new paper
The International Socialist Group
and the Socialist Solidarity
Network, along with individual sponsors, are taking the initiative to launch a new paper - Socialist
We think this is necessary to express and build support for a distinct political position which, despite differences among us on secondary issues, we share. We want to deepen the fight for a broad socialist party in England on the model of, for example, the SSP in Scotland and the Party of Communist Refoundation in Italy.
We want to strengthen the fight for inclusive, creative and forward looking Marxist politics on the British left. We will do this in the Socialist Alliance, the SSP, the anti-globalisation movement, the movements of the oppressed and the labour movement generally.
In taking this step, we base ourselves on the following positions:I) World capitalism has moved into a major new recession, which is exposing the contradictions of modern capitalism ever more blatantly. This recession will bring hardship and despair to millions who see their savings and pensions disappear or substantially reduced - so much so that even George Bush speaks of the danger of the American people "losing faith in our free enterprise system!"
2) This crisis is impacting on the third world through mass poverty and austerty, and in the worst of cases mass starvation. More than ever, the role of the transnational corporations and the instituSeptember Il.
To environmental destruction, mass poverty and unemployment is now added the constant danger - and daily practice - of imperialist militarism, already impacting on Afghanistan, Colombia and other countries, showing itself in the escalation of Israeli barbarity against the Palestinian people, and most likely leading soon to a massive assault on Iraq We want to deepen the fight for a broad socialist party like the Scottish Socialist Party ..••
3) This new crisis of world capitalism, together with the collapse of Stalinism, and the abject capitulation of social democracy worldwide, exemplified by Blairism in Britain, has created a new space for left and socialist alternatives.
But this is happening in a period when the labour movement internationally is still on the defensive, and when rebuilding the labour movement and social move. ment for helping resolve the crisis of the labour and social movements. We want to leam from its refreshing dynamism, creative ways of organising and spirit of renewal.
Within this movement it is cru/cial to fight for socialist, anticapitalist perspectives and against those which see the possibility of a 'reformed', 'humane' capitalism.
5) For us a crucial aspect of that is the fight to build broad socialist parties, exemplified by the Scottish Socialist Party and Communist Refoundation in Italy, which can begin to act as a political alternative for at least a section of the masses.
We do not believe that existing far left organisations, even the largest of them, are politically broad enough or have enough organisational strength, to play this role on their own - although they have a vital role to play in bringing new socialist parties into existence and leading them.
We note, for example, that the French LCR, even after its electoral success in the presidential elections, launched an appeal for a broad anti-capitalist formation, which could become a new broad social ist party. We think this is the right way for ward.
In the existing crisis, reactionary as well as left-wing alternatives are being forcefully advanced, as exemplified by the successes of the far right in elections in France, Holland and elsewhere. The far left is in a race with racist reaction for mass allegiance, as the political centre collapses or goes into crisis. Sign up for the resistance!
details on how to become a sponsor of the new : paper. : Name .. : Address. Post Code .... email Age ..... Phone..
page 6 of the scan
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