Does the Socialist Workers Party practise what it preaches
in Socialist Worker’s ‘What the SWP stands for’
column? During the SWP’s annual ‘Marxism’
event in central London (July 6-10) the CPGB invites you
to a series of fringe discussion meetings:
l All meetings
start at 5pm
l Plenty of
time for debate
l See below
a map of the venues
l Phone 07950
416 922 for more details
Thursday July 6, University College London, Malet
Place, room 104:
‘Primitive communism and the SWP’ - Chris Knight (Radical
Anthropology Group)
Does the SWP stand for Marxism? In 1991 the anthropologist
and socialist, Chris Knight, published his ground-breaking
book, Blood relations. He argued that “some 74,000
years ago, following the onset of the last ice age, there
was a female sex strike. A general act of solidarity that
paved the way for the revolutionary transition from savagery
to primitive communism that took place during the upper
palaeolithic”. In other words, an application of the theory
mapped out by Marx and Engels. The SWP leadership’s response
was to dismiss the Marxist theory of primitive communism
and close down discussion.
Friday July 7, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford
Way, room 736:
‘State capitalism and the SWP’ - Hillel Ticktin (Critique
editorial board)
Supposedly “the result” of the isolation of the revolution,
the USSR “was state capitalism, not socialism”. But is
this ‘theory’ of the USSR as state capitalism compatible
with Marxism? Did it explain the 1991 collapse?
Saturday July 8, Birkbeck College, Malet Street,
room B29: ‘Bureaucratic centralism and the SWP’ - Mike
Macnair (CPGB) and Simon Wells (expelled SWP member)
“To achieve socialism the most militant sections of the
working class have to be organised into a revolutionary
socialist party.” Yet how is this possible, given the
internal regime of today’s SWP? Factions are effectively
outlawed, internal debate negligible and open disagreement
treated as treachery. Is this organisation democratic
or bureaucratic?
Sunday July 9, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, room
255:
‘Internationalism and the SWP’ - Yassamine Mather (Critique
editorial board)
“The struggle for socialism is part of a worldwide struggle.
We campaign for solidarity with workers in other countries.”
But does SWP practice match up to its words?
Monday July 10, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, room
B29:
‘Anti-imperialism and the SWP’ - Peter Tatchell (Outrage)
“We fight for real social, economic and political equality
of women. We are for an end to all forms of discrimination
against lesbians and gays.” Unless it is politically inconvenient?
