Newsocialist-Issue63
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FROM THE EDITORS Socialism for Our Times elcome to this issue of New Socialist. We are devoting A publication that looks in greater depth and breadth at Wthe entire issue to an exploration of the relevance and questions faced by people who want radical change will necessity of socialism in our times. be more useful in helping lay the groundwork for future mobilizations and the next new Left. We won’t be publishing This is a difficult time for people within the borders of this as frequently, but we hope you’ll find the analysis, strategic Canadian state who want serious social change. As Alan Sears thinking and vision in our theme issues to be worth the extra writes in the article that opens this issue, “the neoliberal wait. project of slashing social programs and deregulating the economy while increasing the repressive power of the If you’re looking for analysis of current events of the kind that state seems to be ideologically exhausted and increasingly New Socialist used to publish, we will continue to post reviews, unpopular. On the other hand, the possibility of any alternative reports, news, analysis and think pieces by socialists and other seems literally unthinkable. There is widespread cynicism radicals on our website. Please go to www.newsocialist.org. about the dominant ideas, yet virtually no discussion of other perspectives.” WHAT SHOULD SOCIALI S M MEAN T ODAY ? Movements of protest and resistance have suffered real This issue of New Socialist looks at the politics of liberation setbacks in the last number of years. There are still some and transformation that are needed in our time and place. The determined and inspiring campaigns and struggles, but most of articles cover topics ranging from union activism to gender the Left is low on energy, hope and vision. and sexual politics to the struggles of indigenous peoples. The We at New Socialist want to contribute to the creative and articles move beyond local solutions to envision big projects non-dogmatic rethinking of radicalism today, drawing on for transforming the capitalist system and winning liberation the resources of feminist, queer, anti-racist Marxism. We are from all forms of oppression. This strategic approach is changing the magazine to better suit that role. necessary because, as Alan Sears writes, a single-minded focus on the local “ultimately means limiting the horizons of change” to mere tinkering, leaving the basic structures of this brutal system intact. But in affirming that the socialist transformation of society is both necessary and possible, the contributors to this issue certainly don’t dismiss today’s struggles. On the contrary, they share an understanding that even low-intensity resistance is important. Such resistance fosters the kind of counter-power from below that contains the seeds of radical change. , 1920 , S We hope that some readers will use this and future theme vu issues as resources for discussion groups (please contact nO S u us for information about discount rates on bulk orders). L We encourage you to send us letters and other responses to what you read; we plan to publish these on our website. ee, Ange ee, L K Also, if you have an idea about a future theme issue, let us L u A know. We want New Socialist to be a resource for all who, P as Sebastian Lamb writes, “refuse to abandon the slogan Walter Benjamin was a Marxist Jewish refugee from the ‘Another World is Possible!’”. horrors of fascism who explored the complexities of finding a way through the present and into the future. This image Note to our subscribers: Since we are publishing less by Paul Klee called Angelus Novus captures Benjamin’s idea frequently, those with one year subs will be getting of the Angel of History looking intently towards the past, four issues, those with two year subs will be getting 8 yet about to fly off into the future. issues, etc. NEW SOCIALIST 2008-1 Box 167, 253 College St. Toronto, On M5T 1R5 416-955-1581 [email protected] www.newsocialist.org Issue #63 2008-1 NEW SOCIALIST offers radical analysis of SPECIAL ISSUE ON SOCIALISM FOR OUR TIMES politics, social movements and culture in the Canadian state and internationally. Our Notes towards a socialism for the times ..................................Alan Sears 4 magazine is a forum for people who want to strengthen today’s activism and for those The necessity of socialism ........................................................... Jeff noonan 8 who wish to replace global capitalism with a genuinely democratic socialism. We believe Gender, sexual, human liberation ....... gabrielle gérin & Sandra Sarner 11 that the liberation of the working class and oppressed peoples can be won only through Indigenous traditions in freedom .................................Deborah Simmons 16 their own struggles. For more information about the publisher of this magazine, the Book review: Dances with dependency ................Tricia Mcguire Adams 20 new Socialist group, please see the inside back cover. White, anti-racist, socialist practice .....................................Sheila Wilmot 21 EDITORS No borders on human freedom .......................................................Yen Chu 24 Sebastian Lamb Harold Lavender Marxism, anarchism and liberation ...................................Sebastian Lamb 25 Sandra Sarner Alan Sears Socialist organizing today ....................................................... David McNally 28 Deborah Simmons Union activism today .................................................................... Alex Levant 31 EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES Richard Banner Is culture our weapon? .................................................................Daniel Serge 33 Adam Barker Susan Ferguson The fight against global warming ............... An interview with Ian Angus 36 Todd gordon Alex Levant Global justice against imperialism ...Deborah Simmons with Salim vally 38 Morgan MacLeod Latin America ................................................................................... Phil Hearse 40 DESIGN Cover: Christopher Webb Book review: The shock doctrine ........................................Toby Moorsom 36 Inside: Sandra Sarner Next issue ..................................................................................................................... 46 Signed articles do no necessarily represent the views of the editors or members of the Time to organize ....................................................................................................... 47 new Socialist group. new Socialist is a member of the CMPA. Printed at JT Printing, a union shop. new Socialist magazine welcomes debate. Letters will be printed on our website. We encourage readers to submit articles engaging with the ideas put forth in our pages for publication either in print or on our website. Please send to the address or e-mail address above. NOTES TOwaRDS ... Mass struggle by left and R e BB indigenous We forces FF shook : Je : Bolivia in 2005. photo A socialism for the times by Alan Sears hese are strange days indeed for socialists and all those down to minor disputes about how to play it out. Twho fighting for a better world. The labour movement has reconciled itself with neoliber- On the one hand, the neoliberal project of slashing social alism and lean production (which uses just-in-time methods programs and deregulating the economy while increasing to eliminate “waste,” and new models of teamwork to make the repressive power of the state seems to be ideologically workers partners in productivity), with the deal between the exhausted and increasingly unpopular. On the other hand, Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the giant auto-parts the possibility of any alternative seems literally unthinkable. firm Magna standing as an important milestone in a long- There is widespread cynicism about the dominant ideas, yet term process of adaptation and partnership with the employ- virtually no discussion of other perspectives. ers and the state. Social movements are, in general, at a low The major parties in electoral systems around the world ebb, in most cases using only the most passive strategies to have completely aligned themselves with neoliberalism, with fight for the most realizable changes within the dominant only the smallest number of exceptions such as Venezuela, framework. Bolivia and Ecuador, where the parties in question are linked There is a remarkable consensus across the political spec- to insurgent social movements. trum around a set of ideas that is increasingly unpopular. The In the Canadian state, the NDP, Liberals, Conservatives results of 30 years of capitalist restructuring are in, and the and Bloc Québecois completely agree that neoliberalism is devastating toll is clear. Working-class people are living with the only game in town; the differences between them come ever-greater insecurity and more are facing poverty with ever fewer resources. On a global scale, people face greater bar- Alan Sears is an editor of, and frequent contributor to, New Socialist. riers to mobility while corporations and investments face 4 NEW SOCIALIST 2008-1 fewer limits. The environmental threats to our health and because they seem fixed and unchangeable. that of the planet are ever-increasing in this era of unbridled At the moment, for example, the US economy seems to capitalism. The attempts by Bush, Harper and others to con- be in recession and far worse times are likely in the near fu- vince us that our increasing insecurity results from “terror” to ture. From within