Eurosocialism

EDITED BY MICHAEL HARRINGTON Comes to U.S. By David Bensman INSIDE and Bill Thomas MAGINE A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT America, where the democratic left Jan. 1981 Vol. IX No. 1 $1 had just swept to power in the No­ vember elections. In early December Minds Across the Sea, p. 7 an obscure right-wing activist foun­ When trade unionists, economists, and politi· dation calls a conference bringing cal activists from Europe and the U.S. met in together prestigious world leaders, a small, intensive meeting, they discovered former prime ministers and the like that, even though the picture remains incom­ to discuss program. More than 2,000 peo­ plete, each was holding a piece of an answer ple show up; hundreds are turned away. to the puzzle of dealing with the crisis of late Would you have heard about it? capitalism. Michael Harrington reports. We don't live in that imaginary America; we live in a nation soon to be Beware the Democrats, p. 10 governed by Ronald Reagan and the likes We know how bad the Republican victories of Jesse Helms. In other respects, the con­ were, but liberals may have as much to fear ference, "Eurosocialism and America: An from people wearing the same party label. International Exchange," fills the bill for our imaginary scenario. It represented the David Hoffman comments on the possible Gretchen Donart conservative tilt in the Democratic House. coming together of an opposition seen to be out of step with the times; it was ''It would be wrong On the Left, p. 11 called by the Institute for Democratic More wins for DSOCers reported from lo­ Socialism and was the Institute's first ma­ to allow ourselves cal elections, numerous meetings and events jor public event. It assembled three Euro­ to be hypnotized by that bringing socialists together. pean former heads of state, leaders of mass oppositions, trade unionists, and ac­ word'crisis.' There is To Meet in Madrid, p. 12 tivists from both sides of the Atlantic; no hope of things and its success outraced the most optimis­ For a few days this fall, Madrid was the "cap­ simply righting them­ ital of world socialism." Michael Harrington tic projections of conference organizers. headed the DSOC delegation to the Socialist Despite major interest from the European selves and returning International Congress and comments on it. press, it contradicted the perceptions (and the biases?) of the major U.S. news to normalcy. '' Muslim Minority, p. 14 media and was treated by the networks Willy Brandt Soviet troops are busy battling Muslims in and the newspaper of record as a non­ Afghanistan. But within their borders is an­ event. other group that wants its freedom. Eric Lee But for the participants, it was an interviews an exiled Crimean Tatar a.bout the event of some consequence, combining conditions and prospects for this minority. political and intellectual substance with a "movement" excitement and, as IDS with problems ranging from capital for­ ence organizer Nancy Lieber Oearly, left President Michael Harrington said in his mation to cultural hegemony. Their ex­ activists wanted to know that they were closing remarks, a "joyous" atmosphere. hilaration at being with others who not alone, and they wanted to know what "This is the most exciting thing I've shared their beliefs surmounted exaspera­ to do next. done since I got married," exclaimed tion at crowded rooms and slow-moving DSOCer Earl Bourdon, a 63-year-old elevators. Solidarity and Democracy New Hampshire activist. His sense of a Last year, when IDS first presented For this conference was more than once-in-a-lifetime experience was shared the idea to the German Marshall Fund, a morale booster, a coming together of by others from all parts of the country in which subsidized the conference, it was survivors wanting to reaffirm solidarity all age ranges. They thronged to plenary thought that about a thousand people with each other and their comrades sessions featuring leaders of the Euro­ might come to Washington for such an abroad. Tony Benn, leader of the British pean Socialist parties and to workshops event. "We can thank Ronald Reagan for Labor Party's left wing, told the standing­ that explored socialist proposals to deal boosting our attendance," mused confer- room-only crowd on opening night that IJ{ffERS To the Editor: progressive aspects. If we condemn it as has been a consistent critic of undemo­ I was glad to see attention given to a capitalist trick and let the capitalists take cratic elements in Leninism as well as in the as-yet-small worker ownership move­ the initiative in promoting it, i~ will cer­ social democracy. I consider him a valu­ ment in Jimmy Higgins's column (No­ tainly be no more than a trick. But if pro­ able contributor to a democratic left- al­ vember). I was saddened at the inade­ gresives and unions take the initiative, though someone with views on strategy quate conclusions of that short article on then something worthwhile may be pos­ that set him apart from DSOC. To attack South Bend, however, The author con­ sible. The lesson of South Bend is that him the way Radosh does is to make cludes that Boulis is correct in saying that worker ownership contains within it a DSOC appear narrow, sectarian and petty. employee ownership does not mean em­ dynamic of democracy-if control does William R. Caspary ployee management. not accompany ownership, then tension St. Louis, Mo. On the contrary, the lesson to be and ultimate failure result. drawn from South Bend Lathe is that the Perry Mehrling utters lo the editor m111t be iigned. we benefits touted to be gained from em­ Cambridge, Mass. reuri:e the right to edit for brevity. ployee ownership cannot be, unless that Please limit letter1 to leu than 250 word1. ownership is accompanied by real con­ To the Editor: trol - worker management. The South Ron Radosh (October) makes a po­ • • • Bend case does not include control, that lemical attack on Carl Boggs which seems CORRECTIONS is true. Less than half of the "owned" to me both intemperate and inaccurate. stock is allotted to the accounts of the Is Boggs wrong to criticize the bureau­ The word "left" was inadvertently drop­ workers at South Bend. And less than cratic undemocratic elements of social de­ ped from Ron Radosh's column in the that is actually vested, and can be voted by mocracy ? Must DSOC members embrace December issue. It should have read : "Be­ the employees. Trustees vote the majority social democratic parties without criti­ cause Lewis is concerned that much of the of the stock. The upshot? Ownership it­ cism ? That is Radosh's implication. Caribbean left is set within the mold of hard-line Stalinism, he calls for a ·mar­ self is a myth at SBL. As for Gramsci, it is plain that he riage of socialism with democracy,' for But this set-up is not inherent in the was a revolutionary. Those who would reconstruction of 'the neo-colonial econ­ ESOP laws as Jimmy Higgins implies. assimilate him to social democracy or omy along decentralizing lines.' " Democratic Employee Stock Ownership Euro-Communism have the burden of Plans (one person-one vote) are possible. proof. Radosh contents himself with stat­ A line giving the number of small popu­ Rath Packing is one example. Instead of ing that "this writer thinks it is Mr. lation states in Jim Chapin's and Jack condemning worker ownership as a "cap­ Boggs . . . who misinterprets Gramsci." Clark's article was incorrect. It should talist fable", progressives should be in the That is scarcely enough. have read: "Republicans hold 20 of the forefront of the movement, accenting its Carl Boggs in his numerous writings 30 seats from small population states ...."

Michael Harrington DEMOCRATIC LEFT is published ten times a year Editor (monthly except July and August) by the Dem­ DEMOCRATIC ocratic Socialist Organizing Committee, 853 Formerly the Maxine Phillips Broadway, Suite 801, New York. N.Y. 10003. Newsletter of the Ma11agi11g Editor Telephone: (212) 260-3270 Subscriprt n.s Sl5 LEFf Democratic Left sustaining and institutional, $8 regulu Signed Jim Chapin articles express the opinions of the l;.ithors. Natio11.i/ Director ISSN 0164-3207. Second Class Permit Paid at ~ev.· Yorx, N .Y.

2 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 dent Jean-Jacques Honorat, expelled changes designed to reduce the influence from his homeland only a few days be­ of human rights advocates and 'social re­ fore, came directly to the conference to formers' in the administration concerned inform socialists from all over the world with Latin America. I sincerely hope that about the intensification of repression in this is not true. . . . " Haiti. Representatives from Nicaragua were on hand to receive congratulations New Economic Order on their victorious struggle (one knocks Dramatic as Palme's example was, on wood). And on a more somber note, it did not exhaust the Eurosocialists' elab­ exiles from El Salvador reminded Ameri­ oration of the radical meaning of solidar­ cans of our responsibilities to deal with ity. All the major speakers addressed the the slaughter we have paid for. necessity of creating a new international The conference's most dramatic mo­ economic order, without which neither ment came when former prime minister democracy nor peace is possible. As of Sweden Olof Palme departed from his Socialist International President Willy prepared speech on economic democracy Brandt outlined the steps necessary to to tell of Enrique Alvarez, a businessman make that new order more than a slogan, from El Salvador who had met with him it became clear that the problem is al­ in Sweden only a few months ago as part most unimaginably severe, the needed so­ of a delegation. "One day in November lutions radical. Not only will we have to Gretchen Donart (Alvarez) and other leaders of the Dem­ transfer more resources to developing ocratic Revolutionary Front had a meet­ countries, Brandt said, we will have to ing in the church office of a secondary plan global energy supplies. Brandt un­ ''This conference could mark school. Armed men, both in civilian derlined the pressing need to end mass the beginning of something clothes and in uniform, burst into the hunger, and to reform the international quite important.,, meeting and took away eleven people. development and finan'cial institutions. Next day six of them were found dead. "There is no longer room for gross ma­ Tony Benn They had all been tortured and strangled. terialism, which in any case does not go Enrique Alvarez was among them. His well with a democratic raison d'etre," left arm had been cut off." Brandt warned, "European Social Demo­ the assembly was meeting at a histonc As he spoke, a shudder passed crats certainly are not pleading the virtue moment, soon after the collapse of Junmy through the audience. Palme looked up, of high-minded renunciation: they are Carter's watered-down version of New bitterness in his voice. "Yesterday m the pleading the case for social justice and Deal liberalism. The American political newspaper I read that a so-called (Rea­ fair treatment, both within states and situation, he said, is similar to the one g11n) transition team had proposed basic between states." British Laborites faced eighteen months ago, when the Callaghan government went down to defeat_ "Those eighteen months have been most valuable for the party, for they've seen a profound re­ examination of the Keynesian consensus. I see a parallel here. This conference could mark the beginning of something quite important." From the very first speech, by Rep­ resentative Ron Dellums, Congress's only openly declared socialist, speakers and participants sounded the themes of soli­ darity and democracy. Drawing on the v.wk of Italian Marxist Antonio Gram­ sc1, Dellums called on attendees "to forge a new reality as it 'ought to be.' ... In doing so, we must act upon the collective realization that we are not acting in a historical vacuum. We are not only citi­ zens of California, Washington or New York-or of France, Germany, Italy, the ~etherlands or Sweden-or of any of the nations of the Third World." Dellum's rhetoric of international Gretchen Donart solidarity v.:as not abstract. Haitian dissi- Olof Palme, l., and Joop den Uyl

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 3 HUMAN RIGHTS IN LATIN AMERICA David Gordon, an economist at the 1'During the recent election campaign here in the United States l heard all Insititute for Labor Education and Re­ the main contenders for the Presidency express their admiraticm for the co11rage search, set the stage for these discussions and discipline of the Polish workerI and voice their Sltf'Port of their democratic with a presentation demonstrating that aims. I think tbeie were timely and fitting remarks. I now look forward to hear· the rnrrent liberal and conservative advo­ ing the leaders of the United States express their admiration for the com·age of cates of cutting business taxes and freeing the poor and oppressed in El Salvador and Guatemala, not to speak of Argentina enterprise could not account for the slump and Chile and their mpport of their demomnic aims. This would indeed be of in international capitalism. He argued Jremendoru importance . . .. that instead governments would have to This is indeed a great co1mtry and a great people. I would like yo11 to be restructure their nations' economies to proud of America, of yo11r democratic val11es, of what yo11 stand for, the deter­ bring about recovery. mined and generou.r acJion yo11 take for other people. There is no better place to show the real val11e of American democrac)' than in the fight for httman rights Gordon's fellow panelist, Stuart and peace in Ltttin A merica". Olaf Palme Holland, a Labor Party member of the British Parliament, bolstered Gordon's argument by pointing out that British Democracy constituted the second brought great improvements in the life of corporations now pay no taxes because of half of the conference's theme, but there common people. Nevertheless, by 1970, tax rebates enacted under misguided La­ was no ritualistic invocation of democracy grave problems remained. "We could not bor governments. This generosity to cor­ as a panacea. Through the plenaries and be responsible for efforts in health and porations has not brought about an in­ workshops, the themes of democratizing welfare while at the same time people vestment boom-on the contrary. In the the economy, democratizing society, and in production were being worn out and face of deflationary fiscal policies carried democratizing the political process were the victims of increasing risks of acci­ out by such governments as Margaret examined critically, with little rhetorical dent. We could not work for a tremen­ Thatcher's and envisioned by Ronald flourish. Here the practical experiences of dous improvement of the modern infra­ Reagan's, businesses simply will not in­ the Swedish, British, Dutch, and Austrian structure ... while ignoring the place '\'est more. labor governments proved particularly where people produced goods which laid But boosting investment will not be valuable for pointing out the pitfalls and the foundation of our welfare. We JXissible without restructuring economies, indicating promising new departures. couldn't purposefully carry out the prin­ Holland added, echoing Gordon's con­ ciples of equal treatment in our social clusion. That restructuring will have to Economic Democracy legislation, while silently sitting by and be "plural," bemg neither state enter­ Saturday morning keynoter Olof watching an unreasonable division of prise. state planning, nor central control, Palme pointed out that the Swedish wel­ people in to categories in working life. but new forms of public, municipal, CO· fare state, based on Keynesian principles We could not talk about decision sharing operative, sometimes state, sometimes and planned by socialist experts, had in various areas of public life, without federal, sometimes local enterprise. Plan­ at the same time making an effort to de­ ning would be a process of social nego­ mocratize the workplace. tiation that would cut into the power of "The concept of a welfare society the multinational corporations. includes ideas of security and equality. How to stimulate plural investments solidarity, and democracy. But all too of the sort Holland advocated ? Swedish often these values seem to be set aside economist Rudolf Meidner distinguished when decisions in the business world between profit sharing to benefit individ­ were made on investments, on personnel ual employees, and wage-earner funds, policy, on production methods. These de­ which gradually establish collective own­ cisions were made on behalf of capital ership and control of firms in order to owners and with private profit as a guide­ shift the balance of power from capital post. The free market forces at times to labor, and to make resources available became brutal to individuals, groups, or for productive investment. Carol O'Cleir­ entire communities." eacain, economist at DC 37, American In order to overcome these contra­ Federation of State, County and Munici­ dictions, to renew working life, Palme's pal Employees in New York, analyzed administration passed legislation on work­ the potential of American unions' pen­ place safety, job security, the status of sion funds, which currently are not man. shop stewards, and the democratization aged in the interests of labor. of management. The laws passed and im­ Brian Turner, Director for Econom­ plemented under his government made ic Policy for the AFL-CIO's Industrial into reality the ideas that seem visionary Union Department, heartened conference Gretchen Don3ft to Americans. participants when he observed that the Francisco Pena Gomez, leader of Workshops on aspects of economic proposals discussed by Meidner and the Dominican R evolutionary Party, democracy amplified points made by O'Cleareacain were not so far from cur. chats with Steve Ramirez, I., of the Palme. Each featured presentations by rent AFL-CIO thinking. And Turner ex­ DC-Md. Local. Europeans and Americans. pressed a general consensus when he ar-

4 D EMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 gued that pension funds were not needed on the part of the people .... .All Euro­ for investment because there is a capital pean socialist parties have experienced shortage. In fact, there is massive capital the effects of this movement. ... In my investment by private institutions in spec­ own party ... the reaction to the ossifica­ ulation, inflation hedging, and other non­ tion of the welfare state has led to radical productive ventures. "And that is not a rejuvenation of the party, in both the ex­ problem that can be solved by tax cuts ecutive and among the members, and un­ for business." doubtedly its program has become more .At another session, Jacques .Attali, radical as well." an economist for the French Socialist Den Uyl went on to argue that "the Party, argued that unemployment is not need for social reform dominates the a problem for capitalism but a solution, stance of the socialist parties" in such a tool used to get out of crises by increas­ areas as penal law, land policy, work­ ing the share of unpaid work. .Attali place decision-making, health and wel­ pointed to the imminent automation of fare organizations, and educational insti­ clerical labor as a grave challenge to ad­ tutions. On the latter issue, he cited "a Grttchtn Donart vocates of full employment. Any solution striving in education to allow parents, would "involve nothing short of redefin­ teachers and pupils to have a say and re­ ''We can't let Orrin Hatch and ing, as well as changing, the nature of place the prominent figures in the com­ / esse He/nu set our agenda.'' work," and imposing our own values on munity who traditionally sat on school the future course of technological de­ boards." Marjorie Phyfe velopment. Once again, the workshops elaborat­ ed and made specific the theme of the Democratizing the Society plenary. For example, in the session on men." In his plenary speech on Saturday "Equality Between Men and Women," Frustrated by the slow pace of prog­ afternoon, Dutch former prime minister Mai Britt Theorin, a socialist member of ress, Swedish feminists are attacking the Joop den Uyl gave an analysis of the Sweden's parliament, discussed the steps problem in a new way, by calling for a welfare state remarkably similar to Pal­ her government had taken to bring about six-hour work day, to make equal and full me's analysis of Keynesian economic gender equality, full employment, equal employment possible, and to make shared policy. He argued that in the years 1945- educational opportunity, expanded day parenting possible as well In response to 70, Holland and several other European care, paid parental leave-all have con­ feminist pressure, many unions have add­ countries created a comprehensive wel­ tributed to a growing parity in income: ed the six-hour day to their list of bar­ fare state with full employment, planned Swedish women now earn 89 percent of gaining demands, though as yet, none wage policies, social insurance, and social what men earn. Nevertheless, she said, have attained it. services. This was a success. . . And yet, inequality remains, and seems likely to "during the sixties, socialism began to stay. For example, although paid parental Gains from Conference lose its appeal for the younger generation. leave is now available to men as well as By the end of the Saturday after­ The revolt of the sixties was a movement women, fewer than 10 percent of fathers noon workshops, most participants were that was anti-establishment, anti-institu take advantage of it. surfeited with new ideas and arguments, tional and anti-history. In Europe, it was And there are still two labor mar­ but still positive about the conference. first and foremost a movement which was kets: women remain in job ghettoes de­ Randy Barber, head of the People's Bus­ directed against ... a welfare state suf­ spite government programs aimed at iness Commission, commented: "I go to fering from ossification ... Jt coincided breaking them down. In these ghettoes, so many conferences that I came here ex­ with opposition to the numerous new in­ half work part time, "which means they pecting to be bored. But this was the first stitutions regulating the affairs of the still have the responsibility at home, their conference in a long time that excited me community and attending to its needs position in the labor market is weak, and and started me thinking along new lines." without any real participation whatsoever they are still economically dependent on Cleve Stockmayer, who works at the Washington Office on Latin America, an­ swered reporters' questions about his re­ ON FEMINISM sponse to the conference by filling out a "Feminism har nothing lo do ll'ith one or /u·o t('Omtn getting into power DSOC membership card. Bernt Carlsson, b11t er:er)lhing to do with ch,mge in the rex11al caste J)Jtem. '' Gloria Steinem the Swedish general secretary of the So­ cialist International, predicted the con· "Er eryone in Sll'eden accepts the idea of eqlfalit)' beftNen men and women. ference would be significant for Ameri­ On paper, ue hat'e ,uhie1·ed almort ei·er;thi11g. B111 <1/most ei-erJlhing remains can democratic socialism. In Carlsson's to be done. A11d tlOfll, not knowin,~ !l'ho the enemy iJ. it'J diffimlt to choose the view, "Eurosocialism and America" rep­ proper u.eapo111." .Mai Britt Theorin resented a breakthrough in three ways: it "We hai·en't et en reached a ratisfactory definition of u·omen'I family ri~hts. opened up a new leval of contact between And, in the realm of u ork, in a co1111tr; like mine. tl'Omen have been trained for European and American socialists; it gave ;obs th.:t the] rim not find and the) ht11 e nnt been tr.lined for the fobs they have DSOC in particular legitimacy and visi­ to do." Frani;ois Mitterrand bility on the American left; and it height·

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 5 ened European socialists' understanding of the prospects for socialism in America. Willy Brandt echoed Carlsson's thought in his closing plenary address, when he suggested that European and American socialist youth might organize exchange programs such as have proved fruitful for French and German youth in recent years. Political Democracy But even if such exchanges are fruit­ ful and multiply, American socialists face the challenge of becoming a serious force in American society at a time when our political system itself has become inade­ quate to the task of making democracy real. In his plenary address, Franc;ois Mit­ terrand, leader of the French Socialist Party, warned that this problem existed throughout the world ; that in Western Europe the content of democracy was be­ ing eroded even as the parliamentary shell a...,. remained. And he pointed to new tech­ Willy Brandt, 1., and Fran\;ois Mitterrand nologies, such as nuclear energy, genetic engineering, telecommunications, and us against adopting the European Social stabilaing the political environment, for computers, which threaten to make de­ Democratic parties as our models as we facilitating the development of long-term mocracy impossible to realize in the near try to develop political vehicles in the fu­ programs, and for establishing legitimacy. future. ture. These p\lrties are not perfect, Rocard But they are not well suited to modern Mitterrand's rival for Socialist Party declared, in fact, they are now decadent. society, for as they develop a life of their leadership, Michel Rocard, had another The rigid parties of Europe are good for own, they become insulated from the warning for Americans attending his teaching the public, for developing plat­ communities they are supposed to repre­ workshop presentation. Rocard cautioned forms, for pressuring elected officials, for sent. Rocard predicted that socialist po­ litia.l vehicles of the future will find ways of reconciling political life with the work SHORT TAKES of the trade unions, consumer associa­ aculture is another word for s11cceuf11l politics which go so deep they tll'e tions, and environmental organizations. no longer seen as changeabJe. 11 Gloria Steinem Furthermore, only to the extent that so­ cialists learn how to politicize local issues "British laws are made in Brussels; our industrial policy is made by the such as housing, social services, and fam­ multinationals; u·e are ;ust an off-shore airbase to the U.S., and ottr eronomic ily life will they be able to create parties policy is made by the IMF." Tony Benn that can be effective tools for extending political democracy. "Milton Friedman is ulith us in Europe. He is your worst export. If yo11 Rocard's partners on the panel spoke don't contain it, u•e will ha11e to impose import restrictions." Joop den Uyl of transforming the Democratic party to be more like the European Socialist par­ 1'1 speak tonight from the perspective of an endangered speries-that of an incumbent congressional Democrat who rejects any and all efforts to return ties. Donald Fraser, mayor of Minneapo­ America lo a past that ne11er was-or worse, a past that ne11er 1hould h.zt·e been.11 lis and a backer of past Democratic party Ron Dellums reforms, complained that the party had become a pawn in the hands of media "At this point, u•e can only ad11ise 011r miJJing friends [from other great manipulators. Though reformers had not American trade unions] to either lead or follotv, bt1t get the hell 0111 of the way, meant to do so, they'd created a primary bectmie the times do not permit, nor do 011r members ha11e the patience to u:ait system that made the media, rather than on the nicetieJ of behind-the-scenes power arrangements in a derlining political the party, the selector of hominees. Fra­ e'onomy." William Winpisinger ser's solution: wrest control of party laws from the state legislatures and return it to "I remember when, after the liberation of Port11gal in 1974, Rosa Co11tinho and Otelo de Carvalho tisited Sweden . ... The)• were informed about our new the party so that measures to resore the labor laws, and one a.Jked: how long will it take before the lawJ are f11/ly in power of leaders, activists, and party operation? The amwer wa.r 'Some ltt•enty )'ears.' The1 were th1mderstr11ck. For members can be enacted. a true re110/11tionary tu•enJy hours is ,i long time. ReformiJm ir a 1/ow process. Marjorie Phyfe from the political ac­ B111 it is the only way of really tramforming society based on the ideals of tion staff of the International Association Jnnocracy." Olof Palme of Machinists took a different tack.

6 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 Agreeing that party responsibility was ation of East-West tensions, in arms liau­ proclaimed to be indispensible if democ. important, she focused on whom candi­ tation, and in "global negotiations" to­ racy is to have a future. And for all the dates and elected officials should be re­ wards a new economic order. But he did shortcomings of the welfare states Olof sponsible to. The labor movement could counsel patience: "It looks as if we shall Palme and Joop den Uyl helped to estab­ become the center of a coalition that be afflicted during the foreseeable future ish and now criticize, for .American so­ could rebuild for the Democratic party a with more problems than can be solved cialists, those welfare states can only seem working class base to which politicians quickly enough. The objective of all re­ like great accomplishments. learning would have to answer, Phyfe predicted. sponsible people in politics must there­ about those advances gave us new hope "If we made lhe Democratic party a firm fore be to prevent this gap from growing for the future. • party, we might lose some Southern ra­ wider.... We live in a common world cists, and urban machine organizations, marked by a shortage of resources and a David Bensman teaches labor history at but would gain something of vital im­ steady growth in the problems confront­ R11tgers University. Bill Thomas is active portance, the ability to set the agenda for ing us. Our most precious assets are hu­ in Portland, Ore. DSOC. Both serve on country. We can't let Orrin Hatch and man inventiveness and social responsi­ the DSOC national board. Jesse Helms do that anymore." bility. And it is these qualities which the peoples of the world must call to mind as • • • Program for Survival they become fully aware of their mutual EUROSOCIALJSM TAPES The conference closed on a high dependence. Either that, or else they will Just because you couldn't make it to the point-Willy Brandt's moving examina­ not survive the present age safe and conference doesn't mean you can't find tion of the prospects for human survival. sound." out what went on. Tapes of conference Are we living in a period of crisis) Though Brandt's words were sober, sessions are available from Eastern Audio Brandt said no: his audience filed out of the Grand Ball­ Associates, Inc., Oakland Center, 8980 "Anyone who turns his attention to room elated. The conference had brought Route 108, Columbia, Md. 21045. Write this first year of the 1980s will surely about the sense of solidarity that it had for an order form and price list. agree with me: we are experiencing a dra­ matic development It is not a process of measurable change, but a series of wide­ ranging upheavals in science and think­ ing, m economic affairs and in interna­ tional relations. The numerous crises pre­ Sharing Visions cipitated in many parts of the world pro­ vide ample evidence of this radical change. It would then be quite wrong to allow ourselves to be hypnotized by that suggestive word 'crisis.' There is no hope For Democracy of things simply righting themselves and returning to normalcy." By Michael Harrington Brandt identified three features of URING THE FIRST WEEK IN 0E­ Democratic Socialism, focused on capital this worldwide change. First, the inter­ cember, democratic socialism formation, industrial dislocation, and nationalization of capital and the slow­ came to the halls of the Unit­ worker participation, allowing Americans down of economic growth; second, the ed States Congress. If social­ and Europeans the opportunity to trade ism did not sweep the floor of both concrete experiences, future hopes the House and Senate-where and, at times, friendly disagreements. ''Ottr most precious assets Ron Dellums makes up the At the opening dinner on December t1re human inventiveness tmd entire socialist caucus-it did 3, Dennis McDermott, head of the Ca­ hold two days of lively discussion in the nadian labor Congress (CLC) and the social respomibility. And it Cannon House Office Building, prior to leader of trade union support for the is these qttalities which the the "Eurosocialism and America" Con­ socialist New Democratic Party (NOP), peoples of the world must call ference. described how Canadian labor is trying to About 20 European experts-trade involve shop stewards and the rank and to mind ... or else they will not unionists like Clive Jenkins, the leader of file in the political process. The goal is to s11rvi1 e the present a,~e. '' one of Britain's most important white make the factory and office floor mobili­ Willy Brandt collar unions, and Pierre Hureau, secre­ zation points for NOP activity and to lift tary of the French Democratic Confed­ politics out of its routine patterns. Be­ eration of Workers (CFDT), economists cause the CLC made some real progress escalating arms race and buildup of East­ such as Sweden's Rudolf Meidner and in this direction, the NOP increased its West tensions; third, the widening gap France·s Jacques Attali, parliamentarians representation in Ottowa in the last elec­ between we11thy and poor nations. like Germany's Ulrich Steger and France's tion even though the liberal sweep would Brandt's tone was somber, but he Edith Cresson-met with American policy normally have resulted in losses. Amer­ was not pessimistic. He prophesied prog­ experts, unionists, and activists. The dis­ ican trade unionists at the dinner could ress in European unification, in the relax- cussion, sponsored by the Institute for be observed either shaking their heads in

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 7 disbelief at such a development just north collective well-being of the workers in­ of the border that involves many of their volved. own international unions, or else turning The second plenary, chaired by IDS green with envy. board member Ruth Jordan, debated problems of industrial location in a world Controllins Capital capitalist economy going through struc­ The first plenary, chaired by Carl tural changes in basic sectors like steel. Shier of the United Auto Workers These problems, Edith Cresson held, were (UAW), took place in the caucus room intensified by the multinational character of the Cannon House Office building. of corporations which now fled, not simp­ Rudolf Meidner, who developed the orig­ ly regions within a country, but nations inal idea of a wage earners fund for the and even continents. They are also a func­ Swedish union federation, LO, sketched tion of low growth, energy costs, and the the history of profit sharing schemes, evolving prices of labor and capital. Yet sharply differentiating between individ­ even though all of these factors point ual and collective profit sharing. In the to a deep, structural crisis, most of the former the workers become-at best-pas­ Gretchen Donart measures thus far put forward have been sive and irrelevant shareholders; in the at best defensive. latter they exercise their rights and power as a group on the board of directors. For '' Current pension funds, Electronics Threat Meidner, the main point of collective O' Cleireticain demonstrated, Ulrich Steger, a German economist profit sharing was not initially linked to and socialist member of parliament, em­ capital formation but to questions of ht1ve a yield well below the rate phasized a theme which is at the center of equity and economic democracy. He had of inflation. Therefore, workers most European discussions of dislocations urged, he said, that already existing capi­ are often involved in unwit­ but which has yet to grip the American tal be democratized and it was only later public· micro-electronics. Within the next on that others, including party leader tingly sttbsidizing capital with two years, he said, 15 percent of the jobs Olof Palme, added the dimension of their own shrinking retirement in Germany would be affected by this capital formation, arguing that workers trend; within 1O years, it would touch would be much more likely to forgo pres­ monies.'' 50 percent. Moreover, robotization would ent consumption for investment if they not be confined to the plant floor; it knew that they would share, in every way, would radically transform offices as well in the benefits of that investment. was general agreement on the need to (Tony Benn, the British Labor MP, That question of emphasis surfaced democratize economic power and process­ found this last trend at work in his own in the discussions. Austria's Egon Matz­ es. But, Wieczorek and the others empha­ country). Brian Turner of the Industrial ner noted that economic democracy could sized, that is only possible if there is a Union Department of the AFL-CIO be a new productive force, a point echoed radical change in the distribution of took a similar tack and concluded that by this writer. Meidner and retired UAW information. Indeed, Nicole Questiaux these developments made broad coalition Special Projects Director Nat Weinberg commented, capital already spends sums politics all the more imperative. And countered that there was no capital short­ on disinformation that would suffice to Harley Shaiken, a Detroit-based econo­ age, only a misallocation of funds, a com­ underwrite genuine information. mist now at MIT, argued for a specific ment that Barry Bluestone, co-author of The capital formation discussion also trade union program to respond to these an excellent Progressive Alliance study heard a fascinating presentation by Carol technological changes. Benn and Shaiken on plant closings, retiterated during the O'Cleireacain of the American Federation felt that this opens up some particularly plenary on industrial dislocation. And of State, County and Municipal Employ­ important possibilities for economic and Norbert Wieczorek of the German SPD, ee's (AFSCME) DC 37. Current pension political organization among white collar a top official at a worker-owned bank funds, O'Cleireacain demonstrated, have workers. which is a major financial power, empha­ a yield well below the rate of inflation. In a sense, the first two plenaries sized the difficulty of running a socialist Therefore, workers are often involved in anticipated some of the discussion in the institution in a capitalist environment. unwittingly subsidizing capital with their third session on workers' participation, But, Wieczorek added, one of the own shrinking retirement monies. The chaired by Bill Lucy of AFSCME. At this important side effects of the worker bank point, she said, was to change both the conference, and at the lar,ge public con­ is that the unions get detailed information priorities and the value of the assets nom­ ference that followed, almost everyone on the economy that was not otherwise inally held by the workers. That, Leslie saw democracy not simply as an ethical available to them. Many participants Nulty of the Machinists and Nicole Ques­ or political value, but as a critically im­ echoed that point, among them Clive Jen­ tiaux insisted, could only be done by ex­ portant instrument of economic policy as kins, Pierre Hureau, Irving Bluestone, panding trade union organization, which well. After hearing Jan Bergquist, a Swe­ recently retired vice-president of the Auto is the sine qua non of all these proposals. dish socialist MP, talk of some of the Workers, and Nicole Questiaux of the Worker ownership, Questiaux urged, gains already made in that country in this National Board of the French Socialist could not be a "middle-class gadget"; it area-for instance, the occupational safe­ Party. Throughout all the sessions there had to enhance both the individual and ty and health omb11dsman can shut down

8 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 a dangerous process on her/his own-Ed Donahue of the Graphic Arts Interna­ tional commented wryly that we could use some Swedish conservatives in the United States since they seem to be to the left of most .Americans. The issue of worker participation as Irving Bluestone defined it has two, re­ lated thrusts: the democratization of the macro-economic decisions made on the board of directors; and equally important, the democratization of life on the plant and office Boor. Technology all around the world, Bluestone remarked, is author­ itarian in nature. Both Pierre Hureau of the CFDT and Jacques .Attali, one of Fran!;ois Mitterrand's economic advisors, commented on the fraudulence of Soviet claims to worker participation in a society totally ruled by a distant bureaucracy. But, DSOC's Bogdan Denitch and others said, workers' participation cannot be consid­ '' Worker ownership, Questiaux urged, could not be a 'middle-class ered as a substitute for the political power of the producers, with humane production gadget'; it had to enhance both the individual and collective lines taking the place of the fight for well-being of the workers involved'' socialism. Indeed, Denitch argued, the democratization of work cannot occur Holland, British Labor MP, called "hang­ The conference did not come up with a without the democratization of the entire man economics": pull out the floor of the program or a strategy and was not intend­ economy. But that task, Clive Jenkins welfare state by cutting back on its basic ed to; but it helped people who, on both noted, is all the more difficult today pre­ guarantees while you wrap high interest sides of the Atlantic, will be working on cisely because multinationals have de­ rates around the neck of the economy. a variety of programs and strategies. • ployed production on a global scale and made it impossible for workers in any one country to control the processes of pro· duct ion. You've already worked with us. At the final luncheon in the Rayburn Office Building Attali delivered a brilliant talk, analyzing the current crisis as not simply a problem for capitalism but as Now, join us. part of the capitalist solution, a brutal way The corporations and the Far Right have a plan for a harsher, hungrier, of readapting and restructuring the econ­ and more militarized America. For progressives to fight back, we need to build omy so as to once again unite capital, our own coalition and own program for an alternative future for America. ideology, and technology in an even more The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee works to unite low and profitable system. middle income Americans behind a program of full employment, tax justice IDS organized the small conference and wealth redistribution, safe and affordable energy, improved public serv­ to encourage communication and debate ices, sexual and racial equality, and democratically planned investments in among experts. This goal was more than developing new energy sources, rebuilding the cities, and reviving our fulfilled . .Although participants differed industries. over issues such as capital formation, the If you plan to work with us, join us. economic impact of workers' control, and 0 I'd like to join DSOC. Enclosed find my dues. (D $50 sustaining; 0 $25 the like, there was a strong central com­ regular; 0$10 limited income. Dues include $8 for DEMOCRATIC LEFT.) mitment to the democratization of the 0 I would like to subscribe to DEMOCRATIC LEFT: 0$15 sustaining, 0 $8 economy. Interestingly enough, at the regular. post-conference press conference Edith Send to: Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, 853 Broadway, Suite Cresson noted that she thought the Euro­ 801, New York, N.Y. 10003. Tel.: (212) 260-3270. peans had learned as much as they had Name______taught and had been tremendously im­ pressed by the Americans whom they en­ Addres~------countered. But everyone-European and City/ State______lt'------American-realized that it was necessary to have an alternative to what Stuart Phone------Union, School, Other Affiliatio.~------

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC LEFI' 9 Notes on a New Congress By David Hoffman ITH THE NEW REPUBU· conservative Democrats-who will hold However, a real return to the right can majority in the Senate the balance of power-sought a meeting in policy requires much new legislation. and a major power shift with Speaker 'Tip" O'Neill. Calling Democrats have known for years that in the still Democratic themselves the Conservative Democratic Congress is no place to look for quick House, the 97th Congress Forum and unofficially dubbed the "red­ decisions. As one wag put it, "Congress will fashion the most dra­ neck caucus," the 33 Sunbelt representa­ can take a week to make Minute Rice." matic facelift in the na- tives pressed O'Neill for greater repre­ Insurgent junior members and cross­ tional legislature in a quar­ sentation on key House panels, and intend cutting subcommittees will put the brakes ter century-surgery that will not make to have in place a separate "whip" system on the most determined legislative blitz­ the patient more attractive to leftists. krieg. The old Democratic order, funda­ With inflation fighting and tax cut­ mentally reversed in the Senate, remains ''On any number of issues, ting sharing billing as top priorities, the in nominal control of the House. Most however, this will be only a paper Reagan team is reportedly bent on a ruth­ of the "Watergate babies" of the "Class less approach to the federal budget. What of '74" were reelected and Democrats majority and e/Jective control is involved is more than the ''waste and hold a 26-vote majority. On any number wiil be beyond the grasp fraud" Reagan assailed in his stump of issues, however, this will be only a speeches. What is involved are real tax paper majority and effective control will of the Democratic leadership.,, cuts in real programs with the one cer­ be beyond the grasp of the Democratic tain exception of the Pentagon. leadership. The cuts could be so deep as to make In the last Congress, House Demo­ to hold their caucus together on major the economy's recovery from the recession crats enjoyed an almost two-to-one major­ issues in the new Congress. The head of even slower than it already figures to be. ity. Assuming Republican solidarity, it the group-Texas Democrat Charles Sten­ What remains to be seen in the first year took some 60 defections from Democratic holm-declares that "on issues we feel of Republican rule is whether budget ranks to defeat the leadership. The num­ strongly about, if we can be the swing cutting on this scale is feasible, and ber of such defections usually ranged be­ vote, that's exactly what we want to do." whether Congress wilI go along. tween 30 to 50 votes depending on the Stenholm and others like him sup­ In the past, Republicans did little issue. In the new House, it will take only port over $26 billion in spending cuts for more than blame a Democratic Congress 26 defections for the Democrats to lose the current fiscal year, including slashes for what went wrong. Now the shoe is their majority. in CETA public service jobs, food stamps, on the other foot. • Heads turned, therefore, on Capitol unemployment benefits, and education Hill after the election when a -bloc of programs. David Hoffman iI a rongressional 1taffer.

New York Times 10 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 ONnIEIEFf By Harry Fleischman

S MAINE GOES, SO GOES THE NATION" WAS POLITICAL ~ional elections and a limit on spending for lobbying. He re­ wisdom until the 1936 Alf Landon debacle when ie~ed Sheeha.n's claim that contributions to corporate political FDR won every state but Maine and Verm;nt and action committees were voluntary, noting that corporate re­ th.e slogan became "As Maine goes, so goes Ver- quests for donations carried an implied threat: "If you want mont." Now DSOC brings a new slant to the to work around here pal, you do what the top banana says." Maine-Vermont axis. Scudder Parker, a young Con­ • • • gregational minister and active Green Mountain MILDRED JEFFREY WAS HONORED WITH WASHINGTON DSOCer, has been elected to the Vermont Sate DSOC's Eugene Debs/Norman Thomas award at a well­ State Senate, joining Harlan Baker in the Maine House and attended dinner in November, which also welcomed D.C.­ Tom Gallagher in the Massachusetts House. New England's Md.'s new organizer, Sarah Berger. Jeffrey, a union organizer DSOC legislative presence is growing. Parker has been active since the thirties, worked for the Clothing and Auto Workers in the J.P. Stevens boycott, the successful fight against so-called unions and served as president of the National Women's Po­ right-to-work legislation in Vermont, freedom of choice, and litical Caucus.... MICHIGAN DSOC held its first conference peace movements. and convention December 13 at the University of Michigan • • • Dearborn campus, with over 200 participants. The night be­ GUNS vs. BUTTER. Joss AND SOOAL PROGRAMS THROUGH fore, it honored Irving Bluestone, UAW vice president (re­ reductions in military spending was the verdict on November tired) and active socialist humanist, at its Debs/Thomas award 4 as Jobs With Peace initiatives (JWP) won b) comfortable dinner. More than 300 attended, including Representative to large margins in seven U S c1t1es. The vote in Detroit- John Conyers; Michigan Secretary of State Richard Austin; 149,204 yes to 127,790 no Oakland, Calif.-58.568 to 36,- Erma Henderson, president of the Detroit City Council ; state 442; in Massachusetts: /l.'euton-18,216 to 15,151; Brookline, senators and representatives and many unionists.... ZoLTAN -12,418 to 8,318; Cambridge-14.962 to 6,844; Sommerville FERENCY won his first elective public office November 4 as - l 5,948 to 10, 102; and Medjord-13, l 20 to 10,040. The only Ingham County Commissioner. He joins DSOCer Phil Ball­ city that defeated JWP was U.,altham, Mass.-7,982 to 8,599- back, re-elected to that post. Re-elected as state representative a narrow loss in a town heavily defense dependent. At least 20 from Clinton Township near Mt. Clemens was David Evans. more cities are slated to take up this iniciative in 1981. • • • Peg Kuebler was re-elected Ypsilanti commissioner.... ON WHAT EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW, A MAJOR DOCUMENT BY INAUGURATION DAY, January 21, the Lansing DSOC local will show the "greatest achievement" of Ronald Reagan-his Margaret Sanger, the socialist feminist who coined the term "birth control," was first published in the Seu }"ork Call, a D-rated blockbuster, Bedtime for Bonzo, at Michigan State Socialist daily, in 1912-13 . Fueled by Sanger's experiences as University. a public health nurse in New York slums and bv her mother's • • • ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT DSOCERS SHARON GOLDENBERG untimely death after 18 pregnancies, this frank series on sex and Louis DiLeberto were subjects of feature articles in the and reproduction stressed medical facts still accurate today in Barre Times-Arg11S and R11tland Srmday Herald reporting on what the New York Times now calls a "fascmating blend of the TV co-op both direct. It uses the St. Johnsbury TV access fire-eating radical tract, romantic prose and information on the channel to "give cable subscribers a handle on local events, misconceptions of the time." community problems and interesting personalities." The co-op When If/hat Every Girl Should Know first came out, the uses the services of six CET A enrollees training in the Tele­ U.S. Post Office instantly repressed the section on venereal vision and Youth Program. (Other local activists-take note.) disease under a law barring "obscene, lewd and lascivious" THE FALL ISSUE of Religio11S Socialism, issued by the Religion material from the mail. Ironically, the U.S. government dis­ and Socialism Committee of DSOC, features articles on "To­ tributed that same section to troops during World War I with­ war.d a Jewish Socialism." Subscriptions, at $3 per year, are out crediting the author. Now, after :!O years out of print, the available from Religio11s Socialism, l Maolis Rd., Nahant, book has been republished by Belvedere Publishers, 70 W . 40 Mass. 01908. St., N.Y.C. 10018. • • • • • • "THE BEST CONGRESS MONEY CAN Buy" WAS THE THEME CONTEMPORARY WORKERS' ART IS CU RRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT of a Hofstra University (Long Island, N.Y.), conference on the United Auto W orkers headquarters in Detroit. The un­ corporate political activity, addressed by John Sheehan of the usual exhibit of works by more than 30 artists was put together U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Machinists' president Bill from among 1,500 pieces UAW members and their spouses Winpisinger. Sheehan emphasized opposition to public financ­ entered in a national contest sponsored by the union's Local ing of congressional elections and said 'Tm getting so sick of Union Press Association (LUPA). Doubling as a catalog for hearing we can buy a congressman," arguing that factors other this exciting exhibit, which gives fitting tribute to the dignity than money often played a role in winning elections. Wimpy of workers, is a full-color 1981 calendar that includes 24 top forecast that the final political fundraising figures for the 1980 works from the show. Each month opens to an 11 H x 17" wall elections would show corporate donations overshadowing labor hanging and also features key events in labor and civil rights by four to one. He favored both public financing of congres- Continued on page 15

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC l:BFT 11 Madrid Conference Gives Strength to Socialists By Michael Harrington HE FIFTEENTH POST-WAR publican Senate would mean. But there CQngress of the Socialist Inter­ was also a tendency to hope that the wild national (SI) took place in ,LIBERTAD, rhetoric of the banquet circuit and early the wake of the election of campaign would be replaced by more Ronald Reagan and a right­ sober considerations when Reagan actu­ wing Senate in the United ally took power. States and that fact lent a new Life was made more complex for urgency to the Si's commitment everyone by the fact that the Conference to disarmament and peace. It was a re­ on European Security and Cooperation peated theme of the leaders of member • was meeting in Madrid at the same time parties in Latin America and the Carib­ as the SI and only managed to adopt an bean, an area of growing SI strength agenda after days of wrangling. In a mov­ and activity. There were other issues, of ing speech, Fran~ois Mitterrand brilliant­ course, with the question of Israel and ly outlined the profoundly democratic the Palestinian Liberation Organization character of the socialist commitment and (PLO) being one of the most important. then named just a few of the friends who Before getting to the politics of the had been invited to Madrid but could not Congress, a word about the place is in come because of repression: Andrei Sak­ order, for that was one of the most mov­ harov of the Soviet Union, Nelson Man­ ing aspects of the event. Madrid, Felipe dela of South Africa, Kirn Dae Jung of Gonzalez, leader of the Spanish Socialist South Korea. Jaime Paz Zamora, the dem­ Workers Party (PSOE) , said in his greet­ ocratically elected vice president of Bo­ ings to the Congress, was for these days SI Congress commemorative poster. livia, was able to address the Congress on the "capital of world socialism." The behalf of the legal government of his same Madrid which for so many years had country "in resistance." been the capital of European fascism! ''When I went to the exhibition Indeed, Latin America was one of When we attended a reception given by the central preoccupations of the Con­ the Socialist mayor of Madrid, it seemed on the Civil Wctr in a public gress. It was also the only question on to me that SI President Willy Brandt's pt1rk a mere five years a/ter which I took the floor as chair of the voice almost broke as he told of the deep Franco's death, I had to fight DSOC delegation. Reagan and many of emotions socialists felt in this city. A'nd his close associates, I told the delegates, when I went to the exhibition on the dvil back tears when I looked at the have a particularly reactionary attitude to­ War in a public building in a public park re1.:oltttionary banners and wards Latin America and his election a mere five years after Franco's death, I could be taken as a signal for vicious re­ had to fight back tears when I looked at posters.,, pression by the rightists in that region. the revolutionary banners and posters and David Rockefeller, I noted, had just pub­ listened to the militants of a generation licly stated in Argentina-in Argentina!­ ago sin~ing the Internationale as they hope for Spain. In his inaugural address, that the human rights emphasis of Amer­ marched through the streets of this city. Brandt spoke of being deeply fearful for ican foreign policy was ~t an end. The There was even a lighter side to all world peace in the eighties. Later on in SI, I concluded, should hope that Reagan this. When a barber saw DSOC's Motl the debates, the SJ president insisted that might go back on his previous extreme Zclrnanowicz's SI delegate's badge, he re­ the Congress should call not merely for positions, as he did during the campaign fused to accept money for a haircut. It the ratification of SALT II-which every­ on a number of questions ; but it should made one think of Orwell's description one knew was improbable in the light of also put Washington on notice that its of how the waiters abolished tipping in the American election- but should also actions in Latin America would be a lit­ Barcelona during the Civil War out of push for the beginnings of SALT III. mus test for the socialist and democratic respect for their own dignity. Speaker after speaker mentioned the fear movements of the world. The final reso­ But then, all was not nostalgia and of what the Reagan Presidency and Re- lution of the Congress took up that plea,

12 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 stating that "we will regard the new SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT ON EL SALVADOR administration's attitude toward Latin America and the Caribbean as a signal for The Socialist International condemns the murders of FDR opposition alliance its posture in the whole world." leaders in El Salvador by armed forces of that country. Again persons who stand for democracy, social and economic progress have become victims of savage terror. Concern for Nicaragua Among those murdered are Enrique Alvarez Cordova, president of the oppo­ Representatives from a number of Latin American and Caribbean parties sition alliance FDR and Enrique Barrera, member of the executive committee of were in Madrid, and the Salvadorean, the Socialist International member party in El Salvador, MNR. Guillermo Ungo, received a standing ova­ The current sad events have further confirmed the attitude of the Socialist tion. At the request of the Nicaraguans, International regarding developments in El Salvador. (the Sandinista foreign minister, Miguel d'Escoto, a Catholic priest, and Com­ It is up to the members of the ruling Junta of El Salvador to make credible mandante Bayardo Arce were guests of and visible efforts to end the carnage. The continuation of repressive policies makes the Congress) an International Commit­ meaningless and false their appeals for respect and support as well as for talks with tee for the Defense of the Nicaraguan Revolution was created. It will champion the opposition. nonintervention by great powers into that The Socialist International maintains that the United States and other country, the right of self determination states presently supporting the Junta should review their policies in Central Amer­ for the Nicaraguans and will make more ica in favour of the ~emocratic forces of the region. information aYailable on events there. The Committee, to be chaired by Felipe The Socialist International extends its unwavering solidarity to the families Gonzalez, includes many of the major and political friends in El Salvador who mourn for their fallen comrades. leaders of SI mass parties (Bruno Krei­ Willy Brandt Bernt Carlsson sky, Fram;ois Mitterrand, Olof Palme), President General Secretary representatives from the Third W odd (Carlos Andrez Perez of Venezuela, Francisco Pena Gomez of the Dominican tion of the Congress-adopted after a national politics: that since Brandt as­ Republic, Michael Manley of Jamaica). lengthy debate in the Bureau of the In­ sumed its presidency in 1976, there is a I was also elected a member. It held its ternational the night before the final ses­ serious political coalition of socialists on a fi rst meeting during the "Eurosocialism sion-place its hopes in "the Israeli la­ world scale, one which more and more and America" conference held in Wash­ bour alignment ... the only viable force reaches out to, has dialogues with, and ington, D.C. in early December. for peace for and with Israel." It delib­ works for the Third World. An observer The Middle Fast came up in a nwn­ erately did not mention the PLO, not the from the Republican National Committee ber of ways. On the second day of the least because it believed that a Peres vic­ asked me why Brandt was doing all of Congress. a statement issued by Brandt, tory would do more for everyone, includ­ this. And I said-a view that this Congress Kreiskr. Shimon Peres and Boutros Bou­ ing the Palestinians, than any other out­ reinforced-that he is a profoundly com­ tros-Ghali of the National Democratic come and that no statement should be mitted and moral man who has dedicated Party of Egypt, called upon "all neigh­ adopted which in any way might interfere his life to world peace and the vast ma­ boring parties and especially Jordan to with that development. Eventually, both jority of humankind. That attitude is shoulder their responsibilities and to the PSOE and the PSI participated in this incarnated in Brandt and it permeated all enter into constructive negotiations with consensus and did not press their state­ of the sessions during that remarkable Israel. ..." This development was par­ ment for a vote at the final session. week when the one-time capital of Euro­ ticularly significant given the public criti­ In other words, the SI once again pean fascism became the capital of world cisms by Peres and the Israeli socialists demonstrated a new fact of life in inter- socialism. • of the Brandt-Kreisky meeting with Yas­ sir Arafat in Vienna during the summer of 1979. But another statement, initiated by the PSOE and the Italian Socialist Party (PSI), called for negotiations be­ tween Israel and the PLO. It did not, however, insist that the PLO recognize Israel's right to exist prior to such nego­ tiations, a fatal flaw in the opinion of ''For Mr. Haig, the Watergate period was the trial of his life. 'There is the DSOC delegation. The PSOE-PSI declaration was endorsed by the socialist nobody in the White House who has suffered more from walking close to Parties of Austria, El Salvador, Malta, the Richard Nixon than I have,' he told an interviewer. 'Nothing on the battle­ Dominican Republic, Senegal, and Vene­ field was as tough as this. Nor did I ever see more human tragedy. But, if zuela, and by the Radical Party of Chile (a member of the SI) . New York Times I had to do it again, I would do it-to preserve However, the official final resolu- December 17, 1980 the provisions of our Constitution.,,

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 13 Ta tarsFight for Homeland By Eric Lee

YSHE SEYT.MURATOVA WAS BORN in Kercb, Crimea in the Soviet Union on February 11, 1937. / Soon after her seventh birth­ day, she and all her people were deported from the Cri­ mea to Central Asia. The Stalinist regime had branded the entire nation as traitors and collabora­ tors with Nazism (the Germans had oc­ aipied the Crimea) . In the aftermath of the war, and even under the deStaliniza­ tion, the fate of the Crimean Tatars was forgotten. Today, thirty-seven years later, they remain exiled from their homeland. Driven from the Crimea, persecuted '' We would like to show the world that we can get our homeland for being Muslims, the Crimean Tatars back in a peaceful way.,, created a national movement to struggle for a return to their homeland . .Ayshe do not exist." .All of the copies of the They are forced to do heavy labor; they Seytmuratova played a prominent role in Koran, she says, were burned in 1944 work as painters, for example. As a mat­ that movement and twice was arrested by when the Crimean Tatars were exiled ter of fact, this has really become stand­ Soviet authorities for speaking out against from Crimea. Today, it is virtually im­ ard for the whole Soviet Union; aside the persecution of her people. In 1966, possible to get hold of a copy. There are from mineworkers, women do a lot, most she spent nine months in Lefortova only three or four religious schools for of the heavy labor. They repair roads, Prison on charges of "inciting national­ Muslims in the whole Soviet Union, and drive trucks. . . . There are no publica­ istic discord." In 1971, she was arrested onlr a few mosques. However, she notes, tions for Crimean Tatar women, no mag­ and sentenced to three years in labor camp millions of Muslims practice their relig­ azines, no social organizations, no clubs." for alleged "circulation of fabrications ious customs at home, in secret. I asked about the participation of discrediting the Soviet state and social The recent deterioration of the Crimean Tatar women in the nationalist system." She left the Soviet Union­ world situation has severely undermined movement. "Crimean Tatar women do ironically, on an Israeli visa-in Novem­ the Crimean Tatar movement, she says. participate in the national movement, ber, 1978 and since then has conducted "Within the country, the repression has very many of them do. Very many have a virtual one-woman crusade on behalf increased, against everyone, not only been imprisoned." of the Crimean Tatars. I asked her to against dissidents, but also against all Many leftists have expressed con­ describe the goal of the Crimean Tatar members of national movements. There cern that the rising Islamic movements, national movement. are many Crimean Tatars in prisons." both inside the Islamic world and inside "The goals of our movement in­ the U.S.S.R., are socially conservative and volve our return to the Crimea, the res­ Discrimination Against Women that their victories would be a step back­ toration of statehood, dense settlement Crimean Tatar women suffer special ward for women, gays, dissidents, ethnic of our people in one area: all of this is forms of discrimination. They "experi­ minorities. Would the return of Crimean necessary to preserve a sense of nation­ ence not only dual discrimination, but a Tatars to their homeland and the estab­ hood, and to restore our very basic cul­ twenty-fold discrimination. I can say as a lishment of their own state lead to an­ ture and the history of our people. . . . Crimean Tatar woman who wanted to other Khomeini-type regime? "I must We would like to show the world that become a scholar; I was not accepted into first say," replied Ayshe, "that we are in a democratic and peaceful manner, the humanities faculty because I was a Sunni Muslims, while the Iranians are without machine guns and tanks we can Crimean Tatar woman. That's one ex­ Shiite Muslims." She pointed out that live in peace and get our homeland back ample of discrimination against me. Cri­ Soviet Jewish dissidents and Crimean in a peaceful way, without terror." mean Tatar woman basically have incom­ Tatars "have much in common ... with She described the religious perseai­ plete educations. Many of them didn't regard to the issue of return to one's tion suffered not only by Crimean Tatars, finish their educations after the war and homeland" and have worked together "Even though there is talk about free­ many cannot read or write. .And now closely in the dissident community-there­ dom of conscience, the conditions to en­ there are no schools where classes are by disproving the claim that Islamic be- able you to really follow your conscience conducted in their native languages.... Continued on page 15

14 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Jan. 1981 ON THE LEFT, from page 10

history. Copies, at $3.75, a.re available from UA W-LUPA, took place in 1955, is ten stories high and is part of a 40-story 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Ml 48214. office building. At the urging of union, religious, civic and • politial leaders, the Board of Education unanimously named • • the school after Thomas despite protests from ultra-rightists. WINNER OF A CML SERVICE ''NOBEL PRJZE" WAS DEBBIE Meier, DSOC vice-chair. The Fund for the Gty of New York A committee of Friends of Norman Thomas High School, in­ cluding the principal, faculty and Teachers' union representa­ presented her with a $5,000 tax-free award for starting the tives, students and longtime admirers of Thomas, helps make Central Park East School, an alternative school in Ea.st Harlem, the students and faculty aware of Thomas's ideals, goals, and six years ago. The school has 200 students from aJI o'·er the city accomplishments and their meaning to the United States and in an experiment in unconventional teaching methods that has the world. Each year since 1976, the committee has raised from won high praise from critics of education. $5,000 to $8,000 for important school activities, including rel­ • • • evant books for the school library and scholarships. This year, THI? 96TH BIRTHDAY OF NORMAN THOMAS WAS COMMEM­ the committee is planning an album by the Norman Thomas orated in songs, poetry, prose and dance November 20 a: New Gospel Choir of spirituals, labor, and socialist songs. This York's Norman Thomas High School. Labor troubador Joe writer co-chairs the committee with Rose Shapiro, former pres­ Glaur joined students in a program of labor and socialist ident of the Board of Education and a longtime socialist. • songs, induding his "The Children of Norman Thomas," plus their :.selections from John Donne, Langston Hughes, Countee P.S. If news of your local isn't included, maybe you forgot to Cullen and .Martin Luther King. The school, on the site of the sent it in. Send items to Harry Fleischman aJ 853 Broadway, 34th Street Armory where the AFL-CIO merger convention Suite 801, N.Y.C. 10003. • • • TATARS, from page 14 IN MEMORIAM liefs necessitate anti-Israel or anti-Semitic attitudes. It is a Tcty rare event for the Soviets RUTH KADISH to allow s Crimean Tatar to emigrate. As a result. there is no Crimean Tatar con­ stituency in any of the W estem countries. Friend, comrade, socialist. Ayshc is therefore waging a lonely and uphill struggle. "If I didn't believe that We are all diminished by her passing, but inspired by her life. we CDU!d return to our homeland, I wocJdn•t be involved in the struggle," DSOC Houston Local she says. She directs her appeals to the United Nations, the peoples of all coun­ tries, and has recently made special ef­ forts to roch governments of Islamic countries. "'People should understand that if they an physially destroy, or spiritu­ ally destroy, the Crimean Tatars, this is CHANGE JOBS. CHANGE THE WORLD! the equivalent co destroying one special EUROSOCIALISM POSTERS: Commemora­ Every year, COMMUNilY JOBS, a moqthly tive posters of historic "Eucosocialism a.nd facet of nature•••• If a particular people, ioucnal, lists O\'er 2,000 job openings in social America" conference. Only $~ plus $1 postage. a nationality is destroyed, this means that change work nationwide. Write for a ffl• firJI DC-Md. DSOC, 1346 Connecticut Ave., N.W., a special, unique language is destroyed. imu .I If you like it, pay just $8.88 ( 40% off) #713, Washington, D .C. 20036. for nine more issues. If not, write "cancel" on Consequently a culture will be destroyed. the bill and keep the free issue. COMMU­ And we know that the culture of man­ ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. Under su­ NllY JOBS, Box 107, 1704 R St., NW, pervision run office, follow union democ..r&cy Washington, DC 20009 kind is made up of a composite of cul­ cases, maintain contact with unionists, lawyers, tures. So if today the Soviet Government JOIN THE DSOC HEALTH CARE TASK respond to inquiries. Must type, keep a.ccu.rate succeeded in destroying the Crimean Ta­ FORCE' Send $5/year ( 4 issues) for the Task records, willing to sha.re all grubby stuff re­ tars, tomorrow-never mind tomorrow­ Force newsletter. Articles on national health quired to run organizatioll. $1,000 month. Res­ today they are destroying Afghanistan! service, hospital cost control, defense of public umes only. hospitals, occupational health, more. Health The day after tomorrow they will choose care bibliography also available for 50 cents. SECRETARY BOOKKEEPER. Maintain lists someone else." • Mail to DSOC, SH Broadway, Suite 801, of associates, keep records of expenses, simple N.Y., N.Y. 10003. bookkeeping. Type letters, proposals; run light Erfr Lee edits The New International Re­ Classified rales are $2 per line, $.50 per column errands; $200 week. Contact: Herman Benson, view. He acknowledges the assistance' of inch (di1play). Payment in advanu, 20 perunl Association for Union Democracy, 215 Parle Helen Sen in translaJing and editing the disco11n1 rf the llli runs lu•o or more limes. W • Ave. South, Room 1711. New York City 10003. (212) 47H606. interview. reser1·e 1he right lo reiect ad1.

Jan. 1981 DEMOCRATIC LEFT 15 HIGGINS REPORIS

CRUEL ACTS IN CLOSING DAYS - According to the protege of Mike Harrington, Kahn is now a leader of December 6 Washington Post, Senate and House conferees Social Democrats, U.S.A. One the one hand we are im­ approved, without hearings, an idea advanced by Senator Rus· pressed and flattered by all this. SW'ely disputes among sell Long to exempt owners of oil royalties from payment of American socialists and between American socialist windfall taxes on the first $1000 of earnings. Since Congress organizations have not until now received such attention functions under budgeting procedures whereby every direct at the highest echelons of American labor. expenditure or tax expenditure must be made up, the conferees dealt directly with any possible deficit. They killed language On the other hand, this grudge match has been that would have authorized Medicare to pay for the first three carried on rather long at rather high levels. In the middle pints of blood needed by older Americans. of the most serious economic crisis in America since the Great Depression, people who are in considerable agree­ WHERE WAS THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVE­ ment on domestic economic policy should join ranks MENT at the early December EW'osocialism confer­ against the common corporate enemy, even though they ence? A good sprinkling of trade unionists did attend are still very much at odds over international issues such and learned, by their accounts, a great deal. But the as El Salvador. The IDS conference clearly suffered a Institute for Democratic Socialism (IDS) made a point loss-although not a decisive one, given the enormous of inviting each major union in the U.S. to send leader­ success of the event. But the AFL-CIO lost, too, to the ship representatives. Unfortunately, not very many re­ extent that some of its leaders and staffers boycotted an sponded, and at least part of American labor leadership opportunity to discuss how to deal with the current mis­ (or its staff) actively worked to undermine the confer­ ery. Cool heads are needed. ence. Most European unionists would like to get the AFL-CIO back into the International Confederation of CHUTZPAH WAS ONCE DEFINED as the quality possessed Free Trade Unions (ICFTU); the AFL-CIO left in the by an adolescent who kills both parents, then asks the court to late 1960s because the EW'opean socialists had, in the show mercy because he's an orphan. William F. Buckley is view of AFL-CIO leaders, too much contact with Com­ rewriting the definition. Recently returned from a tour of munists. At least one major EW'opean federation was South and Central America, where he led the cheerleading told that their leaders' attendance at the IDS conference squad for the economic progress shown by every regime under would prevent the AFL-CIO's re-entry into ICFTU. right-wing terror, Buckley has turned his attention to Europe. Around some Washington labor circles, the event was And he has disovered that the Socialist International is the referred to as "that Eurocommunism" conference. In re­ party of appeasement to Soviet aggression. According to sponse to repeated invitations for AFL-CIO participa­ Buckley, Willy Brandt just doesn't know how to stand up to tion, IDS received a chilly note signed by Lane Kirkland Communist totalitarianism; furthermore, the European Social­ stating that the Federation was capable of setting up its ists show their softness by resisting generous American offers own contact with EW'opean union and political leaders. to place nuclear missiles aimed at Moscow on their soil. We Kirkland's letter arrived in an envelope bearing the can't recall just how long Mr. Buckley served as mayor of West name of AFL-CIO staffer Tom Kahn. A founding mem­ Berlin, but we're certain that he's willing to fight the Soviet ber of Students for a Democratic Society and one-time threat down to the life of the last West European.

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