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IF BORIS JOHNSON BECOMES TORY LEADER A GENERAL ELECTION WILL SOON FOLLOW. IF HE WINS THAT ELECTION BREXIT AND A JOINED-AT-THE-HIP ALLIANCE WITH DONALD TRUMP IS ON THE CARDS 2 weekly weekly 3 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 LETTERS

put him on the street. Let’s look at this Letters may have been of the evidence. and occasionally loutish. With that in away at internal scabs. As SWP shortened because of Perhaps the most shocking and my mind, it was necessary, even for oppositionists said at the time, it is sentence: “The steering committee space. Some names quite chilling aspect of ‘Sex is not the SWP, to have people who had the perfectly possible to have criticism and proposed to expel Peter Gregson over  may have been changed psyche’ is MacLean’s solution to her ability to sweep up from time to time. activity. You can walk and chew gum. his refusal to remove a link from his transgender ‘problem’: the creation of (Being in the SWP ‘diplomatic corps’ Exactly why Birchall still wants to personal website to someone who was “third gender/third space”. This “third wasn’t necessarily a comfortable parade the discredited cultural mores recommending an article posted on Shocking gender” is not a recognition of some position. In Cardiff, many moons ago, of the SWP leadership by implying the well-known holocaust-denial site, One of the things I found shocking in cultural phenomenon, but an imposition I saw those in the SWP who did have his critics are lazy slobs beats me. He Codoh.” Amanda MacLean’s second article (‘Sex of MacLean’s circular logic - with, good relations with the rest of the far really should know better. Fact 1: Change.org is not my personal is not psyche’, May 9) is her attempt one assumes, ‘men’ and ‘women’ left ostracised, with one eventually Lawrence Parker website (I’m not that powerful). to sidestep my concerns about her use genders corresponding to MacLean’s being booted out on trumped-up London Fact 2: Ian Fantom was not of the term ‘gender ideology’, which understanding of sex, and all people charges and slurs about his conduct.) recommending Kollerstrom’s article; he she implies is some sort of misreading that she deems statistically unimportant So I am quite sure that Birchall Mass was just referencing it. of her first article, ‘Decoupled from or having a disorder pushed into this has had to listen in good humour to I primarily want to counter one Fact 3: LAW patron Noam Chomsky reality’ (April 18). Throughout her “third gender”. a fair few jibes about the SWP down political argument in Ian Birchall’s actually had an article on Codoh calling original article MacLean uses the terms, Leaving aside whether this is the years. But, with the mothership reply to my letter of May 7, when it for freedom of speech for real holocaust ‘gender ideology’ and ‘genderism’ or biologically determinist, it does raise limping on after the crises of the last comes to the police and tactics. deniers. ‘genderist’ as interchangeable. a whole range of practical and ethical decade, I suspect that it’s all become a I would state that XR shows that Mr Shearer makes so many more I am troubled about MacLean’s questions. Is there really the desire in bit more painful for the refugees. it takes too kindly to the police and errors, it would fill the letters page to reluctance to even acknowledge the austerity-torn Britain to build a whole Birchall says: “I should think very repression, when they, as I stated go into all of them. Sadly, Shearer even existence of a rightwing assault on array of public toilets, hostels, prisons carefully before involving myself before, yell that they love them and gets the voting wrong - he claims 24 LGBT and women’s rights in various and hospital wards for this new “third with a political organisation that finds their children, while their comrades (or called for my expulsion, but it was only places around the world, through gender”? How is gender to be assigned hundreds of millions of human deaths even random passers-by!) are being 20. This represents but 5% of the LAW attacking transgender people. It is and by whom? And how are these a subject for humour.” I am sorry to tell arrested. There is a difference between membership. I’d previously lobbied to notable, for example, that the assault genders to be policed? This has the Birchall that I am a member of no other bringing a gun to a ‘peaceful’ action allow the 360 LAW members who were on woman’s right to choose in Alabama smell of segregation and ghettoisation. organisation or campaign except the and actually trying to resist police unable to make the meeting the right to has been part of series of reactionary Transgender people have been using Labour Party. I am not a member of the repression and exposing what side the vote by email, but the steering group bits of legislation, including an spaces of the gender that they identify CPGB and I am hardly a prolific writer state is on. There is no evidence that would have none of it. A few members attempt to pass a ‘Bathroom Bill’ that with for years This right was enshrined for its paper. Obviously, I’m not talking this was a conscious tactic to confuse did write in, expressing their support; would prevent trans woman and trans in the Equality Act of 2010. Acts like for the Labour Party either. I could ask the police. Furthermore, in their guide their views were ignored. And the truth men from using woman’s and men’s the proposed new Gender Recognition Corbyn if he needs a spokesman on to doing prison time they put forward is, only 10% of LAW got to the meeting bathrooms respectively. Given this, I Act have been passed in countries ‘the disintegration of the SWP’ but I the absurd claim that prison guards and of those only just over half wanted find it perplexing that MacLean does not across the world, including Ireland, suspect he has bigger fish to fry. are nice people and that most are non- me out. So, the views of those 5% now take the opportunity to distinguish how Malta, Norway, Argentina, Portugal and As for the pompous and censorious white (while in reality an absolute reflect the reputation of the other 95%. she sees the ‘gender ideology’ that she Belgium, with no upsurge in violence injunctions on what should and majority are white). They have since Shearer suggests that I have “no proposes from that of the conservative against woman. shouldn’t be a topic for jokes, I’m taken it down after a backlash. problem in associating with holocaust Christian and alt-right movements. Isn’t it time Amanda MacLean and guessing Birchall has never heard Lastly, I do not have all the answers, deniers”. If he had bothered to read Instead MacLean goes on the people who share her intolerances just of gallows humour. This is bluster of course, and I do try to discuss with the whole exchange of emails, which offence, by claiming that trans people learn to accept the wider diversity of anyway; he knows full well I am more knowledgeable comrades on I put on my website, he would see asserting their rights is somehow humanity and that trans women are joking about the former inmates of a what the relation should be between this is untrue. It is precisely because “racist”. Not only does this overlook women, and trans men are men? deluded political sect and not about the socialist organisations and the different of this kind of skewed and slanderous the fact that many transgendered Richard Farnos imminent destruction of humanity. I environmentalist organisations. coverage that I have felt it necessary to people are black, Asian or from a South London don’t necessarily expect people to find There might be valuable lessons put things online. minority ethnic background, but adopts funny what I do, but I certainly don’t from XR, but they will more likely Being accused of holocaust-denial a counterproductive perspective that Safe spaces intend lecturing to others what they be ‘practical’ rather than political. At support is a pretty serious allegation. sees rights as a zero-sum game and I had to laugh at Nicola Daniels’ letter should get a giggle from either. the same time I think we need to be Bad news travels fast and I do not want that assertion of one identity requires in the Weekly Worker (May 16). Did you Birchall complains that I “make smug from time to time to counter anybody to think I had a fair trial. The the negation of another. MacLean’s omit, for reasons of space, the rejoinder no political arguments”. It may the smugness from XR militants, and motion was untrue: it claimed that I had position is certainly not shared by where she states that some of her best have been oblique, but I did have a the ‘left’ environmentalist movement “refused to distance myself from the groups like Black Lives Matter, who see friends are trans women? serious political point to make. It is at large. In my time as an organised holocaust denier, Kollerstrom”. But I “gender justice” (their phrase) as part of I won’t go into her unsubstantiated ridiculous that people such as Birchall communist I’ve stumbled upon people did distance myself and Kollerstrom their struggle. accusations about trans women’s have learnt so little from history. His who simply state that the climate is not a denier - he accepts Jews were Since Amanda MacLean’s first behaviour in safe spaces, other than wanting to opportunistically adapt is to be our number-one issue - if mercilessly slaughtered, but he disputes article we have seen the ruling by the to say I felt sad that the old capitalist himself to Extinction Rebellion (XR) not resolved all others don’t matter. the efficacy of Zyklon B gas. Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) tactic of ‘divide and rule’ is alive and is classic SWP politics - being merely Things regarded as central by the left When the allegations are patently on Caster Semenya’s case. They well! I presume the women that live in the obverse of its brittle sectarianism, and labour movement, like workers’ wrong, how can the trial be fair? The upheld the decision of the International Mayfair, Park Lane or feature in the rich which led to ridiculously inflated struggle and feminism, are implied to steering group published fraudulent Association of Athletics Foundation list of the broadsheets have no need to ideas as to its importance. The idea be secondary or explicitly made out charges against me - for a reference that (IAAF) only to allow Caster Semenya avail themselves of these safe spaces. I behind this was that the SWP aimed to to be distractions. This tendency is I had declared at the outset to be toxic. to compete in women’s 800 metre wonder why. keep mass movements at a politically growing more and more rapidly. This was a witch-hunt by the witches. events if she takes drugs to reduce her Creating safe spaces for women, or primitive level, in order that it could The response to ‘climate politics This was a lynching, with Jackie Walker naturally elevated levels of testosterone. indeed anyone, under capitalism is like indulge in low-level recruitment above all’ and the hyper-focus on ‘civil putting the noose around my neck, and More recently the IAAF has said that, if getting drunk to forget your problems. campaigns. Birchall is not offering disobedience’ needs to be a rejection of Tony Greenstein, Graham Bash and she prefers, Caster can run against men. Unfortunately when you sober up they tactical advice in relation to XR: he’s ‘forming opinions in the mainstream’ Tina Werkmann pulling the rope tight Caster, who has XX chromosomes and are still there. Why not join the readers merely reminiscing about the good/bad as a sole tactic and the ‘immediate- - for committing a crime that did not identifies as a woman, has in effect been and writers of the Weekly Worker to old days. ism’ of thinking that the climate can exist. put in no-man’s land (sic). One can only create a safe place for all members of He now suggests that lying about be saved by simply forcing the states Tony is even now saying that I conclude from this that the relationship the working class? It’s called socialism membership figures and demonstration of the imperialist core to adhere to “linked with a holocaust denier”, between gender, sex and biology is not - and trust me, Nicola, that will be a safe sizes was a mistake, but repeats sterile climate agreements. It sounds obvious, who could only be Ian Fantom - he as straightforward as Amanda MacLean space for women. But for those that SWP bullshit that “the Nazis were set but it is the core to our strategy as wrote the article that Tony despises so suggests, and that ‘sex’ as not stable, want to sell working class women short, back for a generation” by the Anti-Nazi socialists and needs to be reaffirmed much. Ian has written to Greenstein ahistoric category. For the IAAF at least then I guess safe spaces are probably all League, etc. (In reality, the National when new movements pop up in the to protest at this slur. He writes: “One the levels of someone’s testosterone the reformists have to offer. Front was set back by Thatcher; only left: the organisation of the masses of of the sponsors of LAW is professor is more important than people sex I won’t be wishing you good luck those in and around the SWP really workers is the strongest weapon for Noam Chomsky, and I came across an chromosomes or genital development. with that, because it does nothing to believe that the wretched pop-front real societal transformation. In other article of his titled ‘All denials of free As MacLean observes, discussion stop women dying at work, dying of ANL defeated the NF.) Very little of words, unification of the socialists and speech undercut a democratic society’, amongst biologists over whether sex starvation or dying in capitalism’s wars. the SWP’s legacy has been rethought labour movement. in which he defended professor Robert is a spectrum has been around since But what does that matter, when there by the group of people who ended up Emma Silva Faurisson’s rights after he had denied the the 1980s, if not earlier. With more are trans women to exclude from safe being politically wounded the most by email existence of gas chambers.” Chomsky advanced techniques in genetics, spaces? it. had written: “He was then brought to scientists are finding greater diversity Steven Johnston As a final depressing indicator of Rank hypocrisy trial for ‘falsification of history’ and in nature. Here the question is not some email how little Birchall has learnt from I’m pleased that the Weekly Worker condemned - the first time in the west, ‘new science’, but more evidence that history, he offers up this classic SWP- believes in freedom of speech enough to my knowledge, that the courts have ‘sex’ may not be immutable. ‘Sex’ may Diplomatic corps inflected gem: “… it is also true that the to publish my letters. But I’m not affirmed the familiar Stalinist-fascist become like ‘race’ - ie, problematic to I was initially surprised to read Ian SWP initiated the Anti-Nazi League so pleased about the quality of the doctrine that the state has the right to see as biological concept. I appreciate Birchall’s wholesale sense-of-humour and Stop the War. Now doubtless journalism on offer. determine historical truth and to punish that this is a still controversial and bypass in response to myself (Letters, Parker will find some doctrinal point Yet again David Shearer misquotes deviation from it.” the case has yet to be proved, but to May 16). As I understand from other to justify sitting on his backside and misleads, and I wondered if we Since LAW patron Noam Chomsky dismiss it as “decoupled from reality” is comrades active in years gone by, rather than involving himself in could start a GoFundMe in order to get argued for the rights of holocaust somewhat crass and unscientific. Birchall’s role in the Socialist Workers those movements.” In SWP parlance, him to journalism school (‘Preparing deniers to be heard, he must surely be Indeed, MacLean’s arguments are Party was essentially one of presenting unthinking activity is always sharply for battles ahead’, May 9). The first rule next in line. But LAW allows him to somewhat circular. She dismisses ‘Cliffism with a human face’, given counterposed to criticism: ‘doctrine’ is of journalism is to appear impartial and get away with far greater support for anyone’s biology or self-identity as that he was one of the few of its nothing, movement decides all. When sadly David gets that wrong too. His holocaust deniers’ freedom of speech statically unimportant or having a members who had the capability of Birchall was an oppositionist in the creepy tribute to Labour Against the than I. This is rank hypocrisy. disorder if they don’t conform to her relating on any human level to the rest SWP a few years back, the leadership Witchhunt’s show trial was worthy of The issue throughout all this affair is narrow definition of the sexes. Sex of the left. attempted precisely this kind of stupid anything Stalin’s media acolytes would about defending freedom of speech. The may not be psyche, but neither is it This was a reflection of the fact that counter-position: the SWP rebels were have churned out. body, LAW, that sought to pick up the god-given. All definitions of ‘sex’ are the general SWP ‘cadre type’ tended guilty of wanting an inactive party that His biggest boo-boo is tantamount to reins from Liberty - another agency that based on humans’ interpretation or, as in (then as now) to be unpleasant, half- didn’t intervene in the class struggle, slander, but I really can’t be bothered to is failing to tackle the loss of freedom MacLean’s case, selective interpretation educated, permanently over-excited in favour of navel-gazing and picking sue him - his legal costs would surely of speech on Israel in this country - has BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07903 054393 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] 2 weekly weekly 3 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 OVERHEAD

shown itself to be unequal to the task. from different Jewish communities Jonathan Freedland says: “If you It is more concerned with expelling disagree? Who decides - the group with don’t vote Labour on Thursday you activists (Socialist Fight were expelled the loudest voice, or the most column are not abandoning the party for ever; London Communist Forum on January 6 as anti-Semites, when they inches in The Guardian (or the Weekly you are not even committing yourself Sunday May 26, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB were nothing of the kind) than fighting Worker, for that matter)? to voting the same way at the next Provisional Central Committee, followed by open discussion and for our rights. One angle at present being used to Westminster election. That will be reading group: study of August Nimtz’s Lenin’s electoral strategy I pray it finds its course and reflects ‘prove’ anti-Semitism seems to say that a different contest. Each election is from 1907 to the October Revolution of 1917. This meeting: chapter 3 upon its tarnished reputation. We need if the words ‘Nazi’ and ‘Jews’ are used about the decision in front of you at (continued): ‘“A model of revolutionary parliamentarism”: the trial of organisations like LAW. But we need in the same sentence, it automatically the moment” (The Guardian May 18). the Bolshevik deputies’. them to be honest and fair. Something equates to anti-Semitism. For instance, I agree with this, but draw the opposite Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. they have patently failed to demonstrate. a bone of contention is about whether/ conclusion. Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk and Pete Gregson when/where there were negotiations In this election Freedland wants Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk. Edinburgh between the Nazi hierarchy and Labour members to back any ‘remain’ Radical Anthropology Group Jewish communities (Zionist and non- party. The anti-Corbyn Labour MP, Tuesday May 28, 6.30pm: Series of talks on social and biological Loose cannon Zionist) about releasing Jews to leave Margaret Hodge, urged something anthropology, Daryll Forde seminar room, Anthropology Building, 14 I must take exception to a bit in David the country for another destination, in similar. Tory grandee Michael Heseltine Taviton Street, off Gordon Square, London WC1. Shearer’s otherwise useful report of exchange for money or property. is going to vote Liberal Democrat this This meeting: ‘Dangerous laughter: egalitarianism and the Batek of the latest members’ meeting of Labour I don’t understand how this time. So in the game of Brexit musical peninsular Malaysia’. Speaker: Alice Rudge. Against the Witchhunt. He writes: discussion can possibly prove someone chairs I would urge working class Organised by Radical Anthropology Group: “The steering committee proposed to is anti-Semitic. Of course, we all know people in England and Wales to vote http://radicalanthropologygroup.org. expel Peter Gregson over his refusal to now what ‘fake news’ is - it appears that, Labour as the best means to finish off remove a link from his personal website especially in the era of Trump, any and a Tory Brexit and oppose the Brexit Youth Strike 4 Climate Friday May 24, 11am: UK-wide (and global) student and school to someone who was recommending all history - complete with names, dates, Party. student demonstrations. Take direct action on the climate crisis and an article posted on the well-known times, research and personal interviews Steve Freeman ecological catastrophe - system change, not climate change! holocaust-denial site, Codoh.” - is now a matter of ‘opinion’. Or, to London Organised by UK Student Climate Network: That does sound terribly convoluted quote Alice in Wonderland, “A word www.facebook.com/UKSCN/events. - and it is also false. I am a bit surprised means what I want it to mean; neither Building unions by Shearer’s misunderstanding - more nor less.” In the 2016 EU referendum 72% of Labour, value and exploitation presumably he was at the meeting? For those of us who still read books Fenlanders voted ‘leave’. So I can Tuesdays from May 28 to June 18, 7pm: Series of four classes, Marx Also, in the previous week’s edition that do not need to be coloured in, a understand what it must be like for Dave Memorial Library, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. Beginners course of the Weekly Worker, Carla Roberts suggested tome on the actual Jewish- Douglass living in a Brexit-supporting in Marxist economics, presented by Sorcha Foster. Entrance £5 (£3). did manage to correctly describe Nazi negotiations is Yehuda Bauer’s community like the north-east (Letters, Organised by Marx Memorial Library: the motivation of LAW’s steering Jews for sale?, subtitled Nazi-Jewish May 16). www.facebook.com/events/331184307542225. committee. Maybe he should have just negotiations 1933-1945. Bauer is Last October I went to Blackpool Chelsea Manning documentary copied that? In any case, the steering a professor of holocaust studies at for the weekend. Apart from the new Tuesday May 28, 9pm: Film screening of XY Chelsea followed by committee neither has the time nor the Hebrew University. Although from bus routes and tramways, it is very discussion with director Tim Travers Hawkins. Genesis Cinema, 93-95 desire to go checking out the “personal Bauer’s point of view the Zionists did run-down and depressed. I came away Mile End Road, London E1. Tickets £6.50. websites” of its members. We are not what was best (a debatable point, as he understanding why so many people in Organised by Fringe! Film Fest: thought police. acknowledges), the detail is staggering. the north-west solidly voted ‘leave’. I www.facebook.com/events/2091338577640787. Here is what really happened. Peter By the summer of 1933, for also understand the problems Dave has Gregson regularly updates his various example, he writes: “ ... the American faced in trying to organise the many Iran: 1953 roots of 1979 online petitions, which means that Jewish Congress ... had become the migrants who have come to live and Friday May 31, 5pm: Lecture, Investcorp auditorium, St Antony’s every single person who has ever been major Jewish body organising [a work in the north-east of England since College, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2. Speaker: Ervand Abrahamian, unfortunate enough to have signed one worldwide boycott of German goods], April 2004. Professor Emeritus of History at the City University of New York and of them will be getting these updates just when the Jewish Agency reached In my hometown of Wisbech, out of author of books about Iran and US-Iranian relations. by email. In these updates, he often its agreement with the Nazi government a population of 31,000 there are now Organised by University of Oxford Middle East Centre: identified as a member of LAW - just as called Ha’avara (transfer).” Transfer 8,000 migrant workers. However, these www.facebook.com/MiddleEastCentreOxford. he did in the one he sent out in March, of what? People (Jewish people, of migrant workers could be living in a Stop the far right across Europe in which he urged people to read Ian course) able to leave Germany with parallel universe as far as any integration Saturday June 1, 1pm: International forum, NEU, Hamilton House, Fantom’s article, ‘UK’s Labour anti- some of their wealth intact, as long as between the migrant community and Mabledon Place, London WC1. Speakers from anti-fascist organisations Semitism split’. In this article, Fantom the boycott was called off. the locals is concerned. Wisbech, March across Europe debate why the far right is on the rise and how to stop it. positively references “my colleague, The Ha’avara agreement was a bone and District Trades Council has tried to Organised by Stand Up To Racism: Nick Kollerstrom”, who is a well- of very heated contention amongst promote union membership amongst www.facebook.com/events/1448957158579543. known holocaust denier (or “holocaust the various Jewish entities from its the wider migrant community, but Trump and transition sceptic”, as holocaust deniers like to beginning, and eventually succumbed without much success. Saturday June 1, 12 noon to 5pm: Seminar, Marx Memorial Library, describe themselves). to the holocaust, when, as Bauer points The only place where the two 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. ‘Are we entering a new stage of LAW’s Tony Greenstein engaged out, the Germans realised that ‘world communities come together is in the the post-World War II crisis?’ Speakers: Hillel Ticktin and Mick Cox. in a long email exchange, in which Jewish domination’ was not as dominant large food-processing factories which Organised by Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory: he tried to persuade Gregson to take as they had originally thought. dominate the Fenland economy. Only www.critiquejournal.net. down his recommendation of Fantom’s Bauer eventually concludes: two of these workplaces have union article, but Gregson refused. Instead, he “Given the circumstances, [the Jewish branches - the GMB in Nestle and Protest against Trump state visit idiotically put the whole - private - email negotiators] could not possibly succeed Unite in Princes. Ironically, in these two Tuesday June 4, 11am: Assemble Trafalgar Square for march through exchange online, which also featured ... In any case, they should be judged not factories it is the migrant workers who central London (details to follow). people’s personal email addresses. by their success or failure, but by the are more likely to be union members Organised by Together Against Trump: There it was picked up by the Jewish answer to a basic moral question: ‘Did than the locals. www.facebook.com/events/447620012676970. Chronicle, which gleefully reported the they try?’ And try they did.” Again, this I think there are lessons we can learn Stop the London arms fair whole disagreement. in itself is debatable, but at least in this from the German Social Democratic Events organised by Campaign Against Arms Trade. This is the real background to the book every last detail of the ‘trying’ is Party 120 years ago. In contrast to Saturday June 15, 12.30pm: Network organising meeting, St Hilda’s steering committee’s proposal to expel analysed. Britain, where the trade unions built East Community Centre, 8 Club Row, London E2. Planning the Gregson - and it is rather different to Gaby Rubin the Labour Party, in Germany the SPD mobilisation against the global arms trade in London in September. Shearer’s rather lazy account. London came first and then set about building www.facebook.com/events/432514417493720. As if to prove how right we were to the unions. In 2019, we cannot rely on Saturday June 22, 11am: Training session, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a expel him, Gregson has since published EU elections the trade union bureaucracy to rebuild Beswick Street, Manchester M4. Skill up to stop the DSEI arms fair. an audio recording of the LAW meeting The May 23 European Union elections the movement. All the bureaucracy www.facebook.com/events/591596081307911. (which he secretly recorded, despite the are an example of a special election is interested in is ‘servicing’ their Bargain books meeting expressly asking everybody when the normal rules don’t apply. members and ‘managing decline’. As Saturday June 15, 11am: Book sale, Marx Memorial Library, 37a not to make such a recording) and has While I decided to vote Labour, you Lenin famously said, “The trade unions Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. sent out libellous and false accusations can’t vote that in Northern Ireland and must become schools for communism.” Organised by Marx Memorial Library: against Tony Greenstein to rightwing I would not support Labour in Scotland, Union branches in Britain today are www.facebook.com/events/318713752161574. organisations and media outlets. since the party has done nothing to shells. However, this means that the While we would still argue against support Scotland’s right to remain. ‘lever’ of a small number of active Justice for Grenfell Gregson’s expulsion from the GMB Earlier this week I went to Vauxhall Marxists can have an effect far greater Saturday June 15, 12 noon: March. Assemble Portland Place, London union and his suspension from the to canvass with Labour members and than their numbers. W1. Solidarity with the victims of the fire two years on. Demand justice Labour Party, we also urge all Weekly Jeremy Corbyn, Emily Thornberry and Just like the Trotskyists and and action now. Worker readers to be very wary of his Richard Burgon turned up. So I was communists in 1930s America, who Organised by Justice4Grenfell: various campaigns. The man certainly able to talk to them about a ratification built the trade unions and led the www.facebook.com/events/581265065709901. has a lot of energy, but he is also a very referendum. I emphasised the important famous strikes in Minneapolis, Toledo Miners’ strike 35th anniversary loose cannon. distinction between ratification and and San Francisco, it will be Marxists Saturday June 15, 1pm: Rally, Orgreave Lane, Sheffield S13. Demand Tina Werkmann repeat/remain (or multiple-choice). I who rebuild the trade union movement truth and justice for miners brutalised by police at Orgreave in 1984. Law steering committee emphasised the democratic case for the in Britain in 2019. Marxists in the Speakers include Matt Wrack (FBU) and Steve Hedley (RMT). former and the need to oppose the latter, Labour Party have a role to play here. Organised by Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign: ‘Anti-Semitism’ and I got a fair hearing. Just like the SPD 120 years ago, Labour www.facebook.com/events/2016964828402260. Any critical reader will understand As a republican I don’t normally vote branches need to play an active role Definitions of socialism that truth is often the first casualty of for her majesty’s Labour Party, which is in rebuilding the unions in our local Thursday June 20, 6pm to 8pm: Study session, Jack Jones House, journalism. If not actually a casualty, institutionally loyal to the constitutional communities. 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool L3. the truth is treated as malleable in other monarchy and the British union. It I look forward to the days in the Organised by Merseyside Socialist Theory Study Group: spheres. has produced Labour governments not too distant future when the Weekly [email protected]. At present there are various responsible for the Iraq war, support for Worker is sold at all trade union discussions (ongoing) about anti- Nato and Trident, continuing Thatcher’s conferences, and reports of the goings- CPGB wills Semitism, and what exactly constitutes neoliberal assault on the working class, on at these conferences become a Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name it. I have heard it said that only etc. So this is no auto-Labourism, where regular feature. and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. If Jewish people can decide what is anti- you vote Labour at every election out of John Smithee you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us. Semitic. But what happens if people routine, or from ‘proletarian’ dogma. Cambridgeshire 4 weekly weekly 5 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 ELECTIONS Take a class stand Peter Manson condemns leftwing traitors - both of the open kind and the silent kind n the lead-up to the May 23 victories, so as to strengthen the “After all, Britain’s communists have European Union elections, the leadership’s hand and help it see off long participated in elections to the Ifocus of the mainstream media the attacks of the right. Westminster parliament, despite our was primarily on the expected results fundamental opposition to the British of both the Tories and the Brexit No to racism state and its flawed institutions”: Party - for related (but opposite!) However, for the SWP there is a rather reasons. different priority: to build its own Rather, we are urging a boycott But what about the non-Labour popular front, Stand Up To Racism, because the poll in Britain on left? Well, there was, of course, from which it hopes to recruit to May 23 is illegitimate. It is an George Galloway, who called for a itself. So, with this in mind, the pre- insult to all those who participated protest against the establishment’s election period saw it focusing on in the June 2016 referendum in failure to deliver Brexit by voting demonstrations and pickets against good faith, whether they voted to for Nigel Farage’s party. In the same Ukip and, in particular, Tommy leave the EU or remain … Only a treacherous spirit, support for Farage Robinson, who was standing as ‘people’s boycott’ next Thursday came from the Communist Party of an independent in the North West will uphold the principle that the Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist). constituency. people have already decided to And clearly Farage himself was So, for example, the SWP’s internal leave the EU and their decision attempting to present a ‘broad’ image Party Notes (May 20) led (as it had must be implemented. through running candidates such in previous weeks) with the need to as Claire Fox and James Heartfield organise against the candidates of the Apparently there is a difference - both former members of the racist right. Its main headline read: between casting a vote in elections to Revolutionary Communist Party. “Stop fascist Tommy Robinson and Britain’s “flawed institutions” (where While, in fact, Fox and Heartfield the far right in the Euro elections”. It the elections are not “illegitimate”) lined up with the libertarian right reported how the “day of action” it and in elections to a body of which decades ago, they are being used to had organised in Manchester “finished the UK remains a member, despite the provide a ‘left’ cover. with a SUTR rally, where over 100 2016 referendum (which, of course, However, when it comes to the people packed in to hear speakers”. did not specify any departure date). two largest non-Labour left groups The SWP was proud to announce that Griffiths quickly rejects voting - the Socialist Workers Party and the these included several Labour figures, SPEW: for Corbyn’s policies, but - shush - don’t vote for them for rightwing Brexiteers, such as Socialist Party in England and Wales including mayor of Manchester Andy the Brexit Party and Ukip, and adds: - they were strangely unforthcoming Burnham, as well as Wendy Olsen of ended by discussing the likelihood of led socialist government or the call “Which leaves what would normally about a clear, consistent and the Green Party. a Boris Johnson premiership: for Labour to allow SPEW to affiliate be the preferred option in most programmatically coherent call to On Robinson, it stated: goes entirely unexplained. constituencies in other elections: vote Labour. On the one hand, they This will probably mean a no-deal The comrades correctly state: namely, a vote for Labour.” are for a British withdrawal from The danger is that a low turnout Brexit. It will in the short term also So why, on this occasion, must the EU - that would be a blow to the on Thursday could help boost mean a rightwing Tory government … unfortunately, months upon that option be rejected? Well, “most ruling class, wouldn’t it? But, on the his chance of winning. We have aligning itself as closely as possible months of concessions to the Labour candidates have made clear other hand, they could not possibly to go all out to stop Tommy to Donald Trump. Also in the short Blairites, including allowing their support for remaining in the recommend a vote for Farage or - Robinson. Manchester SUTR has term, the only force standing in the Blairite remainers like Keir Starmer EU.” Yes, but the same applies to worse still - the even more rightwing a programme of action up until way of this prospect electorally is to take centre-stage on Brexit, Labour candidates for the recent local UK Independence Party. Thursday evening and have called a Labour under Corbyn. Therefore has muted Corbyn’s more radical elections, when the CPB was for a And, while both groups are protest at the vote count on Sunday. what we need to see on Thursday voice and allowed confusion over Labour vote. formally for a Jeremy Corbyn-led is the biggest possible Labour vote. Labour’s Brexit position. A Star editorial a few days earlier Labour government, things were This poses several questions. First, was entitled: ‘Labour must recapture not so simple, it seems. Firstly, and most important, how was Better late than never! Or did this In fact its article in The Socialist, the anger of working class “leave” these were not UK elections, and Tommy Robinson to be defeated and article represent a last-minute change published on the very eve of the voters’ (May 15). It claimed that in would not result in any kind of prevented from winning one of the of line? elections - ‘European elections expose relation to Brexit Jeremy Corbyn was ‘progressive’, let alone ‘socialist’, eight seats in the constituency? Under deepening political crisis: workers “playing a poor hand with great skill”! administration in Britain (or the EU, the proportional representation voting Not lifting a finger need a party of our own’ (May 22) - Nevertheless it declined to help him needless to say); and, in any case, system, his vote would need to be Whether that was the case or not, I am was silent on the question. It states: out by calling for a Labour vote. The we had voted to leave, so we should well under 10% to ensure he was not afraid to say that there was no such editorial ended: not even be holding EU elections. elected. So obviously it did not matter shift within SPEW. Just like the SWP What is needed is not just ousting Secondly, the majority of Labour who electors voted for - anyone but before the appearance of Callinicos’s the Tories, but to fight for a real The Labour Party’s big losses are EU candidates were against Brexit Robinson, it seemed, including the article, SPEW made no voting working class party. Such a party among people where the ‘leave’ - some were openly pro-‘remain’, Greens’ Wendy Olsen, the Liberal recommendation for the EU elections. would mean not just passive voting vote signified working class anger. while others were prepared to go Democrats, Tories, Brexit Party ... For example, the May 1 issue of The and expressions of anger, but active This is not a healthy situation. along with the official party line of Was keeping Robinson out of the Socialist carried an article headed participation of working class Labour needs to recapture its abiding by the 2016 referendum, EU parliament really the priority for ‘EU elections: countering Farage’s people in building their own party insurgent spirit and find a shared while at the same time demanding the working class then? Whatever rightwing Brexit Party’. Well, at least ... A mass movement and a working language with the millions of a ‘Brexit in name only’ (continued happened to building a working class it was not only Robinson and Ukip that class party that can implement people it needs if it is to form a membership of the single market alternative to capitalism? Oh I forgot had to be opposed - in fact the article socialist policies are essential. government. These are among the and a customs union), together with - campaigning around SUTR helps reported how SPEW comrades had millions who seem unprepared a ‘ratification referendum’ (that recruit to the SWP, doesn’t it? And been part of a SUTR protest outside a So what about Labour? Is there no to vote for its candidates in next would hopefully overturn the 2016 what is the purpose of the “protest at Brexit Party rally in Nottingham last connection to its ongoing internal week’s election. decision). So how could the SWP and the vote count on Sunday”? Demand month. battle and the fight for such a party? SPEW unambiguously recommend a that votes for Robinson be annulled? The article ended: We are not told. But that editorial did not say whether Labour vote? It was the same story with Socialist those “millions” were right or wrong For us things are rather more Worker. Its front-page headline in We want to see a Jeremy Corbyn- Boycott? - and there was no mention of a straightforward. Labour continues the pre-election issue read: “Hit back led government with socialist Unlike the SWP and SPEW, the “people’s boycott”. It seems that, like to be riven by an ongoing civil at the racists” (May 21). The online policies negotiating a pro-worker Morning Star’s Communist Party SPEW, the CPB is sometimes just a war, in which the majority of the version was slightly different and its EU exit in the interests of the 99%. of Britain did make a clear voting little too embarrassed to keep spelling Parliamentary Labour Party is still headline was: “As Tories face wipeout, For a government which supports recommendation: it called for a out its position. aiming to remove Corbyn and return make the most of their Euro election workers’ struggles against the “people’s boycott” of the EU elections. You might ask, what is the the party to the control of the Blairite, disaster”. But both versions end: “We bosses in Britain, Europe and The reasoning for this was difference between the CPB’s position pro-capitalist right (very much need to urgently fight to force May across the world. explained in an article written by CPB of a “people’s boycott” in 2019 and second best would be to completely and the Tories out - and to stop the For unity of workers across Europe general secretary Robert Griffiths, our own call for an “active boycott” tame the current leader, but it is right from gaining from their crisis.” - no to racism - don’t let the bosses entitled ‘Neither Farage nor Brussels’ of the 2016 EU referendum? The extremely doubtful he could ever be Another article was headlined: “Anti- divide us. General election now! (Morning Star May 18-19). The answer is simple: in principle we regarded as a safe pair of hands for racists take action against Robinson in introduction to this article read: “All oppose referendums, we despised the capital in view of his past record). North West”. It declared: “Robinson But, as I have said, it carried no voting votes cast in the EU election endorse motivation behind David Cameron’s It is vital that the right wing is a Nazi whose aim remains to build recommendation - despite SPEW’s the existence of the EU parliament - 2016 referendum gamble, we despised is defeated, so that the process of a violent street movement. He must apparent illusions in the nature of but voting for the Brexit Party is no both the options on offer in 2016 transforming Labour into a genuine be stopped.” This article reported how a Corbyn government if one were alternative, argues Robert Griffiths.” - either the status quo of an EU of party of the working class - a united people had been encouraged by SUTR elected prior to the defeat of the right. Let us leave aside the contradictory capital and the bureaucrats, or an front of a special kind - can begin in to “vote against Robinson” - without, of This non-recommendation position, logic of the two halves of that sentence ‘independent’ United Kingdom under earnest. We cannot stand back and course, specifying who to vote for. is, it needs to be understood, no and proceed to what comrade Griffiths a constitutional monarchy. refuse to intervene in this internal However, the same edition of oversight. SPEW made a definite argues. He states: “… it is not a But May 23 is entirely different. battle. We must encourage individual Socialist Worker carried another decision to take a neutral stand ... but it question of opposing participation We say, take a class stand. Vote workers to join Labour, and all trade article, penned by Alex Callinicos also made a decision not to tell readers in EU elections in principle, even Labour despite the rotten candidates. unions to become affiliated, in order and headed ‘Ruling class split is of The Socialist. They were supposed though the Brussels-Strasbourg Vote Labour as part of the civil war to to help win it. And, of course, except to Farage’s benefit’, which looked to guess, infer or find out from private parliament has been designed to be defeat the right l in exceptional circumstances, we at things from a different angle. It conversations. How SPEW squares one of the feeblest directly elected must campaign for Labour electoral examined the Tory Party crisis and this line with its call for a Corbyn- bodies on the planet.” He goes on: [email protected] 4 weekly weekly 5 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 TORIES After Theresa has gone If Boris Johnson becomes Tory leader, a general election will soon follow. If he wins that election, Brexit and a joined-at-the-hip alliance with Donald Trump is on the cards. Eddie Ford reports on latest developments and future possibilities

ore than 20 MPs - and result will diminish her authority even counting - have declared more, if that is possible. Man interest in standing Boris Johnson was predictably in the Tory leadership contest. the first out of the starting gates to Indeed, there are so many possible become the new Tory leader - he is candidates that the 1922 Committee now the person to beat. Johnson has executive is considering changing been assiduously courting Tory MPs the rules to allow four candidates over this recent period, meeting 200 of selected by Conservative MPs to go them in 15-minute individual sessions on the final ballot paper that goes at his plush offices at Portcullis House out to party members - possibly in - which must be rather exhausting, or a single transferable vote contest.1 boring, depending on which way you Obviously, that would mean a huge look at it. In a bid to widen his appeal boost for Boris Johnson’s chances, and play up his ‘liberal credentials’, who is the runaway favourite among Johnson endorsed the mini-manifesto the rank and file, but might struggle released at the beginning of the week to get the backing of enough MPs by the One Nation group of 60 MPs if the candidates to go before the unofficially led by Amber Rudd. membership are whittled down to This has fuelled fresh speculation only two, as stipulated in the current about her acting as the kingmaker by rules. backing a first-choice candidate and As for exactly when the contest then pivoting to back Johnson in the formally begins, it could be very soon. last round if he were to be in a run-off Some commentators have dubbed it with either Dominic Raab or Esther a “Tory Game of thrones” - though McVey - the latter this week launching arguably a second-rate one on a limited her rival ‘anti-one nation’ group, Blue budget. As we all know, the prime Collar Conservatism, promising to minister said she would go “after” slash overseas aid. her deal with the European Union What has Boris Johnson got to has been approved by parliament - a convince MPs to select him as one of prime example of creative ambiguity, the candidates on the final ballot paper? since the chances of that happening The answer is simple, of course. Johnson are close to zero. Andrew Bridgen can plausibly claim that he can save their MP, the obnoxious ultra-Brexiteer, jobs, beat Jeremy Corbyn, see off the has said that he expects Theresa May Brexit Party and even secure a substantial to stand down before the emergency majority for the Tories in the House national convention of the party, He is the one the others have to beat of Commons. Under those conditions, pencilled in for June 15, in that way the Tories reinvigorated under a new avoiding the humiliation of a vote of ears of Brexiteers. the backstop to come into force. No, I quite the opposite. In fact, those who leader, you can imagine Brexit actually no confidence. A new leader could don’t believe it either. did vote for her deal at the third time happening - which has been impossible be installed within six weeks of her Despair Needless to say, almost everyone of asking - scared of losing Brexit up to now, given that parliament has resignation. But, giving us a taste of what is to hated May’s “new deal”, which altogether - are now reverting to their an inbuilt ‘remain’ majority and big All this is happening, of come, on May 21 the prime minister was neither big, bold nor new - in original opposition. And MPs who business is hostile to a Brexit of any sort. course, against the backdrop of delivered a relatively lengthy speech reality, not one dot or comma of the previously supported May’s deal all After all, we have an American president May’s final throw of the dice - in outlining her 10-point “new deal” withdrawal agreement has changed: along are now expressing doubts. For who appears to be enthusiastic about the week beginning June 3 she … and, if anything, made things merely old wine in new bottles. instance, former minister Andrew Brexit and regards Nigel Farage as his will bring back her amended EU even worse. Desperately trying to Jeremy Corbyn immediately declared Percy of the pro-government Brexit favourite British politician - you can withdrawal agreement to parliament woo remainers, she promised that if that he will not back a “repackaged Delivery Group told the BBC that almost bet money that Boris Johnson for the fourth and definitely last MPs supported the deal at its second version” of the same deal voted on he found the prospect of offering a will be his second favourite. time (assuming the speaker, John reading she would offer them a vote before, especially as it is abundantly second referendum “really worrying” But, despite Johnson’s attempts to Bercow, allows it). However, on this on a second referendum - and be clear that this “disintegrating” and the ultra-loyalist Stephen Crabb, court centrist and liberal Tory MPs, occasion, the debate and vote will bound by the result. MPs would government will be unable to deliver another former minister, has gone on there is a highly determined ‘Anyone be on the actual legislation - the also be given the opportunity, she on any commitments and promises record to say he would “struggle” to but Boris’ group of between 80 and Withdrawal Agreement Bill - rather said, to vote on various alternative it makes. Prime minister Johnson or support this bill. 100 who will try to prevent him from than the previous, largely symbolic customs proposals. For example, Raab will just tear it up anyway, so Small wonder that the prospect seizing the keys to No10 by any “meaningful votes”.2 In the extremely they would get to choose between the why would Labour sign up to a piece has been raised of the prime minister means possible - mainly involving a unlikely event that the WAB survives much derided Facilitated Customs of meaningless nonsense? pulling the vote in the face of such coordinated set of tactical voting for a second reading, MPs can then pile Agreement previously proposed by The response in Brussels, as odds, as she has done before. Michael rival candidates.3 This substantial in with their amendments, such as the government (and now back from if you could not guess, was one Gove struggled to confirm on the slate would leave Johnson needing a ‘confirmatory ballot’, Common the dead) and the compromise offer of “despair” at the emptiness of BBC’s Today programme that she will the majority of the remaining 200 Market 2.0, permanent customs made to Labour during the ill-fated Theresa May’s “new” proposals - bring forward the WAB, as planned - Tory MPs to vote for him if he is not union, etc. This is precisely why six weeks of talks: ie, a temporary especially the suggestion that the he said it was important to “reflect” to be knocked out early in the fight - a some steadfast Labour ‘remainers’ customs union on goods only. government’s policy was to seek a on “all the options in front of us”. Like tall order. Aware of the plotting, legal like Stephen Kinnock MP worry that Additionally, May made a series of customs arrangement that delivers summarily removing her as leader? advice has been drawn up by close if the WAB gets shot down in flames other pledges, including a separate bill the same benefits as today, along More directly, Nigel Evans - allies of the former foreign secretary, on the second reading, there is no to guarantee workers’ rights do not fall with the renewed ability to make member of the 1922 Committee who claim that action to thwart him other readily available mechanism to behind those in the EU and a guarantee independent trade deals - something executive - said Theresa May should would be in breach of the Tories’ prevent the default option of no deal. that there will be “no change in the comprehensively rejected last year recognise it was “game over” and leadership contest rules. MPs have In which case, taking into account the level of environmental protection by the EU. You cannot leave the would press once again for rule no right to prevent a candidate from summer recess for parliament - plus when we leave the EU”. Furthermore, club and expect to retain the same changes to allow another vote of no getting onto the deciding ballot if he the time-consuming Tory leadership she formally accepted the proposals benefits and privileges. Entirely confidence before the state of grace or she has “significant support” from battle - the October 31 deadline set by made earlier by several Labour dismissing May’s new-old plan, a expires in December. Or go now and the party membership. the EU is not far away at all. backbenchers that the Commons “will former European commission official, save the bother. In the same vein, Johnson supporters are confident Anyway, May has said that her approve the UK’s objectives for the Mujtaba Rahman, said Brussels was Jacob Rees-Mogg of the pro-Brexit they would win if it came to a court new plan would be “big” and “bold” negotiations on our future relationship no longer interested in negotiating European Research Group hoped the battle - perhaps explaining the real - though you can understand why with the EU” and “will approve the with a zombie prime minister of a prime minister would look at the lack reason why the 1922 Committee is it has been kept under wraps for treaties governing that relationship zombie government. of support for the WAB and finally now thinking about changing the rules so long. It will have to contain the before the government signs them” - Naturally, Tory backbenchers recognise that she “does not command on leadership contests l toxic finer details on the negotiated which, we were told, would be “set and Brexiteers reacted to the “new the confidence” of the Commons. financial settlement of £39 billion or out in law”. When it comes to the deal” with a sense of incredulity, [email protected] more, and on restoring parts of the dreaded Irish question - the bane of despondency, anger, rage and betrayal Drubbing European Communities Act for the the Conservative Party - she admitted - the Democratic Unionist Party Meanwhile, the Tories will get the Notes transition period. This would preserve that it is “not possible” to replace the denouncing it as a hopeless “hodge- drubbing of a lifetime in this week’s 1. www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political- the jurisdiction of the European Court backstop insisted upon by the EU. podge”. With the situation getting European elections - the election that parties/conservative-party/boris-johnson/ of Justice, keep its citizens’ rights But she did say that she intended to worse for the prime minister by the should never have happened and is news/104030/excl-boost-boris-johnson-tory. 2. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/ provisions in UK law and create an “place the government under a legal minute, the 34 Tory MPs who have viewed by many - but not by Labour everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-brexit- “independent monitoring authority” obligation” to finalise “alternative already opposed May’s deal on three nor the CPGB - as a second referendum withdrawal-agreement-bill to ensure the UK complies, and so on. arrangements” by December 2020, separate occasions show absolutely on Brexit. Ironically perhaps, turnout 3. www.thesun.co.uk/news/9117741/legal-battle- None of which will be music to the thus in theory avoiding any need for no sign of shifting their position - will surely be higher than usual. The anyone-but-borisjohnson/ 6 weekly weekly 7 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 ISO Reclaiming democratic centralism One of the major issues raised by the Renewal Faction of America’s now liquidated ISO was the managerial regime that underpins the Cliffite tradition internationally. But there is bureaucratic centralism and democratic centralism. Mike Macnair continues his investigation our weeks ago, writing in this paper on the role of ‘democratic F centralism’ (SWP version) in the collapse of the US International Socialist Organization, I said that “‘democratic centralism’ is a phrase, like the words ‘communism’ and ‘socialism’, which needs to be rescued from both misuse and obloquy”.1 That article was directed to helping to rescue the phrase from ‘misuse’; but, as I indicated there, this ‘misuse’ goes all the way back to decisions taken in the Russian Communist Party and Comintern in 1919-22, which were understandable in the (very difficult) circumstances of the time, but turn out in hindsight to have been mistaken - and now serve merely as ideology for ‘left’ versions of managerialism. To reclaim ‘democratic centralism’ therefore requires us to go back to its earlier history, and also to think a little bit more generally about what it means. Arrival Paul LeBlanc identified in 1990 that the phrase ‘democratic centralism’ was adopted by both Mensheviks (first) and Bolsheviks (later) in November- December 1905, and then by the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party’s unification conference in April 1906.2 The resolutions in question are Democratic centralism needs to be rescued from such obscenities available in translation in the collection edited by Ralph Carter Elwood,3 but organisational rules, April 25 1906: city committee of the RSDRP a distinct national composition completely clear what this is directed we need them here for clarity as to 2. All party organisations are built on the basis of general elections, of the population, and so forth, against. The leader of the SPLA’s The what they actually say: on the principles of democratic regardless of the nationality of the democratic centralism necessarily Internationalist No1 (January 1917) centralism. party members. demands both ...6 asserts: “We want to reorganise [the Mensheviks, November 20 1905: 3. All party organisations are Note: This committee resolves Socialist Party of America] from the The RSDRP must be organised autonomous with respect to their all questions common to the As will appear below, I am not bottom up” (emphasis in original);8 according to the principle of internal activities. Every approved proletariat of the particular city by persuaded that this argument about this perhaps ‘tones down’ an earlier, democratic centralism. party organisation has the right to simple majority vote … ‘democratic centralism’ in the state more explicit anti-centralism? All party members take part in issue party literature in its own is, in fact, unrelated to ‘democratic The letter to the SPLA shows that the election of party institutions. name. Lars T Lih’s 2013 article, ‘Fortunes centralism’ in the party. the ‘centralism’ side of the formula All party institutions are elected 4. New party organisations are of a formula’, confirms the judgment The second intermediate usage is already doing operative work in for a [specified] period, are subject approved by oblast conferences or of Carter Elwood and LeBlanc Lih cites is in a 1915 or 1916 friendly Lenin’s writing before the traumas of to recall and obligated to account by two neighbouring organisations. that the formula first appeared in critique in a letter, written in English, 1918-21. It should also be clear from for their actions both periodically The central committee exercises the November 1905 Menshevik to the secretary of the Socialist both texts, as well as from the 1905-06 and at any time upon demand of the supervisory power over such resolution, rather than having prior Propaganda League of America: resolutions, that the idea is concerned organisation which elected them. approvals … Russian antecedents. He adds that with relations between the centre and Decisions of the guiding 7. The central committee and the Lenin only used the tag in 1906-07 We defend always in our press the localities. This will be equally collectives are binding on the editorial board of the central organ (with the accent on “democratic”) the democracy in the party. visible in the German antecedents, to members of those organisations of are elected at the [party] congress. and in 1920-21 (with the accent But we never speak against the which Lenin refers in that letter. which the collective is the organ. The central committee represents on “centralism”); and he confirms centralisation of the party. We are Lih’s work, however, certainly Actions affecting the organisation the party in relations with other both species of usage from Vladimir for the democratic centralism. confirms LeBlanc’s view that the as a whole (ie, congresses, parties; it organises various party Nevsky’s 1925 History of the Russian We say that the centralisation of ‘democratic centralism’ formula in reorganisations) must be decided institutions and guides their Communist Party (Bolsheviks).4 the German labour movement the Russian party was an innovation upon by all of the members of the activities; it organises and conducts Lih recognises in his article two is not a feeble, but a strong and of 1905 - and one shared by both organisation. Decisions of lower- undertakings of significance for intermediate usages, one of which good, feature of it. The vice of Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. level organisations are not to be the party as a whole; it allocates I had identified, and which he the present Social Democratic Given that it was an innovation, implemented if they contradict party personnel and funds, and has immediately discards as irrelevant.5 Party of Germany consists not its uncontroversial character decisions of higher organisations. charge of the central party treasury; This is in Lenin’s 1913 polemic on the in the centralisation, but in the (“recognising as indisputable the The foundation of the organisation it settles conflicts between and national question: preponderance of the opportunists, principle of democratic centralism”, is the party union, whether unified within various party institutions which should be excluded from the say the Bolsheviks) means that it for a given locality or subdivided and it generally coordinates all the [W]hile, and insofar as, different party especially now, after their pretty much must have come from the into raion and sub-raion unions ... activity of the party ... nations constitute a single state, treacherous conduct in the war. Social Democratic Party of Germany 8. The congress is the supreme Marxists will never, under any If in any given crisis the small (SPD), which was the fount of Bolsheviks, December 12 1905: organ of the party ... circumstances, advocate either the group (for instance, our central orthodoxy and the model to which the Recognising as indisputable the federal principle or decentralisation. committee is a small group) can act Russian Marxists aspired.9 principle of democratic centralism, A particular aspect of the The great centralised state is for directing the mighty mass in a the conference considers the broad organisational model is shown by a tremendous historical step revolutionary direction, it would Lassallean? implementation of the elective this Unification Congress’s ‘Draft forward from medieval disunity be very good. And in all crises the LeBlanc suggests that the formula is principle necessary; and, while conditions for the unification of the to the future socialist unity of the masses cannot act immediately; originally Lassallean. He cites Leonard granting elected centres full Bund with the RSDRP’: whole world, and only via such a the masses want to be helped by Schapiro, who included the attribution powers in matters of ideological state (inseparably connected with the small groups of the central in the 1970 second edition of his The and practical leadership, they are 1. The Bund enters the RSDRP as capitalism) can there be any road institutions of the parties. Our Communist Party of the Soviet Union. at the same time subject to recall, the Social Democratic organisation to socialism. central committee quite at the Schapiro in turn cites to Leo Valiani.10 their actions are given broad of the Jewish proletariat; its It would, however, be beginning of this war, in September Valiani attributes the usage to Johann publicity, and they are to be strictly activities are not limited to any inexcusable to forget that in 1914, has directed the masses not Baptist von Schweitzer, speaking in accountable for these activities … particular region … advocating centralism we advocate to accept the lie about ‘the war of 1868 to the Berlin congress which 3. All decrees of party congresses exclusively democratic centralism. defence’ and to break off with the refounded the Lassallean Allgemeiner Appeal of the unified central committee, are binding on the Bund. On this point all the philistines opportunists and the ‘would-be- Deutscher Arbeiterverein (ADAV) January 1906: 4. Within the limits of the general in general, and the nationalist socialist jingoes’ (we call so the as the Allgemeiner Deutscher … In the organisational area, the decrees of RSDRP congresses philistines in particular ..., have ‘socialists’ who are now in favour Arbeiterschaftsverein, after the transition from the tight framework and of the general decrees of so confused the issue that we are of the war of defence). We think dissolution of the original organisation of conspiratorial institutions to more the RSDRP, the Bund retains obliged again and again to spend that this centralistic measure of our by the Prussian police.11 or less open elective organisations its independence in matters time clarifying it. central committee was useful and This is, I think, something of a has unified the party on the principle of agitation, organisation and Far from precluding local necessary.7 leap too far. Valiani, an Atlanticist of democratic centralism … propaganda … self-government, with autonomy writing in 1968, had an axe to grind, 6. All local organisations in the for regions having special In the absence of the text of the and this axe was the idea that Marx RSDRP Unification Congress, RSDRP form a single guiding economic and social conditions, leaflet Lenin responds to, it is not and Engels would have repudiated 6 weekly weekly 7 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019

the ‘democratic centralism’ formula individual-membership model. government in support of the naval an English constitutional phrase) SPD, served in the US OSS (predecessor of the as anti-democratic. This is perfectly But the SDAP unambiguously budget. The claim that the MP’s preventing it from doing so except CIA). It is now necessary to add that Schapiro, having practised at the bar before 1939, during possible as of 1868; but the argument rejected the model of being run by mandate from the constituency’s in really serious cases. In reality, of the war joined British intelligence, moving into asks us to leap from 1868 to 1905, a directly elected president with electors should take priority over party course, the Schippel case - discussed Soviet studies post-war; and that Valiani - an presuming continuance of the ideas, unlimited powers. Instead, it was discipline figured from the right in the above - went to the Parteitag. ex-communist who broke with the party after across a series of events which are run by an elected committee. It was arguments round the Schippel case.20 It This model can be adapted to the the Hitler-Stalin pact - was put into the Italian resistance by the British Special Operations likely to have erased any positive also an organisation composed of is the identical issue argued repeatedly city, district, region; the principles of Executive in 1943 and, after this involvement, memory of Schweitzer’s version. local branches, and so on, with their by the Labour right in this country. means of common decision-making, worked in the 1950s-60s and 1980s with the First is the splits in the ADAV in the own extensive powers, especially the When the claim came up again in while keeping local initiative, are liberal Atlanticist Radical and Republican parties. late 1860s/early 1870s - over issues of power to publish their own press - a 1903-04, in relation to the ‘Göhre the same at all levels. It is a model This common intelligence service background of several cold war-period historians of the workers’ democracy - and the 1871 resignation noteworthy feature, also found in the case’, Karl Kautsky wrote an article for for political action. The underlying movement is not, of course, proof of the falsity of of Schweitzer as ADAV president after Russian documents (quoted above). the Neue Zeit - ‘Wahlkreis und Partei’ principles are not just applicable their arguments. It merely points to common biases he lost his Reichstag seat.12 Second is In 1875 the SDAP and the ADAV (‘Constituency and party’) - which we to parties, but can be used, with which mean that these authors cannot be taken, as the 1875 Gotha unification, which, fused at Gotha to form the Socialist published in this paper in November appropriate variations, for all sorts of witnesses, to be uncomplicatedly authoritative. 21 11. L Valiani, ‘La storia della socialdemocrazia while making theoretical concessions Workers Party of Germany (SAP). 2015. The arguments are again for political activity. It is a model which tedesca (1863-1914)’ (1968) Rivista storica to the Lassalleans, adopted the As I have already indicated, though centralisation - this time for the claims can apply to states - Lenin uses it in italiana Vol 80, section 1, p38. He gives an Italian organisational model of the there were considerable substantive of the party as a whole against the 1913 in connection with the national translation - “abbiamo una rigida centralizzazione ‘Eisenachers’ (Wilhelm Liebknecht, concessions to the ADAV in the Gotha alleged mandate of the individual MP. question: a democratic centralist state democratica” - and cites Hermann Peter (‘Der 13 Allgemeine Deutsche Arbeiter Congress zu August Bebel and their supporters). programme, which Marx famously Thirdly, the SDP leadership will involve extensive liberty to the Berlin’, Berlin 1868), without a direct German Third is the subsequent illegalisation (and Engels less famously) sharply reorganised the editorial board of the localities, which can be used to deal quotation or page reference. Googling and the use of the unified organisation under criticised, on the organisational party daily Vorwärts, published in with ‘nationality questions’ without of online library catalogues does not produce the the Anti-Socialist Laws (1878-90), front the Eisenachers’ conceptions Berlin, which had been supporting the either splits (self-determination) or work cited; it seems likely, if genuine, to be an erroneous citation for a report of the congress in which prohibited everything but were largely accepted. The snowball ‘revisionist’ right wing of the party. the ‘Austrian model’ of nationality- the ADAV’s Sozialdemocrat. constituency organisation and the effect - unification of small groups This produced cries of outrage from corporations. 12. Splits: GP Steenson, Not one man! Not one parliamentary Fraktion, so that the can allow them to have a massively the right at this ‘dictatorial’ behaviour, What it is not, is a model for an penny! German social democracy, 1863-1914 party paper Sozialdemokrat had to increased impact - meant that the SAP and allegations that the Berlin local army command structure, or for a Pittsburgh 1981, pp19-21; Schweitzer resignation: operate from abroad and be smuggled grew very rapidly after 1875. organisations should control the paper.22 clandestine party. ibid p28. 14 13. Ibid pp31-32. in. In 1878, the German government All these debates were addressed In the first article in this series 14. Steenson summarises in ibid pp32-40. Fourth - and this seems to have responded to this growth with the to the same issues - democratic I suggested that the ‘1921 model’ 15. LT Lih Lenin rediscovered Leiden 2006, been most decisive in the claimed Anti-Socialist Law, intended to functioning, majority rule and its had become merely an ideology for pp53-55. 16. H Kennedy, ‘Johann Baptist von Schweitzer: the centralisation of the SPD Lenin suppress the SAP. The laws did not, relation to localism - which the tag managerialism. In this article I have queer Marx loved to hate’ Journal of Homosexuality referred to in 1915 - is the debates in however, prevent SAP supporters ‘democratic centralism’ addressed. We looked at the history and - I would Vol 29, pp69-96 (1995) attempts to explain the the SPD about organisation in the early standing for election to the Reichstag; know that at least the Kautsky article argue - original meaning of the marginalisation of Schweitzer by homophobia. But, 1900s, in the context of ‘revisionism’, and the party was able to operate sub we published in 2015 had influence ‘democratic centralism’ tag. In the though Kennedy has strong evidence of Marx’s and Engels’ prejudice against homosexuality and of their coalition governments, imperialism rosa through a combination of the in the Russian party’s discussion of third article, yet to come, I will suggest willingness to exploit this prejudice for political and whether to vote for naval budgets use of the Reichstag Fraktion as a organisation: Lenin quoted it in his that the supposed alternatives to this advantage, to make this the dominant factor in the (considered further below). leadership and of their interventions 1904 pamphlet One step forward, two basic ‘democratic centralism’ idea are marginalisation of Schweitzer, Kennedy is forced Lassalle was remembered in the as privileged speech and hence steps back.23 no better - and often worse l in his narrative to discard Marx’s initial willingness late 19th and early 20th century publishable, with publishing abroad, to work with Schweitzer, and to sideline instead Democratic the obvious political differences about German SPD as a dead hero of the workers’ with ‘vertrauensmänner’ (trusted [email protected] nationalism, relations with Bismarck, trade unions, movement.15 Schweitzer was not.16 agents) linking local groups to the centralisation party organisation, and so on. exile publishing network. The law Several of the speakers at the SPD Notes 17. The Neue Zeit is available at http://library. German therefore after the first few years did Parteitage spoke about the need fes.de/nz. There is an intervention by H Schulz 1. ‘Full-timers and “cadre”’ Weekly Worker April (‘Die Organisationsfrage und der Parteitag’, The history of the German workers’ not prevent continued growth of the for centralisation. Several of them 25 2019. Vol 23,1904-05, pp765-70) and a report of the movement through the 1860s to 1890s, party’s electoral support. also spoke, in various ways, about 2. P LeBlanc Lenin and the revolutionary party discussions by Kautsky (Zum Parteitag Vol 23, as well as the debates of the 1900s, In 1890, the government gave up the need for the party to be, or to New Jersey 1990, pp128-29. 1904-05, pp748-58), but neither addresses the were relevant to the origins of the and the Anti-Socialist Laws were remain, democratic, open to criticism, 3. R Carter Elwood Resolutions and decisions of the issues discussed here directly. The Protokolle are at Communist Party of the Soviet Union 1898-1917 http://library.fes.de/parteitage. organisational practices which were allowed to lapse. The party was now preserving local initiative, and so Toronto 1974; also quoted by LeBlanc (note 2). 18. Quoted in CW Fölke Zweck, Mittel und tagged as ‘democratic centralism’ in reorganised as the SPD. Ignaz Auer on. As I have said, I have not found 4. LT Lih, ‘Fortunes of a formula’ Weekly Worker Organisation des Allgemeinen Deutschen Arbeiter- 1905 and after. (1846-1907) gave the leadership’s an actual use of the tag ‘democratic April 11 2013. LeBlanc adds more quotations on Vereins Berlin 1873, pp21-22, 29-30. I have not so far found a ‘smoking introduction to the Halle Parteitag’s centralism’. But it seems clear enough the ‘democratic side’ in 1906 (pp130-32). 19. Discussion in Protokoll über die Verhandlungen 5. “‘Democratic centralism’ can also be applied to the des Parteitages der Sozialdemokratischen Partei gun’, in which the tag is used, either discussion on organisation. The model that what the Russians mean by this tag state, but this is an entirely different topic” (ibid). Deutschlands abgehalten zu Jena vom 17 bis 23 in the Neue Zeit theoretical magazine recommended was basically that of the is precisely: the adoption of the values 6. VI Lenin, ‘Critical remarks on the national September 1905 - available at http://library.fes.de/ (which the Russians certainly read) SAP - though the vertrauensmänner which are reflected in this tension in question’, section 6: ‘Centralisation and parteitage. Vollmar had been a radical leftist in the in 1904-05, or in the discussions of were retained from the period of the SPD’s organisation discussions autonomy’: www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/ 1880s, but went over around 1890 to the project of works/1913/crnq/6.htm#v20pp72-045. a socialist-liberal coalition. He stresses in his speech party organisation in the Protokolle illegality. The leading committee, between ‘centralisation’ to create a 7. www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1915/nov/09. that he is speaking on behalf of the commission; so (stenographic publications) of the the Vorstand, of the mass SDP was more effective striking force and the htm, incompletely quoted in Lih (above). The dating clearly this is the consensus view rather than oddball SPD Parteitage (party conferences) a small committee: it rose from five ability to act together as a party, and issue is identified as a problem by Tim Davenport in an rightism or leftism. for 1904, 1905 or (looking further members in 1890 to eight after 1905. ‘democracy’, or ‘criticism’, or local annotation on Marxists Internet Archive. 20. Discussion in Protokoll über die Verhandlungen 8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_ des Parteitages der Sozialdemokratischen Partei back to earlier ‘party organisation’ The small size reflected the fact that initiatives. Propaganda_League_of_America#/media/ Deutschlands abgehalten zu Bremen vom 18 bis 24 discussions) 1900 or 1890, when the fundamental decisions went to the We can then formulate from File:Internationalist-1917.jpg. September 1905 (http://library.fes.de/parteitage). party emerged from illegality.17 I have annual Parteitag, and many tactical this history roughly what is meant 9. LT Lih Lenin rediscovered Leiden 2006, part 1, 21. ‘Origins of democratic centralism’ Weekly not (yet) found any use of the exact decisions were left to the local or by ‘democratic centralism’. It is has the fullest treatment of Russian ‘Erfurtianism’. Worker November 5 2015. 10. As I have observed before, Peter Nettl, 22. Discussion in Protokoll über die phrase, but there is a lot of closely sectoral organisations. an individual-membership party, the biographer of Luxemburg (and polemicist Verhandlungen des Parteitages der relevant material. Auer insisted (against the old as opposed to the loose, federative against the SPD’s and colonial nationalist Sozialdemokratischen Partei Deutschlands We must, in fact, begin with the Lassalle-Schweitzer idea) that a formations which came before the parties’ ‘attentism’ and refusal to join coalition abgehalten zu Jena vom 17 bis 23 September 1905 Lassalleans and the Eisenachers socialist party must necessarily be ADAV. Hence the fact that in the 1906 governments) served in British intelligence at (http://library.fes.de/parteitage), and, from the right, the end of World War II (‘The study of history Der Vorwärts-Konflikt Munich 1905. - but not with the Lassalleans as democratic. He emphasised strongly proposals for the Bund, the latter is and the left’s decline’ Weekly Worker June 1 23. VI Lenin, ‘The new Iskra: opportunism in ‘democratic centralists’. Lassalle the rights of freedom of criticism. given the right to organise the work 2011). In a letter last week I remarked that Carl questions of organisation’ (www.marxists.org/ himself was certainly an advocate Though it was proposed to adopt the among Jewish workers - but no veto Schorske, another of the cold war historians of the archive/lenin/works/1904/onestep/q.htm). of centralism, but not of democratic Berlin Vorwärts as the party’s paper, power. This is not an ‘intersectional’ centralism. He argued for the he emphasised (against suspicions approach. radical unification of the wills of the that this is unduly centralising) the On the other hand, it rejects the members of the Verein - in the single rights of the localities to publish leader-worship (“labour monarchism”, Fighting fund will of its president, himself. He papers, and the fact that they did so in Marx and Engels and their co-thinkers polemicised against Julius Vahlteich practice, so that, even if the Vorstand called it) of Lassalle and Schweitzer - (1839-1915), who left the ADAV wanted to create a centralist tyranny, which has been resurrected by the left for the First International and later it could not. since the cult of the personality of the Up to you the ‘Eisenacher’ Social Democratic dead Lenin fed into personality cults s I was hoping last week, told us to keep the whole lot! Workers Party (SDAP), on the 1904-05 of Stalin and his successors (and, since Athe third week of our May In addition, we got a one- ground that Vahlteich (in objecting The SPD debated organisation in then, so many petty Trotskyist and fighting fund more than made off £25 bank transfer from JS, to Lassalle’s absolute power) was a 1904 (electing a commission to Maoist lider maximo types). up for the dismal sum that came who is now amongst the keenest ‘decentraliser’.18 consider various issues) and again Thirdly, it is an organisation our way last week - a mere £122 sellers and distributors of the Nonetheless, the Lassalleans in 1905. There were three aspects which has a central organising body, towards our monthly £2,000 Weekly Worker, plus two cheques introduced an element of workers’ to the context. The first was that a leadership which can at need speak target. By contrast, week three - thank you, MN (£25) and BV organisation, which the Eisenachers legislation which had prohibited city or for the party as a whole - and can also saw no less than £915 land in (£20). Finally there was a single, copied from them. This was the creation province organisation, allowing only break with, for example, party MPs our coffers! if modest, PayPal donation - a of a national, individual-membership constituency organisation, had been who decide to support the capitalist The reason for that is, of fiver from comrade JK. political party. The earlier efforts of lifted. The party thus needed to think parties’ arms budgets. This leadership is course, the concentration of Anyway, our running total Wilhelm Liebknecht, before the 1869 about city committees, and so on. obliged to report and be accountable to those regular standing orders has now soared to £1,557, with formation of the SDAP, involved entry In this context, Georg von Vollmar the membership. The SPD Parteitage at this time of the month - they just over a week to go, so there in a left-liberal formation in Saxony, (1850-1922) gave the report of the Protokolle show, among other things, amounted to £840. A special is a real possibility that we will which had the usual characteristic organisation commission in 1905. He the sheer level of detail required in mention must go to comrades reach that £2,000 target once of most political parties at the time - stressed centralisation (that is, increased the reports of the Vorstand and of the TR, KB, MM, PM, SK and TB again, despite last week’s bad inherited from the English Whigs and organisation beyond the constituency Reichstag Fraktion. for their generosity - and to GB, news. It’s up to you, dear readers Tories, and continuing in the modern level), but also the accountability of the The leadership has broad powers who decided, in response to - we still need £443 by May 31 l US Democrats and Republicans - that it elected committees, and that what was - but the local, regional and sectoral the editor’s pleas last month, to Robbie Rix was a loose coalition of political clubs. being proposed was not ‘mechanical’ organisations can also publish in increase his SO from £25 to £40. Both the success of the ADAV, which centralisation.19 their own names. This is democratic But something went wrong and Fill in a standing order form at first far outstripped Liebknecht’s The other two were more centralism, as opposed to federalism: we got both amounts. However, (back page), donate via our projects, and the participation of contentious. Max Schippel was the centre can, at need, overthrow when this was pointed out, the website, or send cheques, ex-Lassalleans in the formation of forced to resign his parliamentary the localities - but there are strong comrade politely shrugged and payable to Weekly Worker the SDAP meant the adoption of an seat on account of his voting with the ‘constitutional conventions’ (to use 8 weekly weekly 9 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 IRAN Stepping up the threats Trump is garnering support for his crusade against Iran, but there is widespread opposition too, reports Yassamine Mather peace following the defeat of IS can easily be broken. Washington has been spreading a lot of rumours about Iran’s top military leaders telling Shia militias in Iraq to prepare for war, so, despite the insistence of Baghdad that it wants to stay out of any conflict, the reality is that, in the event of a military conflagration between the US and Iran, Iraq will be dragged into yet another deadly conflict. As far as Israel is concerned, the surprising recent silence of Binyamin Netanyahu about a possible war between Iran and the United States has led to speculation that, despite all the efforts of the Israeli premier to achieve US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, Israel is weary of war with Hezbollah. According to Al- Monitor, “If full-blown war breaks out, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will enter the picture. Should that happen, Israel believes that it would be in the top tier of Iranian targets.” Apparently Netanyahu has instructed his security apparatus to stay out of the current escalation of conflict, while downplaying “support for the stance of US national security advisor John Bolton, who advocates direct conflict”.5 Demanding a photo op surrender It is fair to say that the majority of the opinion columns in US press and ast week the US website Onion The reason why Trump’s apparent not just the overthrow of the Islamic spending money to attack Iran.4 national media networks, with the published a Photoshopped image attempts at distancing himself Republic, but the breaking up of Iran. In Europe internal politics have exception of Fox News, are carrying L of a “Bleeding John Bolton” from rogue elements in his own From the beginning this conflict had meant that in both France and the alarmist reports about a new clash in stumbling into the Capitol, above a administration (such as national nothing to do with terrorism or nuclear UK rightwing politicians have been the Middle East. The headline of an mock story where he claimed that security advisor Bolton) have not weapons - no regional rival to Israel or competing with each other to support opinion column in The Washington “Iran shot him”.1 worked so far is not because of the Saudi Arabia can be tolerated by the Trump. Post sums it up: “A war with Iran would This was in response to claims by steadfast anti-imperialism of the Trump administration. This is in line In the UK, foreign secretary Jeremy be the mother of all quagmires”6; while US neoconservatives that Iran was Islamic Republic, or because the with US foreign policy after World War Hunt and defence secretary Penny The New York Times advises on “How attacking US forces in the Middle East. regime ‘never’ compromises, as pro- II: every war, from Vietnam to Iraq and Mordaunt - both looking for votes to stop the march to war with Iran”.7 Iran is being blamed for half a dozen regime change exiles claim. In reality Libya, has had one aim: destruction. amongst rightwing pro-Brexiteers, According to a Reuters/Ipsos incidents in the Middle East - any one of Tehran has bent over backwards to The intention is the same - to weaken when it comes to the Conservative Party opinion poll, “More than half of them could have been used as a trigger please global capital - eg, during rivals, deprive them of access to cheap leadership election - were blaming Iran Americans believe the US will go for war. Yet it is difficult to verify ‘Irangate’, before the Iraq war and natural resources, cut them off from for ‘interfering in the affairs of other to war with Iran within the next few exactly what happened and decide the US invasion of Afghanistan, and potential allies. countries’. Now we know that these two years”. Fewer than 40% approve of who was responsible in any of them. during military action against Islamic With Iran, the aim is to divide it into late appointments in the decaying May Trump’s handling of the crisis.8 The list includes Saudi and Norwegian State in Syria. The problem is, Trump smaller, less powerful states. Iranian administration are seriously challenged If the intention of the Trump claims that two Saudi oil tankers and does not want serious negotiations: he nationalists and royalists, who are for when it comes to international affairs, administration has been to increase a Norwegian ship were damaged last just wants a photo opportunity - and to regime change from above, should holding high office well beyond their tension inside Iran and isolate the week in what Saudi Arabia claimed be able to claim he has stopped Barack take note: their beloved country will capabilities. However, even someone leadership, the recent escalation has was an “act of sabotage”, while Thome Obama’s “very bad deal” - in the be destroyed in the process. In fact, with minimum information about the had the reverse effect. The many Ship Management, the owners of the same way as he attempted to use his going by the example of other regime- Middle East should know that Iran’s factions of the Islamic Republic Norwegian vessel, said an “unknown meaningless negotiations with North change plans, such as for Iraq, they interventions have largely resulted might not like each other, but in object” had created a hole in the hull Korea. Iran, on the other hand, wants should be aware that if there is a war, from the tensions created by the United the face of foreign aggression they of one of its ships. This happened the secret negotiations and the lifting of at not only will there be untold death States and its allies in the region. The always unite. Ordinary Iranians, day after a drone attack on a Saudi least some of the sanctions - something and destruction, the end result could overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan facing harsh economic conditions, oil pipeline, caused “minor damage”. Trump cannot deliver without losing be the dismemberment of the country and of Saddam in Iraq strengthened remain angry about the corruption Responsibility for that was claimed face. Hence the impasse. and a massive influx of jihadis and the position of the Shia government in and incompetence of their leaders, by a Houthi group, but, of course, the By this week the war of words was Salafis sponsored by Saudi Arabia. Tehran, beyond its wildest dreams. The but, when faced with the threat of a United States and Saudi Arabia pointed reaching new heights. Trump tweeted: As Jefferson Morley writes in the New US and UK were warned about this, yet devastating war, they are united in out that the Houthis are Iran’s allies. So “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the Republic, “Iran has not posed a serious they paid no attention. their opposition to US aggression. Iran must be to blame. official end of Iran. Never threaten the terror threat to the United States since Saudi Arabia and the emirates of the When I speak to friends and Then on May 19 a Katyusha United States again!” The reply from the 1980s. Sunni terrorism, on the Persian Gulf have relied on their jihadi relatives in Tehran or read various posts rocket exploded near the US embassy Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad other hand, has.”2 allies - many of them reincarnations on social media, I am amazed by how in Baghdad. As if it was expecting Javad Zarif, came swiftly: “Iranians In the United States, however, there of al Qa’eda - to start civil wars in Iraq well-to-do, upper middle class people, something like that, a couple of days have stood tall for millennia, while is large-scale opposition to a new war in order to advance the Sunni cause. often with rightwing opinions, are all earlier Washington had ordered “non- aggressors have all gone ... Try respect in the Middle East. Democrats have This, together with the common posting militant anti-war messages, emergency government employees” - it works!” compared some of the hysteria about practices of US occupation forces expressing horror at Trump’s plans. to leave Iraq, citing the danger of Iranians are more than concerned holes in tankers with the warning of in dealing with their opponents - be If the US administration cannot win conflict with Iran. This was followed that talk about “the end of Iran” implies George Bush and Tony Blair about it in notorious prisons such as Abu the support of this layer, how can it by Germany and the Netherlands the annihilation an entire country. Saddam Hussein’s “45 minutes” threat Ghraib in Iraq or in the bombing of expect to enforce ‘regime change suspending military training in Iraq People see a resemblance between to western Europe. Leftish independent towns such as Tikrit and Mosul - have from above’? l and Exxon Mobil evacuating all its Trump and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, senator Bernie Sanders was the most helped swell the ranks of the jihadis, foreign staff from Iraq’s West Qurna 1 the hated rightwing populist, who was vocal: who all along were the beneficiaries Notes oilfield. the country’s president between 2005 of Sunni Arab sponsorship. In 1. https://politics.theonion.com/bleeding-john-bolton- By this stage people in Iran were and 2013. Inevitably Trump’s tweet has Trump, the schoolyard bully, is subsequent civil wars, when IS was stumbles-into-capitol-building-cla-1834847900. rightly concerned about a military been compared to Ahmadinejad’s talk threatening to take us into another threatening the entire region, Iran 2. https://newrepublic.com/article/153537/growing- obsession-linking-iran-terrorism. escalation and preparing themselves of the “disappearance of the state of war in the Middle East. Just what got involved - to the applause of the 3. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/444602- for the worst - if all this is part of a Israel”. How can anyone take seriously we need! But it will not be Trump’s United States. As far as Lebanon is sanders-blasts-schoolyard-bully-trump-on-iran. war of nerves, it is clearly succeeding. the British media and politicians’ or his billionaire friend’s kids and concerned, Iran sees its alliance with 4. https://theintercept.com/2019/05/17/iran-war- In the meantime, Iranian analysts obsession with ‘anti-Semitism’, when grandkids who fight and die in that Hezbollah as a type of insurance to congress-democratic-candidates. 5. www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/05/ and academics, including some on Trump’s threat of obliteration gets war. It will be working class kids. prevent Israel bombing its industrial israel-united-states-iran-benjamin-netanyahu- 3 the ‘left’, were calling on Tehran almost no reaction and is apparently No war with Iran! and military installations. So it would nuclear-idf.html#ixzz5odtQWP8X to negotiate, while royalists and taken as acceptable. be interesting to know what exactly 6. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/20/ other supporters of ‘regime change However, the tweet’s real Four of the seven senators running Hunt and Mordaunt mean when they war-with-iran-would-be-mother-all-quagmires/ 7. www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/opinion/stop- from above’ were advising the US significance is the fact that it tells us for the 2020 Democratic presidential talk of Iran’s ‘interference’. iran-war.html. government not to trust the leaders of what the real aims of the current US nomination have signed a bill that Amongst Iran’s neighbours, Iraq 8. www.dw.com/en/us-americans-believe-war-with- the Islamic Republic. administration are. Clearly the aim is would prohibit the US military from is the most concerned. The fragile iran-is-coming-poll/a-48822649. 8 weekly weekly 9 May 23 2019 worker worker May 23 2019 TURKEY What passes for democracy Erdoğan is desperate to prevent the opposition from taking control in Istanbul, writes Esen Uslu

n the March 31 local elections the long lost its meaning in Turkey, and the cities - metropolitan councils were to the greed of our rulers through ruling coalition of the Justice and brash statements started to flow out made up of appointed members from privatisation since the early days of IDevelopment Party (AKP) and of the SEC. The first grossly unfair If the first election borough or county councils. As the the empire. Previously waqfs (pious the National Movement Party (MHP) decision was like one of the bolts produces the wrong ruling coalition still maintained its hold foundations) were used to cloak the suffered defeat in the principal cities of of Zeus. It was directed against the over a majority of them, metropolitan privatisation of common property Turkey at the hands of the opposition. leftwing People’s Democratic Party result ... fix another councils had been able to act as a brake through the intricate interpretation of the And the waters are yet to be calmed. (HDP), whose councillors, elected on the opposition. Shariat law and the Fıqh jurisprudence. On the election night it became against all the odds, were replaced by Erdoğan’s gut reaction was to We are quite familiar with the apparent that the AKP and its leader, state-appointed administrators. In all emphasise this dominant position in his notion that even the tallest structure in president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, were its infinite wisdom, the SEC decided vindictive post-election speech - a kind the town, standing next to a mosque, shocked. Erdoğan and the candidates that if a person had been subjected to a of grudging acknowledgment of defeat. could be stolen if it is wrapped in the he fielded confidently declared they governmental ‘Decree with the Power He said: “They think they won, but they baggy cloak of an administrator. And, had won during their well-in-advance of Law’ (KHK) and expelled from the cannot run without us.” And for a brief while we wait to see how the cloak used planned ‘balcony speeches’ in the civil service without due legal process, period he thought about shedding his to dismiss the Istanbul local election evening. But, as the night proceeded, they could not hold any elected office. spiky MHP ally and replacing it with results will be presented to us by the the bad news started to accumulate. The vetting process started long a national coalition, for which he was SEC, the opposition is trying to emerge At first there was disbelief. As before the elections: that is, the sharply rebuked. from the muddle. opposition tallies started to mount, the checking of every candidate’s details And then the SEC came forth once state-run Anadolu news agency - the in compliance with electoral law, more to declare the Istanbul mayoral Weak link only authorised source able to report conducted by the SEC - a candidate election invalid. According to the SEC, The opposition will need leftwing results from far-flung corners of the can only appear on the ballot paper there had been “irregularities” in the support as well as Kurdish votes to country - stopped supplying information after such a rigorous vetting. Yet formation of local electoral councils. win the Istanbul local elections for a for no less than 11 hours. many leading local HDP candidates, But who appointed and formed them? second time. However, the main forces This immediately raised serious who have naturally been among the The SEC, of course! The law says of the opposition were the Republican concerns about possible cheating. prime targets for KHKs, were allowed Erdoğan is not only a the chair of such councils should be a People’s Party (CHP) and the Good The election observers appointed by to stand and actually won by a large member of the civil service or a public Party (İP), and their aversion to Kurdish the parties at each balloting centre, margin. The AKP cronies - either bad loser. He is a bad employee and the SEC interpreted self-determination is well-known. They as well as elections officials, camped appointed as administrators or fielded cheat too that as it saw fit. Cynics have said that are as blatantly nationalistic and anti- down alongside the counted ballot as candidates - again lost, and lost big. such appointments were like built- Kurdish as the AKP. bundles under police protection. At But the SEC was out there to help them in time bombs, to be used if needed. But the ruling coalition is also very some counting centres that lasted for reverse things. Others have said there was no need aware of this weak link and is using days, with both officials and observers After a while the previously tried for such ‘forward planning’: it was the it to its advantage. The increasing actually sleeping on the ballot sacks to and tested method of squeezing normal blundering way of the Turkish tension in Idlib province of Syria, prevent tampering. the HDP from control of bureaucracy. where a semblance of a truce, with the Obviously the ruling coalition was not various cities was put into After the decision the certificate participation of Iran and Russia, is very happy about losing the post of mayor in practice again. Elected of Istanbul’s elected mayor was fragile indeed. Then there are all the several cities and adopted an aggressive councillors were dismissed withdrawn and the city’s vice- other flashpoints in the region, where stance, though the opposition’s winning by quasi-judicial, and governor was appointed as Kurds and Alevis are blamed. Such margin, especially in Istanbul, was quite politically motivated, interim administrator until the factors will be put to good use when it small. For a long while the county and administrative decisions. repeat elections, to be held on comes to the repeat local elections. provincial election authorities seemed Through these means, June 23. However, there was Similarly, token anti-Americanism, to be counting, recounting and dealing the regime tried in still a minor issue: the SEC stoked on the flames of the F-35/S-400 with the objections raised on various particular to keep may have announced its aircraft and missile disputes with the technical grounds. However, after a Kurdistan in check. decision, but to date it has Trump administration, is presented protracted process they announced been unable to provide any as an ‘anti-imperialist’ sop to attract the tallies and issued certificates to the Wobble written explanation. As leftwing voters. The dispute that flared elected politicians. Erdoğan, and his readers may appreciate, to up between Greece, Israel and Egypt, Then the seemingly never-ending disunited AKP outfit, justify the cancellation of as well as the EU, over undersea oil objections and appeals against the were, as I say, shocked by just one ballot paper - out and gas exploration off the southern results, and decisions made by the the loss of principal cities. of four placed in the same Cyprus coast has also been used to stir lower election authorities, reached However, his allies - the envelope - is quite a feat. But up nationalistic fervour. the final arbiter, the supreme electoral representatives of the true this is Turkish democracy, and Will all those wedges placed in the council, whose decisions are final and owners of the state in the anything goes. fractures of the opposition, combined binding. Parties with seats in parliament guise of the MHP - pointed In Ottoman popular satire with overt and covert electoral cheating, appoint a representative to the SEC, but to the way out: now is not there is a saying, “If you be enough to win the Istanbul mayoral they cannot vote. However, when the the time to wobble. Instead, intended to steal elections for the ruling coalition? We constitution was amended in 2017, such shout and shoot your way out a minaret, you will wait and see. As the saying goes, bodies were dominated by Erdoğan’s of the impasse. prepare your cloak “The tree worm comes with the fruit.” people, so it was apparent from the start The ruling coalition lost first”. State-owned The badly shaken AKP is prone to splits that the cards were stacked against the mayors to the opposition, but there properties, such as that may eventually lead to its collapse opposition. were no direct elections land and buildings, - especially if it loses Istanbul for a Of course, the word ‘justice’ has for councils governing have been subject second time l 10 weekly May 23 2019 worker 11 TROTSKY Neither kings nor bureaucrats US author and political broadcaster Suzi Weissman reports on the miraculous organisation of a conference on Leon Trotsky, which took place in Havana

rom May 6-8 2019, an historic García Hernández, a 36-year-old In spite of his youth As the first secretary of the blessing of Cuba’s prized writer, conference - or ‘International graduate student in philosophy, provincial Communist Party in Leonardo Padura Fuentes, though he FAcademic Meeting’ - took place who is writing his dissertation on Leon Trotsky appeared Villa Clara province in the 1990s, was not in attendance, and this may in Havana, Cuba: ‘Leon Trotsky: Trotsky. García Hernández is from like a supernova in he was recognised for his long have provided the minimal amount life and contemporaneity - a critical Santa Clara, where he says there are hair, bicycle-riding, and walking of political leverage that allowed it approach’. students trying to read Trotsky, in the firmament of the around in Bermuda shorts. He was to happen. But the fact remains that The event was historic, and collaboration with others in Havana. Russian revolutionary a strong advocate for LGBT rights the Cuban government has given would have been unimaginable until at a time when homosexuality was ample evidence that, for it, Trotsky very recently. Trotsky was persona Political opening movement. He went on frowned upon or downright illegal. and his ideas are still dangerous - non grata in Cuba, considered a So what do we make of the fact to play a leading role, Raúl Castro, on the other hand, was any slight opening is contradictory, renegade, counterrevolutionary and that this conference took place in notably more tied to Communist pushed and pulled by bureaucrats traitor - just as he was throughout Havana? One conjecture could be first in 1905, and then Party politics than even his brother, acting on traditional (anti-Trotsky) the rest of the Soviet bloc. And it that it represents an opening, or the in October 1917 Fidel. Did the end of Raúl’s rule and reflexes, seemingly without any was in Cuba that Trotsky’s assassin, possibility of a political opening. the accession of Díaz-Canel have coordinated policy. Ramón Mercader, was given refuge Raúl Castro, long-time member of anything to do with the microscopic, A special feature of the conference after his release from a Mexican Cuban Communist Party, stepped Open discussion and still somewhat mysterious, was to be the screening of part of prison in 1960. Trotsky’s name, life down as president in April 2018, about Trotsky and his political opening that enabled a the forthcoming documentary film and writings were virtually scrubbed but will remain first secretary of the conference on Trotsky to take place by Lindy Laub, Trotsky: the most from standard histories of the party until 2021. The new Cuban ideas has long been in Cuba? There is no direct evidence dangerous man in the world. When Russian Revolution and the Soviet president, Miguel Díaz-Canel - a impossible in Cuba ... to that effect and, unless and until we (I am the co-producer of the film) Union in Cuba, and when interest in former minister of education who is there is, that remains no more than first told Frank we would like to his ideas percolated from below, he largely unknown outside the island - that has now changed speculation. show an excerpt at the conference, he was denounced from above. There is called a “cautious reformist”. (a bit) The conference did have the was jubilant - he wanted the film to had been active Trotskyist parties have its premiere in Cuba, imagining and Trotskyist militants in Cuba a huge and enthusiastic audience. from the 1930s through the 1960s, We settled on showing a 21-minute but by the mid-60s they had been trailer and a 24-minute segment of expelled from the party, repressed Trotsky in exile in Prinkipo, Turkey, and, for the most part, imprisoned. from 1929-33 - that included his The son of a leading Trotskyist, fight to get German social democrats who had been active in the Cuban and communists to unite against Communist Party, was a participant Hitler, his speech in Copenhagen in the Trotsky conference. and the suicide of his daughter, Zina, Yet interest in Trotsky has survived in Berlin. in Cuba right up to the present, Frank was in high gear trying to and is an important element of the secure a venue - only to find nearly politico-intellectual background to every screen in Havana closed to the conference. As late as the 1960s, him and this film. Finding a public some of Trotsky’s works were place to show it proved to be an being published, but then largely impossible hurdle. No one wanted disappeared. In 2009, Leonardo to take responsibility for allowing a Padura, one of Cuba’s greatest portion of an unfinished, sympathetic contemporary writers, published documentary about Trotsky to be his monumental novel based on screened in their theatres. Finally, Trotsky’s assassination in Mexico when it seemed the segment would City in 1940, El hombre que amaba not be projected at the conference, los perros (The man who loved dogs, Frank got permission to screen it in published in English in 2014) to wide a small theatre in the Centro Cultural international acclaim - although the Cinematográfico (ICAIC). Publicity print run in Cuba itself was so small for the showing was confined to a that it was literally unavailable after small announcement and word of its initial launch. Nonetheless, this mouth at the conference. But every book raised the level of curiosity in seat was filled, and people stood and Cuba about Leon Trotsky, according sat on the floor on every available to the conference organiser, Frank inch of space - the audience was weekly 10 worker May 23 2019 11 What we fight for electric with excitement. of the ‘Russian question’, from eyes, but, in fact, Cubans are for worth about one 25th of a CUC. n Without organisation the García Hernández and his partner, Ernest Mandel to Nahuel Moreno, the most part poor and struggling. For Cubans working in the working class is nothing; with Lisbeth Moya González, a young to Gerry Healy and Hillel Ticktin. Shortages are constant, electricity traditional sector of the state the highest form of organisation journalist, had pulled off a miracle. Some sessions descended into hostile and/or water could go off for an hour economy, wages are very low, it is everything. That the conference did actually sectariana (I walked out of these), but or more at a time. public transportation is rickety and n There exists no real Communist happen is certainly historic. for the most part the tone was one The woman who worked in the scarcities abound. Many Cubans Party today. There are many In addition to the institutional of enthusiasm and respect. The final house where we stayed described rent out parts of their homes to so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In resources they received from session was devoted to the history of life as “overwhelming”. She was foreigners, allowing them the chance reality they are confessional sects. ICICJM, García Hernández had Cuban Trotskyism, and some of the scrambling to support her family and to earn extra money in CUCs - and Members who disagree with the support from the Institute of presenters had real ties to the early had suffered a huge setback when her giving visitors a glimpse of Cuban prescribed ‘line’ are expected to Philosophy, Casa Benito Juárez - Trotskyists. wallet was pilfered from her purse life. Neighbours drop in, life is very gag themselves in public. Either the venue for the debates - and the For many reasons the Cuban on a standing-room-only bus. Others social, people sit around and talk for that or face expulsion. Trotsky Museum in Mexico City. participation was lower than hoped we spoke to were more relaxed and hours. n Organisational help came from a for - there was almost no publicity, seemed to be better off. Skin colour Cubans, like citizens of the former Communists operate according dedicated group of co-thinkers: Ana and little room in the venue in Old seemed to be a factor in poverty. Soviet Union, manage to get round to the principles of democratic Isa, Verde Gil and Yunier Mena Havana. That was unfortunate, Air conditioning is much more shortages and other difficulties with centralism. Through ongoing debate Benavides, all from Santa Clara. since Trotsky is little known in evident in public places and even in ingenuity. We talked to waiters in we seek to achieve unity in action They succeeded in getting Cuba. As Frank García Hernández May - Cuba’s low season because the private restaurants, many of and a common world outlook. As homestays for the many international emphasised, of the heat - there were tourists in whom were highly educated and long as they support agreed actions, visitors, providing lunch for all the abundance. We saw, in particular, multilingual. In the restaurant we members should have the right to participants for three days, but they We were missing Trotsky. We numerous wealthy Russians - in frequented the biggest complaint speak openly and form temporary were unable to have the conference lacked Trotsky to understand what some cases Russian military and/or was about the almost 16-hour shifts or permanent factions. programme printed in time. So there happened in the Soviet Union, intelligence officials, whose rank (8.30am to midnight), but for only n Communists oppose all impe- was no programme for the first because none of the referents prevented their travelling elsewhere. two-three days a week. Given that rialist wars and occupations but day, although photocopies were of Marxism, like Che Guevara One Russian told us he managed the restaurant is open seven days a constantly strive to bring to the fore distributed on the second day. or Fidel Castro, could, for to live in Cuba in the winter, when week, I could not get an answer as to the fundamental question–ending war The hall was lined with beautiful different reasons, give a systemic Russia was too cold, and in Russia in why they had to work so long (and is bound up with ending capitalism. posters and pictures, thanks to explanation of what happened. the summer, when Cuba was too hot. then endure another hour on the bus n Communists are internationalists. Gabriela Pérez Noriega, director of Trotsky had the courage to have Taxis are ubiquitous. Colourful, to and from work) rather than having Everywhere we strive for the closest the Museo Trotsky in Mexico City. done so since 1936, having mostly American cars from the 40s more eight-hour shifts. One waiter unity and agreement of working class Pérez Noriega had also brought along developed a sociological analysis and 50s fill the streets, thanks to the was an engineer, who told us that and progressive parties of all countries. 100 Trotsky T-shirts, 150 Trotsky that we never knew, and, for us magic of Cuban mechanics, who find one had to work for two years to pay We oppose every manifestation pens, and most importantly, 50 books Cubans, one in which we are very or improvise spare parts. We rode in back the cost of higher education - of national sectionalism. It is an the Trotsky Museum was donating interested. Chevys, Plymouths, Oldsmobiles and the salary for an engineer in the state internationalist duty to uphold the for distribution at the conference. Fords, all painted in bright colours, sector was $18 per month. He made principle, ‘One state, one party’. They were all confiscated by For García Hernández and the some fitted with air conditioning or much more in the private sector, n The working class must be customs agents at the airport, who organisers, the conference was Hyundai engines inside the original but lamented the fact he could not organised globally. Without a global claimed they could not allow them an historic marker and a major shell. One particularly proud owner work in his profession and survive Communist Party, a Communist in because they were “merchandise” breakthrough, and they are of a British 1960 Hillman showed us economically. We heard similar International, the struggle against for private sale. On May 16, a week unquestionably correct in this the car’s engine - still the original, stories from taxi drivers. capital is weakened and lacks after the conference ended, Frank assessment. Despite the strong and running after hundreds of thousands We travelled to the Playa de coordination. posted a picture of himself wearing enduring hostility to Trotsky on the of miles. For many drivers, the car Santa Maria, just 25 minutes from a Trotsky T-shirt with the caption, part of the regime, the organisers was the investment of their lives and Havana - a gorgeous beach that was n Communists have no interest “The T-shirts arrived, now - a carried off an outstanding conference, they are expensive to maintain. But the popular equivalent to Varadero, apart from the working class tremendous victory!” which introduced Trotsky in a wide- providing a taxi service earned them with its luxury hotels and foreign as a whole. They differ only in ranging manner. It was truly a coup, more than working in the state sector. tourists. The hotel we stayed at in recognising the importance of Success and only made possible by virtue of Cuban life appears like a Santa Maria appeared ‘Soviet’ to Marxism as a guide to practice. Nearly 200 people from all over the considerable courage of Frank throwback. There is no intrusive my eyes: sprawling, poorly designed That theory is no dogma, but the world asked to participate in García Hernández. commercial advertising anywhere, and badly built. A Spanish company must be constantly added to and the conference, but Frank had to The Institute of Philosophy has and only a minimum of revolutionary had bought it and began to renovate enriched. winnow down the number to 80. promised to publish the papers of posters and slogans, some in fading and refurbish it - but then bowed n Capitalism in its ceaseless However, even with 80 it was the event, and the Cuban Institute paint. Television stations featured out when Trump was elected. So search for profit puts the future nearly impossible to find a venue to of Cultural Research Juan Marinello children’s programming, discussion some rooms were newly painted and of humanity at risk. Capitalism is accommodate them. In the end there seems willing to collaborate in this panels on art and culture, and sports. refurbished, while others remained synonymous with war, pollution, were perhaps 100 in attendance, publication. If this is done, it will be There was soccer from around the in their neglected, old shabby state. exploitation and crisis. As a global including up to 40 Cubans, and the first time that a book dedicated world, and even the US basketball We had an old-style room - dreary, system capitalism can only be a sizeable contingent of Latin to Trotsky and the socio-political- playoffs - although appearing days dimly lit, with a loud, inefficient superseded globally. Americans. Many were young, while cultural phenomena that have been after the fact. News came from window air conditioner. Included in n The capitalist class will never others had been around a long time. generated around him will appear in TeleSur, sponsored by the Venezuelan the price were three meals, buffet willingly allow their wealth and Participants came from Argentina, Cuba since the 1960s. government and, while we were style, of ample, but mostly mediocre power to be taken away by a Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, there, it focused exclusively on the to terrible, food. Still, it was on parliamentary vote. Colombia, France, Germany, India, Impressions unfolding, disastrous coup attempt the beautiful beach - the favourite n Iran, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Cuba is a tropical paradise of in Venezuela. The film channel was place for Cubans from Havana to We will use the most militant Rico, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, immense beauty, with pristine a delight, featuring only art films - go on vacation before the two-tier methods objective circumstances UK, US, and Venezuela. beaches and merciful breezes from with no commercial breaks. economy made life more difficult. allow to achieve a federal republic We were told we each had 15- the Caribbean sea. Cuban taxi-drivers were keen to And, all too soon, our interlude of England, Scotland and Wales, 20 minutes to present our papers Havana features grand old talk about Donald Trump - they hated in Cuba was over. Conference a united, federal Ireland and a in panels that featured four-six colonial buildings in varying stages him and loved Barack Obama. When participants left in high spirits, fully United States of Europe. speakers, but that time was whittled of deterioration and renewal. The we turned to talk about Cuba itself, recognising the historic nature of the n Communists favour industrial down because of translation architecture is elegant, wide streets we got a version of national pride and event that had just taken place, hoping unions. Bureaucracy and class difficulties. García Hernández had are lined with houses of one to nothing about the internal situation, that it was but the beginning of more compromise must be fought and envisioned simultaneous translations three stories, with high ceilings and either political or economic. such international gatherings. the trade unions transformed into in small groups on the floor, but he large rooms in areas like Vedado Cuba is one of the least connected At the end of the conference schools for communism. ended up without the resources to and Miramar. The old hotels - countries on the planet. The Cuban Frank García Hernández spoke n Communists are champions of pay for equipment or translators, so including the famous Nacional, state had restricted access to the emotionally of what it took to get it the oppressed. Women’s oppression, one heroic volunteer translated every the Ambos Mundos (where Ernest internet, just as it still restricts travel. off the ground, despite the thousand combating racism and chauvinism, paper, line by line or paragraph by Hemingway’s room is preserved as a But in the last five-six years the state obstacles the bureaucracy put in and the struggle for peace and paragraph, from the stage. The tourist attraction) and the completely has relaxed restrictions, and more the way - he thanked the Institute ecological sustainability are just substitution of consecutive for redone Habana Libre (the old Havana hot spots are appearing. Sporadic of Philosophy for its invaluable as much working class questions simultaneous translation effectively Hilton) - remain as icons of a pre- connection is possible. More and support. He finished by declaring: as pay, trade union rights and cut the time available for each paper revolutionary Cuba, where the mafia more people have cellphones and one “Neither kings nor bureaucrats, nor demands for high-quality health, in half, forcing draconian reductions and others from Miami gambled, can buy cards for internet connection bosses - towards communism!” housing and education. in what could be included. But the dined and danced. (to use in the zones where there is The participants then enthusi- n Socialism represents victory quality of those papers was still Old Havana, closed to cars, still such connection). We stayed in astically sang ‘The Internationale’ in the battle for democracy. It is generally excellent, and the range features music in the streets, and Vedado - a largely upscale district, - simultaneously in many languag- the rule of the working class. was broad. Cubans of all walks of life stroll with many beautiful, if sometimes es. Paul Le Blanc noted that he saw Socialism is either democratic or, The opening panel was made leisurely through it - or stop to dance. decrepit, houses - that is only partly younger comrades who did not join as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it up of Eric Toussaint from Belgium One sign of Cuba in the ‘special online. There was no access in our in, thinking it was a weird relic from turns into its opposite. on ‘Lenin and Trotsky confronting period’ - after the collapse of the neighbourhood, though our house another time, But the older partici- the bureaucracy and Stalin’; Paul Soviet Union and its subsidy - are the was on a main street. pants loved it l n Socialism is the first stage LeBlanc on ‘Trotsky against Stalin’; many beggars (mostly pensioners) Cuba has a two-tier economy with of the worldwide transition to Robert Brenner on ‘Trotsky, the in the heart of Old Havana. We saw two currencies: one for ordinary Suzi Weissman is professor communism–a system which Left Opposition and the peasantry’; no sign of homelessness, especially Cubans (the Cuban peso) and the of politics at Saint Mary’s knows neither wars, exploitation, and myself on ‘The Left Opposition of the sort that is so widespread in other - Cuban Convertible Currency College of California and money, classes, states nor nations. divided - the Serge-Trotsky disputes’. US cities. Cuba is vibrant, colourful (CUC) for tourists and the private is on the editorial boards Communism is general freedom There were numerous other panels and sunny - and I noticed a sense of sector. Euros, Canadian dollars, of Critique and Against the and the real beginning of human on various aspects of Trotsky’s life, dignity that is often hard to detect Mexican pesos, and plastic from Current. She is the author history. politics and legacy, including in Cuba. these days on the streets of Los European banks can be used, but of Victor Serge: a political The Weekly Worker is licensed by Participants came from across the Angeles. Visas and Mastercards from US biography, among other November Publications under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial spectrum of Trotskyist politics - from Cubans still have free education banks are not accepted anywhere. It works, and is co-producing the 4.0 International Licence: http:// so-called ‘orthoTrots’, to ‘state caps’, and free healthcare, and they are is possible to exchange US dollars, documentary film Leon Trotsky: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ to bureaucratic collectivists. These guaranteed housing, food and jobs. but there is a pricy exchange fee, so the most dangerous man in the legalcode. ISSN 1351-0150. represented the leading interpretation Life may seem easy-going to our one dollar is 0.87 CUC. The peso is world. No 1252 May 23 2019 Opposition to war will be branded anti-Semitic BDS on the march and under fire The witch hunt against those who campaign against Israeli settler-colonialism is unlikely to end any time soon, observes Paul Demarty

s Donald Trump cranks up Opponents of BDS managed to get tensions with Iran, he must together a letter from 100 celebrities A necessarily cast the spotlight of varying levels of importance to on other regimes than that of the oppose a boycott, citing the power of ayatollahs. music to “help bridge cultural divides”. The United States - far more for Madonna herself stressed how music such a war than it was for the conquests (including the type of boring stuff heard of Iraq and Afghanistan, troublesome at Eurovision, presumably) brings enough as they were - will be reliant people together internationally. As on its allies in the region. None more with all such sentiments, it is entirely so, of course, than Israel - whose off the point; the idea that what is at governing class has been screaming for issue in Palestine is a cultural division Iran’s downfall for at least as long as healable by dancing to the same pop Binyamin Netanyahu has been in office, songs is utterly risible, already mocked and possesses the necessary munitions by Art Brut back in the days of Ariel and guile to stage a provocation that Sharon’s premiership (“We’re gonna will get the little crusade of Trump and be the band that writes the song that national security advisor John Bolton makes Israel and Palestine get along”). started. One option among many, but a By rendering the underlying problem very attractive one from the American in soft focus, the refusal of various point of view. Icelandic entry, Hatari: making their feelings clear worthies to take a moral stand becomes Israel probably ought to be in the - as if by magic - part of the solution. news for that - now that Netanyahu’s residents). Secondly, such sentiments the most Palestinians; which bombs considerable opposition. There are the In reality, we know why these relentless sabre-rattling is bearing fruit. functioned as an ideological fig leaf for hospitals and power plants without usual suspects: Stop the War Coalition, things happen. Israel hosts Eurovision Instead, other matters arise. Israel’s willingness to act as an attack meaningful provocation; and which leftwing trade unions, secular and for the same reason Qatar hosts the We might as well begin with the more dog for the ‘free world’ in an important pals around, as Sarah Palin would put it, religious Muslims, Jeremy Corbyn, World Cup - to launder its reputation. serious of them. The German federal theatre of global strategy. with similarly ugly nationalists around the Labour left, Quakers, communists, A night of pop music that discreetly parliament, the Bundestag, passed a Yet it was convincing enough the world. The close friendship between international socialists and assorted places Israel at the heart of Europe is Kafkaesque motion entitled “Resisting to do the job in practice. When the Trump and ‘Bibi’ is emblematic, but, pacifists and peaceniks ... and protests just the sort of message its PR people the BDS movement decisively - Palestinian national movement stepped of course, this phenomenon even will attract hundreds of thousands. would like to send. This, however, fighting anti-Semitism”, which up its resistance after 1967, there was at extends to those happy to promote anti- They will, on this occasion, turns out to be exactly the sort of called on the government to refuse to least enough drama - plane hijackings Semitism, as in the case of Fidesz in however not just be accused of being thing which empowers a boycott “provide premises and facilities under and whatnot - to set up a superficial Hungary. naive, of being in receipt of Iranian campaign. In the case of Qatar 2022, the administration of the Bundestag to ‘Israel versus the terrorists’ narrative. Its Legislative action against the BDS money, of being unpatriotic. They will it is the wounded pride of potential organisations that express themselves in interventions in Lebanon and elsewhere movement must be seen in this context. be accused of anti-Semitism. Indeed hosts spurned in a flagrantly corrupt anti-Semitic terms or question Israel’s in the 1980s threatened this somewhat, It is a tacit admission that, so far as the whole anti-Zionism equals anti- process that led to greater scrutiny right to exist.” but not absolutely, and the theatrical the broadly defined left is concerned, Semitism campaign is ultimately about being placed on the preparations; and It later emerged that dozens of ‘peace process’ repaired some of that Israel is a write-off. It is seen for what war in the Middle East. That is why the average British football fan knows Israeli academics had written to urge damage in the 1990s. The next decade, it is - not a plucky little underdog, the Altanticist ruling class want rid of a great deal more about the appalling that the motion be not passed; but such however, placed the Middle East but a monstrous colonial oppressor, Corbyn and rid of the entire Labour conditions of migrant labourers in squeaks of protest from people who much further up the American order of armed to the teeth with conventional Party membership that supports him. the tiny Gulf state than they did dare to have a conscience could never priorities - the Palestinians could thus and nuclear weapons, and governed before. Likewise, it matters little that compete with Netanyahu’s chums and be redefined as part of a hostile Muslim by a shifting coalition of religious Eurovision no contestant actually pulled out of various Atlanticist creeps in the major horde, surrounding an agreeably fanatics, racists and scoundrels. Thus, The less superficially serious piece Eurovision (although it would have parties. ‘western’ Israel. a broad consensus in favour of a US- of Israel news this last week rather been nice); the fact that there has been This builds on the same offensive in Inexorably, this turned the led hegemonic alliance, of which Israel underlines the case. The Eurovision a controversy about it has exposed the United States itself, where over half chauvinist right in the west into the is the pointy end, cannot be maintained song contest took place in Tel Aviv what a shabby arrangement the whole the states have now legislated against most fanatical supporters of Israel, with appeals to fair play and liberal on May 18, and understandably the thing is, and how hollow attempts to boycott, divestment and sanctions and pushed anti-war and war-weary values, but only - like the occupation BDS movement made a target of it. ‘put differences aside with music’ (or (so much for the First Amendment liberals away. What remained of the itself - by force, lies and witch hunting All artists and general worthies were football) actually are. …). A particularly ugly flashpoint liberal Zionist milieux were reduced demonisation. urged to boycott the event; the special The limit of the boycott is that has been the repeated slurs directed to a resentful tail of the openly A US ‘shock and awe’ bombing celebrity guest singer, Madonna, it cannot substitute for a material against Ilhan Omar, a leftish Democrat Islamophobic spokespeople of the new campaign against Iran is easy to came in for particular criticism, and change in the balance of forces - the congresswoman and lukewarm BDS ‘populist’ right. There are enough left envisage. Especially if Israel first stages presumably a stage show that nodded boycott of South Africa could not have supporter, who is now officially public over to fill newspaper comment pages a provocation on its border with Syria gloopily in the direction of ‘peace, brought down apartheid. That was the enemy number one for the American with contemptible apologetics, and or Lebanon, or annexes territory on the maan’ will have satisfied nobody. work of a mass movement, combined right; she is repeatedly accused of to staff the imperialist wing of social West Bank, or ... If Iran can be pictured Protests have dogged the contest since with geostrategic changes. However, supporting terrorism and is the number democracy; but little else. as being behind or involved in any such its earlier rounds that select acts, and the American empire is not about to one assassination target for white Liberals and the left today are events, the US could act in the name of the Icelandic entry - a leftwing band by collapse, and it cannot yet dispense supremacist fruitcakes. faced not with a quasi-‘socialist’ Israel saving Israel. One could imagine a post- the name of Hatari - repeatedly took the with its Israeli pet. Which means that If there is a silver lining to morally administered by the heirs of Ben Gurion, Brexit Britain, under prime minister opportunity to express solidarity with the witch-hunting of supporters of the perverse pronouncements like that of but an increasingly militarised society Boris Johnson, responding positively to the Palestinians, as a result of which Palestinian cause is only likely to get the Bundestag, the monstering of Ilhan led by a corrupt sociopath, whose US appeals for a token number of strike the Icelandic broadcasting authorities worse l Omar and the wider American state political parties compete merely on the aircraft and war ships. are to be sanctioned by the Eurovision offensive against BDS, it is that it tells basis of who has killed or displaced There would, of course, be powers-that-be. 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