When the Official IRA announced its ceasefire in May 1972 it said it had done so because of the danger of sectarian warfare being provoked.
But the danger and actuality of sectarianism is not determined by the actions of republicans but by the intentions of the loyalists and their British masters who more or less control loyalist paramilitaries.
The statement revealed th: t for the Officials sectarian sm was no longer to be understood as an expression of imperialism but as a pr duct of the working class been endorsed, and since in the worldwide scheme of things this is mainly what the Southern State is for, there existed no fundamental difference between the Irish State and its 'radical' republican opponents.
Grass roots campaigning helped build a base for the new movement that was to end up being called the Workers Party but, without a solid political perspective based on the big questions of state power and the nature of society, the successes achieved were always vulnerable.
When Workers Party TDs decisively supported Charles Haughey Taoiseach in 1982 that party had effectively signalled its at their Ard heis defining Irish freedom as being like that 'presently being built in the Socialist countries.'
The tragedy of the Officials is not unlike that of many millions of workers around the who accepted Stalinism as socialism and ended up playing an often unwitting role in discrediting socialism and demoralising themselves.
The revolutionary movement in Ireland would be much stronger today if the thousands of republicans who embraced socialism had not done so under the banner of Stalinism.
A longer version of this article can be found at www.socialistdemocracy.org
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September 13-16 ExCel Arms Fair (DSEi), Docklands, London. 11th September: CAAT alternative DSEi conference, 11 - 5pm venue TBC 12th September: Candle-Lit Vigil, 6pm outside the ExCel Centre. 13th September: 12 noon; demonstration against the Arms Fair, more details soon. 4-8pm; CAAT alternative DSEi conference, venue TBC. Wednesday 14th September Bristol Stop the War Public Meeting - 'End the Occupation of Iraq and Defend Civil Liberties' 7pm, Winston Theatre, University of Bristol Union, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1LN Speaker: Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition), Yvonne Ridley Thursday 15th September London 7.30pm, The Round Chapel, Lower Clapton Road, E5 If you like what you've read or you want to find out more about Socialist Resistance, get in touch with us by ringing 020 8800 7460, or email [email protected] EDITORS: Terry Conway, John Lister, Liam MacUaid. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tami Peterson, Kathy Lowe, Piers Mostyn, Karen O'Toole., DESIGN: John Lister SPONSORED BY: International Socialist Group, Socialist Solidarity Network and individuals including Patrick Baker, Andrew Burgin, Brenda and Brian Bushell, Mathew Caygill, Duncah Chapple, Julian Coppens, Frances Curran, Norma Dowd, Andy Gibbons, Jamie Gough, Catriona Grant, Marcus Greville, Patrick Hall, Rick Hatcher, Wayne Holmes, Nick Lidgett, Frank McMahon, Alan McCoombes, Martin Milne, Piers Mostyn, Liz Peretz, Sue Phillips, Surykant Raithatha, Norman Traub, Rick Simon, Colin Smith, Murray Smith, Sarah Taversham, Doug Thorpe, Tony Traub, Tessa van Gelderen, Bill Walton, Roger Welch. Published by SOCIALIST RESISTANCE, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. Printed by Web Press International, London E15. with Andy Burgin (STWC), Yvonne Ridley and Military Families Against War Oxford Stop the War Coalition Rally Town Hall, St Aldgates, Oxford with Lindsey German and David Shayler London COLOMBIA/VENEZUELA Building trade union solidarity Carlos Rodriguez, General Secretary, CUT, Colombia, Orlando Chirino, UNT, Venezuela & Jeremy Dear, General Secretary NUJ, at NUJ HQ Headland House, 308 Grays Inn Road. Hear the leaders of the trade union movement in Venezuela and Colombia explain the struggles of Latin American workers and how unions in the UK can deliver practical solidarity to those who in very different ways are at the forefront of the fight for a better world. Saturday 17 September Stop the War Carnival for Peace London March from Highbury Fields to Islington Green for rally with Jeremy Corbyn MP. Thursday September 22nd Oxford 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm DENIAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE PUBLIC MEETING. The Holywell Music Rooms, Holywell St., George Monbiot Saturday 24th Sept National Demonstration Stop the War Coalition with CND and MAB have called a National Demonstration to Stop the Bombings, Stop the War, Bring the Troops Home, Defend Civil Liberties and Defend the Muslim Community. Saturday 24th September, 1pm, Central London Sunday 25th September 2005 London Twinning with Palestine Membership Standing Order form YOUR BANK DETAILS: Bank Name Address Your account details: Sort Code Account Name Account Number Please pay the sum of (write in words and numbers) On the day of_ And on the same date every month thereafter, unless cancelled or amended by me in writing. To the account of ein
DONT conference 11am to 5pm. A day conference for twinning committees, friendship associations and other groups and organisations making friendship links with Palestinian towns and groups -Meant for new and long-standing twinning partners and also for groups newly considering twinning with Palestine. Further details on costs and booking details from Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association, PO Box 34265, London NW5 2WD ([email protected]) Saturday October 1, 12 noon to 5pm. Send us a donation every month - through
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SMAR National Coalition of AntiDeportation Campaigns regional meetings. Lunch provided, crèche available. Travel costs for those facing deportation reimbursed by NCADC Midlands/South/Wales: Carrs Lane Church, Carrs Lane, Birmingham city centre. 0121 554 6947; [email protected] North East/Scotland: St Mary's Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough. 01642 226260; [email protected] October 1 Demonstration: Lever Edge Lane, Bolton 12 noon STANDING ORDER! Just fil in and post to us 3NJ Bank sort code 08-02-28 Account number 70186297 Name Address Signature Date DO NOT SEND STRAIGHT TO YOUR BANK not funded by the bosses
Mirro Support the Sukula family Oppose Section 9 Supported by Sukula family must stay campaign, NCADC, Bolton Met Unison, Bolton NUT and others October 1 National Planning meeting for International Day of Action on Climate Change, ASIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Manzil Way, Off Cowley Rd, Oxford Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November Respect National conference. Camden Centre, London (near Kings Cross). Co-operative Bank, 78-80 Cheapside London EC3V Please return to RESISTANCE
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The next issue of Socialist Resistance will be produced on
October 1-2 and distributed the following week.
come on any topic, up to 400 words) will be September 26. Diary items reviews and local news are also welcome. Karen O'Toole Over 400 young people, revolutionaries active in the global justice and anti-war movements, converged on the tiny village of Barbaste in South West France at the end of July for the youth
organised by the youth sections of the Fourth
France was a good place to go for an event like this. The political situation there is very dynamic and exciting; the longest wave of student struggle since May 1968, and the fantastic non' vote against the EU constitution, a huge victory against neoliberalism which has ramifications right across Europe.
This year, there were more black people than ever before with a number of meetings specifically aimed Socialist Resistance held a sucThe deadline for feature articles and for letters (which are welat the politics of black liberation, imperialism and racism.
There was a debate about whether black people should organise separately in order to fight racism, and whether this was the most effective way of organising.
There was a high degree of convergence of opinion on this. In western countries particularly, the revolutionary left should fight together against oppression. Revolutionaries of African and Carribean descent had been ghettoised for many years, and left to fight these battles alone.
Another highlight was an educational given by Daniel Bensaid on the relationship between bureaucratisation and libertarianism.
This is a debate which has Resistance: Respect, Youth and been prompted from within revolutionary socialist groups, namely around the relationship between an older generation of experienced revolutionaries, and a younger, more dynamic membership.
They can often feel frustrated that the pace of revolutionary organisations is slower than the pace of the mass movements on the streets.
This can be summed up in two words; Conservatism and inertia. This can lead to a an approach adopted by older people, who feel they have to 'manage a crisis.
Bureaucratisation can happen within any political party, and is a reflection of an objective process.
Often, parties can live-out long periods of time, sometimes decades - as has been this reason we are establishing the case in the recent past -when nothing happens. There is no dynamic movement to relate to and there is nothing to do except talk to other like minded
A sharp change of events, such as that we have witnessed in the past five or six years in Britain and the rest of Europe, the birth of the global justice and anti war movements, have often caught the older generations unawares.
Often there is confusion and disorientation about what the movement represents, whether it is progressive, what is its base. Younger people tend to be much more flexible and ready to move in to struggle at an earlier opportunity. This is the basis of the
It is the sign of a healthy organisation which is able to debate this in the open. Even though through lack of time this was not a conclusive debate, it explains very perceptively the dynamic which has been present in most revolutionary organisations today. The camp was at the end of July, just afew weeks after the London bombings, and began the day after the police murder of Jean Charles de Menezes. Many of the other sections we spoke to also had troops in either Afghanistan or Irag and were intending to return from the camp to revive the anti-war movements at home.
There was no question that everybody agreed the bombings were a result of Britain's involvement in
This years camp was able to demonstrate an ongoing ability to engage at a very high level of debate over a number of important issues. There was also an arguement over whether the bar should stock Coca Cola.
This was a somewhat polarised debate, but most felt we should respect the boycott called by the Colombia Solidarity Campaign. For many it was their first experience of the camp, and most people we spoke to found it a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring week, in spite of the changeable weather conditions; from storms to searing hot sunshine. Next year's camp takes place in Italy - book your place now by contacting us.