WINTER 06/07

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NHS: the fightback begins PLUS ★ Velvet Counter Revolution ★ No to a Nuclear Future ★ : the Reggaeton Revolution ★ Freedom Denied in Israel editorial The mainstream press speak of a revived Tory threat to the government. It is true that the Conservatives are looking more popular than they have done for the past decade and more. This is largely due to the fact that millions of British working people have completely lost their faith in the New Labour Government, because of its appalling policies – including the privatisation of essential services and notable imperialist ‘adventures’, which in Iraq alone have cost 650,000 lives – and are refusing to declare their support for anyone. The right has been on the march for a quarter of Millions of a century and is becoming ever more aggressive – the outlawing of the Communist British working Youth in the Czech Republic (The Velvet Counterrevolution, p9) is a case in point. The real struggle the left faces now is to get the ball rolling the other way – to people have intensify the mass struggles which have exploded in opposition to neoliberal and imperialist policies and start putting the right-wingers on the defensive. This is already completely lost happening. In our cover story (The Fightback Begins, pp10–11) Phil Brand relates the unions’ struggle to resist the fragmentation, erosion and outright privatisation of their faith in the NHS, while on p6 Brendan Lee looks at the fight to prevent a new lease of life for Britain’s nuclear arsenal. From an international perspective, there are lessons to the New Labour be learned from the successes of union and youth campaigns in France, covered in our Industrial Diary (French Lessons, p12), while the striking victories achieved by Government, Hezbollah and their allies in the resistance war against Israel last summer (Freedom Denied, p7) provide hope that the desperate position of the peoples held in thrall because of by Israel will not last for ever. Meanwhile, the urgent need to defend the Chavez government in Venezuela, whose policies are changing millions of lives for the better, its appalling is made clear by James Tweedie on pages 14 and 15. The Chinese construction of an ‘eco-city’ to provide a blueprint for sustainable, non-polluting urban life in the future policies (A Socialist Solution, p13) is also encouraging. The spotlight is focused on imperialism in this issue’s Back to Basics (p16), in the first of two articles on the subject, while our Book at Bedtime takes a look at Engels’ explanation of how such seemingly diverse concepts as property, gender equality and militarism are interlinked (pp17–18). It promises to be a busy winter, for the YCL and the left in general. No-one who reads the news can deny that millions are dying, pointlessly, across the world, or that billions lack the basic essentials of life, such as clean water, food, and shelter. Capitalism, far from seeking to improve this situation, is the chief cause of it. A global movement to fight back has already begun. For the sake of the human race, it must succeed.

Ben Chacko

 Contents In the news...... 4–5 No to a Nuclear Future ...... 6 in this As essential public services are being sold off, Brendan Lee takes a look at Trident replacement. Freedom Denied...... 7 ISSUE Ben Stevenson shows that while the West posture about freedom, Israel denies basic rights to an entire people. COVER STORY: NHS fightback Build the YCL… for the Struggle Against Capitalism ...... 8 p10–11 Gawain Little reports on the Summer Offensive. Velvet Counter Revolution...... 9 The Czech Republic has ordered the dissolution of the Communist Youth Union. Gawain Little comments.

COVER STORY NHS: the fightback begins. . . .10–11 Freedom Denied: Phil Brand looks at the effects of privatisation in the Israel exposed NHS and how unions are beginning a counterattack. p7 Industrial Diary ...... 12 David Morgan urges trade unions to learn from the example of the French labour movement. Dongtan: the Socialist Solution . . . .13 The Chinese government is adopting a revolutionary approach to climate change. Ben Chacko reports. Velvet Counter Venezuela: the Revolution: Czech Reggaeton Revolution. . . . . 14–15 Venezuela is constructing its own brand of ‘Socialism Republic p9 for the 21st Century’. James Tweedie investigates. Back to Basics: Part 7...... 16 A clear analysis of the world we live in today requires an understanding of what Marxists call imperialism. Uncle Joe’s Book at Bedtime. . . . .18 Frederick Engels’ Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State is laid out for discussion. The Reggaeton What we stand for...... 19 Revolution:

Venezuela Editor: Ben Chacko Thanks to all our contributers Business Manager: Gawain Little this issue, with special thanks this p14–15 Design: Jo Levy issue to Gawain Little and Graham Print: Communist Party of Britain Stevenson, and all those who fight Published by: for a better tomorrow. The Young Communist League, Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, London CR0 1BD  n e w s in the news The Blair-Brown Sideshow eptember’s explosion of infighting important than how he leaves, and Brown’s Samong the top echelons of New probable victory is less important than the Labour was in some senses satisfying for circumstances under which it occurs. The the left. One cannot have lived through public perception that trust in Blair has been the struggles against tuition fees, top-up shattered by the invasion of Iraq and the fees, the Private Finance Initiative and the disgraceful attempts to prolong the war in Public Private Partnership, and of course Lebanon in order to help Israel means that the imperialist attacks on Yugoslavia, any successor should pause for thought Afghanistan and Iraq without feeling glad at before unleashing more imperialist wars. the prospect of Blair’s imminent departure But it is less commonly perceived that from Downing Street. Blair’s domestic record is also damaging his Despite this, however, Blair as an popularity. Working people do not want their individual is incidental to the struggle to public assets sold off, essential services defeat New Labour – we should recall delivered by a myriad of competing profit- that to all intents and purposes his likely seeking companies. A strong campaign successor Gordon Brown has been the co- against the continuation of these policies, architect of the New Labour project. Brown combined with the threat from the left in played a key rôle in all the numerous dodgy the Labour Party headed by McDonnell, economic initiatives of the Blair régime could force Brown or whichever other right- and did not say a word against its acts of wingers the leadership proposes into military aggression. His recent statement making concessions to the left; and a strong that he is in favour of the renewal of showing for McDonnell in terms of votes, Britain’s nuclear weapons ‘deterrent’ is even if it fails to achieve victory, might drag another proof of his unsuitability to lead a the centre-ground of Labour leftwards. progressive Labour government. The left It would only be a step – but at least it should oppose an undemocratic ‘coronation’ would be a step in the right direction, and of Brown and campaign for a leadership sadly a decade of Labour government has contest – in which leftwinger John seen far too few of those. ■ McDonnell will be competing. Still, the chances of McDonnell beating Brown are slim (though we can always hope). Would a Brown premiership be a defeat for the left? Not necessarily. This struggle, as mentioned above, is not really about personalities at all, although the bickering between New Labour goons about who should succeed Blair seems to be. Blair’s departure in and of itself is less  Penal Reforms? n e w s Just not good enough Afghanistan – the slaughter continues s the more high profile civil war in AIraq continues, an earlier adventure …the fact has come back to haunt the imperialist that the powers. An overextended United States has withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan and army is handed over responsibility for this particular war to the British. having to The mantra that our soldiers are simply win village attempting to keep the peace in Afghanistan and protect the population from a tiny after number of Taleban insurgents grows more village in unconvincing by the day. This ‘tiny number’ are putting up a tough fight against our devastating soldiers, and the situation in the country is bloodbaths getting worse. While our commanders report significant victories, the fact that the army is shows that having to win village after village in devastating Western t is a sad fact that at a time when crime public, who are the victims of the crimes bloodbaths shows that Western brutality is Irates are falling, the government feels committed by released prisoners. Reports aiding the Taleban, not helping to defeat them. brutality is it has to build two new prisons to increase from prison management suggest that most And we can’t help being sceptical when we aiding the the capacity of British prisons to almost prisoners are eager to ‘go on the straight hear that the RAF has ‘killed X number of 100,000 (British jails already hold more and narrow’ when they leave, and courses insurgents in an air strike’, as we so often Taleban, inmates than those of any other European which teach them valuable skills with which do. The truth which leaked out in Yugoslavia not helping country.) Yet this development is not to make a living when they get out are and Iraq about the inaccuracy of these air necessarily wrong. Overcrowding in British massively oversubscribed. So something is strikes, and the callous disregard for human to defeat prisons is a major problem, leading to worse going wrong. life shown by the military chiefs of the them conditions for prisoners and an increased The bottom line is that these courses, West, are enough grounds for suspicion that chance of suicide. Both short term and long and the other forms of productive work which the bulk of casualties in this war – as in term solutions to this problem are needed – prisoners can engage in while ‘inside’, are most wars – is in the civilian population. unfortunately the government is sticking to too rare, and support for those who are just The continuing slaughter of the Afghan people the short term. released in terms of finding them employment is doing nothing either for peace or stability The public perception that many and housing is even rarer. Many prisoners – in this long-suffering country. British troops dangerous criminals are released while an estimated 15% – suffer from serious should be withdrawn immediately. ■ still posing a serious threat to the public is mental illness and should be treated in not in error – several high profile murders mental asylums rather than thrown into demonstrate its validity. Tightening up overcrowded jails and deprived of the Want to contribute parole conditions and scrapping such medical attention they need. The result is anomalies as automatically halving the that the mentally ill do not recover, and an article to length of time before parole is available those other prisoners who leave jail cannot for defendants who plead guilty are indeed find jobs or anywhere to live and quickly Challenge? positive moves. But again we are stuck with find themselves resorting to crime in order short term answers. to get by. The government must take a good Send contributions or letters to: Britain’s prison system requires an hard look at the prison system, provide overhaul. Two thirds of inmates go on to proper asylums and treatment for the Challenge reoffend when released. This shows that mentally ill and prioritise rehabilitation for Young Communist League our prison system is not rehabilitating all prisoners. This may mean longer Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, offenders as it should – it is failing the sentences for some, and it will certainly London CR0 1BD prisoners, who are denied the chance of require greater investment in the system, or via email to [email protected] a new start in life, and it is failing the but otherwise everyone loses in the end. ■  n u c l e a r w e a p o n s NO to a nuclear future While essential public services are being sold off, our government is planning to spend £25 billion on renewing our stock of the most destructive weapons the human race has ever seen. Brendan Lee takes a look at Trident Replacement.

Almost 20 years after the end of the Cold weapons, and also the fact that Western ‘under attack’ includes ‘the interruption of War, Britain maintains a devastating powers including the US, Britain and France The flimsy the flow of vital resources.’ arsenal of nuclear weapons, with almost all claimed the right to a ‘first strike’ policy, excuses The cost of renewing Britain’s nuclear two hundred nuclear warheads ready to whereby they could use nuclear assault the British arsenal is phenomenal – £25 billion will be fire at any time. These warheads are part before a hypothetical opponent did, in order spent on re-equipping our submarines with of the ‘Trident’ system – Britain’s set of to prevent a possible counterattack. government nuclear missiles when Trident passes its nuclear submarines, each of which carries sell-by-date. This is to ignore the cost of But the Cold War is over. The flimsy excuses had for its a number of nuclear missiles which can be that the British government had for its maintaining the new system, which will run fired at any time (provided that the United possession of scores of nuclear weapons scores of into millions a year. This is cash which is States agrees – targetting the missiles is urgently needed in our underfunded public are now obsolete. Yet our government is nuclear dependent on US satellites.) already planning a replacement for Trident – services – our hospitals and schools are The appalling consequences of the use of a replacement that would-be-leader Gordon weapons understaffed, and money which could easily pay for bringing the most vital public services nuclear weapons are clear to all. On the Brown has already endorsed. There is no are now only two occasions on which they have justification for replacing Britain’s nuclear of all up to standard will be squandered on been used – by the United States in Japan ‘deterrent’. There is no nuclear threat to this obsolete the most destructive weapons mankind has in 1945 – the total death toll exceeded country. We can only conclude that the desire ever invented – unless we do something about it. The debate is open; the Labour Party 200,000. Radiation caused by these bombs for nuclear arms is an aggressive one – and, have not backed Brown or Blair in their resolve has caused disease and disability among as NATO and Britain itself have recently to renew our nuclear weapons systems, and local populations to this day. In the Cold demonstrated their willingness to engage in the British public have not yet had their say. War the justification for possession of such pre-emptive strikes against other countries, A campaign against the renewal of the British weapons was simple, if superficial: if we the idea that these weapons will be used nuclear deterrent is urgently necessary, and have enough to wipe them out, they won’t with caution does not ring true. To be sure, its success is vital for the health and safety try to wipe us out. This approach glossed the NATO guidelines state that nuclear of our planet as a whole. over the fact that the United States was weapons would not be used unless NATO Brendan Lee is National Organiser the only country ever to have used nuclear was ‘under attack’. But they also state that of Youth & Student CND.  i s r ael & palest in e

Freedom denied The West might posture about defending our freedoms, but, as Ben Stevenson shows, our Israeli ally denies basic rights to an entire people.

Last summer’s devastating attack by the to terms very different from those for which living in Palestine and those just across Israeli military on Lebanon was an eye- it began the war. the border in Israel is stark. The average Israel’s opener for the world, exposing the reality This war was not an accidental outburst. income of an Israeli family is $20,000 a occupation of the ‘war on terror’. Those politicians who The excuse that the assault was in response, year; in Palestine it is a mere $700, and talk about saving lives from the menace however disproportionate, to the kidnap of falling. Many in Palestine are nearing of Palestine of terrorism are clearly indifferent to the two Israeli soldiers was just that; Israeli starvation. In the interests of ‘security’, is so old loss of human life on ‘the other side’ – by officials were in Washington in the spring, Israel has effectively prevented Palestinians which we do not mean terrorists, but simply sounding out what the American response from earning a living. It has bulldozed more that many ordinary working people. to an invasion of Lebanon would be. This than half of the orange groves and farms, see it as The right wing media often claims that the war was planned; but it didn’t go to plan. depriving Gaza of one of its only exports. It has issued decrees preventing Palestinian West – and politically this includes Israel – This is no time for triumphalism. The part of the fishermen from going out to sea, stopping has a moral high ground when it comes to damage inflicted on the Lebanese economy natural them from even reaching a subsistence conflict with terrorists. This is supposedly will take years to repair. A million people level of income. Curfews bar Palestinians because our militaries do not target civilians, have been forced to flee their homes. order of from leaving their homes, sometimes for whereas theirs do. But if any vestiges of Reconstruction efforts (largely funded by the weeks on end, and it is not uncommon for a the world, belief in this moral high ground survived the resistance) are hampered by the fact that as desperate father or mother who sneaks out carnage unleashed upon Iraq by the Anglo- no-one knows when Israel will strike again, despite to fetch water or food for their family to be American ‘coalition of the willing’, they rebuilding homes near the border can seem shot dead by Israeli troops. many UN have been done to death by the assault on like a waste of time and money. Lebanon. Even if we take the Israeli The destructive power of Israel’s Zionist Yet even the Lebanese are fortunate resolutions military’s claims not to target civilians at government is enormous, and its brutal compared to the Palestinians. Israel’s demanding face value, the facts speak for themselves. occupation of Palestine continues. In the occupation of Palestine is so old that Almost two thousand people were killed in famously overheard conversation between many see it as part of the natural order of withdrawal the attack on Lebanon; of these a few Blair and Bush at the UN, Blair remarked the world, despite many UN resolutions hundred may have been resistance fighters. that he could easily go to the Middle East from Gaza demanding unconditional withdrawal from The overwhelming majority were civilians, because he didn’t have to achieve anything – Gaza and the West Bank. As one Palestinian and the and over half were children. By contrast, “I can just go there and talk”. ‘Talking’ has put it recently, “Gaza is a prison… more than three quarters of those killed by failed the peoples of Palestine and Lebanon. West Bank. nobody is allowed to leave.” This summer, Hezbollah were invading soldiers. The heroic We must support the efforts of broad-based, simultaneously with the attack on Lebanon, resistance led in Lebanon by Hezbollah have non-sectarian resistance to these imperialist Israel escalated its violence in Gaza. achieved the most striking advance in their assaults, and crush the double poison of Hundreds – again with a large proportion of history. They battled the most technologically Zionist racialism and Al-Qa’eda’s misleading women and children – have been killed and sophisticated and best equipped army in the politics of hate. A two-state solution is the are still being killed. The Lebanese were Middle East to a standstill. Israel – despite only way for peace and prosperity to reach forced to flee before the onslaught of Israeli the shameful backing of the United States the neglected and downtrodden inhabitants missiles. The Palestinians are not even and the British, who actively attempted to of Palestine. allowed to flee. delay a ceasefire (so much for their concern The contrast between the lives of people Ben Stevenson is General Secretary about civilian deaths) – was forced to come of the Young Communist League.  c o n g r e s s

Build the YCL… for the struggle against capitalism Last summer, the Young Communist League held a Summer Offensive to bolster the work of the organisation in the run-up to our Congress, held in September. Gawain Little reports.

The summer leading up to the YCL congress have witnessed a massive increase in war means of production, of societies wealth, this year witnessed the brutal and savage and conflicts, in poverty, and a marked drop A system for the benefit of all the members of invasion of southern Lebanon by the Israeli in living standards for the majority of the based on society. It was in this context that the Young army, backed fully by the US and British world’s population. In Britain, the attacks of Communist League launched its Summer governments who, despite international first Tory, then new Labour governments private Offensive 2006, under the slogan Build the condemnation, refused to call for an have left workers with fewer and feebler profit no YCL for the Struggle Against Capitalism. immediate ceasefire. While over 1,000 rights than in any other western European YCL members held meetings across Lebanese citizens were massacred, our country and have pushed forward the longer England, Scotland and Wales on the topics dismantling of the welfare state. We read government sat back and watched, waiting has the of The Struggle for Peace, Opposing Attacks to see what effect the conflict would have daily of new attacks on the NHS, on the on Education, Solidarity with Venezuela and on US designs for a ‘Greater Middle East’. education system and on the right of working answers Building the YCL. This culminated in the In the words of George Bush, speaking at a people to a decent pension when they retire. for the YCL national congress which took place 1–3 joint press conference with Tony Blair during It is clear that capitalism has failed the September in Liverpool. the bombing: “our objective is to convert people of the world. Capitalism, a system people of This congress developed the YCL’s analysis this conflict into an opportunity and an effort based on the exploitation of one group of of the world situation and launched a to make extensive changes in the region.” the world people by another, relies upon imperialist new industrial strategy and a strategy for These ‘changes’ follow the ‘changes’ made and expansionist war, upon the driving young women. In addition it committed in Iraq, where the latest death toll has topped down of wages and conditions, on forced the YCL, which has more than doubled its 650,000 and the people still live under redundancies and mass unemployment in membership since the previous congress, to occupation; in Afghanistan, where NATO order to survive. The decline of Britain’s a planned strategy of continued growth. is increasing troop deployments as more manufacturing goes hand in hand with the “The key task of all comrades over people die each day; in Yugoslavia, where massive subsidies and underwriting given to the coming period will be to build the the final fate of Kosovo remains undecided, arms companies as imperialist war and YCL, both in terms of membership and while the UN tries to deal with Serbian alliances with repressive client regimes organisation. This work will be led and refugees living on the border after being replace investment in the productive economy. directed by the Executive Committee but is ethnically cleansed by the Western-backed A system based on private profit no longer the responsibility of every member.” (YCL Kosovo Liberation Army, and NATO retains a has the answers for the people of the world, Congress 2006). major HQ and forces in Bosnia to assist with or for the people of Britain. An alternative ‘defence reform’ and to oversee “integration must be found and fought for and that into the Euro-Atlantic Community.” alternative is communism – a society based Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, we on the common ownership and use of the  c z e c h r e p u b l ic Velvet counter revolution Despite public opposition and an international solidarity effort to prevent it, the government of the Czech Republic has ordered the dissolution of the Communist Youth Union and illegalised the organisation. Gawain Little reports on this assault on democracy.

On 16 October 2006 the Communist Youth in spite of a large campaign against the Petitions to defend the rights of the KSM Union (KSM) of the Czech Republic received illegalisation of the organisation of young can be found at http://4ksm.kke.gr a letter from the Ministry of the Interior communists, which drew massive support (initiated by the Communist Party of Greece) announcing that the Ministry had finally taken from across the Czech Republic. Thousands or http://wfdy-ksm.kne.gr (initiated by the the decision to dissolve the KSM on 12 October. of Czech citizens signed a petition against World Federation of Democratic Youth). This is the culmination of a series of threats the endeavour of the Ministry of Interior to For more information about ongoing campaigns by the Czech Government against the make the KSM illegal. The protest against in Britain to support the KSM, contact the KSM and the communist movement in the the illegalisation of the KSM was supported YCL office or visit www.ycl.org.uk. Czech Republic. The Ministry of the Interior by the organisations of former anti-fascist originally impugned the status of the KSM fighters, student organisations, political as a civic association on the pretext that parties and civic associations. the goals of the KSM’s activity interfered In addition to this, an international with an area restricted to the activities campaign of support for the KSM was of political parties. This was despite the initiated by the World Federation of fact that no attempt was made to interfere Democratic Youth (WFDY), including an with the activities of other political youth International Day of Solidarity with the KSM organisations or youth wings of other on 27 February 2006. Hundreds of youth political parties. and student organisations, trade unions and The Ministry of the Interior further stated that political parties together with thousands of the behaviour of the KSM was illegal because people protested at the embassies of the it was based on the theoretical standpoint Czech Republic across the world. Solidarity of Marx, Engels and Lenin and on the with the KSM was expressed by a large proclaimed necessity of socialist revolution. number of members of parliaments, famous intellectuals and personalities, including Nevertheless, the Ministry of Interior did Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo, leader of the not use any of those arguments for the Zapatistas Marcos and singer Bono from actual dissolution of the KSM. The only U2. Demonstrations in support of the KSM official reason for the dissolution of the were organised in front of embassies of KSM stated is that the KSM reflects in the Czech Republic in many countries of its programme the necessity of replacing the world, including protests in Britain the private ownership of the means of organised by the YCL. production with collective ownership of the means of production. This international support will now be key to defending the right of the KSM The illegalisation of the KSM was to organise and campaign as a legal, committed in the atmosphere of a vicious democratic, communist youth organisation. anti-communist witch-hunt, various anti- In their response to the decision of the communist campaigns and attacks and Czech government, the Communist Youth new calls for the criminalisation of the Union state that, “the KSM, in spite of its Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia official dissolution by the state power, is (KSCM). It is undoubtedly significant that going to carry on the struggle for the rights the decision of the Ministry of Interior of the majority of young people – students, came only one week before local and young workers and unemployed – and for Senate elections in which the KSCM will be socialism!” They have announced their standing candidates. decision to mount a legal challenge to the The decision to ban the KSM took place ruling of the ministry.  c o v e r s t o r y The fightback begins

For years, the National Health Service has suffered from the privatisation of vital services – costing the British people quality service, jobs and ultimately lives. Phil Brand looks at the effects of privatisation in the NHS and notes that unions are beginning a counterattack. 10 c o v e r s t o r y

The biggest problems facing the present day the number of patients rises. It also entails knowledge that they are immune from NHS are the after-effects of privatisation. job losses for staff who will no longer be disciplinary action due to being off duty at Already, one hears of the disaster that is required in a unit whose size has been the time? MRSA – caused as we all well know by radically reduced. At worst, we could be Public sector workers such as those of the the Conservatives contracting out hospital closed altogether – meaning that vulnerable NHS have carried a lot of flak over the PFI cleaning in the 1990s, and the cost in adolescents would be placed on adult project – this is something which the public The fightback human lives since is nothing short of a wards, which is highly inappropriate and recognise and sympathise with. Public national scandal. unsafe to say the least. opinion is currently to the left of the Labour We make comparisons with Cuba – it is So, how can the spectacle of ward Party leadership regarding many issues a country suffering from the effects of an closures be halted? The campaign group – Iraq, top-up fees and PFI are just some illegal blockade, but its hospitals are kept Health Emergency has taken up a bold of them. They fear the introduction of a US to the highest standard of cleanliness and suggestion and raised the likelihood of ward style system, where treatment depends hygiene, and MRSA is something that is occupations. Here, the staff of a threatened on the ability to pay, and nearly 50 million never heard of – let alone encountered. The ward occupy the place and work in, sleep people have no health insurance at all, and answer to the riddle here is that in Cuba in and refuse to leave the premises until therefore no protection from illness. Apart the health services are state controlled and a resolution of the disputed future of their from the gutter rags of capital, such as the publicly owned, whereas in Britain the NHS workplace is achieved. True, it sounds like Daily (hurrah for the Blackshirts) Mail and is increasingly run for profit. a radical step – but desperate times call for In essence, the Express, the media may even offer some As with the introduction of the Private desperate measures, and it may be the only grudging support for the radicalisation of the tide of Finance Initiative in the 1990s, the private course of action available to nursing staff, resistance to NHS privatisation. The Daily sector has become increasingly involved in who had their right to strike signed away privatisation Mirror for example has raised the issues a once 100% publicly owned health service, in the 1990s. Rather than engage in illegal of ‘third world wards’ and the pay rate of in order to meet deficits caused by inept industrial action and have their union assets of the NHS nurses. The Morning Star has long led the management – most of whom have never seized by a pro-PFI trust management or can be attack on PFI projects in the NHS and it is worked in an NHS hospital and thus do not the government, this approach could prove not inconceivable that ‘liberal’ papers such understand the concerns of medical staff fruitful. It was a tactic that had some reversed if as the Guardian or the Mirror might follow and patients. The result is that we see success in the 1970s – when unions had bold steps its lead. wards closing around the country’s hospitals the ear of a Labour government – and in The fightback against privatisation in the and in the London area especially (as order to stop the closure of services that are taken to NHS has begun – co-ordinated by UNISON benefit the most vulnerable members of reported in the Morning Star 12 September combat this and Amicus. The campaign to defend NHS 2006); mental health services have borne society it should be re-examined by health services and workers is up and running, and the brunt of these cuts. unions today. The Communist Party and disturbing the prospects for victory are favourable, the YCL should support any such action In the Sutton area for example, a children’s since public opinion is overwhelmingly and show the needed solidarity. After all, market psychiatric service was closed in January behind the unions on this. We cannot it was Communists who first called for the 2006, in order to meet budgetary constraints intrusion afford to waver – the struggle is reaching establishment of an NHS in the wake of the – depriving working class families of access critical intensity and its success is vital for 1942 Beveridge report. into a public to services their children might need if they the preservation of a publicly owned, free developed mental health problems. This In essence, the tide of privatisation of the service. health service for all. also adds to the spiral of social exlcusion NHS can be reversed if bold steps are taken which children with mental health problems to combat this disturbing market intrusion encounter in education and in society in into a public service. The recent decision of general. UNISON members to strike to defend NHS logistics from being sold off to the German At present, I work in an adolescent firm DHL is a good indication of this. Also, psychiatric unit at a busy South West the recent victory over pensions in the NHS London hospital. I have been there for three – albeit for now – shows that the mood of years, and even though we are a relatively health workers is beginning to harden. new unit we still face an uncertain future. Whenever we have a period with little As the NHS was seen as the jewel in ‘old’ or no patients, we begin to experience Labour’s crown, it makes sense to fight apprehension about our unit’s continued using all necessary resources to defend existence. Auditors make inspections to it, however the initiative here must come see if we are cost-effective – are we worth from health workers. Bearing in mind the the money spent? If it is decided that we aforementioned prohibitions on nurses are not, and cost needs to be cut to meet striking to receive that aim, what is there the deficit, then we may be cut from a 10 to stop nurses when off duty from holding bedroom unit to a 5 bedroom unit. This a picket outside their hospital with groups reduces the ability of the unit to cope if such as Keep Our NHS Public, safe in the

11 ind u s t ri a l di a r y industrial diary: French lessons

This issue, David Morgan urges trade unions to learn from the example of the French labour movement in its fight to defend young workers’ rights.

The development of a resistance movement policy was of course bound up with the neo- wider European Union project ensure that with a wide appeal and a progressive liberal agenda of the European Union and a deepening of political consciousness is For the leadership can have international attempted to extend the ‘labour flexibility’ arising out of these struggles. progressive ramifications. It is particularly true where the promoted by European industrialists. The A key priority of the progressive Youth youth specific injustice which has inspired such a agenda was and is a simple one. Undermine movement in Britain must be to unite movement is part of an international campaign the rights of workers to permit hire and fire against age discrimination in the minimum movement by neo-liberal forces themselves united in an policies which provide maximum profits for wage. This campaign must draw in the in Britain international organisation such as the European industrialists and periodic unemployment for broad alliance of youth movements, trade the lessons Union. Events in France have demonstrated the masses. In short the attempt is to enable unionists and progressive political parties. the possibility of resisting the European firms to operate on the microeconomic level It must link the specifics of youth poverty of self Union project on a number of fronts. the principles of a reserve pool of labour, not just with the overall campaign for a confidence, The victory of the ‘No’ campaign in the which is the basis of the European Union’s living wage but also to the wider economic referendum on the proposed European Union monetarist macroeconomic policy. agenda of the British government and of unity and constitution and defeats inflicted on the Villepin The strength of a resurgent French labour the European Union. While many groups organisational legislation must bring hope to the European movement led the French government to in Britain have offered their support and strength must left as a whole. For the Young Communist avoid a general onslaught and attempt solidarity to the French campaigners it must League and the progressive youth movement to attack the weakest sections of that be recognised that theirs is a defensive be heeded. in Britain the lessons of self confidence, unity movement. However, the perceived fight to protect hard won workers’ rights. and organisational strength must be heeded. injustice of discrimination against younger Such a campaign must inevitably lead to The mobilisation of school students, members of society helped to contribute an examination of workers rights in this university students, trade unionist and to the broad based unity of the coalition country which continue to be well below progressive political parties is something against the Villepin legislation. In an era acceptable levels and even well below the YCL has experienced in relation to the where the ideology of collective rights those enjoyed by our European allies. The Iraq war protests of recent years. In France has been weakened this emphasis on surest guarantee of workers rights available just such an alliance was mobilised to discrimination has proved a powerful tool. in the capitalist context is through trade defeat the European Constitution and then A defensive battle against discrimination union rights. The engagement of the trade with ever greater militancy, to resist the and the exploitation of one sector of the union movement in the cause of youth rights attempts of the French government to bring working class has proved a vital catalyst in France should inspire renewed interest in new legislation discriminating against to the reinvigoration of working class unity in trade unionism from young people across young workers. The Villepin proposals and militancy in France. The connections, Europe. Ensuring the trade union movement would have brought in the so called ‘first which are being drawn by politicians, trade in Britain responds to such interest is a Dave Morgan is unionists and youth leaders, between these task for all progressive trade unionists, but Industrial Organiser employment contract’ stripping young of the Young workers of their employment rights. The attacks on employment rights and the particularly the YCL and its allies. Communist League. 12 e c o - ci t y

Dongtan: the Socialist solution While Western politicians either tiptoe around the issue or deny its existence, the People’s Republic of China is adopting a revolutionary approach to climate change. Ben Chacko reports.

The wetlands of Chongming island in China growth by a comprehensive system of to local farmland in order to ensure that the might seem an unlikely place for spearheading The aims planning for a sustainable raising of living city can obtain the bulk of its food needs a new industrial revolution. The island has are for standards. But Dongtan is revolutionary locally – with an eye to the fact that buying been created by centuries of silt deposits even by these standards. The aims of the your vegetables from the other side of the from the Yangtze river and is the home of a the city to project for the city are that it will produce world causes significant pollution in itself. large nature reserve primarily known for an produce zero carbon emissions and that it will cut The success of the Dongtan project is abundance of rare birds, such as the average energy demands by two thirds by crucial – because the city cannot afford to black-faced spoonbill. Yet the Chinese zero “a unique city layout, energy infrastructure be a one-off. The Chinese government government, in association with the publicly carbon and building design”. Dongtan will meet estimate that around 300 million people will owned Shanghai Industrial Investment all its energy requirements from renewable move into cities in China in the next twenty Corporation (SIIC), has earmarked Dongtan, emissions sources, primarily through wind and wave years, requiring the creation of around 400 just three miles from the reserve, as the site and cut turbines and solar power. Transport in the new cities. The cost to the environment of for a new city of 500,000 inhabitants to be city will rely on bicycles, hydrogen powered cities on the traditional model would be completed by 2010. average boats and a public transport system entirely huge, without even mentioning the cost to based on renewable energy. It will also be One might expect that the construction energy the health of the inhabitants (Dongtan is of a major urban centre next to a nature the last development project in the area, so, designed to ensure the proximity of open reserve would cause consternation among demands according to the SIIC, “the natural build-up spaces and ‘green’ areas to all of its of silt will continue to increase the area of a conservationists. The opposite is the case – by two residents). On the other hand, whatever the Dongtan will be a city with a difference. natural habitat for wildlife.” ‘soft’ left say in the West, avoiding this by The Chinese government recognises the thirds An ambitious programme. Though the holding back China’s economic development reality of the global environmental crisis; Chinese are working with experts from and preventing people from moving into and it also understands the threat to around the world, the creation of a city urban areas is no solution at all. One cannot the environment of their extraordinary roughly the area of Manhattan which artificially hold back human progress – and in economic and industrial expansion in recent produces no pollution at all is bound to any case one shouldn’t want to. The Chinese years – Chair of the State Council Wen raise eyebrows. But the process has already government see Dongtan as the blueprint Jiabao said earlier this year, “Economic begun; a road infrastructure linking the for the socialist cities of the future – non- development must consider its impact on area to Shanghai is underway as have the polluting, environmentally sustainable while the environment and on society.” But where ‘priority projects’ – capturing and purifying providing a high quality of life. It is a project the Western powers talk (or in the case water from the surrounding landscape, which will have to be repeated across China, of the United States don’t even do that) and indeed the sky, to sustain urban life and indeed over the rest of the world, if we the Chinese are beginning to act. They are and the organisation of community waste are to avoid environmental catastrophe. acting to reduce carbon emissions across management to generate clean energy from the board and avoid unregulated economic organic waste. Sewage will be relayed back 13 v e n e z u e l a

Venezuela: the Reggaeton Revolution

Venezuela is constructing its own brand of ‘Socialism for the 21st Century’, otherwise known as the . James Tweedie investigates.

It is characterised by popular power, Bolivar did not trust the United States. The gap between the haves and have- extensive social programs, solidarity and He once said that he pitied the nation of nots in Venezuela is stark. To drive from a mutual aid with other nations, through a Mexico, “So far from God, so close to the wealthy district of Caracas to one of the desire to revolutionise Venezuelan society. USA”. Bolivar’s allies eventually turned outlying ‘Barrios’ or shantytowns is like Under the coalition government of President against him and he died in hiding. Greater travelling from Chelsea to Soweto in half Hugo Chavez (which includes communists Colombia was broken up into the five states an hour. The people live in airbrick shacks and social democrats) great progress we know today. with tin roofs, built on squatted land and has been made. But there is much more Venezuela has large reserves of crude on 45-degree slopes. When it rains heavily to be done. Counterrevolutionary forces, oil. Since their discovery they have been these shanties are often carried away in both national and foreign, threaten this the property of the state, although their mudslides, their occupants killed. 30,000 revolution. exploitation has been contracted in large died in one such tragedy. To understand the present situation in part to transnational corporations. The oil In 1989, a slump in the global market led Venezuela requires some knowledge of industry generates enormous income, over to an economic crisis in Venezuela. The the history of that country. Following 50% of export capital, and yet employs only government turned to the World Bank for the European conquest of the Americas, 30,000 people. 80% of the population live loans, which were granted on the usual Venezuela became part of the Spanish in poverty – the unemployed, informally condition that spending on public services colony of Greater Colombia, which included employed, street-traders and taxi-drivers, and subsidies be slashed. modern Colombia, Panama, Bolivia and and the campesinos or farm workers. This caused great hardship amongst the Ecuador. Since 1945 the petroleum industry has poor, who descended from the Barrios In the 1820s a national liberation struggle produced income equal to fifty times the around Caracas to protest. The army was was waged successfully under the cost of the US Martial Plan in Europe, called out and a thousand protesters were leadership of Simon Bolivar, who was born yet this money has benefited only the killed in what is now called the Caracazo in present-day Venezuela. Bolivar strove to transnational corporations and a handful of massacre. In the ensuing repression a total unite all of Latin America as a single nation. the Venezuelan bourgeoisie. of ten thousand died.

14 v e n e z u e l a

The events of the Caracazo led in 1992 Mission Identity has the dual roles of Since April 2002 several further attempts to two attempted military coups against In his increased voter registration and access to have been made to bring down or discredit the government. The second was led by a foreign social security benefits. the government of Venezuela. In December of 2002 state oil company managers began paratroop colonel called Hugo Chavez. The One of the most exciting characteristics of a three-month lockout of workers, in which coup failed and Chavez was given a few policy, the Bolivarian Revolution is its intention to vital equipment was sabotaged causing minutes of television time to call on his revolutionise Venezuelan society. A central Hugo great damage to the economy. The recovery followers to lay down their arms. He used plank of this is philosophy is the transition was swift and Venezuela has enjoyed this opportunity to make a speech deploring Chavez from representative to popular participatory almost threes years of economic growth the poverty of the Venezuelan people. democracy. Another is Bolivarian Education – has forged at a rate of around 10%. In August 2004 Chavez emerged from prison two years “a new context of socio-economic and a constitutional referendum was called to later as a hero of the poor. He was elected diplomatic political education”. This revolutionary recall the president, which was roundly president in 1998 with 56% of the vote. pedagogy is considered vital to the struggle and trade defeated. The Chavez government began by rewriting for a socialist future in Venezuela. The the constitution. The new constitution of relations history of the indigenous peoples is now Having failed to win either by the bullet 1999 guarantees the right to free education, across taught in schools. Local workers assist in or the ballot, and facing another electoral the rights of women and ethnic minorities, the running of schools, and students learn defeat, the capitalist parties of Venezuela and the rights of indigenous people to their the world. not only in the classroom but also in the concocted a pretext for boycotting the territory and culture. workplace. national assembly elections of December Venezuela, 2005 in an attempt to discredit the One of the obstacles to social progress In his foreign policy, Hugo Chavez has democratic process. This was despite the has been the lack of cooperation by the formerly forged diplomatic and trade relations across verdict of observers from the US and EU obstinately conservative civil service. To the world. Venezuela, formerly dependent dependent that the elections were free and fair. circumvent this problem, the government on the US oil market and its manufacturing created various independent social on the US exports, has found new trade partners, The Chavistas, especially the Communists, programmes or ‘Misiones’, administered oil market, including China. International solidarity is a are very clear about the next election. They by political cadres and local people, which central plank of Venezuelan foreign policy. have no option but victory. Defeat would channel funds and resources to where they has found The and Petrosur schemes mean the death of the revolution. They are needed. provide oil below market price to nations are making every effort to maximise the new trade Chavez vote. A mandate from a majority (Inside the in Latin America and the Caribbean. Last of Venezuela’s 17-million electorate may Neighbourhood) provided free local partners. winter the state oil company supplied confound those in Venezuela and abroad healthcare to the barrios for the first time. discounted home heating oil to poor International who still claim that the revolution is 20,000 Cuban doctors have volunteered to residents in the US. During the recent undemocratic. But don’t hold your breath. work in this project (more than the World solidarity war against Lebanon, the Venezuelan Anti-Venezuelan propaganda is increasingly Health Organisation has worldwide), living government severed diplomatic relations is a central virulent in the US and European media. in the Barrios in the same conditions as with Israel in protest at its actions. their patients. Meanwhile a new generation plank of Venezuela’s oil wealth has funded the The overt aim of the US government is to bring down the democratically elected of Venezuelan doctors are studying at Cuban Venezuelan Bolivarian Revolution. The tax on oil universities. company profits has been increased government of Venezuela. The Venezuelan right has neither the popular support nor has taught 1.5 million foreign from 10% to 50%. This, not to mention the influence in the armed forces for an illiterate adults to read, eradicating adult the “threat of a good example” that also policy. uprising against the government. It may be illiteracy in Venezuela. has emanates from Cuba, has brought down the suspected that, by their political games, extended free secondary education to wrath of the United States. they are attempting to set the stage for millions. has created seven In April 2002 the political opposition foreign intervention in Venezuelan affairs. new universities and plans to open fourteen and the elite of the armed forces staged Now is the time to build the maximum more next year. a coup against the democratically solidarity with Venezuela among British elected government of Venezuela. One runs subsidised food shops trade unions, political parties and the of the protagonists of this coup was an in the barrios to improve nutrition. Mission working class in general. Madres del Barrio (mothers of the ghetto) organisation called Sumate (‘rise up’), guarantees an income of 80% of the which is openly funded by the US State minimum wage to poor mothers. Previously Department through the so-called National people would often survive on one arrepa Endowment for Democracy. Recent (maize flour cake) a day. Mission Habitat investigations have revealed that money is replacing the barrio shacks with good from the US Health Department passed quality housing, with a target of 100,000 covertly to Sumate through a series of bank homes this year. Mission Zamora concerns accounts. But tens of thousands of people land tenure. Agricultural estates that are descended on the presidential palace to left idle are subject to compulsory purchase demand Chavez back, and faced with a and redistribution by the government. revolt in the armed forces themselves, the generals backed down. 15 b a c k t o b a s ic s

Part 7: Imperialism pt1 to basics Any clear analysis of the world we live in today requires an understanding of the current stage of capitalism, to which Marxists refer as imperialism. The term ‘imperialism’ itself is much more commonly used in the peace and anti-war movements than it was even five years ago. Despite this, it is a term which is frequently misunderstood, or only partially understood. The purpose of these articles is to lay the foundations for an understanding of imperialism.

The process which Marxists refer to as oil industry which operated as a monopoly political or military control. Key to this is imperialism has also been referred to in its As the on a world scale. Two or three companies the state apparatus of the TNCs’ ‘home’ latest phase as globalisation. However, this struggle controlled production and distribution of countries, ensuring that Transnational term fails to characterise the key features of most of the world’s oil and each was closely Corporations, whilst international in imperialism in the world today. between linked to national banking operations. their operations, remain based firmly Lenin argued that “the most deep-rooted rival The largest was Rockefeller’s Standard in one specific advanced capitalist economic foundation of imperialism is Oil, linked to the Chase Manhattan Bank country. As the struggle between rival monopoly” and that imperialism could be imperialisms (now Exxon-Mobil and JP Morgan Chase), imperialisms intensified, the monopolies briefly defined as “the monopoly stage intensified, followed by Royal Dutch Shell and Anglo- began to fuse their economic power of capitalism” (Imperialism, 1916). Under Persian Oil, both linked to the City of with the political power they exercised capitalism, cyclical economic crises, monopolies London (now Shell and BP-Amoco). These through the state to form state monopoly combined with the advantages of scale began to three firms still dominate oil production and capitalism – characterised by the “closest held by large companies over small- and are all in the top ten of the world’s largest collaboration and joint involvement of the medium-sized businesses, lead inevitably fuse their Transnational Corporations (TNCs). capitalist monopolies and state apparatus in economic, political and military affairs.” to the annexation of smaller companies economic As monopolies developed within and by larger enterprises. This leads to the between the advanced capitalist countries, (from The British Road to Socialism). concentration of production and capital in power with the race to secure control over economic Today TNCs based in the leading imperialist fewer and fewer hands, causing monopolies the political ‘spheres of influence’ began. By the early countries account for one-third of the to develop within specific sectors of the 20th century, the world had been entirely world’s production, two-thirds of world economy, first within one country (and its power they divided up into colonies or other spheres of trade and three-quarters of international colonies, semi-colonies and neo-colonies), exercised influence and each imperialist power could investment. This economic power is backed- then across the world market. During this only expand at the expense of another. up by the political and military power of process, finance capital is created by the through the Due to the uneven economic development the advanced capitalist nations, which is merger of bank capital with industrial caused by the capitalist system, no stable used to ensure access to raw materials and capital, creating a financial oligarchy which state re-division of the worlds resources and markets across the world. It is this which derives profit primarily from the export markets was possible, leading to constant has caused the wars and conflicts we have of capital from the developed capitalist conflict or inter-imperialist rivalry. It was experienced throughout the 20th century. In world to less-developed and developing this situation which led to the first world the next article we will look at how, and countries to invest in cheaper labour and war as the faster-growing industrial power why, this process has accelerated over the raw materials. of Germany came to challenge the economic last 10–15 years. Much of this monopolisation occurred domination of Britain. during the second half of the 19th century. In In the countries where they operate, TNCs 1917, Lenin referred to the example of the need to protect their investments through 16 r e vi e w

book at bedtime Frederick Engels’ Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State Engels looks at how these institutions gradually emerged from about six thousand years ago as a way to establish the rule of the many over the few.

Essentially, they protect the propertied American system, whereby “the children early form of the family saw unrestricted classes and enable them to pass on wealth of my mother’s sisters are still her children sexual freedom, every woman ‘belonging’ While new to heirs. Militarism and the oppression and they are all my brothers and sisters. equally to every man and every man to scientific of women as sex objects are just two But the children of my mother’s brothers are every woman. Family lineage was traced injustices that came in their wake. It wasn’t now her nephews and nieces, the children through the mother and women had high discoveries always this way. Private property of land of my father’s sisters are his nephews status in society. Group marriage developed, have made resulted in an overthrow of the mother- and nieces, and they are all my male and whereby a group of women had a group of centred families and the emergence of female cousins”! But it is worth trying to husbands in common – with descent still some of his special bodies of armed men. get the gist at least. Engels looks at length reckoned on the female side. comments Engels’ 1884 work is based on knowledge at different forms of the family, which in Engels looks at evidence concerning the outdated, available in his day from societies around the past were far more complex than the Dravidian, Deccan, Gaura and Tamil tribes the globe. While new scientific discoveries modern mum, dad and the kids and changed in the Indian sub-continent, and also the they have as the economic basis to society became have made some of his comments outdated, Hawaiian islands. He believes, rightly, that confirmed his they have confirmed his conclusions in a more complex. “when a system is general throughout remarkable way. Nomadic peoples ran everything based America and also exists in Asia … when conclusions Origins can sometimes be a difficult book to on ‘gens’ (a Latin term for kinship numerous instances of it are found with in a wade through due to the detail, especially organisations), or ‘clans’, instead of greater or less variation in every part of different family arrangements that make territory. Ownership of any wealth was Africa and Australia, then that system has remarkable the average legal document seem like based on clan property, entirely communally, to be historically explained, not talked out way. a playschool text! As with the Native a form of communism, albeit primitive. The of existence.” 17 r e vi ew continued

So, he looks in some detail at the Iroquois which related to and from the tribal councils. within a given territory, irrespective of family. Native Americans. Marriage between Co-operative Communistic housekeeping meant the Unlike pre-Columbus America, in Europe, the members of a gens was prohibited, labour will supremacy of women; amongst the Iroquois, early wider communal system of government parenthood traced via the mothers and “The female… ruled the house… the was replaced by the Greek and Roman property remained within the ‘clan’. Neither see the stores were in common; but woe to the States, in a rapid move associated with the men nor women were in control but a withering luckless husband or lover who was too shift to slave owning forms of production. woman’s brother had more standing than shiftless to do his share of the providing… The original meaning of the word ‘family’ her husband. Each gens elected a peace away of He might at any time be ordered to pick up among the Romans did not at first even chief (more like a chair than a leader), who the state his blanket and budge… retreat to his own refer to the married pair and their children, could be a woman, and, when needs be, a clan; or… go and start a new matrimonial but only to the slaves! A ‘famulus’ meant a war chief, who was usually a man. alliance… The women were the great domestic slave, and a ‘familia’ was the total There were five tribes or nations and each power among the clans… They did not number of slaves belonging to one man. had a council. The members of this acted as hesitate to knock off the horns… from the Engels makes a theoretical link between ‘voices’ to and from the council and the clan. head of a chief, and send him back to the the earlier suppression of women and the The five nations formed the Iroquois ranks of the warriors.” need for emancipation in the modern era, Confederacy, with a common central council, But the practice of living together in a which will “only be possible when women primitive communistic household set a limit can take part in production on a large, to the maximum size of the family community. social scale, and domestic work no longer In early single pair marriages, one man is claims anything but an insignificant amount linked to one woman but this can easily of her time.” Clearly, the development of be dissolved by either partner. Before and modern production process heralds this after separation, the children belong to the possibility. But only Communism will make mother alone. This led to the capture and it fully possible, in this sense Communism purchase of women – a symptom of a much is the ultimate in feminism. Communists deeper change. Finally, there remained only aim in the long run for a stateless and the “single, still loosely linked pair, the moneyless society. Engels’ work was an molecule with whose dissolution marriage elaboration of how this may be viewed as itself ceases.” Love relationships in the the logical outcome of this long historical modern sense only occur in antiquity outside process he laid out. Co-operative labour official society. But the new practice, which will see the withering away of the state, brought unrelated persons into the marriage which can have no function when there is relation, also created a more vigorous stock no ruling class or exploited class. With the physically and mentally, aiding supremacy transfer of the means of production into over other tribes. common ownership, the single family will cease to be the economic unit of society; The early systems of wide blood relationship housekeeping and the care and education of (consanguinity) only changed when the children becoming a public affair. economy of society radically changed; moreover, “The same is true of the political, Engels’ book Origins is a truly landmark juridical, religious, and philosophical text, not always easy to read but always systems in general.” The trend of these thoroughly novel. In a very practical way, changes was to narrow the circle of people he sets out the case for what Marxists comprised within the common bond of call the ‘historical materialist conception’ marriage, which was originally very wide. of events; life being moulded by reality of how societies replicate themselves through For, as societies settled in one place when a new generation. Private ownership agricultural production began, the changed the nature of the family and this development of private property in land, in turn forced new forms of social control. cattle and slaves led to the patriarchal or Collectivity gave way historically to personal male power, form of society with descent power and this in turn will once again fade traced through the male line. Wealth in favour, not of primitive Communism, but accumulated outside the home – which was a technologically sophisticated but humane women’s domain – and so shifted the power Communist society of the future. base to men. Men decided they wanted to ensure ‘their’ wealth passed to ‘their’ children. Men, therefore, needed exclusive sexual possession of women. The state developed with commerce, because it became necessary to regulate everyone 18 What we stand for The Young Communist League is…

…The youth wing of the Communist Party experience of socialist countries since 1917. In the context of this It aims to build support among young people for the struggle it seeks to defend and strengthen public services, the The League Communist Party’s programme, Britain's Road to Socialism and welfare state and the NHS. It believes that everyone has the right aims not to increase young people’s involvement in politics.The Young to free and inclusive secular education including nursery care, Communist League is organisationally autonomous and decides its schools, universities, community colleges and adult education to mend own activities and priorities. centres. The struggle for socialism must go hand in hand with the struggle to protect the natural environment, which is being wilfully capitalism, …Democratic damaged by corporations and capitalist governments in their drive Policies are formulated by a Congress which must be held but to end it for short-term profit. at least once every two years, and are carried out by an elected Executive Committee. The League also fights to defend and …Internationalist strengthen democratic rights. It rejects unfair discrimination on It is a member organisation of the World Federation of the basis of race, sex, age, sexuality or religious or other belief. It Democratic Youth, which represents millions of progressive calls for the abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords and young people in around 100 countries. It campaigns in solidarity regards the European Union as an undemocratic and reactionary with sister Young Communist organisations around the World institution which serves the interests of big business rather than and defends existing socialist countries. It backs the right to self those of Europe’s working people. determination and opposes any attempt by imperialist states such as Britain, the US and the European Union to impose their will …Centralised on the peoples of the world or to exploit or to exploit the world’s Democratically taken decisions are binding across the resources for capitalist profit. It calls for unilateral, immediate and organisation, although local branches decide how best to unconditional nuclear disarmament. implement them in their own areas. …Revolutionary …Part of a mass movement It aims not to mend capitalism, but to end it. This does not It never puts its own interests as an organisation above mean that the League calls for an armed uprising in modern Britain, those of the movement as a whole and it seeks to build the although we defend the right of the oppressed to take up arms for widest possible coalition behind progressive policies. The Morning their liberation. It means realising that only a fundamental shift in Star, Britain’s only socialist daily newspaper, plays a vital role in power from the capitalists to the working people can guarantee strengthening the left and the League works actively to support democratic rights and social progress. Socialist revolution in the paper and raise its circulation. The League also recognises the Britain can and should be achieved by peaceful means, through a importance of trade unions as the broadest mass organisations of combination of elections with mass work outside parliament. the working class and fights all anti-trade union laws. The League publicises its activities, its theory and its revolutionary …Communist perspective on the day to day struggle through its magazine It works to abolish capitalism and establish a socialist society Challenge, which also provides a channel for debate within the based on common ownership and democratic control, drawing organisation and the wider movement. on the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin and others as well as on the

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