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A Socialist Schism

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A Socialist Schism A Socialist Schism: British socialists' reaction to the downfall of Milošević by Andrew Michael William Cragg Submitted to Central European University Department of History In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Supervisor: Professor Marsha Siefert Second Reader: Professor Vladimir Petrović CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2017 Copyright notice Copyright in the text of this thesis rests with the Author. Copies by any process, either in full or part, may be made only in accordance with the instructions given by the Author and lodged in the Central European Library. Details may be obtained from the librarian. This page must form a part of any such copies made. Further copies made in accordance with such instructions may not be made without the written permission of the Author. CEU eTD Collection i Abstract This work charts the contemporary history of the socialist press in Britain, investigating its coverage of world events in the aftermath of the fall of state socialism. In order to do this, two case studies are considered: firstly, the seventy-eight day NATO bombing campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999, and secondly, the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in October of 2000. The British socialist press analysis is focused on the Morning Star, the only English-language socialist daily newspaper in the world, and the multiple publications affiliated to minor British socialist parties such as the Socialist Workers’ Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee). The thesis outlines a broad history of the British socialist movement and its media, before moving on to consider the case studies in detail. In particular, it focuses on disagreements and conflicts among the publications of the British left, such as their various attitudes towards former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević, while also emphasising cases where their opinion was unified against mainstream press narratives, as in the categorisation of NATO as an imperialist force. The disagreements and conflicts within the socialist press, which constitute the work’s titular “socialist schism,” are considered to be indicative of a leftist movement, shorn of its erstwhile Soviet vanguard, competing amongst themselves for support and authority, with enduring consequences for socialists in Britain today. CEU eTD Collection ii Acknowledgements Although the number of people worthy of thanks is too great to name here, some names stand out. My supervisor Marsha Siefert has been brilliant, diligent and welcoming throughout my writing; it is ten times richer for her influence. My second reader Vladimir Petrović has been similarly helpful, especially with regard to events in the former Yugoslavia, and his classes on this subject encouraged me to look much more deeply at my topic. Agnieszka Marcinek helped me immeasurably through my first year here, and remains the coolest person I’ve ever met at any university. My colleagues have all offered vital help and support, even if the practical manifestation of this support was just going to the pub. Their support in classes and seminars is hugely valued. For all their assistance, all errors, of course, remain my own. Finally, thanks to my parents, without whom, in every sense, none of this would be possible. CEU eTD Collection iii Contents Copyright notice....................................................................................................................................... i Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ iii Contents ............................................................................................................................................. iv List of abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. vi Figures ................................................................................................................................................. viii 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Why the British socialist press? .......................................................................................................... 2 Why Yugoslavia, and why these events? ............................................................................................ 5 Key terms ............................................................................................................................................ 8 2. The British socialist press: Setting the stage ................................................................................. 10 The British socialist press ................................................................................................................. 10 A brief history of British socialism and its press .............................................................................. 14 What makes the following case studies illustrative?......................................................................... 22 Why choose these publications? ....................................................................................................... 24 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3. “From baby boomers to baby bombers”: British socialists respond to the NATO bombing ........ 30 The role of Britain in the Kosovo war .............................................................................................. 31 The British mainstream press ............................................................................................................ 33 The Morning Star coverage of the bombing ..................................................................................... 39 Coverage in the broader British socialist press ................................................................................. 48 Humanitarianism or imperialism? ..................................................................................................... 53 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 56 4. The Milošević regime crumbles .................................................................................................... 59 Before the elections ........................................................................................................................... 60 The elections of 24th September and the fallout ................................................................................ 64 5th October: revolution? .................................................................................................................... 68 Who were the protesters? .................................................................................................................. 70 What of Milošević? ........................................................................................................................... 77 CEU eTD Collection Imagery ............................................................................................................................................. 82 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 88 5. Some concluding remarks: what became of the socialist schism? ................................................ 90 Self-reflexivity in the British socialist press ..................................................................................... 92 What persists today? ......................................................................................................................... 94 6. Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 97 iv Press sources ..................................................................................................................................... 97 Books ................................................................................................................................................ 97 Chapters ............................................................................................................................................ 98 Articles .............................................................................................................................................. 99 CEU eTD Collection v List of abbreviations AWL: Alliance for Workers’ Liberty BSP: British Socialist Party CND: Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament CPB: Communist Party of Britain CPGB: Communist Party of Great Britain CPGB-ML: Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) CPGB-PCC: Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee) FRY: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ICTY: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia KFOR: Kosovo Force KLA: Kosovo Liberation Army LCY: League of Communists of Yugoslavia NATFHE: National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education NATO: North
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