Socialist Standard October 2020 1 Introducing the Socialist Party

The Socialist Party advocates a society developing Russian capitalism under a where production is freed from the one-party dictatorship. Both failures have artificial constraints of profit and given socialism a quite different -- and organised for the benefit of all on the unattractive -- meaning: state ownership basis of material abundance. It does not and control. As the Socialist Standard have policies to ameliorate aspects of pointed out before both courses were the existing social system. It is opposed followed, the results would more properly to all war. be called state capitalism. The Socialist Standard is the combative The Socialist Party and the World monthly journal of the Socialist Party, Socialist Movement affirm that capitalism published without interruption since is incapable of meaningful change in 1904. In the 1930s the Socialist Standard the interests of the majority; that the explained why capitalism would not basis of exploitation is the wages/money collapse of its own accord, in response to system. The Socialist Standard is proud widespread claims to the contrary, and to have kept alive the original idea of continues to hold this view in face of the what socialism is -- a classless, stateless, notion’s recent popularity. Beveridge’s of the natural world can have limited wageless, moneyless society or, defined welfare measures of the 1940s were effect and run counter to the nature of positively, a democracy in which free and viewed as a reorganisation of poverty and capitalism itself. equal men and women co-operate to a necessary ‘expense’ of production, and Gradualist reformers like the Labour produce the things they need to live and Keynesian policies designed to overcome Party believed that capitalism could be enjoy life, to which they have free access slumps an illusion. Today, the journal transformed through a series of social in accordance with the principle ‘from exposes as false the view that banks measures, but have merely become each according to their abilities, to each create money out of thin air, and explains routine managers of the system. The according to their needs’ why actions to prevent the depredation Bolsheviks had to be content with

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2 Socialist Standard October 2020 Editorial Beyond the false choice

The time has come again when American justice and being sympathetic to the aims record stock prices’. Despite this, more workers are conned into thinking that of the Black Lives Matter movement. To Wall Street capitalists appear to be choosing between Tweedledee and bolster his progressive credentials, Biden ditching Trump in favour of Biden – ‘More Tweedledum as their next President will has picked Kamala Harris as his running and more finance professionals, they say, make a great difference in their lives. mate. Biden is also trying to capitalise appear to be sidelining their concerns Oh, but isn’t Donald Trump a on Trump’s alleged mishandling of the about Mr. Biden’s age — 77 — and his dangerously divisive figure and a threat to Covid-19 pandemic and the fallout from style. They are surprisingly unperturbed at American democracy? Some argue that the accompanying economic slump. the likelihood of his raising their taxes and he may defy the election result should it However, this political posturing stiffening oversight of their industry. In go against him and refuse to leave office. obscures the fundamental truth that the return, they welcome the more seasoned Surely American workers must get behind Republicans and Democrats are on the and methodical presidency they believe he Joe Biden and the Democrats. Yes, just like same side when it comes to upholding could bring’. they were supposed to get behind John the existing system. Whether under the Some American workers are getting Kerry to defeat the warmonger George ‘liberal’ Joe Biden or the ‘far-right’ Donald wise to what these two parties are W Bush in 2004, only for nice Mr Kerry Trump, the workers will continue to be really about. On 30 August, thousands to become an enthusiastic warmonger in exploited. They will have to work for a of American workers joined an online Barack Obama’s government. wage and if they can’t find employment ‘People’s Convention’, which pledged to set This election is taking place in the they may face the indignities of poverty up a People’s Party to fight the elections midst of the coronavirus pandemic and and even homelessness. They will still be in 2021. Unfortunately, we cannot support the continuing Black Lives Matter street required to fight in capitalism’s wars. the reformist platform of this new party protests. Trump is taking full advantage A New York Times article (‘The Wallets with pledges such as ‘single-payer health of the political unrest to portray himself of Wall Street Are With Joe Biden, if Not care, a $15 minimum wage’ (peoplesparty. as the law and order candidate and the Hearts’,10 August) reveals whom org). But we are encouraged that more is accusing Democratic governors of the two main parties really serve – ‘Wall workers are looking beyond the established being soft on the protesters. The Biden Street has fared extraordinarily well under capitalist political parties. Hopefully in the campaign, on the other hand, wants to Mr. Trump: deep cuts to taxes, slashed not too distant future, they will begin to present itself as standing up for social regulations and, until the pandemic hit, look beyond capitalism itself..

Socialist Standard October 2020 3 Capitalism by gaslight IN THE 1944 film Gaslight, a young couple doubt about the dangers of climate the likes of Clinton and latterly Trump, (Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman) move change when their own researchers were and a nod to other presidents like Putin, back into the house of her aunt, murdered confirming how serious a threat it was.’ In the Wikipedia article currently does years before. The wife is an ordinary and internal emails, Exxon told employees to not expand on the large-scale use of intelligent woman, however she is subtly ‘emphasise the uncertainty’ in the scientific gaslighting by industries like oil and gas, undermined by her husband’s constant consensus, and ‘urge a balanced scientific or tobacco, or those of pesticides, sugar, references to her forgetfulness, silly anxieties approach’. What they meant was deflect, plastics and many others. But there are and overactive imagination. He says these misdirect, contradict, misinform, and limits to what any single article can cover. things so often, she thinks they must be gaslight the public. This psychological manipulation is part of true. When she starts to hear strange noises It wasn’t just Exxon, the whole fossil fuel the fabric of capitalist ideology itself. in the ceiling, he clucks soothingly, tells her industry was at it, aiming to ‘reposition Think about how often you, as an she’s tired and advises her to get better rest. global warming as theory (not fact)’, much as intelligent human being and wage slave When the lights keep going down on the creationists have tried to do with evolution. in capitalism, have been induced to doubt gas lamps, he expresses heartfelt concern The Mad Men of Marketing identified their your own knowledge and judgment, how that she’s becoming overwrought, and target audiences. One was ‘older, lesser often you’ve been persuaded that you needs medication. He makes her doubt the educated males from larger households who don’t know enough and should leave evidence of her senses. He makes her think are not typically information seekers.’ The important matters to politicians. Think she’s going mad. In fact, he is doing it all on other was ‘younger, low-income women, how often you’ve wrestled with the purpose. The plan is to have her committed who could be targeted with bespoke adverts baffling complexities of complicated public to a mental institution so he can steal her which would liken those who talked about debates until you’ve simply given up. inheritance from the aunt he murdered. He climate change to a hysterical doom-saying Think how bad you’ve felt about your own is foiled in the end, of course, but she is left cartoon chicken.’ The aim wasn’t to refute failings, your own silly anxieties, your own a traumatised wreck. the facts with lies, because lies would be inadequacies at work, at home, in school, The term gaslighting has come to describe exposed. Instead, they sought to drown the in relationships, in your emotions and in a ‘form of psychological manipulation in facts in noise, in order to baffle and confuse your social life. Think how often you’ve felt which a person… covertly sows seeds of the public. dismissed, disregarded, put down, ignored, doubt in a targeted individual… making them In short, they followed the classic condescended to, lied to and patronised. question their own memory, perception, ‘tobacco playbook’ and mounted a Think how you’ve been made to think it’s or judgment, often evoking in them… low ‘whitecoat project’, in which they hired or just you, that nobody else has a problem self-esteem. Using denial, misdirection, induced supposedly independent scientific or can even be trusted to understand, contradiction, and misinformation, consultants to press the argument that that maybe you need help or treatment or gaslighting involves attempts to destabilise the science was uncertain and that the drugs or counselling because you just can’t the victim and delegitimise the victim’s need for action was exaggerated. Bribes cope. Think about how often you blame beliefs’ (Wikipedia). weren’t always necessary. Though it would yourself, you should have tried harder, you The Wikipedia entry describes how be nice to think scientists generally rely on should have believed in yourself more, sociopaths and narcissists use gaslighting as evidence-based thinking in their political you shouldn’t have been so weak, you a tactic in mental abuse, and how victims attitudes, right-wing bigots do exist, and shouldn’t have let yourself or others down. develop anxiety, depression, self-hatred and are willing to subvert science in pursuit of All of this is what it feels like to be ‘a sense of learned helplessness’. Feminists political agendas. A former vice president gaslighted. Your problem isn’t that have highlighted this as a feature of some of the right-wing Cato Institute, in a belated you’re inadequate, it’s that you’re being abusive male behaviour within the context mea culpa, admitted to gaslighting for the ruthlessly and expertly manipulated by a of power-relationships and domestic oil industry: ‘For 25 years, climate sceptics rich and powerful regime which aims to violence, however it does not seem to be like me made it a core matter of ideological stay rich and powerful, even if the world especially gendered and it is also a feature of identity that if you believe in climate change, burns, by keeping you in a state of learned some parent-child relationships. then you are by definition a socialist. That is helplessness, where you do what you’re The psychological damage caused by what climate sceptics have done.’ told and vote for leaders to think for you. this behaviour ranges from self-doubt to Surprisingly, or maybe not, it turned out Socialists want a revolution to abolish suicide. The reasons for the behaviour lie that some of these politically motivated capitalism before the world burns, but we in various personality disorders involved in scientists – and non-experts in the field in also get something out of being socialists deflecting blame and controlling others. question, were the same people who had right now. Specifically, we get the opposite A recent BBC article shows how entire spoken out years before on behalf of the of gaslighting. We thrive in a community industries can emulate the behaviour of tobacco industry and against the anti- of mutual respect and support, where such a personality disorder in order to smoking lobby. This, it became clear, was a we each have a voice, where nobody deflect criticism (‘How the oil industry very old and well-rehearsed strategy. As a is the boss, and where we can relax in made us doubt climate change’, BBC tobacco firm put it, back in the 1950s, ‘Doubt the company of people who understand Online, 20 September - bbc.in/3iMRTUL). is our product, since it is the best means of exactly how we think and feel, because A climate academic and former Exxon competing with the ‘body of fact’ that exists they are workers too. If you’re sick of the employee describes how Exxon denied the in the minds of the general public.’ gaslit world out there, try some daylight evidence of their own world-class research: Apart from trivial references to some with us. ‘What they did was immoral. They spread American political shenanigans from PJS 4 Socialist Standard October 2020 to the duopoly political system and its two parties. Voting in this election will only hold back the process of forging an independent workers’ movement. Workers have had the lesser-evil strategy for many decades and bitter experience indicates that it hasn’t worked, and even less chance than ever will it succeed today. Biden is not opposed to capitalism but out to save capitalism from Trump. His campaign is not based in the s the American presidential election draws closer, working class or on any working-class struggle but upon an progressives such as Noam Chomsky are making their imaginary gentler, kinder capitalism. As a politician Biden Amessage to vote Biden very much more vocal, declaring adopted blatant anti-working-class policies that should shame Trump is so demented and deranged that a president already and condemn any ‘socialist’ endorsing him. Biden may not be displaying symptoms of senility and dementia is preferable and so working people must ignore Biden’s ignominious past segregationists and he has shared with the right wing similar record. Unlike 2016, there is now no debate whatsoever about positionsas openly onracist immigration, as Trump yetlaw he and has order a history and foreign of flirting policy. with who the lesser evil is. The claim is not that the Republican Not voting in the presidential election is not a matter of Party and the Democratic Party have actually converged into principle for socialists. The working class can use the electoral one on many issues (even if not identical) and that they share process as part of its struggle for socialism to assume political so many policies that the choice is between Tweedledum and power and capture the institutional machinery of the state. Tweedledumber. The Socialist Party holds that there is nothing more dangerous Our principle is to abstain from voting for either evil and for our fellow-workers than endorsing a class enemy. As offer neither a mandate to rule. Working people are required genuine socialists we want the working class to become to register their rejection of capitalist candidates. Both Trump conscious of itself and realise its power to change society. It is and Biden are staunch champions of the capitalist system the working class versus the capitalist class. Socialism cannot and apologists for Wall Street and the Pentagon. November’s be achieved by electing capitalist candidates but rather by election is a contest about who will preside over the ‘executive committee of the ruling class’. Socialism seeks to eradicate the basic causes for war, The lesser-evil argument is rampant these days. Biden povertyfighting capitalistsand environmental collectively. damage which it knows are is presented as an ally of African-Americans and other the products of capitalism. No matter the outcome of the minorities. Trump is depicted as the authoritarian autocrat, election, no matter who wins, the continued existence of suppressing liberties and repressing resistance. The working class should not support either of the presidential candidates system will be abolished. The Socialist Party stands for this year, as neither represents the interests of the working socialismcapitalism now is assured, and not none later of through the consequences any electoral of bargaining the profit people of the United States. Both would continue the assault with our class foe. The purpose of the Socialist Party is to on the living standards of working people, to boost corporate promote socialist consciousness and organisation and that will not be accomplished by entering into alliances with any through hard struggle over the past years. The working class capitalist politician. Biden is not a lesser evil, despite the shouldprofits byreject cutting the ‘Bigsocial Business’ services candidates and take back and reformstheir shared won pronouncements of liberals such as Chomsky and others. Any programmes of economic austerity and war preparations. person who does not tell this truth isn’t worthy of the name There is no such thing as a meaningful choice when it is to of socialist. There is only one party in the USA that expresses pick between cholera and typhoid. the interests of our American fellow-workers and that is the The lesser-evil fallacy serves only to keep the voter chained World Socialist Party of the United States. ALJO

Socialist Standard October 2020 5 COOKING THE BOOKS Do monkeys produce this; hence ‘variable capital’ with the power as among the natural forces that surplus value? variation being surplus value. humans used in production. ‘Liverpool FC have cut ties with their But what about the labour power of A capitalist enterprise, therefore, does not “official” coconut milk following animals used in production, which at have to pay for the ‘material substratum’ of allegations that monkeys were used as one time was so widespread that ‘horse- wealth or for the forces provided by Nature; slave labour to pick fruit for the product’ power’ was chosen as the name of a unit these are available to them cost-free. This (Times, 11 August). The animal rights of mechanical force: is this constant or applies as much to animal power as to wind group PETA had produced evidence that variable capital? or waterfalls (or the sun’s rays, tidal power, in Thailand monkeys were being used In discussing, in the opening chapter of etc). What a capitalist enterprise does as ‘coconut-picking machines’ and were Volume I of Capital, production by humans have to pay for, however and which can be maltreated by being held in chains when of what they need, Marx made the point costly, is the means of harnessing these free not working. that this involved them changing other natural forces – windmills, water-wheels The monkeys were certainly parts of nature into something useful for (solar panels, tidal barrages etc). In the case maltreated but were they being them. These use values of animal labour, it is the animal itself that economically exploited in the same way ‘are combinations of two elements has to be paid for; its labour power does as human wage workers? Were they – matter and labour. If we take away contribute to production but, as it is free, is producing surplus value? the useful labour expended on them, a not a part of capital, neither constant nor Marx divided the capital of a business material substratum is always left, which variable. into two parts. (1) The instruments of is furnished by Nature without the help of As the animal itself has value (it has production, raw materials, buildings, man. The latter can work only as Nature to be bred or acquired and maintained fuel, which he called ‘constant capital’ does, that is by changing the form of by human labour) it is a part of capital, and (2) the fund out of which productive matter. Nay more, in this work of changing but as constant capital. Like a machine it workers were paid, which he called the form he is constantly helped by transfers its value gradually to the product ‘variable capital’. In the course of natural forces’ (Section 2). until it wears out, but adds no new value. production the elements of constant In a later chapter Marx pointed out PETA was not so wide of the mark in capital transferred only their pre-existing that ‘physical forces, like steam, water, describing those monkeys in Thailand as value, whether in one go or gradually, etc when appropriated to productive ‘coconut-picking machines’. to the product. Productive workers too processes cost nothing’ (chapter 15, Just because they don’t produce surplus transferred the value of their labour section 2). In the previous section of the value is no reason for us workers not to power to the product, but at the same same chapter he had included animal show solidarity with our fellow other-animal time added new value over and above power alongside wind power and water workers and oppose their maltreatment.

Socialism in one enterprise? ‘communism’ is that they are commonly Volume III, Chapter 27). In an article in Counterpunch (28 July) owned by those working in them and end In other words, under capitalism, Richard D. Wolff, of ‘Capitalism hits the the employer/employee relationship as workers co-ops had to function like fan’ fame, criticised the widespread far as their members are concerned. But if a capitalist enterprise with all the definition of capitalism as ‘private’ or ‘free’ the common ownership of something by a shortcomings this involves such as, we enterprise on the grounds that it ignores group is ‘communism’ then there are many can specify, having to make a profit state enterprises and that ‘free’ is a loaded other examples of it within capitalist society. to re-invest in up-to-date methods of term that in any case only applies to those What socialists aim at, however, is the production so as to remain competitive who own enterprises. He offered instead: common ownership of the means of life by and stay in business. ‘A key unique quality of capitalism is society as a whole – a communist society. Wolff’s conception of the role and the employer/employee relationship Marx wasn’t opposed to workers significance of ‘cooperative factories’ is between two different groups of the forming cooperatives. In fact he saw different. He envisages them as producing people engaged together in the economic their emergence as one of the signs for the market alongside private and state system. That relationship entails an that society was becoming ripe to move enterprises both under capitalism and in exchange of wages or salaries for labor from a capitalist to a communist society; ‘socialism’ (by which, going completely power (the ability of an employee to they showed that the individual private off the rails, he seems to mean places like work). A contract between employer owner/employer was redundant and the old USSR). He advocates cooperative and employee covers that exchange plus that workers were quite capable of enterprises as a way forward for workers the employee’s exertion of brains and organising production without them. He within capitalism in the same way that other muscles over lengths of time and to ends was, however, opposed to the reformist reformists used to advocate state enterprises. specified by the employer. ’. demand that the state should subside This brings out that his definition of A defining feature of capitalism them. In his own words: capitalism is incomplete. It needs to is indeed the wages system. Ending ‘The co-operative factories of the include as well as the employer/employee capitalism does involve the ending of labourers themselves represent within relationship that production is carried on this employer/employee relationship. the old form the first sprouts of the new, for sale with a view to profit. Capitalism Wolff, however, sees this as being although they naturally reproduce, and is a market society in which everything is implemented at enterprise level, must reproduce, everywhere in their bought and sold, not just labour power. describing as ‘instances of communist actual organisation all the shortcomings of Common ownership on a society-wide enterprises’ worker coops where ‘one the prevailing system. But the antithesis scale implies that the democratically-run and the same community designs, between capital and labour is overcome productive units would not be producing directs, and performs the work of an within them, if at first only by way of for a market, precisely because what they enterprise such that each community making the associated labourers into produced would belong to society and be member has one vote and enterprise their own capitalist, i.e., by enabling them available to be distributed in non-market decisions are made democratically.’ to use the means of production for the ways, whether free distribution, free use His justification for calling worker coops employment of their own labour’ (Capital, or taking according to need.

6 Socialist Standard October 2020 LETTERShistorical development, often – as the editorial notes – as a Democracy result of working class struggle. It is extremely important to Dear Comrades socialists that these democratic elements be preserved and (to The September issue of The Socialist Standard creates the the extent possible) strengthened and extended, even though unfortunate impression of a sharp division of opinion within they can never neutralize the essentially undemocratic nature the SPGB and the WSM on the vital issue of democracy within of capitalism. The stronger and more extensive the democratic capitalism. The editorial in the September issue of The Socialist elements in political systems, the greater the scope for the Standard states that ‘we must not [conclude] that capitalist spread of socialist ideas and the surer the prospect of a smooth political democracy is a sham,’ while RDC writes: ‘It can be argued and peaceful transition to socialism.‘ that even the limited democracy allowed … is a sham’ (p. 10). The Stephen D. Shenfield (WSPUS) apparent discrepancy is bound to confuse readers. Well done Diego! I do not think that any real division of opinion exists on this issue. At most there may be differences of emphasis. Dear Editors RDC acknowledges that voting and the freedom to protest We don’t usually mention sport in the Standard but, just as we are ‘important rights,’ so clearly he does not regard capitalist are going to press this month, an interesting item popped up on democracy as a complete sham. At the same time, the author(s) the BBC website. A triathlete approaching the end of a race in of the editorial concur with RDC in stressing the limits of capitalist Spain saw the chap in front turn off the route by mistake. Out of democracy. a sense of fair play, Diego Méntrida just stopped before he got to I suggest that we formulate our position as follows. the finish and waited to allow his fellow athlete to cross the line first. No big deal in sporting terms, because this is not a mega- ‘No political system under capitalism is correctly described business like football, but in its small way it helps to counter the as democratic. However, the political systems of many (though lie that portrays life as necessarily a dog- eat-dog affair. far from all) countries do contain certain democratic elements. These democratic elements have arisen in the course of S.F. Socialism is not a Dream. It can be Reality. with their own emancipation. There is produced solely to meet human needs. an urgency now to get rid of capitalism Socialism will mean the greatest flowering It’s up to You... and move forwards to a world socialist of imagination, creativity and achievement SOCIALISM IS the great beacon of hope society through cooperative, revolutionary in history, it will be a world of abundance for humanity. The working class, black and political action. and freedom. People will relate to each white, have put up with endless injustice Capitalism fosters inequality, other as equals, as sisters and brothers. in capitalism. Socialism will be a huge prejudice, unfairness, racism, injustice, Co-operation will be the norm and an relief after the long nightmare of capitalist unemployment, homelessness, police established reality, not an impossible exploitation, inequality, and poverty brutality and the criminalisation of our dream. in the midst of material prosperity. young people. Racism thrives when Socialism will be the end of racism; it Socialism is not an end, but a beginning, capitalism is in a slump and adopts will be a world free of social conflict in it is the beginning of the real history of austerity. Racism results from the which human beings live and work in unity economic anarchy of capitalism, the without distinction of race. humankind, an awakening to a new age of prejudice diverts the working class from socialist justice. Socialism means the free facing the real cause development of each man and woman, of modern society’s black and white, as the condition of the problems which free development of all men and women. is the existence The black and white working class of capitalism. cannot walk alone, they are united Capitalism promotes together as brother and sister. In socialist and aggravates society all black and white men and conflicts such women will be able to say they are free at as racism. The last. The working class need to realise that cure for racism is they create the world’s wealth and that the abolition of their interests are in common irrespective capitalism. of race and opposed to the interests of Socialism is the capitalist class. When the united organised on the black and white working class recognise basis of human their own immense potential power to co-operation for the transform society, act in conscious unity common benefit to solve their problems by abolishing of all humankind capitalism, then they will be truly in touch where things will be Socialist Standard October 2020 7 Contact details website: www.worldsocialism.org/spgb email: [email protected] UK BRANCHES & CONTACTS Cornwall. Contact: Harry Sowden, Contact: Richard Botterill, 21 Pen-Y-Bryn Rd, 16 Polgine Lane, Troon, Camborne, TR14 9DY. Gabalfa, Cardiff, CF14 3LG. 02920-615826. LONDON 01209 611820. [email protected] North London branch. Meets 3rd Thurs. 8pm at East Anglia. Contact: David Porter, Eastholme, Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Ave, NW5 Bush Drive, Eccleson-on-Sea, NR12 0SF. 01692 INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS 2RX. Contact: Chris Dufton 020 7609 0983 582533. Richard Headicar, 42 Woodcote, Firs [email protected] Rd, Hethersett, NR9 3JD. 01603 814343. LATIN AMERICA South London branch. Meets last Saturday in Essex. Contact: Pat Deutz, 11 The Links, Contact: J.M. Morel, Calle 7 edif 45 apto month, 2.30pm. Head Office, 52 Clapham High Billericay, CM12 0EX. [email protected]. 102, Multis nuevo La loteria, La Vega, Rep. St, SW4 7UN. Contact: 020 7622 3811. Cambridge. Contact: Andrew Westley, Dominicana. West London branch. Meets 1st Tues. 8pm. [email protected]. 07890343044. Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace (corner AFRICA Sutton Court Rd), W4. IRELAND Kenya. Contact: Patrick Ndege, [email protected] Cork. Contact: Kevin Cronin, 5 Curragh Woods, PO Box 13627-00100, GPO, Nairobi Frankfield, Cork. 021 4896427. Zambia. 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COMPANION PARTIES OVERSEAS Lothian Socialist Discussion @Autonomous SOUTH/SOUTHEAST/SOUTHWEST Centre Edinburgh, ACE, 17 West Montgomery Socialist Party of Canada/Parti Socialiste Kent and Sussex regional branch. Meets 2nd Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA. Meets 4th Weds. du Canada. Box 31024, Victoria B.C. V8N 6J3 Sun. 2pm at The Muggleton Inn, High Street, 7-9pm. Contact: F. Anderson 07724 082753. Canada. [email protected] Maidstone ME14 1HJ. Contact: spgb.ksrb@ worldsocialism.org. WALES World Socialist Party (India) 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ South West regional branch. Meets 3rd Sat. South Wales Branch (Swansea) Block (East), Kolkata - 700086, 033- 2425-0208. 2pm at the Railway Tavern, 131 South Western Meets 2nd Mon, 7.30pm (except January, [email protected] Road, Salisbury SP2 7RR. Contact: Ray Carr, April, July and October), Unitarian Church, High Flat 1, 99 Princess Rd, Poole, BH12 1BQ. 01202 Street, SA1 1NZ. Contact: Geoffrey Williams, 19 World Socialist Party (New Zealand) 257556 or 07929627689. Baptist Well Street, Waun Wen, Swansea SA1 P.O. Box 1929, Auckland, NI, New Zealand. Brighton. Contact: Anton Pruden, 6FB. 01792 643624. [email protected] South Wales Branch (Cardiff) World Socialist Party of the United States. Canterbury. Contact: Rob Cox, 4 Stanhope Meets 2nd Saturday 12 noon (January, April, P.O. Box 440247, Boston, MA 02144 USA. Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 6AB. July and October) Cafe Nero, Capitol Shopping [email protected] Luton. Contact: Nick White, 59 Heywood Drive, Centre, Queens Street, Cardiff. LU2 7LP.

8 Socialist Standard October 2020 Hair is big money LONG LUXURIANT hair has long been Hindu temples, and those in institutions counts. Hair is now just another luxury associated with femininity and beauty like orphanages or prisons. The human item like make-up or expensive clothes. in many cultures. It is described as a hair imported is not classed as a body part The desire for long, thick hair is a lot woman’s crowning glory. The rising so it is exempt from regulations. It’s nearly stronger than any sense of guilt. demand for human hair means more and impossible to determine whether it’s One well-known source of hair is Indian more suppliers and many from dubious been willingly donated or not. Those who women. At Hindu temples they will have sources. The lucrative extension industry market the hair insist it is a consensual their heads shaved as part of a sacred is booming worth billions of dollars a commercial transaction between hair ritual called tonsuring, a sign of religious year. Human hair is a commodity. Hair gatherers and the females who want to devotion and humility. The temples then is big money. The global hair wigs and sell their hair. sell the shorn locks to traders who will extension market is estimated then process and ship them all to reach revenues of more than over the world. Indian temples are $10 billion by 2023. In 2016, said to make more than several imports to the US alone were a millions a year in hair sales. business of almost $700 million. However, US Customs and Synthetic hair, although natural Border Protection have seized looking is not as versatile in that consignments of tons of hair it cannot be heat-styled, curled suspected to have come from or straightened. Perhaps the interned Uighurs in the Xinjiang synthetic hair technology will province of China. eventually catch up and make fake ‘When companies are buying hair indistinguishable from the real goods because they seem like thing but for now a good quality they’re lower price, a really great wig made of human hair sells for deal, I would recommend that thousands of dollars in the United they really look into why the goods States, and hair extensions made are such a great deal,’ said Ana of real hair can sell for several Hinojosa with US Customs and hundred or thousand dollars. Border Protection. It is not the intent of this article ‘For a long time, the to shame anyone for wearing presumption about goods wigs and extensions; the ability coming into the US, was that to transform yourself through they weren’t made with forced one’s hair can be positive and labor,’ said Sophie Richardson empowering. We all know a with Human Rights Watch. Now friend who suffers from alopecia the presumption about goods or undergoing cancer treatment coming to us from Xinjiang is that causing loss of hair and the they have been made with forced psychological pain felt. labor, and it’s up to the companies That being said, it is important to prove that they weren’t’ (bit. to consider who is providing ly/32eTYTB). the product. Hair extensions To Tim Hazledine, a professor of and weaves have now become economics at Auckland University, a must-have fashion accessory the hair trade is effectively and stories of unethical practices abound Hair harvested is disinfected, steamed, ‘farming humans.’ It may be a renewable in the developing and undeveloped boiled, dyed and sewn. Each step further resource, but it grows slowly and to keep countries. Much of the hair on sale comes erases any traces of its original owner. up with increasing demand ‘there must be from small agents who tour villages and Salon clients care about the price; they a lot of people whose hair is getting cut small towns in Asia, South America, and don’t care about the origin, they don’t out there’. eastern Europe, offering poverty-stricken want to think about the women who grew Women in developed nations aren’t women small payments to part with their their hair and had it shorn before it landed as desperate to sell their hair for cash as hair. It’s an unregulated industry built on their own heads. Few customers poorer women in developing countries on exploitation. There are reports of wish to question the supply chain and where women and girls can be ‘sheared’, husbands or partners coercing women into the dealers are reluctant to reveal how one after the other, like sheep. selling their hair. But one source is from they acquired the hair. It is the price that ALJO

Socialist Standard October 2020 9 ‘Malnutrition is caused by “the lack of access to sufficient, To be able to move ahead in a way which eliminates all the nutritious and safe food” due to poverty’ (UN Food and major negative facts and stress which face humanity right Agriculture Organisation 2017). now, to confront them with the aim of protecting both people and planet for the long term. ithin the current political system planning ahead on whatever front, the main goal will be in some Cash crops W There is enough food produced currently to feed the global Housing, for instance, is a major problem for millions around population but much is lost as waste from homes, from shops the world wayeven or though another it is connected designated to bythe a financial UN resolution aspect. as and from storage facilities. Much food is kept off the market, a basic human right. In ‘normal’ non-Covid times the UK, with in storage, to maintain price levels. It is a criminal act, to know that people are dying for lack of food and to deny them access for lack of money. There is food for all but all are not getting it, livingless than rough one on percent the streets and the or inUS, hostels with less whilst than more five thanpercent of so something radical has to change to make that happen. enoughthe global housing population, remains both empty have but significant unavailable numbers to them. of people On a Food has long been a commodity, promoted non-stop in the global level we can only make estimates of the whole picture media – but usually as a processed product rather than a fruit, but there is no doubt that too many millions of people are without one of the basic necessities of life. in a supermarket in a package. In poorer areas of large towns Even larger numbers of individuals struggle to get enough andvegetable, cities itcereal has become crop, animal common or fish. to see It iscustomers’ something baskets bought to eat, especially nutritious food that would help to keep them situation. Whether the poor in faraway undeveloped places, filled only with these processed foods because it is cheaper healthy and, in most cases, that is also linked to their financial notto feed afford the it family anyway. this Those way. Alsoliving it inbecomes large urban more areas difficult may to not Western countries, the divisions between haves and have-nots evenfind fresh have produceaccess to in a thesemarket areas where – most fresh of food the localscan be could found. areboth there urban in andplain rural, sight. or Another the poor supposedly in supposedly human more right affluent is The more up-market towns may have a ‘farmers market’ not available to them. weekly or seasonally but the prices tend to be out of reach of Air, water, food and shelter. The four absolute necessities for many. Globally there are very many different local situations, humankind. Currently a minority has these in plenty but the however similar effects and results will be found according to majority, on a sliding scale, is limited on their access to clean the earning power of the customer. The all-consuming hype of mega-corporations and suitable to their environment and family needs. Again, all mainstream media, which are paid to push their particular air, enough clean water, sufficient, varied food and shelter brands of food, is an obstacle that should be easy to overcome If we value our own being as an individual in this world then surelythese are we limitedrecognise by a person’ssimilar value financial for each situation. and every other Associations, foundations, charities and the like will all human being? And wherever one lives in this world, urban or becomewhen there redundant will be nowhen profit no fromone is such without advertisements. food or housing. rural, all have these similar basic requirements. A current problem in large areas of the world is that of corporate takeover, removing huge populations from key to discovering just how different all lives could be, how decision-makingImagining removing becomes the inclusivefinancial aspectand relevant from our for livesall, how is the than crops for food. ‘The Green Revolution ‘of the 1960s and this could free people up from a boring and hateful treadmill 70sproductive which was land heralded in favour as of the growing solution crops to world for profit hunger rather is to creative and inclusive new ways of organising and planning. a good example of this. What happened over a period of a

10 Socialist Standard October 2020 for allotments – up by 300 percent in one area. When moving nutritious, was grown over huge areas in India, and other towards changing to a socialist system there are a number of partsfew years of Asia, was the that seed a new pressed modified on local rice, farmers supposedly and grownmore positives from an increase in local crop cultivation. Gardens, by corporations as monocrops. In Asia – the Philippines, rooftops, walls, underground spaces (there has been one Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, there are thousands of varieties for several years under Clapham High Street) are all being of rice and this vast area is considered as the most biodiverse in the world for vegetables, fruit, root crops and cereals. The environment from increased biodiversity with plenty of scope forused improving for food crops. environments Most of these whilst can also benefit being theproductive. urban large amounts of nitrogen fertilisers and irrigation. The There is a short but interesting article on this topic at https:// changenew rice, over as manysome otheryears geneticallywas revealed modified by the hugecrops, rise required in bit.ly/3bFYIo9. diabetes, the new white rice having a high glycaemic index, The system we are living in now is unsustainable. The top with 60 percent of global diabetes occurring in Asia. Plus one percent of EU households have carbon footprints 22 times increasing numbers of people had reduced access to a varied larger than climate targets allow. Only about 5 percent of EU diet as a result of poverty. households live within the required limits. A reduction per

person of 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030 is required to as a supposed miracle crop: reach this target. The EU average per person is 8 tonnes, the ‘AgrochemicalNow in 2020 we transnationals find another (TNCs) move to and push collaborating yet another rice top one percent produce 55 tonnes. A global problem being institutions such as the International Rice Research Institute given scant political attention. (IRRI) are using concerns over food security during the According to James Hansen of Columbia University, pandemic to push for an industrial agricultural system that is regarding climate change, ‘the agonising efforts of scientists to already discredited’ (theecologist.org/2020/aug/19/ golden- avoid provoking accusations of alarmism have led to an innate rice-trojan-horse). optimism bias – sometimes leading to cautious underestimates.’ The message needed to counter this increasing control of Until we can move away from the entrenched format of global food is that of the enormous diversity of crops, whether everything the direction the planet is headed. Removing the capitalist approach to for life profit is a better there isscenario little to for no allchance global of inhabitants, changing ofgrains, any kind. vegetables, There isfruits, evidence nuts thator livestock much of – food fish andproduction meat – human and other. Then choices can and will be made for overand the the health previous benefits few decades of food isuncontaminated proving harmful by to chemicals humans through allergies, obesity and downright slow poisoning. be discussed and decided by people who have the right There are numerous court cases internationally pending information.the benefit of Releasing all. What uschoice from of the food many to be constraints grown will of from farm workers suffering serious illnesses from exposure money will enhance lives positively. Our future choice of to herbicides and pesticides; ongoing information related to corporations attempting to increase the spread of genetically goals. Looking ahead to the collective goal of socialism we acknowledgeurban or rural the living vast will diversity be made of culturesfreely, fulfilling around personal the globe in some countries. and the need to recognise and welcome all variations. After all modifiedOne example, crops againstIndia, is the covered will of in many detail farmers by Colin and Todhunter illegally we are just one small part of a vast, beautiful, ancient tapestry at Countercurrents (bit.ly/3bEsoCc). Recently revealed are of human life. We don’t know just how all the many global details of the revolving door between developers, patent- communities will organise together but we are well aware that holders and regulators – nothing new there then. With regard all the skills available will be welcomed far and wide. We need to GM brinjal (aubergine) Bangladesh is now being targeted as each other to protect our future generations’ well-being and both India and the Philippines have so far rejected it. Although whole environment. JANET SURMAN 20 years ago, there are examples of other trials taking place India has officially accepted only one GM crop, cotton about

Withoutwithout official the approval. profit motive force these various changes and communities would be free toWithout choose the their profit own motive way when there looking could be to no the incentive future. Wide- to ranging discussions would take place between all stakeholders implementation. Certainly without the current global political systemand experts true asdemocracy to the efficacy could ofat trialslast raise and itspossible head and provide populations with the diversity of multiple food stuffs and do it in ways which don’t pollute our water and our soil, whilst also reducing the harmful gases emitted. UN estimates for the next 30 years show a worldwide increase in the percentage of populations living in urban areas. For the UK it is projected to be 90 percent by 2050. No doubt this will be linked to work-related projections for the system’s way of working. Now, during the Covid pandemic, thereconvenience has been and an most increase profitable in UK urbanconditions areas for of theapplications capitalist

Socialist Standard October 2020 11 merica is at the cusp of deciding the nature of its with the fact future, or at least it thinks it is. It has two scarcely that Donald Adistinguishable options, Democrat Joe Biden and Trump won in incumbent Donald Trump. The Trump presidency has 2016? Liberal already had an effect on America that will long outlast his commentators will struggle to. West Coast have had fuel thrown upon them by the rapid The truth, destructionsecond term, of should what little he get environmental one. The wildfires regulation sweeping there the contrary to was before Trump. Nominal wages have gone up steadily Brooks’ charge over the last four years, but cost of living has been growing of ‘emotional faster, far outstripping the growth in wages. This is to make stupidity’ is no mention of the coronavirus crisis – the United States has that Trump has seen an exceptionally high death rate – almost 200,000 cases managed to as of writing. Liberals often wax lyrical about the death of win the hearts ‘American culture’. While Trump’s campaign has undoubtedly and minds of a had a palpable effect on the way political issues are discussed, huge amount of how it is a death of American culture is unclear. Indeed, the the American liberals’ biggest failure was to miss the fact that the seeds for working class. the Trump victory were sown by the Democrat presidencies. How? By going And this is the mistake they are repeating in 2020. against the establishment. Popular populist Trump has The shock from liberal commentators four years ago has still criticised Hillary Clinton for being coming to an end – and liberals are still in such disbelief that a Wall Street henot might worn getoff. aThe second. first termThere of is Donald no attempt Trump’s to empathise presidency with is shill and a criminal, the Democrats for throwing America into the many working class Americans who voted for Trump – an war after war, and the mainstream media for consistently immense irony, given editorials in the liberal press such as marginalising swathes of views – particularly those favoured ‘When A Heart Is Empty’ (New York Times, 10 September). by workers. The thing about these claims is that they are all In it, David Brooks, a noted moderate conservative, writes, correct. His Twitter, laughable as it may be, is so obviously ‘[Trump’s] is not an intellectual stupidity. I imagine Trump’s not ghostwritten. It is unprofessional, direct, unpretentious – one might even say it is, in a rather odd way, down to earth. is a moral and Trump has not taken himself to be entitled to votes. On emotionalI.Q. is fine. It the other hand, Joe Biden said to a black voter who was on stupidity. He blunders so you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.’ Odd, coming often and so fromthe fence someone that, ‘Ifwho you thought have a desegregationproblem figuring would out whetherlead to his badly because children growing up ‘in a racial jungle’, and that ‘poor kids are he has a just as bright and talented as white kids’. If these comments narcissist’s had come from Trump, they would be plastered on every inability to headline. In this case, the liberal media tries to pass it all off as get inside a joke (Washington Post, 22 May). It is precisely this difference the hearts between the Democrats and Trump that has led to the and minds polarisation seen in American politics – the working class has of other realised that the Democrats have done nothing for them. The people. It’s a elitism and political careerism of the mainstream Democratic stupidity that party has become an unmissable stain on their campaign. in almost pure clinical form, Liberal elite Of course, Trump’s greatest success is that he has managed his inability to convince working class Americans that he represents toflows feel, out a of them. Sure, he has pointed out some of their issues, but the stupidity of policies he has put in place have done nothing to resolve them. the heart.’ Perhaps this just goes to show how out of touch the Democrats How do we are: even lipservice to the American working class is more David Brooks square this than they have done. This might be the backbone of the Trump

12 Socialist Standard October 2020 strategy – if accordingly. Even Trump pointed out that the alternative left- you convince wing candidate, Elizabeth Warren, was only in the running to enough working split the Sanders vote. people, but also There is clear discontent within the American workers: evangelicals, particularly the youth. The majority of millennial Americans racists, and are not afraid of the word ‘socialism’; in fact they prefer it to so on, you can ‘capitalism’. Liberals are keen to point out that they never lived garner enough through the Cold War, and that this might explain their lack of the vote to go of hostility to socialism. Or, it might be that thirty-year olds back to serving have lived through four recessions. For a great liberal hero, your real liberals seem remarkably unkeen to listen to Adam Smith: ’No constituency: the capitalist greater part of the members are poor and miserable’. Yet, the class. Trump’s Democrats,society can surelybased onbe flourishingnonsensical and concerns happy, of of ‘electability’ which the far policies keep advancing centrist candidates, who are just grist to have been Trump’s mill. The Democrats ran the electability experiment mostly typical with Clinton. It failed. Yet they are trying it again with Biden. rightwing The workers feeling so disenfranchised that ‘did not vote’ corporate welfare, Clinton votes in 2016. Perhaps if ‘did not vote’ amounted to a combined votemakes for a nosignificantly president higherat all, the category country than would either be Trumpbetter off. or with a sort of At any rate, the election draws near. If Trump manages to protectionism secure another victory, the consequences for the environment that hasn’t will be disastrous. One would hope that working class been seen in Americans will have seen through the ruse, but as long as the a while. Trump may be marking the end of the neoliberal mainstream opinions are strictly limited to Democrat and world order, replacing it with something that could even more Republican, there is going to be little progress. A socialist straightforwardly be described as American hegemony. might reasonably worry that the age-old choice between This is actually not entirely accurate: Trump has been socialism and barbarism is being made, and that the people forming close alliances with some of the world’s most ruthless are choosing barbarism. dictators, notably the Brazilian Jair Bolsanaro, and Russia’s MP SHAH Vladimir Putin. Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist in Trump’s cabinet, has become somewhat of a left-wing bogeyman, uniting nationalist and right-wing leaders worldwide, including Marine Le Pen in France and Nigel Farage in the UK. Something bigger is at work, and it is keen to captivate ‘the masses’. Populism has become a political slur thrown around by liberals that describes this phenomenon. Socialists understand that there is a political and economic elite, whose interests are opposed to those of the workers. It’s clear why liberals, the elite in question, want to deny that this is the case. The rightwing has managed to capture the same sentiment but their claims about who the elite is differ from ours immensely. The Democrats had a left-wing populist candidate – indeed, one who was popular with some Trump supporters: Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders was the most radical mainstream American politician by far, drawing on a tradition that has been left mostly untouched since Eugene V. Debs, one of the founders of the Industrial Workers of the World. American social democracy could have tried to win the election by tapping into the anti-establishment sentiment that has taken hold of the workers. Of course, the mainstream Democratic Party, as a representative of capital (no different to the Republican Party) would rather have Trump than Elizabeth Sanders. Shenanigans in the election process were conducted Warren

Socialist Standard October 2020 13 capitalism is a reformed version of that same system. The process of limiting the discussion to a pre-set agenda is CAPITALISM: undemocratic as it places restrictions on the alternatives open to us in solving ongoing problems. So this is part of Incompatible the process of constructing reality. We have all come across terms such as ‘we have to live in the real world’ or ‘there is no with alternative’. The nonsense being peddled here is that the ‘real world’ equals capitalism to which there is no ‘alternative’. It Democracy is almost as if the capital system has always existed and will always exist, as if it is the one and only reality. It is continually the case that political language is used to obfuscate the real meanings of concepts. For example take the word ‘free’, we are very often confronted with the terms ‘Free World’, ‘Free Trade’, ‘Free Markets’, ‘Free Enterprise’.

the word ’free’ means in the face of capitalism has nothing toThese do with terms the most majority definitely of the hide people more in thanthe so-called they reveal. ‘Free What World’ being free. In fact the opposite is the case. The world- wide capitalist system presents a situation where the mass of people are at best tied to the dictatorship of capital. The other so-called ‘freedoms’ (trade, markets, enterprise), whilst presented in the rhetoric as a system where small businesses or the self-employed operate via their own hard work to exchange their goods (commodities) via ‘free’ mechanisms, are in reality part of a process which is dominated by a few major corporations and the world market. Capitalism is a We continue our explanation as to why capitalism is not world-wide economic system, a system that leaves millions and cannot be democratic throughout the world not only far from ‘free’ but in poverty or even starving. This of course includes people living in the he ownership of the mass media is merely the start of major power of this illusionary ‘Free World’, the United States the problem. Another way of constraining democracy of America. In addition, this is the system that results in wars Tis by limiting what is seen as being suitable for all around the planet but never mind because capitalism gives discussion. Liberal Democracy (LD) does not normally you the ‘Freedom’ to die for your country, meaning the part of limit discussion by outlawing ideas and throwing people the world you were born in. who fail to conform into gaol or worse, although this may happen in certain circumstances. Instead it falls more into Profits - capitalism’s main priority the category expressed by Marx that the dominant ideas in Real democracy is not possible under capitalism. However, society are those of the ruling class. The dominant mode of democracy is continually used by countries which operate thinking is instilled in people gradually from a young age under the banner of ‘Liberal Democracy’ as a propaganda tool. via institutions such as the family and the education system, A country under this heading will enter into trade agreements, then cemented by the mass media. What this encourages is a limited range of permissible opinions which are, to a large are known to have appalling records in areas such as human extent, an endorsement of capitalism and its system of market rights.providing Western they are capitalist profitable, countries with totalitarian have therefore regimes, entered who ‘democracy’ so that in general such opinions are held as being into such agreements with countries like Saudi Arabia, natural common sense whilst ideas and opinions that fall Egypt and China. They do so with no scruple whatsoever outside of this remit are seen as being illegitimate, illogical and irrational and perhaps even dangerous. Try to discuss an importance than concepts such as human rights or democracy. alternative which fundamentally challenges the major features asIn the addition, opportunity major to economic trade and powers make profits operating is of under far more this of capitalism and you are likely to be ridiculed or considered banner have not been slow in acting to remove from power as a dangerous subversive. In any event getting a serious democratically-elected governments when their economic interests are threatened. Iran in the early 1950s and Chile in running through a brick wall. the early 1970s are major examples, though there are many discussionWhen capitalism of them onis seen to the to mass be failing agenda in some is as difficultway as, foras others. In the latter case, whilst the election of the Popular Front government had nothing to do with establishing subject to a more critical examination and questions may be socialism, which would require an entirely different set raisedexample, about in the its 2008future. financial However, crisis such then an examinationthe system is will often be extremely limited as in the instance of the events of 2008 as democratic a system that overthrows democratically- there had to be scapegoats – certain individuals got out of electedof circumstances, (in their terms) it is nevertheless governments difficult and replaces to recognise them control; it was due to a minority of greedy people, and the with dictatorships. As indicated, there are many other cases like. The system itself will not be subject to a serious critique. of similar actions and this is a subject that deserves more The alternatives put forward will be something like increased attention. economic regulation or perhaps more state intervention in the It is also the case that an LD such as Britain has a rather economy whilst the core features of the system, production for dubious internal record in certain areas of human rights. Since the end of the 1970s there have been countless Acts passed on market economy, these, if discussed at all, will only be in the the industrial relations front, all designed to hinder workers margins,profit, capital not on accumulation, the main agenda. employment (wage slavery), the taking collective industrial action to defend their terms and On that main or mass agenda the only alternative to conditions of employment; so much so that we reached the

14 Socialist Standard October 2020 point some years ago where it is almost impossible to organise we not recognise the limitations of the political process and collective action which can be both legal and effective. the possibility that, if the socialist movement grows to an This applies as much to Labour governments as it does to extent that it forms a large minority, that the right to use Conservative ones. In addition, there has been a series of the limited democratic system might be closed off to us? In addressing this, two points need to be considered. Firstly, it protest movements to stay within the law whilst organising would be a mistake to dismiss a process that, for now at least, meaningfulActs over the campaigns. same period that make it extremely difficult for gives us the opportunity to put forward the socialist case as an alternative to the capitalist system. It is therefore an important A democratic society requires a way of winning more people over to the socialist movement. democratic base If it offers this advantage then why not use it? Secondly, just ‘A form of government because we advocate using the political process does not in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised mean we rule out using other democratic methods alongside it directlyDictionary.com by them defines or by their democracy elected agents as: under a free electoral and which would supplement the political process. In fact we system’. It describes the United States of America and Canada never have ruled it out. as examples of democratic countries. The Cambridge English There is a common misconception amongst many that the Dictionary states that democracy is ‘The belief in freedom World Socialist Movement (WSM) advocates using political and equality between people, or a system of government means alone to bring about socialism and rules out all other based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected forms of organisation. For example, some years ago Leftcom representatives or directly by the people themselves’. It then when reviewing our pamphlet What’s Wrong with using states that the early 1990s saw the spread of democracy to Parliament? suggested that the reason for the pamphlet was to ‘restate their belief that socialism can only come about to these and it is not really surprising that in the current via parliament’. There is a lot of difference in saying that environmentEastern Europe. they There relate are to many LDs. other similar definitions parliament can be used in bringing about socialism to saying either that it would have to be used or must be used in all of government but remain silent on the most basic and circumstances. What we in the WSM insist on is the need to importantSuch definitions feature inlimit society, democracy namely, to how political the means systems of organise on a democratic basis. production and distribution are organised. Concentrating on If you wish to achieve a free and democratic society you the political system limits the concept of democracy because have to use democratic methods, as the means for achieving it is constructed on the base of present-day society and the something will determine the end result. So we oppose as political system operates to defend that society’s structure. utopian and dangerous the idea that a well-organised and So, where there is a lack of control for the vast majority at its conscious minority can lead a majority who lack socialist most fundamental level, no political system can overcome that understanding to the freedom of socialism. We of course undemocratic nature and it is not designed to do so (but this do not know what precisely will happen in the lead-up to does not mean that it cannot be made to contribute to this socialism but would think it highly likely that, as socialist purpose under the right conditions). This is the main reason consciousness develops in various parts of the world, why the so-called democracies that operate within capitalism workers will create several different forms of organisation. are not democracies. One would be a movement to represent them at the political level. This would probably vary depending on the differing just defending capitalism. For example, Dictionary.com talks circumstances in various parts of the world. But there of Thea ‘free type electoral of definitions system’ of but democracy it is only outlinedfree in a veryabove limited are would be other forms of organisation, perhaps something sense, most people have the right to vote for the political party like workplace and neighbourhood councils. Industrial of their choice, but as we have pointed out it is not free from organisation such as unions would take different forms bias in the realm of acceptable ideas. How can it be when it is constructed on an economic dictatorship at the base of awareness. Lastly, we might even see people in some places creatingto those aroundtheir own today, parliament, reflecting a ‘peoples’an increased parliament’, socialist more speaks of ‘a belief in freedom and equality between people’ advanced and effective than what exists today. Whilst we do butsociety? freedom Likewise and equality the Cambridge between English people Dictionary is completely definition not want to engage in too much crystal-ball gazing the point is absent in terms of the organisation and ownership of wealth that socialists accept that, when workers begin to engage with production and distribution. socialist ideas in far greater numbers than we have today, they In fact this is where the inequalities within society stem will form various types of organisations to help achieve their from and they cannot be healed by the political system, goals. What must also be pointed out is that in such changed especially one which is designed to perpetuate such circumstances parliament would not be the dung heap that it is at present. For us the key is democratic means, whatever the to power being held directly by the people but this is differing forms of organisation that may develop. quicklyfundamental diluted divisions. to elected Both agents definitions or representatives have reference acting The path towards a genuine democracy is a path leading on their behalf, the capitalist reality is that those agents away from capitalism whether of the state or so-called private or representatives are acting in the interests of capital variety and towards a society run by people for people, using the most advanced productive capacity and technology majority. available to directly satisfy human needs whilst giving regard accumulation and definitely not in the interests of the to protecting and nurturing our planet which is the source of Socialism and the use of the political process life itself. The time to act towards that goal is now. We do not If socialists regard the political process on offer in LD as suggest that the road towards this alternative society will be undemocratic, then why do we advocate that it is possible easy but it is necessary and urgent. to use it in order to replace minority control with common RDC ownership? Should we not logically reject the empty rhetoric of capitalist democracy entirely and favour something similar to a modern system of workers’ councils? Should

Socialist Standard October 2020 15 workers there to take the lead in this struggle, so it ‘could be Anti-imperialism is turned onto a socialist trajectory or a non-capitalist trajectory which would result in socialism’. National struggle was thus clothed in the rhetorical not anti-capitalism language of class struggle. Trotsky similarly opined: ‘The sectarian simply ignores the fact that the national struggle, We continue our series on the origins of the mistaken one of the most labyrinthine and complex but at the same time view that workers in the advanced capitalist countries extremely important forms of the class struggle, cannot be share in the exploitation of those in the so-called suspended by bare references to the future world revolution’ ‘underdeveloped’ countries. (Independence of the Ukraine and Sectarian Muddleheads, 1939). n his 1920 Preface to Imperialism, The Highest Stage of For all Trotsky’s labyrinthine attempt to assimilate class Capitalism Lenin comments: struggle to national struggle, he was attempting to square the ‘Capitalism has grown into a world system of colonial I circle. ‘National struggle’ can only be advanced by watering down, and compromising, the class struggle. It is an attempt to overwhelming majority of the population of the world by a impose from above a fake commonality of interests between handfuloppression of “advanced” and of the financialcountries’. strangulation of the classes whose own interests are diametrically opposed. Colonialism is not quite the same thing as imperialism. Though Lenin himself rhetorically committed himself to the It entails the annexation of, and direct political control concept of ‘proletarian internationalism’ and the repudiation over, other territories by a state which is not necessarily true of imperialism. For Lenin, political independence was ever successfully prosecute any ‘national liberation struggle’ indeed achievable ‘within the bounds of world imperialist withoutof ‘national also chauvinism’, fostering national it is difficult chauvinism to see ashow its one motivating could relationships (A Caricature of Marxism and Imperialist ethos. Economism, 1916).The classical Marxist diffusionist view In any event, subsequent global developments exposed held that, with capitalism’s development and the increasing internationalisation of capital, nationalism would decline Second World War, vast swathes of the ‘developing world’ as a social force. Unfortunately that hasn’t yet happened. werethe fundamental granted political flaws independencein his thinking. from Particularly their erstwhile after the However, here we are focussing on what ought to be the colonial masters. Indeed, since then there have been further attitude of socialists towards nationalism. Early twentieth – successful – attempts at achieving political independence century Marxists, like Rosa Luxemburg, were already arguing though these have tended to follow a somewhat different that nationalism had become reactionary. Capitalism had trajectory, resulting in the formation, along mainly ethnic outlived its usefulness to progress, having prepared the lines, of new breakaway states as the product of civil war ground for socialism by raising society’s productive potential within existing states – for example, Southern Sudan. These to an unparalleled degree. While that potential continues to expand with technological innovation it is increasingly being framework and its simplistic division of the world into squandered in all sorts of ways. ‘oppressorlatter developments countries’ do and not ‘oppressed fit well within countries’. the Leninist Nationalist struggles In any case, history has emphatically vindicated Luxemburg’s repudiation of Lenin’s argument that socialists Lenin’s take on nationalism was different. The rise of should support national liberation struggles to expedite a monopoly capitalism associated with imperialism entailed ‘global proletarian revolution’. Nothing could be further from the ‘super-exploitation’ by a few oppressor (imperialist) the truth. nations of the oppressed (colonised) nations on the capitalist Instead, capitalist relations of production along with periphery. Nationalist movements in the latter, were – allegedly – qualitatively different from those in nineteenth entrenched in the countries concerned. Hence the century Europe in an era of ascendant capitalism. As Jim Blaut an accompanying capitalist mind-set has become firmly summarises: ‘The nationalism of colonies and semi-colonies is called into politicians,unedifying spectaclehobnobbing of erstwhile with multi-nationals ‘Marxist’ guerrilla in a bid fighters to pimp outtransmogrified the nation’s into cheap well-heeled labour force business to overseas people investors or corrupt while In an important way, this is a new phenomenon…, it cannot cracking down on dissent and spiriting away a sizeable chunk bebeing assimilated by the intensification to the theory of of exploitation national movements and oppression. which of the nation’s revenue into some private offshore account. emerge during the rise of capitalism and have as their purpose If you are going to ride the capitalist tiger don’t be surprised or goal the simple creation of a bourgeois state. The nature where it takes you. of colonialism is such that producing classes suffer along with whatever young or incipient bourgeoisie may exist. Therefore the national liberation movements in colonies and World revolution Yet ignorant Marx critics still routinely trot out the ridiculous semi-colonies are profoundly different from the national refrain that Marx ‘got it all wrong’ in that the revolutions he movements of earlier oppressed nations such as those in non-colonial portions of the Tsarist Empire. It is not innately on the capitalist periphery. What these critics overlook is a bourgeois struggle against feudal forces for the creation of thathoped these for occurredwere not first,the revolutions not in the advanced Marx had countries,in mind. Rather, but a classical bourgeois state. It is a multi-class struggle directed they were capitalist revolutions enabling the transition to primarily against imperialism’ (The National Question: capitalism. Decolonising the Theory of Nationalism, 1987). In the Marx suggested the coming Since imperialism and monopoly capitalism were linked, German Ideology communist (socialist) revolution would likely be spearheaded this suggested that ‘national liberation struggles’ could serve by the advanced countries precisely because communism as the harbinger of ‘global proletarian revolution’ which would presupposed the advanced development of the productive forces: ‘Empirically, communism is only possible as the act of was harshest – namely, those economically backward the dominant peoples “all at once” and simultaneously, which countrieslikely erupt still first transitioning where the impact to capitalism. of imperialist That required exploitation 16 Socialist Standard October 2020 presupposes the universal development of the productive Policy his government was forced to adopt in 1921: forces and world intercourse bound up with them’. ‘Get down to business, all of you! You will have capitalists We don’t need to take the idea of instantaneous global beside you, including foreign capitalists, concessionaires and revolution too literally. Obviously, there will be some time lags involved in the spatial transformation from global capitalism to hundreds per cent; they will enrich themselves, operating to global socialism. However, Marx insisted on the absolute alongsideleaseholders. of you. They Let will them. squeeze Meanwhile profits you out willof you learn amounting from necessity of majoritarian socialist consciousness before that them the business of running the economy’ (The New could happen. The logic of his diffusionist model suggested Economic Policy, 1921). that if one part of the world had a socialist majority, other This partnership with Western capitalists continued under parts would not be far Stalin, the former providing much of the capital and expertise behind. For Lenin, the ‘law of was Henry Ford to whom Stalin expressed his gratitude, uneven development in callingto finance him Soviet one of industrialisation. the world’s greatest Prominent industrialists among and these capitalism’ meant it was obsequiously adding, ‘May God preserve him’ (history.com/ impossible to achieve this-day-in-history/ ford-signs-agreement-with-soviet-union). socialism simultaneously across the world. But, this Who is ‘imperialist’? was a reference to the This was not just a one-way street, however. Just like the objective preconditions ‘Monroe doctrine’ enunciated by the American president for socialism – not the James Monroe in the early nineteenth century, opposing subjective preconditions further colonisation in the Americas by European powers only – and, if anything, it would in order to hypocritically assert US imperialistic hegemony support Marx’s contention over the region, so the same can be said of Soviet imperialism. that a socialist revolution The realisation that workers in the West were not going to rise up to support the Soviet regime prompted a strategic in the advanced countries where the productive forces were shift by that regime towards supporting nationalist struggles most developed. But Lenin’s ‘law’ haswould long likely been occur completely first in developing countries as a means of undermining its irrelevant to the socialist objective, anyway. Socialism can only Western rivals. For all its paper commitment to the principle be a global alternative to capitalism and it is the productive of ‘national self-determination’, this did not stop the Soviet potential of the world as a whole that crucially matters, not Union exercising its own political (and economic) muscle any one part of it. when it came to those countries falling within its own sphere Why then his obsessive preoccupation with this ‘law’? A clue can be found in his article On the Slogan for a United States of carrying out military intervention in countries like Hungary Europe (1915): (1956)of influence, and Czechoslovakia installing puppet (1968). regimes and threatening or All this prompts the question – what exactly is meant by even in one capitalist country alone. After expropriating the ‘imperialism’ – and, by extension, ‘anti-imperialism’ – today? capitalists‘The victory and oforganising socialism their is possible own socialist first in severalproduction, or the Lenin developed his theory of imperialism in opposition to victorious proletariat of that country will arise against the rest Kautsky’s ‘ultra-imperialism’ which envisaged the major of the world—the capitalist world—attracting to its cause the imperialist powers forming a federation which would make oppressed classes of other countries.’ This implies not only the uneven development of the indeed. productive forces but the uneven growth of socialist militaryBut Lenin’s conflict own largely theory redundant was shaped or irrationalby the then – aexisting pious hope, consciousness itself. Lenin’s view was that workers in the reality of colonialism which in the post-war era has largely disappeared. At the same time we have witnessed the rise of be much more resistant to socialist thinking compared giant multinational corporations, some with a larger revenue withadvanced their countries,counterparts by benefitting in the backward from imperialism,countries where would national liberation struggle would more readily translate into between nation-states how does this hold up in an era of ‘neo- ‘proletarian revolution’. liberal’base than governance? most states. If imperialism is about the conflict So when he spoke of organising ‘socialist production’ within Concerning Lenin’s distinction between ‘imperialist a single country initially, the logic of his argument about how countries’ and ‘oppressed countries’, Michael Roberts and he saw a global proletarian revolution unfolding suggested Guglielmo Carchedi, he had in mind an economically backward country. However, it is precisely in such a country that material conditions have identified ‘10 countries at the most would be least propitious for socialism. Furthermore, insofar that fit the bill as imperialist’-– essentially the G7 countries as socialism and capitalism can no more coexist than one inplus the one century or two since small Lenin states wrote – by onanalysing the subject: cross-border ‘it’s still theflows can mix oil and water, this would imply severing links with sameof profit, countries’ interest (bit.ly/35j9Y98). and rent. As Roberts notes, little has changed global capitalist supply chains exacerbating the hardships But if being an ‘imperialist country’ means being a net experienced there. Lenin’s attempt to argue his way out of this impasse was improbable you will ever get rid of imperialism while disingenuous. Instead of the ‘victorious proletariat of that ‘recipient of cross-border income flows’, then it seems country’ literally ‘organising their own socialist production’ what we are talking about here is essentially a zero sum game. what he really had in mind was a process of ‘building Eliminatingcapitalism (and one itsimperialist ‘cross-border power income simply flows’) creates exists a vacuum since socialism’ involving the implementation of state capitalism into which another will inevitably step. which he saw as being organically linked to socialism. Thus, nationalistic ‘anti-imperialism’ has proved to be not Ironically, far from advocating autarky, Lenin favoured only a fundamental distraction from the class struggle for closer integration with global capitalism and imperialist socialism but also fundamentally futile on its own terms. investment in the Soviet economy under his New Economic ROBIN COX

Socialist Standard October 2020 17 ong Kong was a small carried on their work from but important part of the Taiwan. Many people deleted HBritish Empire, acquired social media posts in order by military might. Hong Kong to be on the safe side. On Island originally became part of the Empire in 1842, after China in operation, there were was defeated in the First Opium demonstrations,the first day of the met law by being riot War, as the lucrative opium police, with ten people being trade was imposed on China by arrested under the security law. Britain. After the Second Opium Anyone allegedly promoting War in 1860, further land was ‘Hong Kong independence’ ceded, including Kowloon can be charged with inciting Peninsula. Then in 1898 the secession. New Territories to the north of China set up a new security Kowloon were leased to Britain agency in Hong Kong, with for 99 years. a so-called ‘hard-liner’ as its Under British rule, Hong head. Journalists have become Kong became a centre of global worried about revealing sources and fear that even reporting supported, directly or indirectly, banned slogans may be illegal. bytrade the and opium finance, industry. much Its of it Books by pro-democracy activists have begun to disappear from local libraries, at least, many wealthy Westerners enjoyed opulence and an supposedly so it can be ascertained if they violate the new law. often-debauchedChinese population lifestyle, lived in with squalor, the Royal while, Navy in the ready first todecades defend Britain’s interests and so-called free trade. of his paper were searched. At one demo in early September, As the end of the lease approached, the British government aroundAmong those300 people arrested were was arrested, a newspaper including owner, a twelve-year-old and the offices decided that Hong Kong without the New Territories would girl who allegedly ran away ‘in a suspicious manner’. not be viable, so in 1984 an agreement was reached that District council elections held in November last year the whole of Hong Kong would be transferred to China in resulted in a big majority for the ‘pro-democracy’ groups, 1997, with an undertaking that the social system would be while opinion polls showed that most people supported the protests, if not the violence. This year’s Legislative Council Administrative Region of China, under the supposed principle elections have been postponed till next year, presumably ofguaranteed ‘one country, for fifty two years.systems’, Hong and Kong there is isofficially at least aa Specialsemblance because the authorities fear an outcome unfavourable to them. of the capitalist idea of democracy, with elections and political Politicians in other capitalist countries have objected to parties, though the members of the Legislative Council are China’s recent policies. Johnson has said that up to three only partly chosen by direct elections. million Hong Kong residents who hold British national Hong Kong’s economy has fared pretty well in capitalist overseas status would be given the right to settle in the UK, terms since the Chinese takeover. It is a very large importer though it remains to be seen if he would keep to this if push and exporter, with many goods being trans-shipped through comes to shove. Australia has made it easier for Hong Kong its container port and its airport the largest anywhere for students in Australia to remain there after they graduate. international cargo. It has the world’s seventh-busiest stock Trump has put an end to any special economic treatment for exchange, and the second-highest number of billionaires Hong Kong, so that it will be treated the same as China. This of any city (behind only New York). Some supporters of may mean that US companies will switch from using Hong capitalism have regarded Hong Kong as leading the world Kong as a regional hub to another Chinese city or Singapore. in economic freedom, in terms of the rule of law and the One reason for these actions by China may relate to the ability of people to make decisions about their lives. Given issue of control in the South China Sea, which is an important the extent of inequality and poverty and the lack of genuine sea lane and has extensive oil and gas reserves (see the democracy, this was always nonsense, but presumably even August Socialist Standard). Eight missile boats and corvettes such apologists are likely to be changing their minds given from the Chinese navy are currently stationed in Hong Kong, recent events. At the end of June this year, China imposed on Hong Kong a new security law, which included possible life sentences wholeand one navy recently and even took of part the in South a ‘live-fire Sea Fleet drill’ but which it may involved still for secession, subversion or terrorism. Some cases could be befiring useful cannons in standing and torpedoes. up to US navalThis is operations a very small there. part There of the tried in China, not Hong Kong, and the Beijing government is, however, little chance of demonstrations in Hong Kong undermining the Chinese navy’s strength, and Hong Kong The head of Amnesty International’s China Team said the becoming independent from China is hardly a real possibility lawwould ‘represents have the finalthe greatest say on how threat the to law human should rights be interpreted. in [Hong in the short or medium term. It may also be the case that Kong’s] recent history’ and ‘China will have the power to clamping down on dissent in Hong Kong is a way of sending impose its own laws on any criminal suspect it chooses’. messages to Taiwan, which is still viewed as a ‘rebel province’, Others claim that it infringes human rights and international or to workers in China who may be kicking against the traces. law. There were protests last year that involved pitched battles China, the message reads, will not put up with dissent or any with police, and the new law was widely seen as making any kind of demand for more democracy. The Beijing government kind of protest illegal. Some critics thought the law meant that is in charge, and people had better bear that in mind. Stopping Hong Kong was ‘turning into China for real’. demos and arresting fairly small numbers of people could be Even before the law came into effect, some opposition an effective way of making this point. groups, both pro-independence ones and campaigning PAUL BENNETT organisations, decided to dissolve themselves, though some

18 Socialist Standard October 2020 Radio Ga-Ga SWITCH OVER from TV current affairs any lessons in history from the Guardian in a more extreme and in-your-face way. programmes to those on DAB radio, and reading yoghurt knitting lentil munching While the BBC has to stick to stricter you’ll notice quite a shift in tone. The morons who think that there’s something editorial rules than TalkRADIO or LBC, all telly’s news bulletins and shows like the wrong with the United Kingdom of Great news broadcasters have to follow Ofcom’s BBC’s Question Time or Newsnight appear Britain and Northern Ireland’. As well as code of guidance about ‘due impartiality’, airbrushed and staid when compared with presenting The Independent Republic which means that alternative views the more blunt discussions found on the of Mike Graham, he chairs Plank of the should be considered. Earlier in the year, commercial talk radio stations. Week, where he sits with a couple of TalkRADIO was found not to have done With nearly three million listeners other pundits to slag off people recently this and was fined £75,000 after former each week, the heavyweight in the in the public eye. One ‘plank of the week’ presenter George Galloway discussed market is LBC, which as the London was Banksy for his efforts in arranging allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Broadcasting Company was the first a boat to rescue migrants at risk in the Party and the role of the Russian state licensed commercial radio station, back Mediterranean Sea. in the Salisbury poisonings. When the in 1973. It became more widely known Another frequent target is ‘woke’ station’s presenters do cite different after relaunching nationally on the culture, which the station associates opinions or interview activists, it’s DAB platform in 2014 with the self- with transgender activists, Black Lives invariably with a dismissive, sneering tone. aggrandising boast of ‘Leading Britain’s Matter (‘a ghastly, horrible organisation TalkRADIO’s preoccupations are shown Conversation’. In 2017 the station gained that would like to see the destruction of by how it repeatedly latches on to the further publicity from its interview with everything that is good about Britain’, same kind of subject in the same kind of Diane Abbott MP when she made a hash according to Mike Graham) and Extinction way. Its recent fixations have included of explaining Labour’s funding plans for Rebellion (‘pathetic’, so says another dance troupe Diversity’s Black Lives the police, and also when it ditched Katie presenter, Mike Parry). The station Matter routine on Britain’s Got Talent and Hopkins as a presenter for advocating a particularly focuses on its rival the BBC’s the possibility of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ ‘final solution’ following the Manchester emphasis on diversity. For instance, Ian and ‘Rule Britannia’ being removed from Arena bombing. Not all of LBC’s hosts are Collins in his show called the BBC directive the Proms because of associations with poisonous rent-a-gobs like Hopkins or about training its staff in avoiding racial colonialism. While these and any topic Nigel Farage, whose regular programme bias ‘absolute cast-iron bonkers’ and should be discussed, TalkRADIO doesn’t was dropped a few months ago. James another presenter Dan Wootton slated the scrutinise, for example, Donald Trump or O’Brien’s phone-in slot often shows up BBC for being obsessed with ‘vile, toxic, Sky News. Nor does it have programmes racists and xenophobes for what they are, tribal identity politics’. about poverty or exploitation or and he wearily ran rings around Jacob The ‘wokeness’ of the BBC is also environmental threats or war. The subjects Rees-Mogg when interviewing him about criticised because having a ‘liberal London the channel doesn’t cover tell us as much the practicalities of leaving the European groupthink’ means that it isn’t as impartial about its stance as those which it does. Union. Frosty conversations are a hallmark as it is supposed to be. On one of Mike TalkRADIO’s critique (if it can be called of LBC. Graham’s shows, regular guest and TV that) of left-wing ideology would be of Less popular, but more populist is presenter Neil Oliver says that news is interest, but it’s based on a caricature, TalkRADIO. This station, relaunched on expected to be neutral, ‘a magnolia paint and it comes from a cynical, cold place. A DAB in 2016, follows a similar format of colour version of events’, and that the distorted worldview. Listen to TalkRADIO having phone-in discussion programmes BBC gives this impression to disguise its for too long, and you’d think Britain is helmed by opinionated hosts wearing left-leaning bias. On one of his shows, Ian divided only into ‘lentil munching morons’ headphones. While LBC presenters are Collins adds that BBC presenters should infatuated with diversity quotas, and the more likely to try and catch out their leave their political opinions on subjects Union Jack-waving ‘silent majority’ fed up interviewees, TalkRADIO hosts tend to such as Black Lives Matter outside the with ‘political correctness gone mad’. bring in guests who reinforce their own studio. But he, and the other TalkRADIO MIKE FOSTER opinions, which are invariably of the presenters, aren’t shy to inflict their own patriotic, right wing libertarian variety. views on us. They simultaneously berate This stance reflects who ultimately owns the BBC for being biased while making the the station: along with Virgin Radio, Times most of their own biased broadcasting. Radio and Talksport, it’s part of Wireless Whether or not the BBC is partial in Group, which is part of News Corp, owned the way TalkRADIO accuses, it’s right to by pro-Trump Rupert Murdoch. point out that the BBC isn’t impartial. And Among TalkRADIO’s regular presenters it can’t be impartial, because it is part of is Mike Graham, who refers to the station the establishment, and therefore reflects as being ‘the home of common sense’ for the ideology which maintains the status the ‘silent majority’. He lays out his trade quo. It’s partial towards acceptance of the when he says on one show ‘we don’t need system overall. TalkRADIO is the same, just

Socialist Standard October 2020 19 Saving graces to call Russia simply capitalist rather meaning literally ‘good heads of family’. than state capitalist, on the grounds that Today, we would use a more familiar form production was in the hands of enterprises of words such as ‘good stewards’. as separate accounting and capital This introduces what would now accumulating units producing for the be called an ecological dimension to market. Even though he exaggerated the socialist society as envisaged by Marx. degree of autonomy of state enterprises, Bordiga, writing in the 1950s as a Marxist, he was to be proved right to the extent took up this point and developed it in that, with the collapse of Bolshevik rule other writings, long before ecological in the 1990s, many of the oligarchs who movements got off the ground. emerged as open capitalists did come Bordiga goes on to apply this not just from the ranks of those who had managed to natural resources but also to the state enterprises. instruments of labour made by humans and To illustrate Bordiga’s view of to the products of their work (hence the communism (which we call socialism) article’s title). None of these will be ‘owned’ the editor has chosen an article written but will simply be there to be used by in 1958 entitled ‘The Revolutionary good stewards. The concept of ‘property’ The Science and Passion of Programme of Communist Society and ‘ownership’ is replaced by that of Communism. Selected Writings Eliminates All Forms of Ownership of ‘stewardship’ though the word Bordiga uses of Amadeo Bordiga. Edited by Land, the Instruments of Production and is ‘usufruct’ (use without ownership). Pietro Basso. Brill. 540 pages, the Products of Labour’. In it Bordiga Bordiga’s brand of Left Communism starts from a criticism Engels made of gave rise to various groups in the 1970s the agrarian programme adopted by the which inherited his (and Marx’s) view Amadeo Bordiga (1889-1970), the first French Workers Party in 1894 which came of communism as a worldwide society leader of the Italian Communist Party who out in favour of peasants owning the from which classes, private property, the later became a prominent figure in the land they worked even those employing coercive state, markets, money, wages and Left Communist opposition to Stalin, was workers. Engels saw this as ‘opportunism’ profits had disappeared. So he deserves a super-Leninist. Not only did he hold that in the sense of adopting a policy to attract some credit for keeping alive, as we have under capitalism the working class was votes that contradicted the socialist aim done, the original idea of socialism/ incapable of understanding socialism but of common ownership by society of land. communism. that (for this reason) the working class This aim, says Bordiga, rules out both Priced at over £50 this book is mainly should not be consulted by the vanguard peasant cooperatives and either municipal for university libraries not the general party as to what to do; this party should or state ownership of land. public. Bordiga’s article is available, seize power as a minority in an armed He doesn’t object so much to the word though in a different translation, in the uprising and then rule on behalf of the ‘nationalisation’ (also used by Marx) Libcom online library. workers. So why should he be of any as this implies that the land belongs ALB interest to socialists? to the people rather than to a political Capitalist cake After the Second World War Bordiga institution. He ends up rejecting the resumed activity (during the fascist period word ‘property’ – even as ‘common he had remained in Italy), which for him property’ – altogether as it still implies was mainly a question of developing a ownership by a restricted group, even if correct understanding of Marx. This led this group is the whole human population to his two saving graces – his analysis of alive at a particular time. In communism the USSR as capitalist and his view that the existing population would not have communist society had to be a society exclusive rights over the land to do with from which production for the market, it as they pleased, as this would be to working for wages, and using money (even exclude future generations. What they will as an accounting unit) had disappeared. have is the use of the land which they will According to him, Russia had never have to care for and hand down to future ceased to have a capitalist economy. generations in the same or better state In this he followed up Lenin’s view of that they found it. Bordiga quotes Marx: the ‘New Economic Policy’ that the ‘Even an entire society, a nation, or all Bolsheviks were forced to adopt in simultaneously existing societies taken Chris Oestereich. 1921 and which Lenin described as the together, are not the owners of the Pandemic Capitalism. development of capitalism under the earth. They are simply its possessors, From Broken Systems to Basic auspices of the ‘proletarian state’ (i.e, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath Incomes. Wicked Problems a state controlled by a vanguard party it in an improved state to succeeding Collaborative. 2020 claiming to have socialism as its aim). For generations, as boni patres familias’ Bordiga, at some point during the 1920s (Capital, Volume 3, chapter 46). the ‘proletarian state’ ceased to exist The words in Latin are from Roman law While this short book insists that the but capitalism continued. He preferred (which Marx started to study in university) post coronavirus world can and must be

20 Socialist Standard October 2020 one of radical change (‘a new paradigm’ as the author puts it, ‘a stretch of the mainly consisting of women. Further, as one of its chapter titles says) and one imagination’ for many people, it is actually work can be not just hidden but invisible, that provides a decent means of life for relatively easy to imagine as reforms as with cleaners who work when offices everyone, it nails its colours to the mast in of capitalism go. The real stretch of the are otherwise closed. Cheap clothes are the opening pages by quoting approvingly imagination is the socialist society of from made by invisible workers, as nobody the World Economic Forum’s words: ‘We each according to ability to each according would supposedly buy goods made in such seriously need to consider implementing to needs. So one thing we would entirely dire conditions if the workers were really a well designed Universal Basic Income agree with the author on is his approving visible. (UBI), so shocks may hit, but they won’t reference to the words of the anarcho- Care work is also often hidden, taking destroy.’ So the new world will, in the socialist author, Ursula Le Guin: ‘We live place in people’s homes. It is usually author’s view, still be one ensconced in in capitalism, its power seems inescapable seen as low-status and low-skilled, partly the existing system of ‘incomes’ and not – but then, so did the divine right of kings.’ because it has generally been associated one involving the real paradigm shift of HOWARD MOSS with women. Yet its importance is abolition of wages and salaries, of buying Working Hard undeniable in terms of the health and and selling and of money and wages. It wellbeing of those cared for. Working on will be, in the author’s own words and and with human bodies emphasises the imagination, ‘a cake made of socialism crucial role of connections and relations with a layer of capitalism’. between people. Having said that, it cannot be denied Green jobs can allegedly be supported that this book has a laudable aim, that of by all sides, from government policy- ‘finding a way to share the bounty of our makers and employers to unions and planet, while working within its limits’. Its community groups. But in practice many description of the kind of society we live in ‘green jobs’ are dirty and dangerous, such (‘a society rooted in cut-throat economic as recycling. The manufacture of solar competition’ with ‘spiralling inequality’, panels relies on processed metal ores and where ‘necessities go unfulfilled while can be damaging to both the environment the privileged indulge in perversities’) is and the workers who make them. impossible not to recognise and agree Researchers often discuss the recent with. The author is right to say that we increase in informal work and the rise live ‘on a planet where much of the food of the gig economy and of precarity. But that is grown goes to waste, we destroy Pettinger notes that ‘Informal work is unsold garments, and homes sit empty’. globally and historically the most common Lynne Pettinger. form of work’. So-called full employment The question he asks about what the world What’s Wrong With Work? is really an exception, an ideal applying could look like if people were able ‘to Policy Press £12.99. choose a collaborative orientation, rather in western Europe from the 1950s to the than being forced into a competitive one’ 1970s, connected to the notion of a male is also entirely pertinent to the endeavours breadwinner. Not that even then it meant of socialists to open up people’s there was no unemployment. As the author says on the first page, a PB imagination to the possibility of a different book with a title like this is an invitation kind of world, one of cooperative work at to grumble or to comment that it’s going all levels and free access to all goods and to be a long book. In fact it is of interest services, where, in the words of one of more for some of the points that are this book’s chapter titles, we would all be made than for any overall argument. ‘sharing the bounty’. One important theme is the centrality With regard to UBI, the author is right of informal work, which is difficult to say that it is an idea that has very much to define but essentially applies to come to the fore in recent times, the idea employment not covered by national being that the state would pay each of its legislation or entitlement to benefits citizens an unconditional basic income. such as paid annual leave or sick leave. But could such a reform solve the endemic According to the International Labour problems of capitalist society? Would it Organization, two billion people (just over rather not be just capitalism with a few sixty percent of global work activity) are tweaks? As articles which have appeared in informal work, and this figure rises to recently in the Socialist Standard (May and ninety percent in developing countries, June, 2020) have shown, the likely effect where a substantially greater percentage of UBI, even if it could be made to work, of women than men are informally would be to redistribute poverty. The employed. What might be called standard chronically poor would be slightly better contracts of work are becoming rarer, off (better than nothing admittedly), but with seasonal work, on-call work and the gulf between the vast majority who zero-hours contracts being more common, own little other than their energies and even if they do not count as informal the minority who monopolise most of the work. world’s wealth would remain. Above all it The book pre-dates the move to would leave the market and commodity working from home as a result of relations, the bulwarks of capitalism, coronavirus, but still has quite a bit to say intact. So, far from the idea of UBI being, on homeworking, the ‘hidden workforce’

Socialist Standard October 2020 21 developed countries like America and England who are just as poverty-stricken as people are here. It is the 50 Years Ago social system that the people the world over live under Black Power that make poverty and other things a part of man’s life. There is only one race, and that is the human race. Let The rise of the Black Power movement in the United us realise that we must all work together or the real States has spread around the world wherever Negroes enemy may never be destroyed. live. It has has also invaded this country, gaining rapid from The Socialist Review, published by a group of Socialists momentum mainly among the young. in Kingston, Jamaica. According to its followers, the poverty that affects (reprinted Socialist Standard, October 1970) the black masses is caused by the whites. We hear daily of white exploitation and the desire by the Black Power advocates to replace this by black exploitation. Now, will this make the exploitation any more worthy? Will the advent of Black Power (whatever that is) create jobs for the unemployed? Will they secure a better price for the fading sugar industry? Except for a change of boss, how different would the life of the man in the street be? Under the searching light of reason Black Power turns out to be nothing more than another racist organisation, designed to gain power for a few by exploiting the ignorance of the majority. Those who are really interested in solving the desperate poverty we see around us should think carefully before they fall victims to cheap emotionalism. The problems of black people are not caused by whites. There are whites in Photo: David Fenton via Getty Images. via Getty Fenton David Photo:

22 Socialist Standard October 2020 Meetings All meetings/talks/discussions are currently online on Discord (unless it is stated that the meeting or talk is on Zoom). Please contact the [email protected] for how to join. OCTOBER 2020 Wednesday 14 October 7.30pm BST even agreed. Others objected. But since The FAQ Workshop we stand for a stateless society could DISCORD EVENTS IS A THIRD WORLD WAR INEVITABLE? he have had a point that we could be We issued a pamphlet with this title back that contradiction in terms an anarchist Wednesday 7 October 7.30pm BST in 1982, when the Cold War seemed political party? The FAQ Workshop destined to continue indefinitely. But Friday 23 October 7.30om BST SHOULD WE STOP REIFYING just seven years later the world changed FRIDAY NIGHT TALK CAPITALISM? dramatically, with the collapse of the POPULISM We all do it. We talk about capitalism as if Soviet Eastern bloc regimes. Now, with Paul Bennett looks at the rise of this it’s a thing, which has ‘qualities’ like being the resurgence of capitalist Russia, the political phenomenon in recent years. blind, insane, reckless, psychopathic etc rise of China, the possible fragmentation and we impute motives to it as if it has of Europe, and the global economy Wednesday 28 October 7.30pm BST living desires and aims. We turn it into a hit by the double whammy of a slump The FAQ Workshop thing –reify it – because a concrete entity and a pandemic, the world is more SHOULD WE CONSIDER DIRECT ACTION? is easier to conceptualise and relate to. unpredictable then ever. So how would Occupy Wall St & UK came from nowhere But in doing so perhaps we turn the we answer the question today? to hit headlines. Extinction Rebellion did ‘thing’ into a monster, a golem that looks the same. How? Because their political unbeatable. Would it be better to avoid Friday 16 October 7.30 BST ideas were elegant and sophisticated? this kind of talk, and refer instead to social FRIDAY NIGHT TALK No. Because of direct action. It doesn’t relationships and unwritten agreements, GEORGE ORWELL have to be illegal. It doesn’t have to be thus perhaps demystifying and diminishing Richard Botterill looks at his writings and dangerous. Could we adopt direct action the task to a more human scale? political ideas. tactics to publicise the case for socialism? Friday 9 October 7.30pm BST Wednesday 21 October 7.30pm BST Friday 30 October 7.30pm BST Photo: David Fenton via Getty Images. via Getty Fenton David Photo: FRIDAY NIGHT TALK The FAQ Workshop WHY SOCIALISM? THE POWER AND SHOULDN’T YOU BE THE ANARCHO- FRIDAY NIGHT TALK LIMITS OF SPECULATION SOCIALIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN? US ELECTION SPECIAL Richard Field speculates on the positive An opponent once used to make a point General discussion with video clips side of socialism and how far we can go of calling us that, in the hope it would in this. annoy us. It didn’t. In fact some members

Declaration of Principles

This declaration is the basis of our organisation and, because it is working class will involve the emancipation of all mankind, without also an important historical document dating from the formation of distinction of race or sex. the party in 1904, its original language has been retained. 5. That this emancipation must be the work of the working class Object itself. The establishment of a system of society based upon the common 6. That as the machinery of government, including the armed forces ownership and democratic control of the means and instruments of the nation, exists only to conserve the monopoly by the capitalist for producing and distributing wealth by and in the interest of the class of the wealth taken from the workers, the working class must whole community. organize consciously and politically for the conquest of the powers of government, national and local, in order that this machinery, Declaration of Principles including these forces, may be converted from an instrument of The Socialist Party of Great Britain holds oppression into the agent of emancipation and the overthrow of 1. That society as at present constituted is based upon the privilege, aristocratic and plutocratic. ownership of the means of living (i.e. land, factories, railways, etc.) 7. That as all political parties are but the expression of class by the capitalist or master class, and the consequent enslavement interests, and as the interest of the working class is diametrically of the working class, by whose labour alone wealth is produced. opposed to the interests of all sections of the master class, the 2. That in society, therefore, there is an antagonism of interests, party seeking working class emancipation must be hostile to every manifesting itself as a class struggle between those who possess but other party. do not produce and those who produce but do not possess. 8. The Socialist Party of Great Britain, therefore, enters the field of 3. That this antagonism can be abolished only by the emancipation political action determined to wage war against all other political of the working class from the domination of the master class, by parties, whether alleged labour or avowedly capitalist, and calls upon the conversion into the common property of society of the means the members of the working class of this country to muster under of production and distribution, and their democratic control by its banner to the end that a speedy termination may be wrought to the whole people. the system which deprives them of the fruits of their labour, and that 4. That as in the order of social evolution the working class is poverty may give place to comfort, privilege to equality, and slavery the last class to achieve its freedom, the emancipation of the to freedom.

Socialist Standard October 2020 23 KISS was something I have seen a hundred Anna Howard Shaw ‘The traditional class war has been waged times — it was how people pose over between wage-earners (who sell their dead animals’ (op. cit.). Barber blames labor) and their employers (owners of the President: ‘Trump is fundamentally capital and the means of production). against the things that would help all These classes have been assigned various Americans. Trump may have started names (proletariat, bourgeoisie, capitalists, talking about Latinos and Mexicans etc.) but these broad class definitions don’t being rapists, but he will not even describe all the class conflicts emerging protect the country from COVID-19 in the modern U.S. economy.... Six years which is killing everybody.’ If Trump ago I took a stab at defining America’s is removed next month, it will be Nine Classes: The New Class Hierarchy business as usual: the capitalist system (April 29, 2014), to which I would now which robs, slaughters and degrades add a tenth class, gig economy precariat, will continue. To be clear, police are ...’ (charleshughsmith.blogspot.com, 27 workers. They, like the vast majority August). We should clarify that workers sell of society, need to work in order to labour power, and capitalists extract surplus live. Yes, they have been used to break value. Smith’s ten ‘classes’ – the Deep State, strikes but some have used the strike Oligarchs, New Nobility, Upper Caste, State weapon themselves. The nature of Nomenklatura, Middle Class, Working their work does not exclude them from Poor, State Dependents, Mobile Creatives other members of their class. This is and Gig Economy Precariat – add further and justice breathing, the American people also true of those who form the vast confusion. All people are either workers or are resisting the suffocation and resisting bulk of the military. Should they leave, they are capitalists and if they are in the the death. And thank God it is happening’ these workers need to find employment former class they are robbed and they are (alternet.org, June 19). Neither campaigns elsewhere, in order to support relatively poor and they have a world to for wage equality or to abolish religion themselves, one of many problems not win, if they are in the latter class they are will end exploitation. The supreme aim of experienced by the 1 percent. exploiters and they are relatively rich and the workers must be their emancipation The chutzpah of philanthropy the world is theirs, literally: ‘Study Shows from wage-slavery, and the fight against superstition is but one phase of this great ‘Li Lu says he walked into a lecture Richest 0.00025% Owns More Wealth Than Buffett was giving years ago at Columbia Bottom 150 Million Americans’ (Common fight. But it must never be forgotten that since religion is always used as a weapon University and “...was instantaneously Dreams, 10 February, 2019) and every 38 taken by him. What he basically taught me seconds a US citizen dies of poverty and by the ruling class against the workers, no socialist in the struggle for working in that course was that somebody with poverty-related social conditions. Warren high moral principles and integrity can Buffett, whose 82 billion dollar fortune class emancipation can honestly avoid the religious conflict. make a lot of money off the market by makes him the 6th richest person on Earth, being wise and smart and moral,” Lu says. once stated: ‘there’s class warfare, all Priests, police and politicians …Says author Miles: “He’s transformed right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, quoted my life personally, more than anyone else making war, and we’re winning.’ Winning above in opposition to the Trump- in terms of modeling good behavior and worldwide. supporting Christian, is president and having fun. He’s made me a better person, Pie in the sky senior lecturer of Repairers of the made me rethink my own philanthropy, Poor People’s in terms of helping those who through ‘...Anna Howard Shaw, an American Breach and co-chair of the Campaign: A National Call For Moral no fault of their own were born on the Methodist pastor and suffragette, became Revival. wrong side of the track” (finance.yahoo. the first clergywoman to preach in Sweden. With regard to the killing of George Floyd, he ‘...experienced a com, 29 August). The capitalist class is That was in 1911, at an international charitable out of self-interest; it gives women’s suffrage conference, and long range of feelings. Derek Chauvin, that white police officer, the way he posed nothing outright, but regards its gifts as before women could be ordained in the a business matter, and makes a deal with Church of Sweden, in 1958’ (yahoo.com, the poor saying: ‘If I spend this much upon 23 August). Today female priests there benevolent institutions, I thereby purchase outnumber men, but earn less: ‘…around the right not to be troubled any further, 2,200 kronor (213 euros, $253) less a and you are bound thereby to stay in your month than their male counterparts...’ It dusky holes and not to irritate my tender should not be imagined that the mundane nerves by exposing your misery. You shall campaign for equal pay is new - it was , for despair as before, but you shall despair The Socialist example, commented on in unseen, this I require, this I purchase with Standard of December 1904. And according my subscription of twenty pounds for the to a report from 2017, women will have infirmary!’ (Engels, The Condition of the to wait 217 years for wage equality! Yet Working Class in England, 1844). Such believers are in conflict over the status quo. chutzpah – the capitalists suck out our Consider, ‘Christian fundamentalist Stacey very life-blood and then place themselves Shiflett insisted that Trump was sent by God before the world as mighty benefactors himself to govern the U.S..’ (alternet.org, of humanity when they give back to us a October 21, 2019) v. ‘Right now, in America mere fraction of the wealth generated by with this movement there is love and truth our class. Credit: twbuckner

ISSN 0037 8259 Published by the Socialist Party, 52 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UN Tel: 0207 622 3811 24 Email: [email protected] Website: www.worldsocialism.org/spgb Blog: http://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/ Socialist Standard October 2020