A paper of Marxist polemic and Marxist unity weekly

n Private mission Mars Returnworker of the English n Lessons of May 1968 Defence League and the n Italian local elections bankruptcy of anti-fascism n Tory march to right No 965 Thursday June 6 2013 Towards a Communist Party of the European Union www.cpgb.org.uk £1/€1.10 2 June 6 2013 965 LETTERS

Letters may have been is often called ‘racism’ today is a picture of the venue. Because of Syria is Simon Assaf. He has on several Solidarity shortened because of actually culturalism, not biologically the history of the EDL attacking anti- occasions credited government forces space. Some names based: such cultural chauvinism racist meetings in the north-east, the with massacres immediately they We are writing to ask for your  may have been changed would also be subject to a Marxist details of the committee meetings had occurred, even when it was in fact support against the police brutality ideology-critique as a phenomenon been kept restricted. As a result of the unclear who was responsible. While against ordinary people who oppose Kernel of capitalism. RCG actions, Newcastle Unites were there is no doubt that governmental the building of a shopping centre on I am writing in response to Ben Beyond that, there is the issue forced to move our meeting venue and forces have committed abhorrent the site of a park in Istanbul that has Campbell, whose letter (May 30) of the actual politics of ‘anti- a Muslim Labour councillor received crimes and will certainly commit existed for nearly 100 years. links to a site where I am supposedly racism’, which my old mentor, a threatening Facebook message from more, in several cases even the serious On May 27, a police-escorted quoted. But these statements have Adolph Reed, has helpfully pointed the EDL saying that they would be imperialist press has had to admit that demolition team arrived at the been altered from what I actually said out leads nowhere today (www. attacking the meeting. The trades some of those massacres they and Assaf Taksim Gezi Park to destroy all the and so do not quote me accurately. leftbusinessobserver.com/Antiracism. council, who own and run the building, had credited to the regime had most parkland, including the trees. Despite Caveat lector! html), and so recommends junking wrote to the RCG protesting that their probably been the work of oppositional resistance from local people and In response to Campbell’s other present strategies of ‘anti-racist article had put at risk all who use the forces (maybe some who fight under environmentalist groups, the site alleged ‘evidence’, we in Platypus politics’ in favour of struggling against premises and asked them to take down the name of the ‘Free Syrian Army’, was cleared and demolition work have only ever published anti-German the concrete social and political the article. They refused. which as a centrally-organised guerrilla proceeded. and post-anti-German (‘anti-national’) disadvantages people face. There’s On Saturday May 25 members of army does not exist in reality, but is The police then clashed with perspectives as symptomatic of the no point to a ‘politics’ that tries to Newcastle Unites were engaged in only a name for getting foreign funds, protestors who began to occupy the greater death of the left in our time, not change people’s attitudes, where the stewarding our demonstration to ensure or maybe the work of jihadi outfits such park. The activists had been camping as endorsement of any perspectives in real issue is material circumstances. it was a peaceful and inclusive event. as the Jabhat al-Nusra). there for three days in an attempt to the conversations we host. But it does suit the ‘left’ today very The RCG gathered at a different venue. Simon Assaf, however, has never stop the destruction. The demolition If we in Platypus are to be accused of well, in its own subcultural, lifestyle, Following the demonstration, we learnt admitted any mistakes or even doubts. soon ground to a halt after Sirri being “anti-left”, as opposed to ‘ultra- consumerist-taste community and that a number of their members had You might excuse him because he is Süreyya Önder, an MP for the Peace left’, then that would also seem to apply paranoid, authoritarian, moral been arrested. The RCG outrageously mistaking his revolutionary dreams and Democracy Party, stood in front of to Rosa Luxemburg in 1914 when she hectoring to focus on racist attitudes, attempted to claim that members of for reality and has therefore greatly one of the bulldozers for three hours. declared the Social Democratic Party of as a substitute for real politics. Newcastle Unites had been responsible overrated the impact of the democratic This led to a wider resistance and Germany “dead” (a “stinking corpse”), Chris Cutrone for these arrests! Newcastle Unites and non-sectarian forces on the whole galvanised a massive stand against the which Lenin, for one, in ‘Notes of Platypus Affiliated Society condemns, without qualification, the of the revolt. However, he has now demolition of the site. The determined a publicist’ (1922), considered to arrest of anyone for exercising their crossed the red line in this respect. environmentalists, community groups, be among Luxemburg’s very most RCG smears democratic right to peaceful protest. To In one of his latest articles, entitled members of political parties and trade important historical contributions. Newcastle Unites against the EDL claim that we would collude in any way ‘Western arms threaten Syria’s troubled unionists continued to occupy the park Platypus does not define itself by would like to thank the many people with such arrests is an offensive and revolt’, he writes: until on the morning of May 30, at attempting to take a position ‘to the who took part in our very successful wholly unfounded allegation. The idea “The west wants to hijack the approximately 5am, the police used left’ of others on the left. But that demonstration on Saturday May that Newcastle Unites has some kind revolution at the moment of its tear gas and pepper spray to disperse doesn’t mean that we are coming 25. Whilst the English Defence of influence over the police is frankly greatest crisis. This comes a few days the crowd. This only increased the from the right. There’s nothing League opportunistically exploited laughable. It is, however, necessary to after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader support for the protestors and attracted duplicitous in what we do, hosting the the abhorrent murder of a British refute the statement and make it clear of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance hundreds more from all sorts of conversation on the current politically soldier, Newcastle Unites brought that no-one from Newcastle Unites movement, declared that his forces are backgrounds to make the resistance ‘dead’ state of the left. together almost a thousand local played any part in these arrests. now active in the civil war. Nasrallah stronger. I must speak to my alleged people, representing the diversity and The RCG’s stated view of the announced that the largely Shia group Turkish riot police continued to “rational kernel of racism” comment, multiculturalism of the city, all opposed Labour Party, expressed both in written is sending thousands of elite troops fire tear gas and water cannons into which has been deliberately distorted to the EDL’s racism and fascism. We form on the internet and in public to spearhead the Syrian regime’s crowds of demonstrators gathered in in its meaning. I did not mean now intend to build on the broad unity meetings, is that they are “worse than offensive on al-Qusayr ... Using Istanbul’s Gezi park on May 31. Their that somehow it is reasonable or we have created and further develop the the British National Party”. They have unprecedented sectarian language, extensive use resulted in deaths and otherwise acceptable to be racist. By strength of this opposition. targeted Muslim activists and have Nasrallah described the defenders of serious injuries. Unconfirmed reports this statement I was applying Marx’s Given our achievements, it is even taken to calling Dipu Ahad, a al-Qusayr as ‘takfiris’ (apostates) in suggest that at least four people comment about the “rational kernel” with regret that we have to make the prominent Muslim Labour councillor, the ‘service of Israel and the US’ ... have been killed, while hundreds are of the Hegelian dialectic, which aimed following statement in order to counter a racist. To make personal attacks on By giving military support to Assad, injured, seven of them seriously. to take it seriously and demystify it, a number of wholly inaccurate and a man who has fought racism all his Nasrallah has broken a vow to only use At the time of writing this statement, not debunk or dismiss it. The same is disgraceful claims being circulated life and has been the target of EDL the weapons of the resistance against hundreds are continuing to gather in true in addressing racism as ideology - by a small sectarian organisation, the death threats is deplorable and must Israel” (Socialist Worker May 28). the Taksim area to show their anger as the ‘necessary form of appearance’ Revolutionary Communist Group be condemned. What’s the problem with this against the excessive use of force of social reality. I was trying to (FRFI) (Letters, May 30). Whilst Despite these tactics, Newcastle paragraph? The problem is that by the police and the state. The state address the issue of supposed ‘racism’ this group played no part in building Unites will continue to build a broad Nasrallah and the Lebanese Hezbollah, media and most media organisations in terms of the Marxist tradition of opposition to the EDL, they have coalition of all those who want to whatever else they may be, are not have turned a blind eye to what is ‘ideology-critique’, or the immanently engaged in a number of divisive stop the racist EDL and other fascist clerical sectarians. In fact Nasrallah happening and stopped reporting it. dialectical critique of ideological and disruptive activities designed to groups. We will not be deflected from has argued that the religious sectarian Prime minister Recep Tayip Erdoğan forms of appearance, or, explained undermine the work of those who did. that goal by either threats from the far character of important parts of the and the Istanbul mayor, Hüseyin Avni more plainly, the critique from within In doing this they have put people at right or the activities of groups like Syrian opposition is threatening the Mutlu, have denied any wrongdoing of ideologies, according to their own risk and have targeted local Muslim the RCG. This statement is intended stability of the multi-religious society of and defended vehemently the actions self-contradictions, in the interest of activists with slanders and smears. to correct the false impressions of Lebanon and therefore serving Zionism. of the police. They went so far as to seeking how they might be changed. Newcastle Unites is a broad-based Newcastle Unites circulated by the This is so because “takfiris” are not label the protestors ‘troublemakers’ In this, I follow Wilhelm Reich, campaign involving the trade unions, RCG and to alert people to the danger “apostates”, but those Muslims who using the protests as a cover for their who wrote in The mass psychology local councillors, representatives of their activities pose. declare other Muslims to be apostates, own political interests. They tried to of fascism that Marxists had failed to the Muslim community, faith groups Newcastle Unites and this is exactly the position of the block all 3G mobile phone signals to recognise the “progressive character and anti-racist organisations, such as www.facebook.com/NewcastleUnites Al Qa’eda-linked outfits such as Jabhat stop the news spreading. But there is of fascism” - by which he meant, of Show Racism the Red Card, Unite al-Nusra, which is a leading force in the now wide anger against Erdoğan and course, not that fascism was itself against Fascism and the Tyne and Wear SWP illusions fight for al-Qusayr. For them, Shiites the police, and the unrest has spread to progressive (Reich was a communist), Anti-Fascist Association. At our initial The so-called ‘Socialist Workers Party’ are ‘apostates’, meaning people who many cities. Slogans such as ‘Erdoğan but that fascism was a new ideology meeting a number of participants, in in the UK has a two-year history of had been Muslims in the past and must go’ and ‘Chemical Erdoğan’ have that met a new historical situation particular representatives from the spreading illusions in the opposition had chosen to turn away from their been echoed by thousands of people more successfully than Marxism unions and the Muslim community, to the Syrian regime. While the religion (in this case Shia Islam in the around the country. Some unconfirmed did, and that Marxists were wrong to expressed concerns about working interior workings of the party remind 7th century). While it is doubtful that reports suggest that around 400 police dismiss fascism as irrational, by which with the RCG on account of their you more of a Stalinist outfit than the the prophet Muhammad had argued officers have resigned from their they tried to alibi their own failure to previous disruptive and sometimes non-orthodox Trotskyist organisation in favour of killing apostates, Muslim positions. do better politically. violent activity. it pretends to be, its political line tradition has largely held this position. We are urging all our friends in the So what I meant by the “rational Highlighted was the fact that the has more and more become one The notion of ‘takfir’ has been a UK to show their solidarity and send kernel of racism” was the need to group tried to storm the Newcastle May of spontaneist hopes in all sorts of prominent one for many years now messages of protest and condemnation address why otherwise rational people Day platform in 2012 in an attempt to non-proletarian movements. This in the context of the identification to the Turkish prime minister: bimer@ would have racist ideologies. It won’t prevent a local Labour MP speaking, is particularly true in respect to its of salafi-jihadi forces in the Muslim basbakanlik.gov.tr. do, I think, to try to dismiss racism in the process physically assaulting a position on the so-called ‘Arab spring’. world. It cannot be believed that Oktay Sahbaz as irrational. Rather, the question is, number of trades council members. Based on the fact that the Syrian those responsible for Socialist Worker Day-mer Community Centre why are people racist? What social Newcastle Unites informed the RCG Ba’ath regime is a bourgeois have never heard of it and have thus realities do racist ideologies express? that they would not be welcome at dictatorship, which has, especially simply overlooked a mistake made Correction For it is not a matter that those with our meetings. Despite our decision, under president Bashar al-Assad, by such a ‘specialist’ in Middle You write: “Neil Davidson (who is racist attitudes have them in their own members of the RCG turned up at our more and more turned from state East affairs as their Simon Assaf. also speaking at the Counterfire event, self-interest. Quite the contrary, it is meetings on two occasions demanding capitalism to private neoliberalism It must therefore be understood as by the way, along with fellow SWP against their better interests. to be let in and stating they were there and has so impoverished large parts a deliberate fabrication in order to oppositionist Ian Birchall) …” (‘In However, it must be admitted that to denounce the involvement of local of the toiling masses of the country, defend their - ever more indefensible decay and in denial’, May 30). nowadays racist ideologies are not Labour Party members. On the second the SWP has militantly supported - line on Syria. I did not speak at the Counterfire nearly as centrally important a part occasion they became highly abusive the oppositional forces from the Simon Assaf, of course, criticises event, I was never approached by of the social reality of capitalism and had to be asked to leave the venue. beginning. While it has criticised their Jabhat al-Nusra and the rest, but this Counterfire and my name did not as they once were. Racism is no In an act of gross irresponsibility, tactics of turning towards imperialist is meaningless when he whitewashes appear in their publicity. longer considered anywhere near that showed complete disdain for powers for military support against them by claiming that those - in I should be most grateful if you as reasonable as it once was. And the security of Newcastle Unites the Damascus government, it has not this case Hezbollah - who defend would remove this falsehood from this is a good thing - though it does members, the RCG then posted details dared to reflect upon the problem of Syria and so themselves against the your website immediately, and if you present challenges to the ‘left’s’ of Newcastle Unites’ committee the political and socio-economic onslaught of the ‘takfiris’ are the would publish a correction in next own ideologies about the nature and meetings on an open Facebook site. alternatives of the myriad of ‘takfiris’. week’s issue of your printed paper. character of social reality. Culturalism They included the date, time and oppositional groups in that country. Anton Holberg Ian Birchall is not the same as racism, and what venue of our next meeting and even Socialist Worker’s main author on email email BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07961 713510 l www.cpgb.org.uk l [email protected] 965 June 6 2013 3 MARS

Symptom of systemic decline CPGB podcasts t a time of economic depres Every Monday we upload a podcast commenting on the current sion, while the world has political situation. In addition, the site features voice files of public yet to address some of the meetings and other events: http://cpgb.org.uk/home/podcasts. mostA fundamental issues regarding London Communist Forum human survival on this planet, not Sunday June 9, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB Provisional least in terms of the environment, Central Committee, followed by open discussion and Capital reading a millionaire space tourist, Dennis group. Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. This Tito, is working on plans to send meeting: Vol 1, chapter 15, section 7: ‘Repulsion and attraction of a man and woman as tourists for a workpeople by the factory system’. round trip to Mars. At the same time Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk. another private project, Mars One, is in the pipeline, with the ambition of Radical Anthropology Group “establishing a human settlement on Introduction to anthropology the planet Mars by 2023”.1 Tuesday June 11, 6.15pm: ‘Frogs, moon and sun at the Avebury All this follows the relative success monuments’. Speaker: Lionel Sims. of a number of aerospace projects St Martin’s Community Centre, 43 Carol Street, London NW1 undertaken by the US space agency, (Camden Town tube). £10 waged, £5 low waged, £3 unwaged. the National Aeronautics and Space Discounts for whole term. Administration (Nasa). Its ‘rover’, Organised by Radical Anthropology Group: Curiosity, landed on Mars on August www.radicalanthropologygroup.org. 6 2012 and has since sent reliable Refugee rights information about conditions on the Friday June 7, 5pm: Scratch performance of Mazloom, a moving planet, fuelling speculation about the Get your application in theatre piece about a young Afghani refugee. The Vestry Hall, London possibility of humans surviving there. Road, Mitcham, Surrey. Even before the landing of Nasa’s is expected to reach 500,000 by from public to private will undermine Tickets online: www.scratchmazloom.eventbrite.com. rover, scientists knew from studying the deadline of August 31. Unlike and commercialise any future benefits fragments of rocks in the form of previous space expeditions, applicants from this area of scientific research. Wales shop stewards meteorites that water had once need no scientific background. Instead For all capitalism’s claims that the Saturday June 8, 10am to 4pm: Conference, Maldron Hotel, Saint flown on the red planet, but images they should show “a deep sense of free market fuels ‘dynamism’ and Mary Street, Cardiff CF10. transmitted by Curiosity proved purpose, willingness to build and ‘innovation’, it is ironic that so far Organised by the National Shop Stewards Network: beyond doubt that flowing water maintain healthy relationships, the space exploration and the numerous www.shopstewards.net. has shaped the landscape. Mars has capacity for self-reflection and ability revolutionary inventions that are its Confronting the climate crisis an atmosphere allowing a level of to trust”.4 by-products have all resulted from Saturday June 8, 11am to 5pm: Conference, London Metropolitan protection from sun rays and a day- Apart from the obvious questions state funding, driven as it was by University, Stapleton House, 277 Holloway Road, London N7. night rhythm very similar to what we regarding the billions of dollars inter-state rivalry or as an affirmation Organised by Campaign Against Climate Change: have on Earth: a Mars day lasts 24 necessary for the mission, what of hegemony. It is extremely unlikely www.campaigncc.org. hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds. All does all this say about the current that the private enterprises trying No to EDL in all, it is considered to be the most state of capitalism? to outdo the state will be able to Saturday June 8, 11.30 am: Protest against visit of EDL leader, City habitable planet in our solar system Until the late 1980s the US and raise the necessary funds. After all, Hall, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield S1. after Earth. Soviet governments were competing in capitalism’s eagerness for quick Organised by Unite Against Fascism: www.uaf.org.uk. The two privately funded aerospace what was known as the space race. But profits and private property (so far projects aim to beat Nasa’s plans to even after the cold war had ended the no-one can envisage ownership of Unite the Resistance send astronauts to Mars in 2030 by 12 competition continued. While today colonies on Mars) makes fundraising Bristol: Regional anti-austerity conference, Saturday June 8, 12 noon years, both starting in January 2018. the US is the undisputed superpower, for such endeavours improbable. to 4pm. City of Bristol College, Ashley Down Road, Bristol BS7. £3 The two years were chosen because the landing of Curiosity was part and The economic crisis has already waged, £1 unwaged. they coincide with the best alignment parcel of the strategy to shore up dried up research funding. These Organised by Unite the Resistance: www.uniteresist.org. of Mars and Earth - in 2018 and its declining hegemony. Successive days, research grants in science Taking on the arms industry 2030 a round trip would take about administrations until recently refused and engineering are often for ‘joint Tuesday June 11, 7pm: Public meeting, the Spark Space, Blackfriars 18 months, or 501 days, whereas in to cut Nasa’s funding - its 2011 budget industry’ funding with military Hub, 58 Victoria Embankment, London EC4. between it could take up to three years. of $18.4 billion represented about firms for the purpose of accelerating Organised by War on Want: www.waronwant.org. There are, of course, many 0.5% of the $3.4 trillion US federal profits in what remains of the obstacles to such plans. For example, budget for that year.5 In 2012 it was industrial sector. As one aerospace Vocabularies of the economy the distance between Earth and Mars marginally reduced and the Obama professor used to say, “Getting Thursday June 13, 6.30pm: Manifesto lecture, Marx Memorial is 248 million km, and the $2.5 billion administration’s latest proposal for funding from Nestlé to improve Library, London EC1. Speaker: professor Doreen Massey. Tickets Curiosity took 253 days to reach its 2014 allocates a ‘mere’ $17.7 billion to their chocolate-cutting blades from www.vocabofeconomy.eventbrite.co.uk. destination. Even radio signals from the agency. Despite perceptions about might meet universities research Organised by Lawrence and Wishart: www.lwbooks.co.uk. Mars take between four and 20 expenditure in the current economic assessment exercise6 criteria, but Protest the bankers! minutes to reach Earth, depending on climate, there seems to be few qualms it is hardly rocket science and will Friday June 14, 12.30pm: Anti-banker protest, Jubilee Plaza, west how far apart the two planets are at about this particular form of spending. not advance humanity’s awareness exit of Canary Wharf tube. the time. Given the limits of scientific of the universe.” Even if private Organised by UK Uncut: www.ukuncut.org.uk. Equipment on board Curiosity progress in capitalism, where funding succeeded, we should detected high levels of radiation, both university funding is driven mainly expect little ‘innovation’. The making of the English working class during the trip and at the destination, by military use or for increasing What this project represents is Tuesday June 15, 10am to 5.30pm: Conference, Queen Mary where the absence of a protective profits, academic authorities have an attempt at precipitating escape University of London, Mile End Road, London E1. Discussion of EP atmosphere means astronauts are very been at pains to extol the considerable from Earth (a few centuries ahead Thompson’s classic Marxist history. For details and to register: www. exposed. According to Geraint Jones, benefits derived from the by-products of Stephen Hawking’s warnings7) eventbrite.com/event/6046488209#. an academic at University College of aerospace research. This is not rather than any enthusiasm for space Organised by Lawrence and Wishart: www.lwbooks.co.uk. London, the annual exposure limit just self-serving propaganda. For exploration, curiosity about how Stop western intervention in Syria for nuclear industry employees in example, instruments essential for life began, how the universe started Saturday June 15, 1pm: Protest, US embassy, Grosvenor Square, the UK is 20 millisieverts (20mSv), studying atmospheric parameters have and how our world was created. All London W1. but astronauts could be subjected to a use in the development of modern these are important issues and space Organised by Stop the War Coalition: www.stopwar.org.uk. 662mSv over the course of a single mammography, while breast cancer research has demystified aspects of 2 No One Is Illegal trip. Humans would be kept safe if biopsy uses technology developed by the origins of the universe - subjects Thursday June 16, 7.30pm: Public meeting, Oxford town hall, Saint their spacecraft was encased in lead or Hubble Space for use in its telescopes that are inevitably unpopular with Aldate’s, Oxford. Speakers: Victoria Brittain, Rahila Gupta, Tracy concrete, but obviously the weight of - originally deployed to convert light religious conservatives of many hues. Smith. such material would rule that out, so from a distant star into digital images. There is nothing wrong with space Organised by No One Is Illegal:www.noii.org.uk. the race is now on for the manufacture What is more, US missions to the exploration and curiosity about big of more lightweight material resilient moon produced magnetic resonance ideas. However, for capitalism this Cuba, Greece and LGBT rights to this level of solar radiation. imaging, used extensively in medicine research has been an integral part of Wednesday June 19, 6.30pm: Public meeting, Unite House, 128 In addition to radiation, there is for locating cancerous and other imperialism’s military competition and Theobalds Road, London WC1. another problem, as explained by tumours. Chemotherapy, used to treat its current demise is also a reflection Organised by Unite London and Eastern region LGBT committee: Gary Marin, director for advanced cancer patients, began as an attempt of contemporary lack of confidence, www.unitetheunion.org/unite-at-work/equalities/equalitiessectors/ programmes at Nasa: “Being away to grow plants in space shuttles. confusion and systemic decline l lesbiangaybisexualandtrans. from Earth for three years would Similarly, pacemakers, monitoring Yassamine Mather People’s Assembly Against Austerity mean that every cell of your body equipment used in intensive care Saturday June 22, 9.30am to 5pm: Campaign launch meeting would be transversed by a galactic units, artificial heart implants and non- [email protected] Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1. ray, and we just don’t know what that intrusive ultrasound are all medical Organised by Coalition of Resistance: 3 would do to people.” Furthermore, by-products of aerospace research. Notes www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk. data gathered from previous missions While data from satellites provided 1. http://mars-one.com/en/mission/mission-and- show that space travel weakens the critical information for understanding vision. Stand up for education human immune system, produces the effects of climate change, infra- 2. www.marsnow.info. Tuesday June 25, 6.30pm: Rally, Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, gradual bone loss and results in red cameras, cordless equipment, 3. http://news.nationalgeographic.co.uk/ London SW1. news/2001/05/0517_mars2.html. Organised by London NUT: www.teachers.org.uk/node/8189. cognitive problems. Also the average modern firefighting clothing and 4. http://applicants.mars-one.com. temperature on Mars is -50°C. equipment were all first put to use in 5. www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/ CPGB wills Despite all this, at the time of space shuttles. Of course, many of feb/01/nasa-budgets-us-spending-space-travel. Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put the CPGB’s writing 80,000 people have applied the above benefits were unintentional 6. RAE aimed to “produce quality profiles for name and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your each submission of research activity made by to Mars One to be selected for a one- by-products, but they are real enough. institutions”. will. If you need further help, do not hesitate to get in contact. way trip to set up a “colony” on the However, the problem now is that the 7. http://rt.com/news/earth-hawking-mankind- planet. The number of applications current shift of aerospace research escape-702. 4 June 6 2013 965 OUR HISTORY Lessons of May 68 Would there have been a revolution but for the betrayal of the official leadership in France? This is an edited version of a talk given by Mike Macnair at a recent London Communist Forum

Not a rerun of 1905

n the 45th anniversary of the into France. class to fight a civil war. Although the he had released the journal Literární mass support, was received globally events in France of May 1968, On May 27 the government and regime created by de Gaulle’s coup Listy from censorship. In April he issued as a martyrdom (and a symbol of the Oit is worthwhile looking back trade union leadership agreed on the in 1958 was seriously delegitimised, his ‘action programme’, involving tyrannical character of the regimes at what happened. The first point to Grenelle accords, which conceded there was not any superior alternative significant relaxation of Communist backed by the US in Latin America). be made has to be the extreme brevity massive wage increases, and on May in the imagination of the broad Party control both of politics and the The general background of all these of the crisis in France. 30 de Gaulle returned from Germany, masses. The SFIO and PCF were economy, and in addition national events is the policy of the ‘containment To summarise. It was on May 6 that promising early elections. At the same committed to working within de decentralisation - the breaking up of of communism’ which had been things moved beyond simple student time the right mobilised a million- Gaulle’s constitution. The PCF stood Czechoslovakia into a federation of the running since 1948: the ‘cold war’. protests, as first street fighting and strong demonstration - double the size for a process of transition undertaken Czech and Slovak republics. The US and USSR were manoeuvring then large demonstrations took place. of the May 13 workers’ demonstration. through a popular front government. From Nato’s point of view Dubček at the margins, in places militarily, but These were attacked by the specialised The far right also began to organise Characteristically, the Trotskyists and the Prague spring represented an mostly politically and diplomatically, riot forces of the French police, the to take back the streets and engaged tend to say, ‘Well, there could opportunity to destabilise the Soviet for allies and popular support. Hence CRS, and this was followed by the in direct action against the left. There have been a revolution, if only the bloc round national contradictions from the point of view of global setting up of barricades on the night was a big falling away of strikes bureaucracy had not betrayed the within the Warsaw Pact and the politics in spring 1968, the last thing of May 10. The French Communist and occupations, partly at the call of working class.’ The problem is that question of democracy. And that was the US wanted was a major military Party, the PCF, gave its backing to the trade union officials, and partly it is in the DNA of the bureaucracy the way it was being pushed by the crackdown in France, especially if the the student movement late that night, through the CRS taking back factories. that, in circumstances like these, it bourgeois media at about the time the result might be a split in the French and so did the main, PCF-led union In the June general election there was will betray the movement. So all that May events broke out in France. military and French units fighting centre, the CGT, which then called a a massive parliamentary victory for the Trotskyists are actually saying is The other side of the coin was the one another. There had, after all, been general strike and demonstration for the right, which benefited from a that revolution was not on the agenda Tet offensive in Vietnam - part of mutinies on French ships and in French May 13. Suddenly the lid was taken major swing from the centre parties because the labour bureaucracy was one of the running national liberation barracks during May. In other words, off the class struggle and there was in the second round. too strong. And if you ask why the struggles going on since the late 1940s. escalation from the side of the state an enormous explosion of strikes, The turning point had been May labour bureaucracy was too strong in The United States had massively between May 10 and May 30 was for demonstrations, self-organisation and 30. De Gaulle then effectively held May 68, the answer is because at the escalated the number of troops it practical purposes out of the question radicalisation that ran from May 14 out to the PCF and the Socialist end of the day it had political support had on the ground, the scale of its for global geopolitical reasons. until May 29. The PCF tried to keep Party - then called the French in the mass of the working class. The military and bombing operations and a ‘red line’ between the students and Section of the Workers’ International PCF and the CGT could demobilise so on. It thought, as of late 1967, that Latecomer the strikers, and between the strikers (SFIO) - two options. One was to people because they had given their counterinsurgency had worked. It Bukharin and Trotsky attributed to and the far left, although it was not accept the concessions on wages loyalty to these leaderships. And, for believed it had stabilised the South Lenin the phrase, “The imperialist possible to do so completely. (and also on other issues such as that matter, de Gaulle was able to Vietnam regime. The Tet offensive chain breaks at its weakest link.” This explosion led to a government working conditions), along with mobilise a million people on the streets demonstrated that the methods of The Mandelites, who identified May crisis. President Charles de Gaulle quick elections. The other option was because that actually did represent the counterinsurgency designed on the 68 as in some sense an example of contemplated military action, but he expressed in the form of the slogan existence of a strong, solid, rightwing basis of Weberian managerialism had that, then went on throughout the was informed that there were doubts of the rightwing demonstrations of bloc in society. failed. Thus, the United States had 1970s attempting to find the weakest as to the reliability of the conscript that day: “The communists shall not Why did the crisis of May 68 other fish to fry in May 68. link, which they were convinced in army - or at least that part of the pass”. In other words, ‘We are ready and the subsequent demobilisation Going a step further back, the US Europe would be Spain - but then the conscript army that was stationed in for civil war’. It is not actually clear take the form they did? For that we had backed a coup in Greece in April revolution in Portugal broke out. In France - so that military action would if de Gaulle was ready for civil war, have to look to some extent at the 1967. That year was also the high point the Middle East it was to be Lebanon/ have to mean at least moving French but in substance that is what he and international context. of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and Syria - but then the Iranian revolution troops from Germany, or elsewhere. the French right were saying. And, of The most immediate context is the moment at which it seriously hit broke out. In Latin American it was De Gaulle went to the main French course, the PCF were not up for it, and the Prague spring. Alexander Dubček the western media. The death of Che Bolivia - but then the Nicaraguan base in Germany, Baden-Baden; and they went for demobilisation. was elected first secretary of the Guevara in October 1967, although it revolution broke out. there is evidence that Nato effectively In fact it would not have been Czechoslovak Communist Party in was the result of a hopeless attempt to In reality, as James White has denied him permission to move troops easy to mobilise the French working January 1968. By the end of February carry on rural guerrilla warfare without pointed out,1 Lenin, in his marginalia 965 June 6 2013 5 SWP on Bukharin, disavowed the idea and like a revolution and indeed had was proposing a generalised turn to Hence, the PCF, in spite of ideas became the ascendant side of said that, actually, it is not the case certain real features of a revolution, industry, which meant that everybody its popular-front, nationalist and the contradiction. that the imperialist chain breaks at but part of what was happening should go and get jobs in factories. constitutionalist commitments, The effects of the fall of the its weakest link, because there has to was the forcible adjustment of A small example: my partner at the was nonetheless in effect an extra- Soviet Union have been paradoxical be a certain level of development in conditions to those prevailing in time was instructed to leave the civil constitutional party - and one that on this front. You might think that it a country where a revolution breaks the rest of Europe. service, where she was a member built up workers’ mass organisations, would have opened up possibilities, out in order for anything serious to Then there was the student of the section executive and of most obviously the CGT, but also because it removed the constraints happen. That a country is simply movement. Leftwing student the Broad Left in what is now the other organisations; one which that ‘official communism’ imposed ‘the weakest’, with the most acute politics had been mobilising around PCS union, and go and get a job in still upholds in its distorted way an on the development of working class contradictions, etc, is not in and of international issues through the 1960s. telecommunications - the reasoning alternative working class culture consciousness; but simultaneously it itself a sufficient explanation. That was as true in France as it was being that telecoms is an industry, through institutions like the annual also destroyed the internationalism This is true not merely in relation to elsewhere, but was less striking. There whereas work in an unemployment Fête de l’Humanité - something far of both the ‘official communists’ and the objective level of development, in was, for example, nothing approaching office is not. richer than the Socialist Workers the Trotskyists. It left behind nothing the sense that there can be no workers’ the mobilisations that had occurred in I myself had spent two years just Party’s Marxism festival. but a nationalism which is incapable revolution without a working class, the US or Britain around Vietnam. before this working on the line in the That tradition remains because of creating the conditions for class- which implies a certain level of French student radicals took their Cowley car plant, and as a result I the PCF was a mass party, which, consciousness and revolution; or even capitalist development; but also in a immediate ideas from the Germans, was inclined to the view that it was although it would have liked to have those of a mirage of a revolutionary subjective sense, in that an antecedent who in turn had taken their ideas to a not going to be particularly politically been in government, was excluded crisis, like May 68. level of class-consciousness and considerable extent from groups like useful for former students of one sort on the grounds that it was ‘anti- class organisation is required for the Students for a Democratic Society or another to go and get jobs in car constitutional’. Because of this it was Lessons question of revolution to be posed. in the US. In Germany the student factories, mines, etc. But the majority driven, in contradiction with its own There are positive lessons to be The global geopolitical context is movement had kicked off in 1967, was arguing that the political pressure constitutionalist and popular-front drawn from the events of May 68. part of the story. But the second part triggered by a visit from the shah cooker was boiling and was likely to strategy, to build up the practical Of course, we should not fetishise of the story is related to the forward of Iran. But, of course, the German explode in the very near future - there solidarity of the working class as a particular features - occupations, movement of the working class - student movement in 67 did not were going to be mass struggles in class for itself, and with it implicitly barricades or whatever - as much of the direct economic and trade union produce a movement of the working the core sectors of industry and we to spread the idea that ‘We are many, the far left does: the idea that all we struggle - and in that sense France was class or a government crisis. So France had to be there. they are few’. This same idea was need is ‘initiatives in action’, which a latecomer. was part of a general movement, but If it had been true, then it would expressed in a peculiar way by Occupy will then cause it all to kick off. The UK had what was called was a special case because the extent have been useful to have comrades and its slogans of the 99% against the That is nonsense. The barricades in the ‘British disease’ ever since the of the pressure build-up in relation working in factories. So I am not 1%. But a big organisation is capable the Latin quarter in May 68 were a early 1950s. The Tory abandonment to the direct class struggle under the saying we should never send people of concretising the idea that ‘We are product of the very specific features of austerity for the middle classes, rigidities of the Gaullist regime were to work in industry - for example, many, they are few’ on an ongoing of French politics and French history while still attempting to keep the lid very much more serious there than in it seems to me that it is better to basis; and then when something at that conjunctural moment; and all on the working class, in effect broke countries that had not imposed such a go and work in a factory than it is triggers an outbreak of mass struggles, the attempts since then - in Britain, up the social bargain that allowed the tight set of controls on trade unions, to be on the dole. The point I was as happened in May 68, the possibility whether through the Anti Nazi trade union leaders to keep control of wages, etc. making in the debate was that the exists for radical change. League, Stop the War Coalition disputes over wages and conditions There was another, very specifically conditions leading to an explosion I stress the contradiction. National or Occupy - to get the masses that had applied during the 1945-51 French feature: the tradition of of mass struggles were absent in roads to socialism, the people’s front, on the streets in order to spark a Labour government. This resulted in barricades. Barricades were a major Britain in 1979: things were going the idea of the party monolith and revolutionary uprising are futile in the very rapid re-emergence of the feature of 1830 and 1848, and for the to have to get a lot worse before such the subordination of the party to the absence of a mass workers’ party shop stewards’ movement and a major French workers’ movement there is as an explosion would be posed. the diplomatic imperatives of the which develops oppositional class- increase in unofficial actions: guerrilla well the tradition of the Commune in From a certain point of view, today USSR - all worked against class- consciousness. warfare conducted at the shop level. 1871. The barricades that were erected the situation of the working class consciousness. But the exclusion On the other hand, we equally It was at first said that the British in Paris from May 10 thus fed into is a whole lot worse, but, as far as of the party from government and should not fall into the trap just did not have the necessary something that had immense cultural the major imperialist countries are aspects of its formal commitments of fetishising gradualism and relations with the trade unions, which resonance. It is still the case that the concerned, it is a case of the lobster to Marxism, ‘Leninism’ and so constitutionalism, as the PCF, SFIO had not been properly integrated into traditions of 1789, 1830 and 1848 cooking so slowly that it is unaware on made its organisation capable and the bulk of the reformist left did structures of Weberian managerial are part of mass memory, and that, I it is heading towards death. We see a of providing a way in which the in May 68. It is absolutely not the rationality. But by the early to think, is also a substantial part of the gradual chipping away at wages and working class could express a form case that the British government out mid-60s the US had started to feel explanation for May 68. conditions, but a repeat of May 68 on of class-consciousness. of the goodness of its heart gave us the first effects of the profit-rate The student actions not only a European scale does not seem to be Secondly, ‘1968’ was an universal suffrage, for example: it slowdown, and when the employers imitated features of the student a particularly likely option. international movement: an did so because at each stage in the tried to put the squeeze on wages movement elsewhere, but latched hold That said, May 68 is in a sense international process of development, extension of the suffrage, the state and conditions there were unofficial on to that particular moment of a great a mirage of a revolution. It does which found momentary expression felt itself to be under threat from ‘wildcat’ strikes. The same was true symbol of French historical memory. display aspects of the phenomenon in a national crisis. There was an political action of the working class. in West Germany. In Spain under This helped produce the situation of revolutionary crises that were intense contradiction between, on What we should focus on is, the Francoist regime there arose where the PCF felt it necessary to perfectly genuine and worth paying the one hand, the nationalism of firstly, the need for a party-movement the workers’ commissions - forms come in on the students’ side, although attention to. the PCF and, on the other hand, its - an organisation which in non- of illegal, clandestine organisation; there were other reasons too. You can l Creativity: those last few weeks in consciousness of being part of an revolutionary times concretises the a hybrid between a shop stewards’ imagine Brezhnev saying to the PCF May display the enormous creativity international communist movement, idea that ‘We are many, they are few’. organisation and trade union proper leaders: ‘Yes, give it a go, as long as of the working class masses in which was expressed in a deformed Secondly, we must focus on the need - closely linked to the Communist you don’t really destabilise de Gaulle, methods of struggle, organisation way in its intense commitments for an international dimension: the Party. In Italy, what came after 1968 who is an important diplomatic partner and communication. to Stalinist orthodoxy and partial need to say that our struggle is the to be called the ‘creeping May’ of of ours. It will be useful at a time when l Loss of nerve on the part of resistance to Eurocommunism. same as the struggle of the French unofficial strikes, etc, actually began the west is concentrating attention the ruling class, or at least of May 68 was part of an international workers, of the Iranian workers, etc. around 1966. on Czechoslovakia, to have trouble the ruling political institutions - movement expressed in particular We do not look for ‘national roads’, So why were the French late? The over the question of democracy in a again, round about the end of May national form. The Mandelites least of all socialism in a single answer is the Gaullist regime created western country.’ there was a profound crisis of the understood this in the late 1960s country. We need at least the degree by the 1958 coup. The Fifth Republic To sum up, 1968 was not a political institutions of the French to middle 1970s, but then lost that of internationalism that the Second featured a two-tier election process, peculiarly French event, but a bourgeoisie, though it is very understanding, as the sectional International and the Cominform in designed to produce majorities for the peculiarly French version of an much more short-lived than the interests of the full-time apparatus deformed ways expressed, but taken sitting government, and a president international set of developments repeated governmental crises in the of the national sections came into to a much higher level, in order to with very substantial powers. The - and one which was framed by the Portuguese revolution in the mid- the ascendancy in the later 1970s. get to the point where the question constitution of France has been geopolitical context of the cold war. 70s, or the conditions likely to be The ‘official communists’ had an of power is posed at all l normalised by history, but in the late produced by real revolutionary crisis. intensely contradictory combination 1950s and early 60s it was generally l Extreme political fluidity - there of nationalism together with [email protected] understood to be a Bonapartist Class and was a shift from a situation where understanding themselves as part of regime. In the workplace it imposed revolution the right was very much in the an international movement; as the Notes direct statutory controls on wages, The far left primarily thought of May ascendancy as of April 68, through class movement fell back from the 1. J White Karl Marx and the intellectual origins which in French industry tended to 68 as the equivalent of Russia 1905. to left ascendancy in May, then back later 1970s, the purely nationalistic of dialectical materialism Basingstoke 1996. fall behind inflation. It was seen as a movement which is to the ascendancy of the right in That in turn had the consequence both a harbinger of and a guide to June. This sort of shifting, unstable that French capitalism looked the future revolution. This argument ground, exemplified in a small unusually profitable throughout is completely mistaken. First of all, way in May 68, is a feature of all Appeal from the the 1960s. German capitalism was 1905 was followed within 12 years revolutions. Relatedly, the question beginning to worry about a slowdown, by the Bolshevik revolution, but 45 of confidence was decisive - not least but French capitalism seemed to be years have now elapsed since 1968 when de Gaulle presented the union editor powering ahead. However, the flip- without a large-scale revolutionary and PCF leaders with the choice of side was that in the US and Germany crisis in Europe other than the concessions or a civil war. eaders will have noted that not remained static at £3,530. We have with their ‘wildcat strikes’, and in Portuguese revolution of 1974. But there is also the sense in which Rmuch has been happening in therefore decided to suspend this Britain with the shop stewards’ Secondly, broad masses in France this was a serious crisis because of relation to the legal dispute in which appeal until such a time as there movement, there was a pressure- saw an opportunity to break the the PCF, albeit very much against the the Weekly Worker was embroiled is movement to report. I would release valve in the system. In France rigidities of the Gaullist regime; but will of the PCF. Why? The answer earlier this year (see ‘Unreserved like to reassure donors that in the there was no such mechanism. The they had not yet reached the point of lies precisely in the fact that, after apology’ Weekly Worker February meantime the money collected is great wave of strikes, occupations thinking that the whole state structure the fall of the coalition governments 7). In fact the complainant’s being held in a specific account, and so on when everything finally was utterly intolerable. The left has in which the PCF was engaged in the solicitors have still not informed us ready to be released as and when exploded in May 68 was the French had since 1968 a tendency to overstate 1940s, the Nato European regime of the expenses they wish to claim, appropriate. working class catching up after a the degree of pressure which has built was constructed on the basis that the Unsurprisingly, following I would also like to thank generation where it had fallen behind. up. For example, in 1979 there was various communist parties would the receipt of a number of very once again all comrades who France was unique then, in that a debate in the International Marxist not be let into such coalitions: and generous donations to the appeal have contributed. Please watch it experienced an explosion which Group, the British section of the the Gaullist regime was an extreme we set up, contributions have now this space. appeared to immediately call into United Secretariat of the Fourth form of this policy, which was also dried up and the total received has Peter Manson question political stability. It looked International. The Usec leadership present in Italy. 6 June 6 2013 965 PARTY To get out of the gutter begin by looking up at the stars Should the left aim for a non-socialist stage of capitalism? A stage acceptable to Stalinites, trade union bureaucrats and left reformists? Ben Lewis responds to Tim Nelson of the International Socialist Network am pleased that Tim Nelson of the of strategic defeats we have suffered International Socialist Network and doing the hard thinking needed Iresponded 1 to my critique2 of to arrive at the correct orientation, his article ‘Left Unity and the need they take for granted the notion that for a mass party’ (jointly written Marxists will always be in a minority, with Paris Thompson).3 It is also organised in small groups until the day encouraging that the comrade was of revolution dawns. Moreover - as prepared to submit it to the Weekly leading SWP oppositionist Ian Birchall Worker. If he had still been a member did in a recent article - many comrades of the Socialist Workers Party, then project this picture back onto history, that would almost certainly have been arguing that the “Bolsheviks were out of the question. always a minority until a revolutionary Not that the ISN has broken with situation arose”.4 Actually this is the SWP’s method. Instead of engaging not true. Yes, the Bolsheviks did in the serious and absolutely vital task gain a very narrow majority in the of debating the key strategic questions, workers’ and soldiers’ soviets in the majority of its leadership seems 1917. Their ‘majority’ came from determined to repeat all the mistakes their alliance with the Left Socialist of its parent body. Eg, in the name of Revolutionaries. Certainly when it engaging in day-to-day struggles and came the elections to the Constituent helping to build the Left Unity project Assembly the communists won only into a ‘broad party’, the ISN rejected around 30% of the votes. However, we the offer of joint talks with the CPGB. should not forget that the Bolsheviks Meanwhile the ISN appears to be and Mensheviks both assumed mass determined to cement ‘revolutionary’ proportions with the 1905 revolution unity with Socialist Resistance and and these roots in the working class the Anti-Capitalist Initiative, mainly were maintained historically. Eg, the because they too are committed Bolsheviks won the entire workers’ to a ‘broad party’. A ‘broad party’ curia in the 1912 duma elections. designed to accommodate everyone Marxists in Russia were far from from Stalinites, Trotskyites and left unique. Across Europe, in the late reformists to anarchists, feminists, eco- 19th century, mass Marxist parties activists and anti-austerity protestors. modelled on the million-strong In other words, a ‘broad party’ in Social Democratic Party in Germany which ‘revolutionaries’ are expected were formed. And, of course, with to drop or suspend their principles in the formation of the Communist the name of unity with forces whose International in 1919, mass parties politics are, in fact, incompatible. grew in places such China, India, Anyway, I must say that comrade Indonesia and Iran. Nelson’s solo effort is a disappointment. Nevertheless, being much shorter than First International the original article published on the Aim high Yet how has it come to pass that so ISN internet site, it rather succinctly many of today’s Marxists, who in their summarises many of the dead-end of a broad, ‘halfway house’ party a broad party as part of revolutionary convinced right now of the necessity meetings and events will no doubt arguments which currently pass as project, such as the one envisioned strategy? We in the CPGB answer all of combining the struggle for reforms castigate the betrayals of reformism, common sense on the left, conjuring up by the main driving forces behind LU, these questions in the negative. with the struggle for the masses to the treachery of opportunism, etc, a picture of ‘Leninism’ that, ironically, including SR and the ACI. Obviously Comrade Nelson asserts that take over the running of all aspects actually end up (consciously, or most continues the fallacies of Tony Cliff, both comrade Nelson and comrade his conception of the broad party of society for themselves. probably unconsciously) deploying the Chris Harman and Alex Callinicos, but Thompson agree with the CPGB that is different from some version of In a second, and related, sense, the political outlook of Eduard Bernstein merely places a minus where they place the Labour Party remains a “capitalist warmed-over social democracy (and broad-party approach is indicative of (and much worse) as an integral aspect a plus. The ‘Leninist’ caricature remains. workers’ party”. Therefore I argued in some ways his view does seem an outlook that is not actually aiming of what passes for their strategy? What results is a distinct lack of that it is nonsense on stilts to think to differ slightly from the implied to become a genuinely mass force To the extent that the ‘broad front’ clarity about how to proceed, beyond that we on the left can replace the orientation of SR, ACI and co), but seeking to influence, inspire and approach is justified historically, the the ISN intervening in the Left Unity existing Labour Party with a Labour he then proceeds to define such a empower the millions upon millions example of the International Working initiative in order to argue for politics Party mark two. Not only is such a formation as including “in its ranks of conscious, dedicated fighters Men’s Association (First International) based on day-to-day struggles of perspective pointless: it is illusory. all those who wish to bring about the needed to break through the fetters will be invoked. Established in 1864, the working class, couched in the Before we move on to our socialist transformation of society”, of the capitalist system. Instead, it it consisted of an array of different language of “socialism from below”. substantive differences, it is worth even though “some may believe relies on small forces levering larger working class trends and outlooks, To highlight what I think are stressing one or two things: we in this could be brought about through ones: ie, frontism, manipulation and such as British trade unionists, incorrect politics is not to dismiss the the CPGB strive to work alongside reformist means”. He contends that a certain cynicism. In organising in Proudhonists, Bakuninists, Owenites, comrade or the ISN more generally: all others seeking to defend and the establishment of such a party and the name of revolutionary expediency supporters of Marx and Engels, and I appreciate that he and his comrades advance the interests of the working fighting for revolutionary unity are around politics we actually know to many more. will take some time to find their class. We also strive to engage with not “mutually exclusive” - they are be wrong, the left is falling back on This is often seen as a model for the feet politically, especially given all serious left unity initiatives, even two “separate, but linked” tasks for pre-Marxist/anti-Marxist conceptions kind of “class struggle” organisation that they have only just been freed when we think the motivating politics revolutionaries today. of revolution, which emphasise the that comrade Nelson would like LU to from the stifling and proscriptive are highly questionable. After all, In light of the abject failure of the role of the all-seeing elite, not the self- become: after all, it sought to “unite regime of the SWP, a regime that is CPGB comrades were involved in British left’s ‘broad party’ initiatives emancipation of the majority. all those who wish to confront the absolutely antithetical to the kind the Socialist Labour Party, Socialist over the past couple of decades, Thirdly, if we think that Marxism capitalist system”, with Marx and of strategic thinking our movement Alliance, Scottish Socialist Party and I am slightly bewildered that this is scientific socialism that must be Engels gradually winning support. requires. My criticisms, therefore, Respect. None of these were parties in argument still has any purchase at studied, understood and developed, Indeed, on the face of it, the supporters are offered in a spirit of a comradely the sense of organising a meaningful all. Even according to their own then how on earth can it further our of Marx were able to gain influence exchange: pointing out where I think part of the working class - but they extraordinarily limited aims these side to initially peddle illusions in within the International, as part of Nelson is going wrong and why such were certainly sites of intervention ‘broad parties’ have achieved nothing views that are alien and fundamentally their struggle against other tendencies strategic errors could lead him and where communists could fight for the but further demoralisation and sub- hostile to Marxism’s basic propositions and outlooks. the ISN towards yet another round of right politics and programme. political splits. Failure after failure on the nature of capitalism, imperialist Marx was certainly under no disillusionment and demoralisation. Anyway, the main issue between should teach us something. Not war, the police and the army, the illusions as to the nature of the forces us is this: is it incumbent upon surprisingly then, the entire notion of communist future? Would it perhaps he was collaborating with. In a letter Marxists themselves to establish such revolutionaries setting up ‘halfway be better to teach children the theory to Engels’ cousin, Karl Siebel, he Permanent formations? Do such organisations houses’ runs counter to the Marxist of evolution by first schooling them in argued that the Lassallean General minority? as the SLP, SA, Respect, the Trade method in three fundamental ways. the Lamarckian theory of inheritance German Workers’ Association should I would like to assure comrade Nelson Unionist and Socialist Coalition and Firstly, it implies (in contrast to of acquired characteristics as a affiliate to the International, but with that I have absolutely no intention of LU represent the highest form of Nelson’s correct insistence that the necessary ‘first step’ in the process this caveat: “Later on this organisation setting up “straw men” or deliberately mass politics in present-day capitalist liberation of the working class must of arriving at Darwinism, natural must be completely destroyed, misrepresenting his views. Indeed, conditions? Will there be a Respect, be of its own making) that ‘ordinary selection and so forth? because the foundations on which it one reason why exchanges such as Tusc or LU stage, a Respect, Tusc or people’ are incapable of being Essentially, what our ‘broad rests are false.”5 this are important is precisely to LU government, before socialism and directly won over to the inspiring partyist Marxists’ are doing is adapting There are, however, two main establish where we are talking past the rule of the working class? In other world outlook of Marxism. They to the left’s current marginality problems with the First International each other, so as to focus on our words is there - as the title of comrade must spend some time in a kind of and the overwhelming dominance analogy. Not only did it bust apart actual differences. The starting point Nelson’s and Thompson’s original non-Marxist purgatory, because it is of bourgeois ideology. Rather than when put to the test of the Paris for my article was to critique the idea piece explicitly states - the need for simply unthinkable that they can be locating that weakness in the series Commune: it was not actually initiated 965 June 6 2013 7

To get out of the gutter begin by looking up at the stars by Marx and Engels as some kind is from the theory, principles and can also affect other classes, how this even the most minor dissenting views petty bourgeois ecologists, etc? Why of sea in which they could swim. It programme of Marxism. can be overcome, etc. This is why we within that group. are there two tasks, rather than one: actually came about due to the efforts in the CPGB place so much emphasis We, in contrast, state that the establishing the unity of Marxists as of an international working class Nelson’s trap on clarity and demarcation when it existing far left can, and must, unite Marxists and winning militant workers movement that was still in its infancy For comrade Nelson, however, such an comes to strategy and programme on the basis of a political programme to what results? but was being spurred on in particular approach - surely the ‘A’ and the ‘B’ of (and why we take such issue with the that can map out the transition from After all, the main motivating by the revolutionary events in Poland the ABCs of Marxism - is indicative notion of halfway houses with their capitalism to the rule of the working forces behind LU actually self- and the United States. There had been of an elitist disdain for the working mystifying, fudging and confusing). class (the minimum programme) identify as Marxists. It is their sectism, several other vague unity initiatives. class masses. He is aghast: “Lewis Lenin, all the while following Marx, and the transition to communism economism and political conservatism Yet, as historian August Nimtz notes, seems to fall into the classic ‘Leninist’ Engels and Kautsky, was seeking and generalised human freedom which hold them back from fighting “Marx had turned down apparently trap of believing that revolutionary to combat the economistic idea that (the maximum programme). We are for a revolutionary alternative. At similar invitations” before 1864. What consciousness can be brought to the there is something contained within clear that our Draft programme, as a dangerous historical juncture of made this attempt at unity different, masses from the outside. A common the economic struggle itself that, as the title implies, is not the last word capitalist crisis and turmoil, where the and what made it worth entering and theme of dogmatic Leninism is the this struggle heightens, will result in on this question, but something that need for a higher form of society (as fighting within despite the awful idea that workers on their own cannot socialist consciousness. Interestingly we contribute to and fight for in that opposed to a bandaged and plastered politics of many who were involved, develop revolutionary ideas, and it is in this regard, last year ISN comrade struggle. Comrade Nelson’s thoughts version of the existing one) is so was that it represented real working the role of Marxist intellectuals to Richard Seymour offered a similar on it would be most welcome. painfully obvious, our ‘broad party’ class forces internationally. As Marx enlighten them.” economistic explanation for why we We are certainly not out for comrades are allowing the right - ie, wrote to Engels, “I knew on this Perhaps this is indicative of on the far left appear to have embraced ideological purity. We merely ask the trade union bureaucracy and the occasion ‘people who really count’ comrade Nelson reacting, in a rather left reformism: “In practice,” he said, that all comrades accept such a liberal bourgeoisie - to set their agenda, were appearing, both from London knee-jerk fashion, to his alienating “we are all pursuing ‘left reformist’ programme as the basis for action. all in the name of ‘common sense’ and/ and from Paris.”6 experience of ‘Leninism’ in the agendas, in the hope that the ensuing Moreover, we stress that comrades or ‘making a difference’. Yet here is Moreover, if we take 1864 as SWP, whereby the all-powerful and class struggles and crises will provide have the right and the duty to the rub: precisely because the forces of some kind of starting point for all-knowing central committee the means (popular self-organisation, publicly raise their criticisms and reformism are either loyal to or cannot revolutionary organisation today, dishes out the orders to the minions. workers’ rebellion) to turn them into differences within the framework of see beyond the existing capitalist state, then we are ignoring some of the key Yet comrade Nelson and his ISN tools for transition.”10 The movement that programme. If we are serious they are rather poor fighters for reform organisational and political lessons comrades must be careful not to draw is everything, the final goal is ... about building organisations that can and change. Revolutionary principles, that Marx and Engels had drawn from simplistic conclusions from their “relate to the class” in any meaningful tactics and methods of struggle are the the failure of the International. SWP days. The entire ‘IS tradition’ Elitism? way, then this is the kind of culture surest way of actually winning reforms. At the International’s final congress must be scrutinised. As I warned in To imply, as comrade Nelson does, we need to fight for and win across We must look to the potential of our (the only one he actually attended) in my previous article, the baby must that Lenin was out to create a party the whole movement - not frontism, own organisational power, not to the the Hague in 1872, Marx was adamant not be thrown out with the SWP of intellectuals, whose elitist outlook short-termism and lowest-common- generosity of those above. that, in order to achieve its goals, bathwater in a rejection of leadership necessarily entailed a ‘distrust of the denominator ‘broad parties’. So as to unleash this potential, we the workers needed to organise in a and leaders tout court.9 workers’ and their energy, creativ- Comrade Nelson takes issue with on the far left must urgently begin to political party of the class, based on As things currently stand, comrade ity and ability to develop ideas, is an me for discussing the kind of party organise around what we are actually a clear and principled programme. Nelson could not be more wrong enormous disservice to Bolshevism that could bring about the socialist for, especially given that there are This Marxist programme was not, as when it comes to Lenin and Leninism. and some our movement’s best tradi- transformation of society. Dismissing various backward-looking, reformist he constantly stressed, to be fought for He seems to be aiming his fire at tions. this as “elitist nonsense” (presumably and even reactionary outlooks as some kind of point d’honneur to the ‘infamous’ passage contained in I would encourage comrade Nelson along the same lines as his dismissal amongst many “who want to confront artificially separate the party from the Lenin’s 1902 pamphlet, What is to be to take another look at What is to be of his own caricature of the supposed the capitalist system”, as comrade working class movement, but because done? Lenin, in order to prove that done? and to also find the time to aloof intellectual, Lenin), he argues: Nelson puts it. We need to loudly and its basic propositions and solutions what he was arguing for was utterly read Lars T Lih’s Lenin rediscovered: “No party, sect or union is capable unashamedly proclaim that the only were true. As the resolution passed unoriginal, bog-standard Marxism, ‘What is to be done?’ in context. One of bringing about the socialist type of organisation worth its salt, at the Hague congress underlined, approvingly quoted Karl Kautsky: of the great merits of this study is transformation of society. In this, the the only organisation that can, with “... the working class cannot act, as “Socialist consciousness is something that it proves how - in yet another International Socialists stand firmly time, become fully mass, is one that a class, except by constituting itself introduced into the proletarian class of the ironic twists of our history - in the Marxist tradition of the self- openly champions the supersession into a political party, distinct from, and struggle from without [von Aussen at the 1902 congress of the Russian emancipation of the working class. It of capitalism and the achievement of opposed to, all old parties formed by Hineingetragenes] and not something Social Democratic Labour Party it is the workers themselves who are the working class power. Would comrade the propertied classes”. Constituting that arose within it spontaneously was actually the Menshevik minority vehicle for the socialist transformation Nelson vote for such politics in LU, or, the working class into a political [urwüchsig]. Accordingly, the old that was characterised by an elitist of society.” like his allies in the ACI and SR, would party, it continues, “is indispensable Hainfeld programme quite rightly aloofness to the worker activists in But a class with what ideas, what he fudge them in the name of ‘breadth’ in order to ensure the triumph of the stated that the task of social democracy the movement. The Mensheviks programme, what organisations? A and inclusivity? social revolution and its ultimate end is to imbue [literally, to saturate] the also thought that they were above class in itself is not the same thing as a To quote Oscar Wilde, “We are all - the abolition of classes”. Instead proletariat with the consciousness of the democracy and discipline of the class for itself. We agree that no “sect or in the gutter, but some of us are looking of fudging, remaining silent on or its position and the consciousness of party, mocking the Bolshevik majority union” can bring about socialism. But, at the stars” l downplaying tasks, the message was its task” (the comments in parentheses faction for its lack of ‘intellectuals’. to paraphrase Marx, is the class able to clear: “To conquer political power has are those of Lenin). Given these basic misrepresentations act as a class without a revolutionary [email protected] therefore become the great duty of the Lenin is making the (surely of ‘Leninism’, it is hardly a surprise party? Victorious revolution, after all, working classes.”7 pretty obvious) point that a rounded, that comrade Nelson arrives at the not only presupposes that our rulers Notes Those on today’s left who sneer at genuinely Marxist consciousness following conclusion, as if he were cannot continue to rule, but that there 1. T Nelson, ‘Illusion is the first of all pleasures’ the idea of standing on a “full Marxist amongst a working class that has polemicising with Workers Power or exists a certain maturity of will, firmness Weekly Worker May 30. 2. B Lewis, ‘Broad party illusions’ Weekly Worker programme”, should take note. The transcended its existence as a mere the International Bolshevik Tendency: of organisation, depth of consciousness May 23. conclusions drawn in these resolutions slave class and attained a genuinely “If you believe that revolutionary and resolute unity of our class. If this is 3. T Nelson and P Thompson, ‘Left Unity and the informed the establishment of the world-historic and scientific outlook consciousness is brought about from not the case, then why would Marxists need for a broad party’: http://internationalsocial- parties that later came together in (embodied in works like Capital, Anti- ‘the top down’, then the task is to build need to do anything at all beyond istnetwork.org/index.php/ideas-and-arguments/ organisation/left-unity/116-tim-nelson-and-paris- what we now know as the Second Dühring, etc) does not result from the an ideologically pure organisation, promoting routine economic struggle? thompson-left-unity-and-the-need-for-a-broad- International: a real victory, as Engels economic struggle: ie, the constant which can at its leisure develop a word- Moreover, while the best of party. never ceased to point out. Contrary to ‘guerrilla warfare’ over things like perfect revolutionary programme.”11 intentions doubtless lie behind 4. I Birchall, ‘What does it mean to be a Lenin- the claims of some ‘broad partyists’ hours, wages and conditions. No, comrade, arguing that the comrade Nelson’s emphasis ist?’ Socialist Review June 2013. 8 5. Quoted in R Morgan The German Social today, the programme of the Parti Urwüchsig is the key term here, Marxist programme is developed ‘top on building “bottom up”, such Democrats and the First International 1864-72 Ouvrier in France (in part written by which is why Lenin retains its down’, as the result of painstaking methods are actually disingenuous. Cambridge 2008, p95. Marx himself), the Erfurt programme use in brackets. Often translated theoretical work and discussion, is not After all, precisely because of the 6. A Nimtz Marx and Engels: their contribution of German Social Democracy, the as ‘elemental’ or ‘primitive’, it the same as arguing for a sect. After all, “contradictory” nature of working to the democratic breakthrough New York 2000, p179. Hainfeld programme of Austrian underlines how Kautsky is referring while Marx, Engels, Lenin and Rosa class consciousness that he notes, 7. ‘Resolution on the establishment of working Social Democracy and - perhaps to the working class movement in its Luxemburg were all of non-proletarian as well as the fact that human class parties’: www.marxists.org/history/interna- most importantly for our discussion most elemental form: ie, the immediate origins and did not spend a day of their beings possess different talents, tional/iwma/documents/1872/hague-conference/ with comrade Nelson, the minimum- conflict between the worker and the lives working as a factory hand, can we skills, interests and so on, there parties.htm. 8. C Strafford, ‘The road to a united left’: http:// maximum programme advocated by boss, which can manifest itself in a think of more dedicated and selfless are always going to be those who anticapitalists.org/2013/02/08/the-road-to-a- Lenin - were not ‘broad’, but actually variety of ways. Marxism is not needed working class fighters than these? lead in politics: even (and perhaps united-left. drew sharp lines of demarcation to invent such a thing: it is a constantly We in the CPGB are clear: the especially!) in groups that claim 9. Unfortunately, the leaflet distributed by ISN against anarchists, reformists and recurring feature of capitalist society. current crisis of the far left can to to have eschewed leadership and comrades at the May 31-June 1 Dangerous Ideas event staged by Counterfire seems to suggest labour bureaucrats who could not Yet the role of Marxism is to stress no small extent be traced back to a leaders. In this sense, for us in the that some are veering in this direction. See http:// countenance talk of the working class the need for a political organisation crisis of, and an indifference towards, CPGB, ‘top down’ does not translate internationalsocialistnetwork.org/index.php/ overthrowing the capitalist state and adopting a revolutionary stance in programme. This is particularly true of into a disdain for democracy: downloads/126-socialism-from-below-a-real- taking political power. respect to all classes in society as a the ‘IS tradition’, which has generally leadership in a revolutionary party, dangerous-idea?1=1. 10. R Seymour, ‘A comment on Greece and Therein lay the strength of these whole. Simple as that. viewed a revolutionary programme as well as across the workers’ Syriza’ International Socialism No136, October parties: their clear understanding of None of this is to say that as a hindrance, not the springboard movement as a whole, has to be 2012. how to “merge socialism with the economic struggles are irrelevant to from which to unite and tool up the based on the most thoroughgoing 11. Workers Power nicely sums up this version of workers’ movement” and map out the revolutionary strategy, but merely workers’ movement. In fact, it is the democracy and accountability. ‘Leninism’. In one statement, the comrades write, without any sense of irony or humility: “We do historic mission of the working class. that the role of Marxists is not to limit IS tradition that has displayed all the Comrade Nelson concludes: “The not present our programme as an ultimatum, From cooperatives and clubs through agitation and activity to such bread characteristics of an “ideologically task is to build a mass, democratic, in a ‘take it or leave it’, ‘all or nothing’ way. to newspapers and demonstrations, and butter issues, but to constantly pure” group, based as it is upon socialist organisation”. I agree. But We are clear, however, that without it the new these parties touched the lives of champion, and seek to imbue the agreement with particular shibboleths hang on a minute ... why does this organisation would not be a fully revolutionary organisation; it would be some sort of intermedi- millions. Yet in terms of their theory, masses with, the kind of rounded and historical interpretations - such task also entail setting up a party ate centrist organisation.” This is all the more their principles and their programmes, vision that addresses how we are ruled as the permanent arms economy or that includes Stalinists, trade union absurd, as WP agrees that it is the duty of Marx- they were all built ‘top down’. That and oppressed, how this oppression state capitalism - and the gagging of bureaucrats, left reformists, anarchists, ists to establish centrist parties! 8 June 6 2013 965 ITALY Grillo’s populism exposed The Five Star Movement has suffered a sharp drop in support. Toby Abse reports on the first round of the local elections he Italian local elections of In fact the third-placed candidate May 26-27 represent a massive was not that of the M5S, but Laura Tsetback for Beppe Grillo and the Vigni, who gained 10.3% challenging Movimento Cinque Stelle (Five Star the PD from the left with the backing Movement - M5S). Whilst there was of Rifondazione Comunista. The PRC a record level of abstention by Italian itself only got 2.7% and the allied local standards,1 with only 62.5% of the list, Sinistra per Siena, picked up 2.8% potential electorate voting, this did - a slightly better outcome than that not - contrary to what was universally obtained by the communists elsewhere expected when the low turnout was in this round of local elections. known, but the votes were as yet In other words, the left is in uncounted - primarily impact on the no position to mount an electoral Partito Democratico (PD), many of challenge. It is true that the whose voters were far from pleased by metalworkers’ union, FIOM, managed the formation of the ‘grand coalition’ to organise a very respectable with Silvio Berlusconi’s Popolo della demonstration of between 50,000 and Libertà (PdL). 100,000 people against the austerity In none of the 16 provincial capitals policies of the grand coalition in Rome in which polling took place this year did on May 11. The event united SEL, M5S mayoral candidates make it into Rifondazione, sections of M5S and a the second, run-off ballot to be held on few prominent individual dissidents June 9-10.2 The centre-left - consisting from the PD, along with trade union of the ex-‘official communist’- activists and pensioners’ organisations, dominated PD, the soft-left Sinistra and hopefully signalled the beginning Ecologia e Libertà (SEL) and a number of some sort of mass fightback. But the of smaller formations - won five of local election results gave no indication these mayoralties by gaining over 50% Beppe Grillo: going down of opposition to the coalition finding of the vote on the first ballot, and in the any widespread electoral outlet other 11 where a second round is required the in Italian politics. camps: ‘L’Italia A’ and ‘L’Italia of Grillo’s untrustworthiness as a than M5S or abstention l centre-left candidate was in the lead All of this should have been B’. The first is “composed of those serious political figure. in the first round, so it is reasonable to blindingly obvious to Grillo and his who live from politics (500,000 Notes suppose that a centre-left candidate will close associate and internet guru, people), those who have the security No left challenge 1. Participation rates in Italian local elec- be victorious in the majority of cases. Gianroberto Casaleggio - any rational of a public-sector job (four million The PD may have emerged as tions have been much higher than their British The collapse of the M5S vote since appraisal of the feedback M5S had been people) and pensioners (19 million the strongest force in the local equivalents throughout the period since 1945. The original reasons for this were both good and the February general election was a getting for months, either directly from people)”. The second is made up of elections, but it seems unlikely that bad: the presence of ideologically based mass nationwide trend, with relatively little comments on Grillo’s blog or more “the self-employed, laid-off workers, it has actually gained any substantial political parties, on the one hand, and the extent in the way of regional variations. In generally in terms of what appeared precarious workers, small and medium portion of those voters who deserted of clientelism and corruption in local government, Rome, for example, M5S got 12.5% on Facebook, Twitter and political enterprises, students”. Allegedly ‘Italy M5S between February and May. on the other. But the pattern persisted after the cold war conditions that gave rise to it altered in in the local elections, compared with websites, should have indicated A’ can be written off as only interested Moreover, in Siena, which would the early 1990s. 27.3% in the general election, and that Grillo’s total unwillingness to in the “status quo”. Continuing his rant have been regarded as a first-round 2. Since Italy’s introduction of directly elected everywhere else the drop in support compromise even tactically with the against ‘L’Italia A’, Grillo declares: certainty for the PCI and all its mayors in 1993 municipal elections have been was just as dramatic or even more so. more open-minded elements of the PD “Voting for those who reassure them successor parties, the PD candidate conducted according to rules somewhat remi- niscent of French elections. Groupings whose Although M5S lacks the deep roots was incomprehensible to M5S voters. but in reality have destroyed the only got 39.6% and will have to go mayoral candidates do not make it into the second in specific localities that the PD (or Instead of which, the slightest criticism country, they are condemning it to a to a second round run-off with the round do, however, obtain representation on the rather its predecessors, particularly of Grillo and Casaleggio, whether by road with no way back” and concludes, PdL. The poor PD showing resulted council in accordance with their score on the first the Partito Comunista Italiano) built the more astute M5S parliamentarians sarcastically, addressing this section of from a massive scandal leading to the ballot, so on this occasion M5S did increase its up over many years, by no means or by ordinary citizens posting on the population: “I understand you - resignation of many leading figures nationwide total of councillors, albeit from a low 3 starting figure. all of Grillo’s poor showing can be Grillo’s blog, was dismissed as the you have done well.” in a very long established, locally 3. Quoted in La Repubblica May 29. This ‘analy- ascribed to the virtual nature of his work of trolls, infiltrators and traitors Despite the demagogic appeal based bank, and the Sienese PD’s sis’ first appeared on Grillo’s blog. internet-based movement, with its in the pay of the PD. to students, the unemployed very close links to the bank clearly 4. Corriere della Sera May 30. Rodotà stressed the importance of choosing good local candidates. relatively small membership and lack Whilst Grillo and Casaleggio should and casualised workers, this is a harmed their electoral prospects. Yet He criticised over-reliance on the internet during of functioning territorial branches. At shoulder the greatest responsibility fundamentally rightwing, anti- Grillo failed to make the headway he the campaign and Grillo’s blaming of the voters least some of the shift results from for the M5S debacle, the obsessive working class stance. It attacks those had anticipated in Siena. after the result was known. political rather than organisational or and widely reported discussions of workers most likely to be unionised technical deficiencies, even if Grillo’s the M5S parliamentarians over what and retaining some measure of official line, defied by some M5S portion of parliamentary salaries or protection under what remains of parliamentarians, of a boycott of all expenses should be accepted, returned the workers’ statute (after Elsa Fighting fund television stations, was probably an to the state or given to ‘good causes’, Fornero’s counter-reforms a year own goal, given that a large portion and in what circumstances receipts ago) and demonises the elderly, of older voters get their political were required, has not impressed whose pensions have been repeatedly information from television and not their own electorate. This is partly and severely reduced by successive the internet. The behaviour of M5S in because there is some suspicion that Italian governments over the last Summer Offensive parliament over the last three months M5S members elected to parliament 20 years of ‘reforms’ (even if they he leadership of the CPGB though! But the last two days of the has clearly disappointed its own want to get their snouts in the trough have not been reduced enough to Tis proposing to an aggregate month brought in a fantastic £175, supporters, who imagined the party in the same way as the PD and PdL satisfy foreign neoliberal ideologues of members on Saturday, June thanks to TR (£50) and RS (£20), would bring about a rapid change in parliamentarians whom they had like Bill Emmott or his German 8 that our Summer Offensive who both made use of PayPal hours the Italian political climate. denounced and partly because at a counterparts). Grillo’s attack is also fundraising drive be launched before the deadline, to HB for her Grillo had calculated that his time of falling real wages, rising likely to consolidate the tendency by the meeting. The SO is an £30 bank transfer and to MN for intransigent approach to the PD would prices, growing unemployment and of public-sector workers and more intensive campaign which lasts his £50 cheque. Thanks also to AR, pay off, since it would strengthen the numerous bankruptcies, they would class-conscious pensioners from a until the end of our summer JC and RL for their standing orders hand of those in the PD favouring regard these issues as secondary at proletarian background to vote for school, Communist University, amounting to £25. a grand coalition, whose formation best and irrelevant at worst. the PD, in the absence of any viable on August 18. The proposed aim Secondly, our June fund begins would enable him to present M5S electoral force to its left, rather to is to raise a total of £30,000. and ends with this issue of the paper, as the only real enemy of a corrupt Narcissism draw them towards M5S. All cash donated to the Weekly but in the short time since June 1 system. That would lead the Grillo’s reaction to his own setback Grillo’s extremely personalised Worker fighting fund during the we have collected £297. Most of virtuous Italian people into a frontal has been counterproductive, to say the and hostile reaction to an interview SO will be included in the total - that came in the shape of no fewer confrontation with the political class very least. His wounded narcissism that the octogenarian presidential although it goes without saying than 15 standing orders for amounts a whole, according to the classic has led him to lash out against the candidate backed by M5S, Stefano that it will still be used to meet ranging from £6 to £30 and totalling populist scenario. However, many electorate rather than make any real Rodotà, gave to the Corriere della the paper’s running costs. But this £222. The rest came from three of those who had voted for M5S in self-criticisms. Whilst attacking the Sera,4 probably made things even means that this week’s column is PayPal donations - from EJ (£50), February still regarded Berlusconi, role of the media - a fairly standard worse. Rodotà had criticised the the last from me until the end of the NW (£20) and DT (£5). They were and not the PD, as the main enemy response to a poor result amongst tactical errors of M5S, which he felt SO - CPGB national organiser Mark among 9,718 online readers last and were, therefore, far from happy most politicians all over the world contributed to its poor local election Fischer will be reporting on the week, by the way. to see the defeat of the seemingly - is particularly illogical on the part result, and Grillo’s reaction was progress of the Offensive, beginning Thanks to all our supporters for more open-minded Pierluigi Bersani of somebody who has spent the last highlighted by several mainstream next week with the pledges taken at, your continuing generosity. I am with his apparent willingness to do a few years pronouncing on the utter commentators. They drew attention before and after the launch. sure many of you will be answering deal with M5S, or at any rate adopt irrelevance of ‘obsolescent’ forms to his rapid shift from idolising But beforehand I have my own the call of comrade Fischer! l some of its programme, by the more like television and newspapers in the Rodotà as the ideal candidate for reporting to do. First, the May fund. Robbie Rix pro-Berlusconi wing of the PD and in face of the triumph of the internet, the the presidency of the republic in I’m pleased to say we exceeded Fill in a standing order form effect blamed Grillo for precipitating attack on large sections of the Italian April to dismissing him in May as our £1,500 target by £23 - not quite (back page), donate via our the formation of the grand coalition population is far less amusing. an 80-year-old has-been who had enough to wipe out the remaining website, or send cheques, and its natural concomitant: According to Grillo, the population been resuscitated by the internet. £36 deficit from earlier in the year payable to Weekly Worker Berlusconi’s return to total centrality is divided into two main sociological This was presented as an example 965 June 6 2013 9 TORIES Fraying at the edges Desperate anti-Europe posturing shows that the Tories are being pulled sharply to the right by Ukip, writes Eddie Ford othing is going right for the rhetoric - you could almost call him Tories at the moment. An swivel-eyed - Iain Duncan Smith Nopinion poll published by thundered how he will “not stand by” The Observer on June 1 showed that and allow Brussels make a benefits support for the Conservative Party has “land grab” that could cost taxpayers dropped to 26%, whilst Labour is on £155 million a year, vowing to “fight 37% - and it almost goes without saying every step of the way” the EC court that the Liberal Democrats, facing case. Duncan Smith said he had possible decimation at the next general been given assurances by Cameron election, are languishing way behind that social security would be a “red on a wretched 6%. However, the most line” for the Conservative Party in worrying finding for the Tories is that its broader ‘renegotiations’ with the the United Kingdom Independence EU. Douglas Carswell, a Eurosceptic Party - not so long ago dismissed as a Tory backbencher and libertarian, mere bunch of “fruitcakes” by David declared that the EC’s “lunatic Cameron - are surging high on 21%, and offensive decision” would just with the European elections less than demonstrate to more people how “we a year away. David Cameron: right, right, right need to leave the EU completely”. Clearly, Ukip now poses a very For Nigel Farage, the commission’s real threat to the Tories - even if it come with the job), but who does he to Ukip. A not impossible outcome, Hague also outlined other “key “audacity” provides clear evidence is the case that the Labour Party too represent: his Newark constituents or given the elections are conducted under challenges” for the EU, including that in a Britain-versus-EU fight, “we is in long-term decline, not getting Fiji? Farage denied that Mercer had a form of proportional representation. deepening the single market in order just don’t win” and never can - so get anywhere near the poll ratings it any plans to switch to Ukip, claiming The latest Com Res/Open Europe to “improve competition”, creating the hell out of Europe. has previously enjoyed under the he had a strict code of loyalty - being opinion poll, for example, has Ukip a “business-friendly” regulatory By making a great show of bashing Tweedledum-Tweedledee British an officer and a gentleman, of course. ahead on 27%, with Labour on 23%, framework and building “new trade the Brussels bureaucrats and ‘standing political-electoral system, which is The Ukip leader has stated that he the Tories on 21% and the Lib Dems partnerships”. Hague received the up for Britain’, the Tories think they now so clearly in serious trouble. would not stand in Newark if Mercer (not trailing nearly so badly when it enthusiastic endorsement of Business can steal Ukip’s clothes. In reality Like a noxious acid, Ukip is eating did eventually quit, but another Ukip comes to projections for the Euro PR for Britain, which believes that a though, far from manifesting a away the Tory vote and its chances of candidate would be found - perhaps elections) on 18%.2 “flexible, competitive Europe” with display of principled resolve, it just forming a ‘true blue’ government at Des Lynam? It is easy to imagine Ukip It is fair to say that coming third more powers devolved from Brussels adds instead to the distinct impression the next general election. doing embarrassingly well. In fact, it in such a way would be catastrophic is “essential for growth” and urges all that the Tory Party is fraying at the is not entirely inconceivable that it for the Tories. It would undermine political parties to commit themselves edges - more concerned with holding Despicable could actually win the seat. the morale of the grassroots activists to a “national drive” to renegotiate the squabbling factions together Even before The Observer poll came If things were not bad enough, the - already alienated from the party the terms of Britain’s membership than projecting a coherent political out, the Tories were still reeling from Mail on Sunday decided to run the hierarchy - and further diminish of the EU.3 message that will change hearts and the developing scandal involving dramatic headline story, “Number 10 any hope of forming an outright Then we had Iain Duncan Smith’s minds at the next general election. the MP for Newark, Patrick Mercer rocked by secret love affair” (June 1). Conservative government in 2015. huge hullabaloo about European And Cameron does appear to be - the public school-educated former We are told that Cameron held “crisis The fact of the matter is that Ukip migrants to Britain not being running scared of Farage, wanting to colonel who completed nine tours talks” after being told of allegations supporters/activists will be far more given equal treatment, much to the exclude him from future TV debates in Northern Ireland and latterly of a “sensational” love affair between motivated to vote on the day and, more approval of the rightwing press. “At between the political leaders ahead of commanded a battalion in Bosnia. two “middle-aged figures”, neither of importantly still, Ukip will be able to last!” rejoiced the Daily Express, as the general election on the grounds He resigned the Conservative Party whom, it seems, serves in the current scoop up the ‘anti-politics’ protest Smith “finally snubs EU rules and that he represents a party without any whip following claims that he had cabinet. When aides, we further vote - its message being far more bans migrants from benefits” - now MPs - therefore Ukip is not a serious tabled parliamentary motions after read, told Cameron the identities of simple, directly linking immigration “determined to scrap any automatic organisation. Never mind the 26% of taking thousands of pounds from the alleged lovers he was “stunned” with the European Union. While eligibility for handouts” (June 3). the electorate who voted for Ukip at a fake lobbying firm purportedly and, according to senior sources, those ‘politically correct’ metropolitan The obnoxious work and pensions the local elections or the 16.5% in the representing “Fijian business “immediately realised the importance leaders are out of touch, Ukip speaks secretary wants to ensure no-one 2009 European elections. Irrelevant. interests” in a newspaper sting - to of the story” - worried that any public plain common sense - the Poles, who has spent less than six months in Unsurprisingly, Farage is threatening whom he admitted, or boasted, that disclosures of the facts surrounding the Romanians, Bulgarians, etc are Britain can access welfare. The new court action over the issue. he came cheap at £1,000 a day. Tory affair could “blow out of the water” any taking our jobs and depriving us of ‘six-month’ system will be drawn Unlike many on the left, we in sleaze is back. major political set pieces planned by our housing. A simple explanation that up after the department for work the CPGB never thought that the Unhappily for the Tories, Newark the prime ministerial team. Needless requires a simple solution - getting and pensions implements current coalition government was inherently is regarded as a ‘natural’ hunting to say, the blogosphere and Twitter is out of Europe and asserting our own plans to demand more evidence of weak and would fall apart at the first ground for Ukip. Indeed, Mercer awash with rumours - including the destiny as a nation again. Totally residency rights from EU migrants mass strike or demonstration - a pitiful recently invited Nigel Farage to suggestion that the two “middle-aged” false and reactionary, of course, but - meaning migrants will be asked illusion. However, like many others, address his constituency - the Ukip people concerned are men. a potentially very powerful message to go even further to prove that they we did think that after a few years leader mischievously telling The If the identity of the ‘tryst’ that could bring success for Ukip have a permanent address. Would-be the pressure would build up within Observer that he came away with participants is revealed (the lawyers - something the Tories know only claimants will have to provide details the Lib Dems. Perhaps an MP or two the impression that the local Tory are on permanent stand-by) we are too well. of their mortgage or the length of would cross the floor of the house to association was “closer to us than led to believe that the subsequent Almost inevitably, the Tories feel their rental lease in order to secure Labour or a serious ruction would to their own leader”. Mercer himself public shock will be at least as great they have no choice but to make a eligibility - as well as explaining how erupt at a party conference - especially has been widely touted as a possible as the disclosure of the affair - steamy dash to the right in an attempt to exactly they have spent their time in as the Lib Dems are relatively open defector to Ukip and you can see or otherwise - between John Major undercut Ukip. Hence the desperate, the country. and democratic, compared to the why. He was hurriedly sacked from and Edwina Currie, which was kept nonsensical posturing in the last Duncan Smith ordered for these ghastly, stage-managed events held Cameron’s shadow cabinet in 2007 secret for nearly two decades until week from the government. So plans to be fast-tracked after the EC by the Labour and Conservative after saying that as an army officer 2002. Cameron has also had to deal William Hague pulls out his ‘red launched a legal fight at the European control-freaks. he had met a lot of “idle and useless” with other unwanted scandals in cards’ on Europe under the guise of Court of Justice over “discrimination” But it has not really panned out ethnic-minority soldiers who used recent weeks. Leaving aside for now making the EU “more democratically by the British government. The like that. A surprising feature of this false claims of racism as a “cover” for the non-story about Boris Johnson’s responsive”. His new proposal is commission contends that British coalition is that the Tories are proving their laziness - after all, being called “love child”, there was the news that to extend the ‘yellow card’ system rules deciding how foreign EU to be the weakest link rather than a “black bastard” was a just a normal the Tory MP and deputy speaker, Nigel already in place, under which nationals qualify for social security the Lib Dems - who at the moment part of army life (hard to deny). Then Evans, had been arrested following parliaments can demand that a payments violates Britain’s ostensible seem almost eerily united (though notoriously in 2011 he was taped at a allegations that he raped one man proposed law is reconsidered by commitment to a common EU system, time will tell). The main explanation prestigious party - doubtlessly after and sexually assaulted two others the European Commission. The red which by definition includes eligibility is that under the impact of the a drink or two - making extremely between 2009 and 2013 - with the card, naturally, would go further for welfare. According to the EC, economic crisis society as a whole is disparaging remarks about Cameron, police investigating an alleged fourth by blocking legislation altogether. 28,400 applications for benefits from moving sharply to the right - mainly describing him as “despicable” and victim, a former parliamentary intern Overtly appealing to potential Ukip non-British EU citizens/nationals because the left is not able to present the “worst politician in British history aged 22-years-old, who claims that voters, Hague complained that “too living in the UK had been rejected a viable alternative. In a sign of the since William Gladstone”.1 he was “intimately groped” by Evans often” the British people feel Europe between 2009 and 2011 - two out of times, the fascist English Defence Naturally, he is now coming in a House of Commons bar in 2011. is “something that happens to them, three applications. It believes many of League is organising anti-Muslim under pressure to stand down as an Evans has branded all the accusations not something they have enough of them would have been granted were it demonstrations, the British National MP before the next general election. as “completely false”. Cameron must a say over”. Thus it was crucial, he not for the tighter ‘right to reside’ test, Party is ‘returning to the streets’ and Labour and Ukip, not to mention dread opening the newspapers in the said, to increase the role of individual which was actually introduced by the Ukip is on the rise - pulling the Tories the likes of The Daily Telegraph - morning or logging onto the internet, member-states when it comes to EU last Labour government. Additionally, to the right l which has a distinctly ambiguous whatever the truth or otherwise of all decision-making. “Ultimately”, the the commission also cited a London relationship to the Tory Party - are or any of the above allegations. foreign secretary continued, it is University study which found that EU [email protected] bound to agitate for a by-election, “national governments and national nationals living in Britain paid in more not unreasonably. As things stand Common sense parliaments that are accountable to to the social security system than they Notes 1. The Daily Telegraph November 13 2011. now, Mercer is going to sit there for However, there is yet another our electorates” - arguing that they took out - highlighting the unfairness 2. www.comres.co.uk/polls/Open_Europe_EU_ two years receiving a handsome wage nightmarish scenario to contend with - are the “democratic levers voters or discrimination. and_Westminster_VI_Poll_May_2013.pdf. (plus all the perks and expenses that losing next year’s European elections know how to pull”. Upping the nationalist, anti-EU 3. http://businessforbritain.org/about. 10 June 6 2013 965 ANALYSIS Far right on the march The chauvinist atmosphere in the wake of the Lee Rigby murder has thrown the British far right into the spotlight. Paul Demarty assesses the balance of forces he murder of Lee Rigby in support - football casuals, the most Yet, while Woolwich showed up association with the SWP - a situation by Ukip, not UAF - let alone Love Woolwich was, among other atomised lower working class youth. the BNP as an utterly spent force, not helped by the prominence within Music, Hate Racism, RAR’s culturally Tthings, a gift to Britain’s far right. The BNP had demobilised such the EDL has returned to its former UAF of the alleged rapist at the centre moribund descendant (let’s face it - Had any of the crackpots at elements in favour of pursuing an strength almost overnight. It is not of the SWP’s recent turbulence. Hard Fi are a bit of a step down from the head of the various far-right electoral strategy, which seemed a difficult to see why. The group was Reports from ground zero at The Specials). organisations sat down to write smart move until Ukip - a slicker, formed ostensibly in response to recent anti-EDL mobilisations speak UAF’s decade-long stretch of the script, they could scarcely more moneyed electoral operation protests at the funerals of British to a creeping demoralisation. The jumping up and down and shrieking have done better. Two Muslims - was able to recover from its own soldiers organised by the likes of hysterical chants of the UAF faithful ‘Nazi!’ has achieved absolutely - black Muslims! - were caught, mid-2000s troubles. Anjam Choudary, the noted Islamist ring increasingly hollow from inside nothing; in the same period, the in a morbidly literal sense, red- The BNP will no doubt slope on lunatic. The murder of Rigby provided a police kettle, with two, three or centre of gravity in Britain has shifted handed after butchering a (white) until Griffin and Brons are squeezed almost exactly the same backdrop, four times as many EDL boot boys markedly to the right. Our side has British soldier in the streets. There out of the European parliament next albeit that bit more grisly. a couple of streets away. The UAF gotten more disorganised and marginal; is something here for every variety year; but any anti-fascist types feeling The EDL turned out over 1,000 contingents are smaller and more the far right, meanwhile, now has by of racist, Islamophobe or chauvinist triumphant should remember that it people in both London and Newcastle, isolated from kindred anti-fascist all appearances a stable party capable (except, perhaps, the oddball ‘third was the BNP’s own contradictions, and several hundred elsewhere in the groupings and campaigns than at any of achieving mass votes and pulling positionists’, who used to consider not the endless hysterical counter- country. It organised a coordinated time in recent years. the Tories in a chauvinist, revanchist such people allies against the mobilisations, that did for it in the end. series of much smaller marches to lay Dave Renton - an SWP oppositionist direction, in the form of Ukip. depredations of international Jewry). It is one thing to position your wreaths on war memorials. The sun who continues to publish critical In a sense, this is an entirely obvious So it has come to pass. The UK party as a British chauvinist-populist was shining; it made hay. Anti-fascist writings under his own name - has a and expected outcome. Fascism and Independence Party continues to alternative to the main parties, as counter-demonstrations have almost not uninteresting post-mortem of the similar far-right lunacy is an effect ride high in the polls, and the fact Griffin attempted to do. It is quite invariably been utterly outnumbered; major EDL counter-demonstration in of the decomposition of capitalist that the suspects were British-born another to do so with the human where scuffles have broken out across London. He quotes various comrades, politics and ideology - cyclical to an and possessed of thick south London material actually at the BNP’s disposal police lines, the anti-fascists have including one pretty perceptive extent, but also a long-term secular accents will not prevent them making - people who, like Griffin, have danced come out worse. remark from ‘RS’: “Our tactics didn’t trend in tandem with the decline of an immigration issue out of the whole around in every fruitcake fascist sub- Why, then, has the EDL benefited really work ... A month ago the EDL capitalism as a system. Anti-fascism affair. More spectacular, however, is sect of the last three decades. Griffin so dramatically, while the BNP has looked like a spent force. But clearly as a permanent campaigning priority the response of the English Defence has been a Strasserite Nazi, a Hitlerite been humiliated? It is because the that was rather superficial, since all necessarily poses an alliance between League, which has managed to get Nazi, a third positionist, a Powellite, EDL is both more and less fascist it’s taken is a single murder for them the far left and the bourgeois political serious numbers out on the streets a Leesite and almost everything else. than its erstwhile competitor. It is less to launch multiple mobilisations and mainstream; it forces us to prettify, to push its Muslim-baiting agenda. In a country whose modern national fascist inasmuch as its credentials are outnumber anti-fascists. We seem however much we gripe about biased Altogether less successful was the myth is the wartime triumph against far less problematically English. Its to have made very little impact on policing and ‘institutional racism’, British National Party, which betrays Hitler’s barbarism, no group will ever provenance in and around the military actually undermining the basis of the very political state regime which all the signs of disintegration. get too far with as many stock photos helps; it is relatively untroubled by Islamophobia in Britain.”1 makes the emergence of far-right of leading members making stiff-arm overtly neo-Nazi personal history It is the latter sentence which is groups inevitable (as if David Cameron BNP decay salutes as the BNP. on the part of its leaders; and the the most encouraging, as far as these is incapable of physically smashing The BNP’s flagship post-Woolwich bonehead hard core have tended things go. Why did the EDL suddenly the left or attacking migrants!). It is protest was a complete disaster. The EDL on the rise to produce splinter groups (North- brush away all its internal strife and utterly self-defeating. organisation was initially barred from Which brings us to the EDL. The West Infidel and North East Infidel problems? Quite simply because it Marx remarks that history only protesting in Woolwich, or indeed comparison is instructive, not least are geographically self-explanatory feeds off the chauvinism present in sets itself such tasks as it can achieve. marching anywhere at all by the because recently the group has been examples). Both the BNP and EDL the ideological atmosphere: it is given Unfortunately, the far left is not quite police. Nick Griffin used his Twitter beset with the same kinds of trouble brandish the cross of St George; only strength not necessarily by holding so wise as history. UAF, the ANL and feed to call on his faithful followers to as the BNP. the EDL, however, has proven truly successful demonstrations (barring more ‘militant’ competitors such as defy the latter order; but in the event Its leader, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon able to make the banner its own. total routs, even a march smashed Anti-Fascist Action, set themselves a few dozen dishevelled racists were (aka ‘Tommy Robinson’), was recently On the other hand, the EDL is more by police or counter-protestors the impossible objective of defeating penned in on Whitehall Gardens, with arrested by US border authorities (of classically fascist in its methods. Its can put fire in the belly if it is well fascism once and for all, or for a much larger anti-fascist contingent all things) for travelling on a friend’s orientation is to the streets, not the handled), but because its ideology whole historical periods, without nearby (see opposite). passport in defiance of a banning order. ballot box. While its protests are is coterminous with the xenophobic, overcoming its actual material It is a measure, in fact, of how Like Griffin, he has assumed absolute ostensibly non-violent, its membership jingoistic bilge thrown about by the grounding in capitalist society and dramatically its star has waned in dictatorial control of his group, which base is generally made up of fighting gutter press, and the concessions made the imperialist system of states (such the last half-decade. Four years ago, (when its initial flurry of successful men: EDL members have attacked to it by a rudderless, cowardly political complicated matters are left for the Griffin and Andrew Brons were marches started to peter out) has led picket lines and leftwingers selling class. That bilge has been flowing all Sunday sermons). elected to the European parliament, to internal grumbles and strife. papers. Add it all up, and the post- the more freely since Rigby’s murder. Genuine united front work - on votes approaching 10% in the Ridding the EDL’s ranks of closet fascist BNP is in a far worse position Defeating the EDL - or whatever to defend mobilisations of the North-West and North-East England Hitler-worshippers and die-hard to turn the Woolwich murder into street fascist sect replaces it when Tommy movement, neighbourhoods, places of regions respectively. Since then, racists has proven a fraught affair intimidation than the fascist EDL. Robinson commits one embarrassment worship or whatever from genuinely nothing has gone the BNP’s way at at the best of times; and a putative too far - means defeating the likely fascist attacks - has value in all; the European courts ordered it to electoral intervention with Reflection needed reactionary ideology of the state and itself. If the EDL’s newfound vigour change its constitution to allow the British Freedom What is equally clear is that the anti- the bourgeois establishment. Renton should continue (which is by no non-white members, leading to Party came to fascist response has been mediocre nudges in this direction to a point, but means inevitable, but a real danger), a costly court battle, and after nothing - again, at best. For once, it appears that the is rather trapped in nostalgia for the such work will become all the more that to a perpetual financial at least partly participants realise this. old Anti-Nazi League: urgently necessary in localities around crisis. Griffin’s much heralded due to Ukip’s Unite Against Fascism, the front “A large part of the campaign’s the country. ‘Anti-fascism’, as a appearance on the BBC’s recovery. The group led by the Socialist Workers dynamism came from the activity of a strategic campaign and objective, is Question time show was a result was - until a Party and Socialist Action, is hardly relatively small group of comrades in not, has never been and will never be total humiliation for him, week or two ago in rude health. The National Union Rock Against Racism. They made sure more than a waste of effort. leading to further leakage - much smaller of Students executive voted down a that fascism was never misunderstood Renton notes approvingly that “a of support. demonstrations, motion on fighting racism from its as just a very aggressive form of younger generation of party comrades The rise of the EDL, boxed in Black Students campaign (for most of popular racism. They fought all the (the very ones, it seemed, who had meanwhile, cut by police and recent history, effectively stitched up time to join up the popular racism been on the losing side of the recent into some of the outnumbered and by SA) on the basis that it included a of the [National Front] to the faction battle) took it upon themselves traditional harried by anti-fascist call to re-affiliate to UAF. The latter’s institutional racism of the police, to organise. They produced their own reservoirs groups. reputation has been tarnished by prisons and courts; its anti-black leaflets; they distributed them by their of far- racism to its simultaneous, swaggering thousands.” Very good, coming from right and homophobic masculinity. They an organisation not known for the rank fought, in effect, for a broader, more and file taking initiative - but when heterogeneous anti-racism.” was the last time these comrades It is very easy for an SWPer to look took it upon themselves to print and back to the high point of the ANL and distribute thousands of leaflets calling RAR as a “model” for anti-fascism, for the revolutionary transformation of as that period marks the high point of society? The answer, one suspects, is the SWP’s impact in society beyond ‘never’ - and that, more than anything the far-left fringe. Yet a truly honest else, is the problem; the idea of a real assessment is that, as campaigns to alternative to this suffocating society defeat fascism and the far right, the has been allowed to wither. Not even ANL and UAF are both unqualified the murder of Lee Rigby is a more and total failures. The National Front generous gift to the EDL l collapsed not because the Clash headlined a couple of gigs with SWP [email protected] stewards, but because Margaret Thatcher was rightwing enough to Notes attract back their floating, peripheral 1. http://livesrunning.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/ Tommy Robinson: back in business supporters. The BNP was defeated getting-it-right-3-after-whitehall-where-next. 965 June 6 2013 11 What we REPORT fight for n Without organisation the working class is nothing; with the highest form of organisa- tion it is everything. n There exists no real Out of the woodwork Communist Party today. There Maciej Zurowski reports on the BNP’s return to the streets and the demonstration are many so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In reality they are con- mounted by anti-fascists fessional sects. Members who disagree with the prescribed s descriptions of the June 1 British ‘line’ are expected to gag them- National Party demonstration selves in public. Either that or Aand the anti-fascist counter- face expulsion. protest in Westminster, phrases such n Communists operate accord- as ‘good clean fun’, ‘solid Saturday ing to the principles of demo- afternoon entertainment’, and ‘decent cratic centralism. Through ongo- spectacle’ spring to mind. Following ing debate we seek to achieve years of infighting, faction struggles unity in action and a common and near-absence from the public eye, world outlook. As long as they the whites-only outfit was attempting support agreed actions, mem- to test the waters in the wake of bers should have the right to Woolwich - and we were curious to speak openly and form tem- find out just how many followers it porary or permanent factions. could still mobilise. n Communists oppose all impe- Instead of enduring UAF speeches rialist wars and occupations about defending multiculturalism, but constantly strive to bring to Cable Street and the Nazis in World the fore the fundamental ques- War II, our expedition team headed tion - ending war is bound up with ending capitalism. straight for the BNP assembly point in the Old Palace Yard, which the n Communists are internation- BNP web team had renamed “Old alists. Everywhere we strive for Place Yard”. Depending whether the closest unity and agreement of working class and progres- you consulted the party’s website, sive parties of all countries. We Facebook or Twitter pages, the oppose every manifestation of demonstration was either about Nick Griffin: pathetic turnout national sectionalism. It is an Muslim men grooming pubescent internationalist duty to uphold girls, Islamic “hate preachers” or the ran in my direction, tailed by some ultimately did march down Parliament meanwhile, was extended till 5pm the principle, ‘One state, one murder of Drummer Lee Rigby. 30 anti-fascists. I could have easily Street towards Westminster, but came to - presumably to avoid its supporters party’. Furthermore, patriots were asked tripped him up. But within the two a halt at a distance sufficiently far away getting beaten to a bloody, humanoid n The working class must be to “dress smart”, implying that the seconds or so I had to contemplate for the BNP to be unable to hear nor pulp. This prompted indignation in organised globally. Without party aimed to preserve its pointedly my actions, something in me must see it. As far as SWP organisers were Twitterland: “Anti-fascists being a global Communist Party, a petty bourgeois image rather than try have decided that 30 people jumping concerned, it was now time to strike arrested en masse while BNP free to Communist International, the something a bit more English Defence on one was hardly a useful response. a militant posture and erupt into over- leave,” lamented Laurie Penny, before struggle against capital is League. Nonetheless, Nick Griffin Naturally, there is nothing intrinsically excited chanting. concluding that the Met had “clearly weakened and lacks coordi- reportedly attempted something known reprehensible about using physical What was the UAF objective? It had picked a side today”. Likewise, a nation. to us on the left as a ‘cynical recruitment force against your enemies. But should decided that the BNP “shall not pass”. UAF newsletter sent out on Monday n Communists have no interest raid’: the leader with the radiant smile such tactics not correspond to the actual Why? First of all, because that’s what complained that police tactics were apart from the working class as extended a warm welcome to the threat posed? For the life of me, I could the anti-fascist slogan from the Spanish “biased towards fascists”. a whole. They differ only in competition, cordially inviting EDL not see what great peril a small group civil war says - even if, in this case, it Oh, how the left loves its recognising the importance members to join the protest. of washed-out nationalists waving was just a handful of no-hopers totally conspiracy theories. Has Laurie Penny of Marxism as a guide to prac- But rival leaders guard their flock union jacks in Westminster posed to outnumbered by police. Secondly, never been at a demonstration where tice. That theory is no dogma, jealously, and the EDL’s Tommy anyone. Even if the Führer’s famous the BNP was planning to march to police effectively protected weedy but must be constantly added Robinson is no exception. Among words about the left’s failure to crush the Cenotaph, the United Kingdom’s leftwingers from pissed-up fascist to and enriched. the assembled BNP supporters, only the Nazi movement “in its infancy” are official war memorial. As every UAF hooligans? Has she never heard of n Capitalism in its ceaseless one ‘footy lad’ sporting the EDL’s your sole guide to anti-fascist strategy activist knows, British troops were rampaging EDL members getting search for profit puts the future ‘No surrender’ brand was spotted. - rather than, say, a tactical assessment “fighting fascism” in World War II. arrested or compelled to leave the of humanity at risk. Capitalism A man with a 1981-style Mohican based on actual material and historical So who, if not UAF, will defend the city limits? And if she has, does this is synonymous with war, pollu- tion, exploitation and crisis. As haircut, who looked suspiciously like factors - then it is still hard to fathom empire’s monuments to freedom - even mean police had “picked a side” and a global system capitalism can he had got his punk costume from a how the right-populist ex-fascists of the when they happen to mark the signing decided to support the left on that day? only be superseded globally. fancy-dress shop, raised the union BNP fit the bill. of the Versailles treaty as a milestone Did UAF expect the Met to arrest BNP n jack and a St George’s cross banner Whatever criticisms one may have of for peace? protestors for being ‘fascists’? The capitalist class will never willingly allow their wealth and for the press photographers. With the antifa, it is hard to conceive of a bigger Incidentally, the fact that UAF did Frankly, this is silly - equivalent to power to be taken away by a images of punk serving as testimony waste of time than the SWP’s liberal not get anywhere near the action did the BNP ‘theory’ that UAF is a rent- parliamentary vote. to Britannia’s national heritage at the ‘united front’, Unite against Fascism. not prevent some of its activists from a-mob employed by the ‘communist n Olympics opening ceremony, perhaps Having held a lengthy counter-protest getting arrested later on, as police multiculturalists’ who ‘rule Britain’. We will use the most mili- tant methods objective cir- this display was the logical conclusion with speakers in Whitehall - where it orders to clear the street by 4pm Short of a severe political crisis of cumstances allow to achieve and final death knell. partly managed to get kettled - UAF were ignored. The BNP’s deadline, Greek proportions, the police do not a federal republic of England, A more characteristic sight, ‘pick sides’ in confrontations between Scotland and Wales, a united, however, was that of the BNP’s London marginalised groups on the far left federal Ireland and a United assembly candidate, Clifford Le May, and far right. Nor does the bourgeois States of Europe. who had donned his - now ruined - establishment normally court the n Communists favour industrial best suit for the occasion, as he later Great victory extreme right, which it regards as unions. Bureaucracy and class confessed to The Guardian. The paper unwelcome political competition. compromise must be fought and reported between 50 and 100 protestors, elebrations of the great anti- disclosed plans to build on the latest What the police do is uphold the ‘rule the trade unions transformed but to us the number appeared closer Cfascist victory continued on tremendous success, including of law’ in relation to property rights, into schools for communism. to 40 - a truly miserable figure and the evening of June 3 at a UAF rallies like those in Trafalgar while defending the state’s monopoly n Communists are cham- certainly not the cash-in Griffin had meeting in the University of Square after 7/7 organised by on violence - often aggressively so pions of the oppressed. hoped for. With the UK Independence London Union, where around Ken Livingstone. There is to be an and to the point of severe physical Women’s oppression, combat- Party serving, for the time being, as a 150 supporters, mainly SWP, advert in The Guardian to garner abuse. At a demonstration where one ing racism and chauvinism, and respectable and dynamic umbrella for celebrated their success under the the widest possible support for the side complies with police instructions the struggle for peace and eco- rightwing nationalists, and the EDL watchful eye of national secretary fightback against the fascists, Ukip while the other side does not, it is not logical sustainability are just as lending weight to its defence of our Charlie Kimber. and xenophobia. hard to work out whom the forces of much working class questions ailing imperialist bloc through street A range of top-table speakers Paul Holborow, one of the co- order are more likely to target. as pay, trade union rights and thuggery, perhaps the sapless BNP thanked the UAF for its support founders of the Anti-Nazi League, As mentioned earlier, proceedings demands for high-quality veterans were just not the men of over the past couple of years said that without the UAF the in the antifa section of the protest were health, housing and educa- the hour. in fighting the “Nazi” EDL May 27 EDL demonstration could not without their entertainment value. tion. It was not long before a couple of and BNP. The chair said the have numbered around 20,000. A surrealistic note was added when the n Socialism represents hundred black-clad antifa activists, June 1 mobilisation had been Presumably referring to dissident ill-fated patriots were chased by young victory in the battle for who had broken away from the a “successful event from our SWP members, he asked those women in badger costumes, who had democracy. It is the rule of the designated Unite Against Fascism perspective” and the sweet who have been criticising UAF to attended a nearby protest against the working class. Socialism is route, came running towards us and mood music continued with Jude take down their blogs: discussions government’s badger cull. either democratic or, as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it turns the BNP, chased by an apparently ill- Woodward of One Society, Many should be kept internal, so that After several hours of a fairly into its opposite. prepared police contingent. The thin Cultures who thanked UAF for we can concentrate on the main laisser-faire approach from the Met, blue line of cops managed to prevent having “played an important part task. Another contributor the predictable kettling ensued, with n Socialism is the first stage the heavily outnumbered BNP activists in setting our agenda”. revealed the perilous state of arrests peaking at a reported 58. of the worldwide transition to communism - a system which from being attacked physically, The loudest applause was the finances of the UAF in the Having enjoyed the circuses and knows neither wars, exploita- but they could not safely escort reserved for the SWP’s lead absence of union support. aching for bread, our team had already tion, money, classes, states individual BNP latecomers through figure in UAF, central committee There is nothing like a good left by that time. nor nations. Communism is the crowd of counter-protestors. The member Weyman Bennett, when rally to celebrate success and UAF and fellow anti-fascists were general freedom and the real aforementioned Clifford Le May, for he quoted an EDL tweet showing motivate the troops. And it also not slow to declare the counter-protest beginning of human history. example, had to fight his way through just how important Unite Against helps in diverting attention from a victory, for the “fascists did not pass”. Printed and published by: November Publications Ltd a heavy rain of fists, and there were Fascism is held to be: “UAF has the SWP’s internal divisions l Like most anti-fascist success stories (07950 416922). Registered as a newspaper by Royal Mail. ISSN one or two more such incidents. to be stopped”. Comrade Bennett Simon Wells these days, this one was of a very 1351-0150. © June 2013 In one instance, a BNP supporter notional nature l No 965 Thursday June 6 2013 weekly Pornography and violent worker crime Causative or correlative link? s is often the case when the as morally repulsive, people are instances of rape over the last 15 years media deals with emotional more likely to seek punitive rather or so. Yet, we know this is not the case. Aissues, irrationality replaces than restorative solutions to issues In other words, there is no rationale any form of sane, measured or surrounding paedophilia. So the act behind the panic, beyond politicking analytical response - in the last week of looking at something that most and selling newspapers. this has taken the form of calls to people find horrific carries with it a Mark Bridger and Stuart Hazell police more effectively what can or prison sentence. As with all aspects (jailed for the murder of his partner’s cannot be accessed on the internet. of censorship, the question is, at what granddaughter, Tai Sharpe) were both The abduction and murder of April point is the line drawn? Animated, found to have sought out sexual images Jones in west Wales last year provoked computer-generated images of an - in the former case of young children; the kind of emotional public outpouring explicit nature? Books or films such in the latter of violent rape and incest. of collective grief that sells loads of as Lolita? Anime films depicting Would these men have committed newspapers. Terrible, tragic murders rape? The video of the primary school these acts, had they not accessed of children seem to have their place Christmas play that was posted on a these images? Quite possibly. Would in a, roughly two yearly, news cycle. social media site? having tighter controls on Google The much more unpleasant truth is It is very important to make the have prevented them accessing such that the murder of children happens distinction between child pornography material? Doubtful - if someone is considerably more frequently than and hard-core porn - it seems that the prepared to rape and murder a child, that - but it does not always make for two things are being equated by the they probably have very few qualms such a good story. The reality is that the likes of The Daily Telegraph. What about flaunting censorship laws. Does vast majority of murder and rape cases, might be deemed ‘hard-core’ porn is the fact that these two men accessed where the victim is a child or young all over the internet, easy to access, horrific imagery prior to committing person, are committed by a close family Warping minds and perfectly legal. It is made and a crime prove a causal link between member or someone they know well. produced using adult performers who pornography and violent crime? According to statistics collated by statistics whatsoever. material (incidentally, certain types of have given consent. I am not including Absolutely not. the National Society for the Prevention The claim that viewing extremely pornography are, of course, already snuff movies in this definition, which Child pornography and snuff movies of Cruelty to Children, child homicides violent porn or child pornography illegal - yet people who wish to access fit none of the above stipulations are already illegal. Those who operate in England and Wales occur around (and, whatever one’s views on the them still manage to do so). (seemingly these are referred to as within such circles and know each other one per week (52 per year), two thirds sex industry, it is important to make a One of the demands provoked by “criminally obscene material”). The from prison, etc will be able to access of the victims are under five years of distinction between these two things) this story is that Google and other idea that governments should force the material they want irrespective of age and in most cases a parent is the causes people to mimic what they view internet service providers need to internet service providers to block Google - so tighter controls will make prime suspect.1 This makes more online seems not to take into account tighten up their controls on sexually adult content, but over-18s can opt little, if any, difference. uncomfortable, less titillating reading people’s ability to distinguish between explicit material involving children. in using a credit card, is fraught with Knee-jerk calls for more censorship than the ‘crime drama’ notion of the reality and fantasy. A small minority of For the sake of the argument difficulties. Firstly, teenagers are are idiotic. As with most censorship, deranged stranger waiting for the one people may not be able to do so - quite let us assume we are discussing remarkably clever at subverting and increased restrictions on who can moment when you are not dutifully possibly this is true of Bridger - but actual children. The production of overcoming rules and restrictions: view legal online pornography will watching your daughter play, to snatch should it then follow that all hard-core such material clearly involves the they are generally more savvy be ineffectual and pointless. If what her away in his car (loaded with sweets porn be banned? The same Telegraph exploitation and sexual abuse of those than their parents when it comes to you consider ‘hard-core’ offends and puppies). article reported that the End Violence children and therefore is, and should technology and will work out the PIN you, don’t watch it. The idea that in Last week, following the sentencing Against Women campaign has called be, illegal. Those producing videos code (possibly their own birthday or general people imitate whatever they of April Jones’s murderer, Mark for “a change in the law to close a and photographs of actual child abuse their parents’ wedding anniversary) see - whether it is porn movies, films Bridger, the NSPCC stated that loophole that allows some simulated should be charged appropriately. or just ‘borrow’ their credit card. or video games - would suggest that there was a “worrying link” between images of rape”. In relation to this, how should Secondly, perhaps not all members the human race is entirely delusional. his viewing of pornography online While we are at it, let us also those people who deliberately view of a household are upfront with each Some deeply dysfunctional people and the violent crime he went on to ban extremely violent movies and online content of this nature be dealt other about their online habits, which will commit horrible crimes. Whether commit. This was reported by The games such as Grand Theft Auto, with? By being punished for what is, could lead to all sorts of domestic fun. they are influenced by the material they Daily Telegraph in its front-page where the player steals cars, bangs to all intents and purposes, a thought And, most importantly, it is generally view or read, or whether they seek out lead, headed: “Murder of April Jones hoes and gets involved in all sorts crime? It has been argued that it is the speaking a bad idea to call on the state such material because of their existing ‘proves porn link to sexual assaults’”.2 of unsavoury criminal activities. Of demand for the material that causes to censor online material: ‘First they impulses, is up for debate. Either way, But at no point in the Telegraph’s story, course, this is a ridiculous proposal. the sexual abuse and exploitation of came for the pornographers ...’ it is unlikely that further legislation will or that of any other media outlet, as Why? Because, by and large, people young people in the first place, and The moral panic-mongers in the affect people’s behaviour very much. far as I know, is there any evidence can watch movies and play computer so the viewer should be regarded as print and broadcast media are quick Christina Black of causation. Sure, there may well be games without feeling the need to go complicit in the abuse. One could make to blame the internet for all social ills a “link”, but is it merely correlative? off on a murdering spree. For those a similar argument about sweatshop - not just sexual violence, but other hot Notes Or can we prove that the watching of who cannot differentiate between labour and technology. Probably what topics such as Islamic extremism. But, 1. www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/research/statistics/ pornography has caused the individual reality and fantasy, their problems are is more to the point is that, because if it were true that internet porn was to child_homicide_statistics_wda48747.html. 2. The Daily Telegraph May 30. to commit the violent crime? much more deeply rooted and will not society (myself included) finds the blame for sexual violence, then one 3. http://obu-investigators.com/xuk/porn/clemson/ One would have thought that be solved by the banning of explicit idea of viewing child pornography would expect an exponential rise in kendall.pdf. someone who has sexually violent urges towards children would be more UK subscribers: Pay by standing order and save £12 a likely to seek out pornographic material of that nature than the majority of the Subscribe year. Minimum £12 every 3 months... but please pay Standing population. Does viewing this material make the person in question more here more if you can. Your paper needs you! order likely to offend? Has the perpetrator of the crime gone from looking at increasingly explicit material to acting 6m 1yr Inst. I enclose payment: To Bank plc out their fantasy in a spiral of ever UK £30/€35 £60/€70 £200/€220 more demanding gratification? Sub £/€ Branch Address The counter-argument is that, rather Europe £43/€50 £86/€100 £240/€264 than encouraging someone to go out and Rest of £65/€75 £130/€150 £480/€528 Donation £/€ Post code commit violent sexual crimes, living world out the fantasy through a video can act New UK subscribers offer: Total £/€ Re Account Name as a release. For example, professor Todd Kendall’s paper on Pornography, 3 months for £10 Date Sort code Account No rape and the internet claims that in Please pay to Weekly Worker, Lloyds TSB A/C No 00744310 countries where pornography had Name sort code 30-99-64, the sum of £ every month*/3 months* been harder to come by instances of rape have decreased since the arrival Address until further notice, commencing on of the internet3. Naturally, the accepted This replaces any previous order from this account. (*delete) wisdom is that the opposite is true, but Post code personally I would be wary of how Signed Name (PRINT) statistics are used to support either Email Tel. Date Address argument - it could equally be the Send a cheque or postal order payable to ‘Weekly Worker’ to: case that the viewing of pornographic Weekly Worker, Box 928, London WC1N 3XX, UK. material has no effect on violent crime