical perspective, when programs and subeidies. In the extreme, failure of export-oriented development women were independent producers for the this has caused massive hopelessness and models and the production of debt, bas most basic needs they could, to some ex­ starvation in several of the poorest Third many facets. Some of these are evident, tend, escape the pressure to transfer part of World countries. While poverty and starva­ others are veiled by the categories used to their earnings to the state in the form of tion have long been present in many of understand how economies work. higher prices for food or higher taxes. In these countries, the order of magnitude We need to separate, analytically, sev­ the case of urban households {increasingly they have reached today signifies a new eral aspects of the place of women in order the majority in many countries), even as phase. Large numbers of women and chil­ to gain a better understanding of women late as the early 1970s, many heads of house­ dren, and men, have been pushed out of any and the debt. hold (men and women) were employed in possibility of a reasonably productive life. - women have traditionally controlled the local sectors and generally functioned in a The extraction of money even from the means of production for food and the food context where their consumption capacity poorest through increases in the prices of itself; when cash becomes the main resource mattered to the economy and their political essentials and through taxation has finally ofhouseholds (related to the formation ofa support mattered to the government (cer­ pushed masses of the poor over the brink. rural proletariat, the necessary workforce tainly in many of the Latin American coun­ This is not a natural disaster. This is a for commercial agriculture), men tend to tries up to the wave of m iii tary takeovers of produced outcome. It may be difficult to see control the cash and hence the allocation of the early 1970s). A large segment of the the connection between the build-up ofdebt resources in the household (the evidence workforce were unionized and pressure was and the dramatic rise in absolute poverty shows that typically less goes for nutrition put on governments to provide various eoci.al evident throughout much of the 'Ihird World and basic needs); services. Thus also in the working class and today. But when we introduce the charac­ - the neglect of local markets and locally middle class women, although increasingly teristics of development and state financ­ oriented production associated with the subjected to gender distinctions, had ways ing and neglect oflocal development we can export-oriented development typical in the of participation in the national economy see that these conditions could push condi­ last two decades, brought with it great dev­ and in politics through their husbands, tions in this direction. astation in an economic-social sphere that When we consider these outcomes, we was geared principally to the local popula­ inevitably are confronted with questions tion and one in which women had key func­ about the nature of poverty and hopeless­ tions as produce.rs and distributors; ness in the United States and increasingly - the development of export zones in many in the U .K. and other highly developed Third World countries drew disproportion­ countries. In the United States we can see ately on young women who emerged as a the double effect of the state withdrawing key input in the profit-making machinery from social support and extracting more represented by off-ehore factories and of­ and more money from those who can least fices - the low wage branches oflarge U .S , afford it. This extraction of money in the European, and Japeneee multinatiooal ~ case ofa country such as the United States, - professional women saw fewer chances happens through the decline in real income for careers and jobe influencing policy (and either directly or through inflation, and the conceivably making it more sensitive to withdrawal of state support through a se­ women's needs); ries of measures curtailingexpenditures on -- women in the upper clase represent a va­ social programs, shrinking coverage, priva­ riety of outcomes: some became high-level tization of services, etc. Could it be that we government officials (moetly, it seems, are beginning to see the same set of pre­ supporting overall government strategies), cesses put in motion in a country such as many simply participated in the clas& dy­ the U.S. that we have seen in Third World namic ofprofit appropriation and the grow­ countries? ing distancing of the elites from the masses of poor people. There are instances CI, at least, know of a few casea) where women For more information on women and (and men) of the upper claseee became deeply development, please see the author's boot involved in struggles for social justice and The Mobility ofIAbor and Capital (Capital equity; but this was not a majority trend Dinah Leventhal University Press, 1988) on finance in the over the last two decades. Delegate Tessa Hebb spoke at a 1980s see her forthcoming book The Global For the vast majority of women in the NYCDSA Feminist Branch City; New York London Tokyo (Princeton Third World, the consequence was the dev- brunch about the NDP victory. University Press, 1991).

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 16 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 n't on- lndi­ ted

the p,ore Sweden in Transition >cial 'me, and ~ird ~va ­ V of Joanne Barkan: When I was in Sweden in Swedish trade union council, the LO, still iude 1988, the economy was booming. Since then, advocates centralized bargaining because new Joanne Barkan there have been serious dislocations. What's it's a solidaristic policy. With more decen­ :hil­ happening'? tralized negotiaticns over the last few years, any Interviews Anita Gradin: The economy is still booming. the wage gap between women and men in life. Anita Gradin It's doing too well. We have an unemploy­ Sweden is widening for the first time in the ment rate of 1.2 percent and labor shortages many, many years. a of in industry. We've had to close day-care ~Uy centers because we don't have enough JB: The solidaristic wage policy -- equal ink. personnel. Employers compete for pay for equal work nationwide - has been is a workers, so on the local level we've fundamental to the Swedish social demo­ [see had wage increases that are much cratic system, along with the labor market !ebt higher than what was decided on at policies. It made the distribution of in­ !rty the central level. This is inflation­ come more equal and promoted both a orld ary. high level of efficiency throughout the rac­ economy and an acceptance of restructur­ lnc­ We're trying to convince the unions ing. So if the wage policy isn't functioning, can and employers' organizations to re­ it seems thatamain pillar of the system is rdi- strict wage increases. This has been crumbling. going on for more than a year. We we haven' t been successful so far. It's AG: It's a serious threat. But there's still ons difficult to get the message across agreement that you must always r estruc­ ess- that ifyou get a wage increase of 3 ture an export economy like the Swedish 1gly percent with an inflation rate of2.5 one. The opening of markets in Eastern ped percent, then you have real money. Europe will mean restructuring in Swe­ see People think a 10 percent increase den and the involvement of government. ring is a real increase even with high in­ ore flation. JB: Will another system replace the soli­ 1ast daristic wage policy? the This is the question, and the Social tes, Democrats, being a minority gov­ AG: You can't say yet. But the symptoms 1me ernment, haven't been able to get aren't good, particularly from the point of the their proposals through Parliament. view of women. se- As a consequence, we've had higher 1on interest rates, and this effects housing prices JB: What are the prospects for Sweden's va­ Jfa ll twenty-nine vice presidents of and so on. So we're trying to work out agree­ competitive position in Europe's single we the Socialist International posed for a ments in Parliament with other parties -- for market? 1re- group photo, Anita Grodin would be example, the Liberals [a centrist party]. But as one of just two women in the picture. there will be no money for new social re­ AG: One third of our GNP depends on 1rld SJ. Veep Grad.in is also Sweden's Min­ forms. For instance, we have to postpone the exports, and Western Europe is our main ister for Foreign Trade and President of increase in parental leave because this would market. We're negotiating now with the theSocialistlnternational Women. She add fuel to inflation. Being minister for for­ other EFTAcountries [the eighteen coun­ has previously served as Sweden's Min­ eign trade, I know how it will effect our tries of the European Free Trade Associa­ md ister for Immigration and Women's competitiveness on the international mar­ tion] and the Common Market [the twelve if too If oot Eq: alzty 1982-86) and as the Swedish ket our prices are high. we're unable countries of the European Economic [tal to compete, that will lower our exports and Community or EEC]. We're negotiating def.egatetotheCouncilofEurope(l978- ~ he raise unemployment. on the freedom ofmovement ofgoods , capi­ ~al S'! She doesn't have much time to Then there's a new trend in the philosophy tal, services, and people. Prospects are ton ab.) t for her tu:o-and-a-half-year-old of the wage system. The employers will no good that Sweden and other EFTA coun­ grcr.ddaughler. longer agree to centralized bargaining. The tries will be part of the single market from

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 17 NOVEMBER-DKEMBER 1990 January 1, 1993. This will be a big help We also discussed international questions. and "your children." And what about local because Sweden is so dependent on foreign The world is getting smaller and smaller. environmental questions? How many cars trade. If there are restrictions or discri­ It's a myth that we have national sover­ should a family have? How much should mination against Sweden, our industries eignty in all areas. A lot of Swedes think you pollute a local area? How do we face will move to other European countries. we're going to have Swedish solutions to these questions? problems, but we can't. If we're going to JB: This brings up the flight of capital. I clean up the Baltic Sea, we'll have to work JB: TheSAP'sstandingin thepollsisquite understand it's become a serious problem with other governments. Informally we've low relative to what it has been. Why? in Sweden in the last few years. I heard that given up sovereignty, but are we willing to the hood of the Swedish metalworkers' union do it formally as well? Can we be in an AG: That's true. And now the biggest has said, "We need Swedish companies, but organization that operates on majority rule "opposition party" in Sweden are the people they don't need us." in order to force through difficult decisions? who don't know how they would vote. They account for 18 percent of the electorate. AG: I wouldn't say it's a flight of capital A third topic of discussion was the fact that This is unusual for us. I think people are because Swedish companies - the impor­ Swedish society has changed a lot. Many of uncertain because of all the changes I've tantexport companies-· have been interna­ us come from industrial areas and live in mentioned. They wonder, "Are the parties tional for decades. The model has been for cities. Industrial areas used to be much telling the truth about what's going on?" or them to have a base in Sweden and also smaller. Communities once had more social " How will the new tax reform affect me?" invest and compete in the world market. control, more cohesion, more popular move­ Some people feel insecure because we don't They are leadjngcompetitors in some areas. ments. Now we have a lot of alienation have enough workersinoldagecare. Young l This system creates employment abroad among people. How do we prevent social couples criticize local authorities because I and in Sweden. Many of these companies problems? This affects all our policies -­ they cloee day-eare centers, not because of l have their rESearCh centers in Sweden. Thar education, oocial welfare, family policy. Now money but because there's not enough person­ investments in Sweden are increasing all it's very common for people to have two nel. They are furious--and rightly so. One the time. And as I told you before, we have partners in life. You have " my children" solution is to increase immigration, but so a labor shortage. So I'd say that it's far there's no agreement on that. healthy for the Swedish economy to ~ have investments abroad as long as 0 JB: The Social Democrats seem to the companies bring something home ~ · be in a bind. As a minority govern· and have their research and devel­ ~ ingparty, the SAP has to compro­ opment centers in Sweden. ~ mise with parties that don't share a its perspective. The programs passed JB: Your party, the Swedish Social aren't necessarily as strong or co­ Democratic Labor party (SAP> had < herent as they might be. But if a congreee this past September. Can 5· they don't function well, it's the you describe the debate and out­ ~ SAP, as the go\'emment party, that come? pays the price.

AG: ltwasa very good congress. We AG: That's right. And it's some­ adopted a program for the 1990s thing new in S~h politics. Many and had a broad discussion about trade unionists are not happy with what human beings face ooday. First, this situation. They say, "We should researchers have pointed out that have Social Democratic policies." Swedes are moving from a more But the answer is we don't have collective perspective to a more in­ enough buttons to press in Parlia­ dividualistic view. As a consequence, ment. The Communist party USt.."'

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 18 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 I From the October S.I: Meeting: · ~ :9JOD

Bogdan Denitch, DSA's Permanent Representative to Socialist Int.ernational. CLASSIFIEDS Audrey MacLaughlin [second from right] ofCanada's NDP INTERNSHIPS available now at the DSA National Office in NYC for 1991. Con­ with other dignitaries at the opening ceremony... tact Michael Lighty (212) 962-0390.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN LEFT, 970 pp., dozens of entries on and/ or by DSAers. Get socialism into your li­ braries. $95 prepaid to Garland Publish­ ing, 136 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

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DEMOCRATIC LEFT 19 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 The NDP, Socialism, and Canada b An Interview with Audrey McLaughlin c 0

Audrey McLaughlin, head of the New AMcL: Basically three -- the economy, the AMcL: Obviously Quebec nationalism is Democratic Party of Canada, spoke with environment, and equality. Because of the important. The NDP supports a United p Barbara Fedders, corresponding secretary US-Canada Free-Trade Agreement, people Federal Canada and wants to see Quebec in th ofthe DSA Youth Section, at the Socialist in Ontario are facing the prospect of mas­ Canada. This will be a challenge, given that International council meeting in New York sive unemployment in manufacturing. 'There the Bloc Quebecois currently has much ~ City, Oct. 5-10. Special thanks are due to is an increasing disparity between rich and support. Also, a major issue for us is the at! DSAer Neil McLaughlin for his assistance. th poor. 40 percent of those using food banks abolition of the unelected Senate. We've p are children. There will be a good deal of initiated an action group to investigate Barbara Fedders: What does the Sept. 6 pressure put on the NDP to do something possibilities for parliamentary reform. ~ victory of the New Democratic Party (NDP) about the environment. Given its large in Ontario mean for the prospects of the manufacturing sector, there is a growing BF: What kind of opposition movement to party in the rest of Canada? "environmental deficit." the Canada-U S. Free-Trade Pact is there?

Audrey McLaughlin: The victory in On­ The primary issues of equality we're going AMcL: The NDP and the Canadian Labor tario will give the NDP a chance to demon­ to be dealing with are the demands for Congress are working on general plans right strate what a social democratic govern­ equal pay for work of equal value, and for a now. Our ties with organized labor are ment can do. There's an NDP government comprehensive plan for dealing with the quite strong, and I'd say that we have a in the least populous province, the Yukon, more than 530 land claims in Canada by good, reciprocal relationship. Their sup­ and now we have one in the moet populous. aboriginal peoples. The province can play a port was a large part of our success, and, People really are prepared to look at an fairly large role in developing this plan. through the "third party" federally, we alternative to the two traditional parties. I have been able to serve them well. The fact that it's happening in the richest, BF: Although the NDP is the only party most industrialized province represents a with a pro-choice platform, it hasn't tradi­ BF: We in the U.S. are suffering from the real shift in the way Canadians are think­ tionally fared all that well among women. popular perception that the collapse of ing politically. Why is that? communism means the failure ofsocialism . How have the changes in Eastern Europe BF: To what extent was the NDP victory AMcL: In Canada, one can't assume a con­ affected the NDP? the result of negative voting? Does the nection between a pro-choice stance and NDP really have a popular mandate to women's vot.es. There's always been a gender AMcL: "Liberal" is a benign label in Can­ enact social democratic reforms? gap in the NDP -- women have been power­ ada as compared to the U.S., so it should be less, so why would they vote for a party that no surprise that being called a socialist here AMcL: Well, whenever a member of a mi­ was, until recently, powerless? isn't as harmful to one's political chances in nority group - a woman, a Native Ameri­ Canada as it is in the U.S. The label cer­ can, or a black -- wins anything, it's always But people are becoming more politically tainly didn't seem to matter in Ontario. perceived as negative voting, a fluke. Actu­ sophisticated, and as they do, that gender ally, there probably was an element of pro­ gap will close even more. Television in­ BF: What is the importance of the Socialist test voting in the sense that people are forms issues more than ever. In Ontario, International? saying "no" to old-style politics and want people may have been reacting to the gap AMcL: It is very important to be part of an something new and different. But we in the they saw between how the [Liberal] party a international movement with the same goal NDP have been pointing out that the vic­ presents itself in the media and how it a and vision, to have links with other coun­ tory was a decisive one, with the NDP ending actually functions. c tries, both where we are in power and where up with 38 percent of the vote. r we are not. We in the SI are able to look for BF: What are some of the key issues in the ways to forge a common environmental and BF: What are the challenges facing the constitutional crisis, and where does the economic security. Internationalism is part NDP right now in Ontario? NDP stand on them? of a social democratic ideology.

0EMOCRA TIC LEFT 20 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 Review Still Tory, Still Whig

tionally more millionaires than is true in the United States. by Neil McLaµghlin Canada's legal tradition does not put the same stress on the separation of Church and state, and their educational system is CO~"TIN"ENTAL DIVIDE: THE VALUES AND INSTITUTIONS more elitist and culturally conservative. OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA by Seymour Martin Lipset, New York: Routledge, 1990. Divergent Histories Lipset argues that these differences are rooted in the diver­ The relative weakness of the socialist movement in the United gent historical origins of the two nations. The United States is the States has meant that the American left has alternated between a country of revolution against the British Crown, Canada the preoccupation with foreign models and a parochial isolation from nal!on of counterrevolution. While the United States was formed the rest of the world movement. Far too many U.S. leftists have from a revolt against the British monarchy, Canada was where the looked to radical experiments in third world countries as models, defeated loyalist opponents of the American Declaration of Inde­ partly as a substitute for our inability to build a viable movement pendence fled. The early history of French speaking Canada was at home. At the same time, the American left has largely ignored dominated by conservative Catholic clerics who rejected the anti­ the example of the mass based social-democratic New Democratic clerical and egalitarian ideas of the French revolution. And a Party ( ~'DP) of Canada - the country most relevant to the U.S. unified Canadian nation was formed in 1867 by conservative elites experience. who feared the democratic influence of the victorious Union after Although the recent constitutional crisis over Quebec has the American Civil War. given Canada unusual press coverage, Americans know little about This different history has shaped the divergent organizing their northern neighbor. The best source for Americans on the principles of each nation. The United States, for Lipset, celebrates Canadian experience is Seymour Martin Lipset's Continental Diui.de: " the overthrow of an oppressive state, the triumph of the people, The Values and ImhtutioTU ofthe United States and Canada. a successful effort to create a type of government never seen before.'' Government is feared in the United States because of the Similarities & Differences liberal "\\big" traditions that "emphasize distrust of the state, Canada and the United States are, according to Lipset, more egalitarianism, and populism," and "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit similar to each other than any two countries in the world. Both of Happiness," argues Lipset. "Peace, Order, and Good Govern­ nations are wealthy federal democracies that span a shared conti­ ment," Lipset claims, were the values of the founders of the Cana­ nent. Both have similar economic conditions and are "new na­ dian Dominion. Consequently, the Canadian nation was organized tions" populated by heterogenous ethnic groups with largely around European and English conservative "Tory" principles. immigrant origins. Canadians and American watch the same This has meant a fear of uninhibited popular sovereignty, greater television shows and professional sports teams. With the impor­ respect for authority, the acceptance of a strong state, hierarchi­ tant exceptions of the French in Canada and the growing spanish cally organized state religions, and less concern with individual speaking population in the United States, most Americans and liberties and rights. Canadians speak the same language and share a common history. The United States has, since the New Deal and its postwar rise As Lipset begins his book, ''Americans do not know but Canadians to global superpower status, come to value the importance ofstate cannot forget that two nations, not one, came out of the American involvement in the economy and foreign affairs. In addition, the revolution." civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s brought group Yet there are also significant differences between the two demands into the center of American politics, thereby forcing the nations. Lipset argues that Canada is both more radical and more nation to modify its individualistic creed. traditionalist than the United States. Canada's labor movement is Canada is now a modern parliamentary democracy no longer proportionately twice the size, and their welfare state is more com­ dominated by monarchists and church elites. Canada's 1982 prehensive than is the United States'. There is more government Charter of Rights and Freedoms brought the country even closer ownership of industry in Canada, and there are electorally viable to the American focus on individual rights and judicial supremacy. social democratic parties in both English and French Canada. Nonetheless, Lipset makes a compelling argument that the United Despite the continuing conflict over French Quebec and the recent States and Canada continue to differ in significant and consistent tragic fighting between government troops and Native Americans ways. They are moving in the same direction but, Lipset argues, at Oka, Quebec, Canadians have been more successful in building marching to different drummers. a multi~thnic nation than have Americans. The image ofa diverse While Lipset has written several seminal works in political so­ cultural "Mosaic" shapes at least the ideal of Canadian race ciology, Continental Diuide is his best. As a young radical, Lipset relations, while the "Melting Pot" is a profoundly American idea. wrote Agrarian Socialism in the 1940s, a classic work on the It is important, however, not to romanticize Canada. Lipset Canadian socialist movement in Saskatchewan. Lipset's politics reminds us that Canada is also a more hierarchical and elitist have changed significantly since then. While it would be a mistake society, with fewer protections for individual rights and propor- to dismiss Llpset as a neoconservative, he is no longer unambigu-

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 21 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 ously part of the socialist left. He is now a Senior Fellow at the right Continental Divide. Canadians already know quite a lot about the wing Hoover Institute at Stanford University and is a right wing United States, but Americans can learn much about their own social democrat. Yet Lipset's brilliance as a social scientist allows society by looking at Canada. American conservatives could learn him to shed light on issues even for people with whom he disagrees. that the social stability they value requires the kind ofwelfare state Canadians enjoy. A dialogue about the Canadian experience could Analytical Weaknesses help American liberals move away from the "legalistic liberalism" There are bound to be weaknes.ses in an analysis of this scope. that Dissent's Fred Siegal says resulted in the Dukakis fiasco. As Lipset's discussion of literature and myths is suggestive, especially sociologist Robert Bellah has argued, Americans must develop a when he draws upon the Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood. Yet more communitarian liberalism. The NDP bas succeeded in bring­ Lipset's use of orthodox Freudian and Jungian speculations is ing a social democratic vision into the mainstream of Canadian unconvincing. And while Lipset has written elsewhere about the politics. The recent victory of the Ontario NDP suggests that importance of slavery in shaping American culture, comparative things may be turning around for the North American democratic work on the U.S. and Canada must place Southern slavery at the left. The recently negotiated Canada-U.S. Free-Trade Pact means center of its analysis - something Lipset does not do in Continerital that the economies of the two countries will be more closely Divide. Finally, while Lipset's emphasis on cultural values as an integrated than ever before. The American left must respond to explanation for the weakness of trade unionism and socialism in this new situation by initiating more joint work and dialogue with the United States is compelling, he down plays the influence ofsuch the New Democratic Party, particularly around the issue of na­ structural barriers as the American electoral and legal systems. tional health care. While Seymour Martin Lipset's Continental Lipset himself was the pioneer ofthis analysis over thirty years ago, Divide is largely an historical work, it provides the U.S. left with a yet his present emphasis on culture underestimates the impor­ valuable resource and analytical framework for confronting con­ tance of the distinctive American political system and state repres­ temporary issues facing Canadians and Americans. sion. [For a useful look at the role ofstate repression in undermin­ ing the U.S. labormovement, see DSAer Pat Sexton's new book The Neil McLaughlin, a member of the Democratic Left editorial Com­ War on Labor.] mittee, teaches at Queens college and grew up in Canada. Anyone serious about American politics should read Lipset's

In Parting: Delegates and friends enjoy a lighter moment at the reception for the Socialist International held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor Center.

DEMOCRATIC LEFT 22 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 Collor's plummeting popularity also re­ contribucao eindical, or trade union tax. In Gacek vitalized congressional and judicial opposi­ March of each year, all workers, regardless continued f ro:n ~"Y 2 tion. Congress rejected a presidential meas­ of actual union membership, pay a tax on strikeand obtained, among other things, ure ordering the Supreme Labor Court to equivalent to one day's salary to support a rare concesslon from the government: suspend all judicially-mandated wage hikes the Labor Ministry and the official, corpo­ that the cntena fo:- all future la\-off.s be ne­ for 150 days. A second, almost identical ratist trade union system. (The employers gotiated between the unions ~d the port executive measure was declared unconsti­ automatically check off the contribution, management. Cumulatively, the series of tutional by the Supreme Federal Court. In depositing it in a state bank called Caixa individual strikes played an important role July, Congress went on the offensive by Economica Federal). The CUT has always in theundoingo!Collor's economic policies. passing a bill pegging monthly wage in­ advocated abolishing the tax, saying that it creases to the consumer pric.e index for the perpetuates state paternalism and control Sliding Popularity lowest income brackets. Although a pre­ over the labor movement. Nonetheless, In addition to worker militancy, the dictable veto by Collor was finally upheld, nearly all of the official national confedera­ Collor plan has been unravelling for other the Brazilian Congress demonstrated more tions and state federations, as well as over reason~ Most af the major business inter­ fortitude than it had in April. half of the local sindicatos, depend on it ests ha\'El suca!eded in convincing Economic Evidently sensing that organized labor since they fail to collect voluntary dues. Minister Zella. Cardoso de Mello to liberate had done much to undermine his economic Ironically, the more conservative CGT their bank acc:ounts in order to make pay­ designs, Collor recently struck back in a President Ant.onio Magri is the current Labor roll and other expenses This has meant manner which surprised the leftist trade Minister. CUT President Jair Meneguelli that almost all of the major busi- announced that his central cer­ nesses managed to convert their tainly agreed with the outcome, frozen cruzados into usable but objected to the means used -­ cruzeiros Almost 80 percent of Election Update namely, a unilateral presidential the liquidity which Collor suc- edict without consultation, debate, ceeded in removing from the eoon­ or discussion. omy returned. Moreover, frater­ October 3rd election results indicate that the PMDB (Bra­ Even though Collor has proven nal and charitable organizations zilian Democratic Mobilization Party) and the PFL (Lib­ himselfto bea master ofsurprises, were declared exempt from the eral Front Party) will constitute the new majority in the he also knows that cooperating freeze. Many businesses established Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, giving the Brazilian with business and labor may be questionable "charitable" ven­ Congress a center-right tilt. Given the continued inflation, the only chance he has to save his tures in order to free up their a vacillating economic policy, and falling approval ratings economic policy. On June 18, he account. for the President, Collor's National Reconstruction Party invited the CUT and Brazil's ma­ By June, Collor and Zella Car­ did surprisingly well, gairung nearly forty seats in the jor business leaders to Brasilia for doso realized that they did not Chamber. the purpose of negotiating a social have the political wherev.ithal to Nonetheless, the leftd1d notfareall that badly and will pact on wages, inflation, and em­ enforce their system of price and constitute a formidable opposition. Although the PSDB ployment. Although the negotia­ wage controls. Most of the major

DfMOCRA TIC LEFT 23 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990 -- { f

DSA National Political Com.mitt.ee Draft Resolution U.S. in the Gulf Ill.I rJi September 16, 1990 The GulfCrisis is the result ofthe legacy ofimperialism and co­ lonialism in the Middle East. The crisis is the consequence of the .J. be Iraqi invasion and annexation of Kuwait and the massive decades long infusion of massive quantities of armaments and the U.S. military build up in the Gulf have brought the Middle East to deliberate fostering of tensions in the region by the United States the brink of armed conflict which threatens to escalate into a war and by the Soviet Union. Both have supported and armed undemo­ waged using chemical and nuclear weapons with catastrophic con­ cratic, oppressive, and aggressive regimes at war with their neigh­ sequenses. bors and their own populations. Both alliances have readily The present conflict, while immediately precipitated by the ag­ changed their regional clients. The United States now accepts mili­ gression of the Iraqi military dictatorship, is the result oflong sim­ tary aid from the murderous Syrian dictatorship in confronting mering tensions in the region which would persist even iflraq were the Iraqi regime, yet the United States favored this regim~ during to withdraw from Kuwait and the United States were to desist from Iraq's armed attack on Iran, an attack eu pported by a massive U.S. carrying out its threat to topple the Iraqi regime through external naval build up in the Gulf. The Soviet Union, in turn, has been a pressure and military force. . major military supplier of both the Syrian and Iraqi regimes, We note with dismay, again, that the absence of the a genuine among others. . opposition party in the United States leads to ~isastr_ous an~ short Tensions in the Middle East are exacerbated by the failure to sighted bi-partisan consensus supporting an impenal ?~esi~ency find a democratic and JUStsolution for the Palestinian people that in foreign policy. Any military "solution" to the Gulf crisis will be would guarantee security to all the parties to ~h.e dispu~. There­ a disaster. We reject the notion that the United States should be fore we favor a resolution of the Israeli-Palest1man conflict based a world police force. It has repeatedly turned to the direct and on Israel's recognition of the right of the Palestinians to an inde- indirect use of armed force to project what its governments have pendent state and the Pales­ claimed to be its legitimate tinian recognition of the right interests. Thie has been of Israel to exist within secure shown by the US record in We Call For: borders. the Middle East, in Panama, There will be no long range Grenada, the Dominican Re­ 1. A declar.tion by the United ..._that DD ...,..._m ..._ will ~ stability in the region so long as public and Central America. establilhed in the Middle Eut and tbat U.S al'llllld lorcee will not remain m there is a grotesquely unjust We reject the claim that this the region. We call for the withdrawal of.U U.S. pound trooi- from the distribution of wealth and re­ represents the defense of the Gulf. Whatever U.S. naval or airlol'CM Nmabl IDU8t be under direct control sources, the repression of na­ genuine interests of the people of U .N. apolllOred forces. tional self-determination of of the United States. On the 2. We call for an inumdiate withdrawal ofthe lnqi tl"OoJl9 &om Kuwait to whole peoples, and an absence contrary, legitimate interests be followed by U.N. superviled elletion. We call for the immediate and unconditional releue ol all civiliau and the putingolhe paaaap out of of democratic institutions and of the United States can only Iraq and Kuwait. egalitarian economic develop­ be assured within ajuet eco­ 3. The Iraqi-Kuwaiti territorial dispute, inch"''"' the cJahu apimt ment. Further exacerbating nomic world order and Kuwait for miaappropration of oil should be aettlecl bJ the World ~ the Gulf crisis, an increasingly through the pursuitof a non­ 4. We support continued U.N. aanctiou apiDlt Iraq. with the ac:eptionol unjust global economic order interventioniet democratic food and medical supplie9, ifIraq does not withdraw it military t'orcM from stymies democratic develop­ foreign policy. The United Kuwait. Any force1 u.ed to enforce the unctkma muat be under direct U .N control. ment where it is desperately States can break its depend­ 5. Our long ranp propoeala include a non-nuclear and ecologically 80Wld needed and encourages a waste­ ence on imported oil. Itmust U.S. energy policy to break dependence on fbuil lue1a, a continued acaling ful, environmentally destruc­ break its alliances with re­ clown military of U.S. forcea appropriate to a non-interventionist foreign tive way of life which is neither pressive and undemocratic policyanda~ColdWarworld,andaupportfortheBrandt-Manll!)'-Pabne regimes. propoul for a new North-South economic order just nor sustainable.