Theory for revolution. |
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- Choosing
the butcher February 15 2007
With the presidential elections looming and the two
mainstream candidates neck and neck, France’s establishment
looks set to take another step towards its goal of establishing
a stable, two-party system. Peter Manson looks at the
failure of the left to provide an alternative
- Fuse
workers’ movement and Marxism November 9 2006
Boris Kagarlitsky looks at the prospects and possibilities
for the Russian left
- On
the road to social democracy October 5 2006
Ben Lewis reports from the Hanover programme convention
of L.PDS and WASG
- German
left punished for coalitionism September 21 2006
The poor performance of the reformist left, mass electoral
apathy and the rise of the far right in the September
17 elections in two German states highlight the urgent
need for a Marxist alternative. Ben Lewis reports
- Fight
on two fronts August 10 2006
July 29 saw the official launch of the election campaign
for the September 17 Berlin regional elections, where
the local WASG (Electoral Initiative for Labour and
Social Justice) and the governing Linkspartei.PDS are
to stand against each other. Ben Lewis reports from
Germany
- Labor
Tribune launched July 13 2006
Marcus Ström is the editor of Labor Tribune, a
recently established website of Marxist discussion and
intervention in Australia. He was previously prominent
on the revolutionary left in Britain as a CPGB member
and a leader of the Socialist Alliance. He spoke to
Mark Fischer
- Dump
sect culture
The largest left group in Australia, Democratic
Socialist Perspective, has just suffered a split.
In this Labor Tribune article Marcus Ström
calls for open debate and disciplined unity, not
conspiratorial intrigue
- Wanted:
principled opposition June 15 2006
There is a joint left opposition emerging in the two
German groups, WASG and Linkspartei.PDS, coming together
in a new workers’ party. But is it prepared to
take on the existing leaderships in both organisations?
Ben Lewis reports from the June 10 conference in Berlin,
‘For an anti-capitalist left’
- German
CWI moves towards WASG split May 25 2006
Tina Becker reports from the May 20 gathering of the
so-called ‘left’ opposition in the German
WASG - which was dominated not by socialist ideas, but
conservatism and sectarianism
- WASG
removes Berlin leadership May 18 2006
At its meeting on May 13, the national executive of
the WASG decided to remove the regional executives in
Berlin and the east German federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
says Tina Becker
- Merger in jeopardy May
18 2006
Tina Becker and Ben Lewis reply to Sascha Stanicic (Sozialistische
Alternative) on the questions of his organisation's
role in the Wahlalternative Arbeit und Soziale Gerechtigkeit
- Emancipatory
socialism and Realpolitik May 18 2006
Katja Kipping is a Linkspartei.PDS MP and the party’s
national vice-chair. She spoke to Tina Becker about
the difficult merger process with the WASG (Wahlalternative
Arbeit und Soziale Gerechtigkeit)
- Berlin
haunts proceedings May 4 2006
Tina Becker and Ben Lewis report from the April 29-30
conference of the Wahlalternative Arbeit und Soziale
Gerechtigkeit (WASG) in Ludwigshafen. Intended to smooth
the way for unity with the Linkspartei.PDS, it was marked
by discontent, threats and the profound disorientation
of the left opposition
- Merger
opportunity April 6 2006
Ben Lewis, a member of the CPGB and the German left
party WASG, reports on the result of the Urabstimmung
(membership ballot) within the WASG, which highlights
widespread discontent over the leadership's bureaucratic
manoeuvres in pursuing the merger with the Linkspartei.PDS
ballot
- Fight
for unity, fight for principle March 30 2006
Ben Lewis (a member of the CPGB and the German left
party, WASG) reports on last week’s regional elections
in three German federal states and the local elections
in the state of Hesse, which give a useful snapshot
of the soon-to-be-united left
- Yes
to merger March 23 2006
Claus Ludwig is a member of the Wahlalternative Arbeit
und Soziale Gerechtigkeit (WASG) and the Sozialistische
Alternative (SAV) - the German sister party of the Socialist
Party in England and Wales. In 2002, he was elected
as a councillor in Cologne. He spoke to Tina Becker
about the difficulties in uniting the WASG and the Linkspartei.PDS
- New
period for Russia March 16 2006
Vladimir Putin’s draconian anti-union legislation
and attempts to stifle the opposition have made life
for the left in Russia extremely difficult in one sense
- but they have also helped it to rebuild. Boris
Kagarlitsky of the Institute for Globalisation Studies
spoke to Tina Becker about the emergence of a new Marxist
left
- MDC split offers opportunity
for left March 9 2006
Zimbabwe’s opposition party, the Movement for
Democratic Change, has formally split. The MDC was
originally set up by trade union leaders, including
former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president Morgan
Tsvangirai, but was soon taken over by pro-imperialist
elements. Former MDC MP Munyaradzi Gwisai, a leading
figure in the Socialist Workers Party’s sister
grouping, the International Socialist Organisation,
assesses the current situation
- Floundering
towards Eurocommunism February 16 2006
While Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire theorists
flounder towards Eurocommunism, the SWP’s Alex
Callinicos can only answer them with evasion. In the
first of three articles, Mike Macnair discusses revolutionary
strategy
- Revolutionary
strategy and Marxist conclusions February 23 2006
In the second in a series of articles, Mike Macnair
continues his examination of right-moving Ligue Communiste
Révolutionnaire theorists and the response of
the SWP’s Alex Callinicos
- Reform
coalition, or mass strike? March 30 2006
In the third article in this series, Mike Macnair examines
the basis of two contending strategies for working class
advance
- Left
merger still on hold February 9 2006
“An absurd fratricidal war” - this is how
the political magazine Der Spiegel describes the current
difficulties hampering the creation of a new left party
in Germany. But the root of the dispute is not absurd
at all, says Tina Becker: it centres on the important
question of government participation. By employing a
range of bureaucratic manoeuvres, the WASG leadership
is now trying to silence its own opposition that demands
the party take a principled stand against accepting
ministerial posts - while the SWP’s German section
sides with the right
 Church
and state against women’s rights January 5
2006
Will Italy's Rifondazione Comunista risk upsetting their
coalition partners-to-be by defending women’s rights?
Anne Mc Shane reports from the struggle over abortion
rights in Italy
- Opposition
party or coalition partner? December 8 2005
Trouble is brewing in the German Linkspartei. The Berlin
regional congress of Wahlalternative (WASG) has just
voted against the ‘cooperation agreement’,
which maps out the unification process with the Party
of Democratic Socialism (now renamed Linkspartei.PDS).
WASG comrades in Berlin also want to stand separately
in the 2006 local elections - refusing a joint candidature
with the Linkspartei.PDS, which is part of the Berlin
government. Yet, writes Tina Becker, Linksruck, the
German section of the SWP, has joined forces with the
WASG leadership in criticising this decision
- Empty
platitudes or programme of action? November 17 2005
Around 180 people from across Europe attended the November
12-13 ‘Assembly for a charter of principles
for another Europe’ in Florence. This charter,
which could potentially be a very useful tool for the
struggles of the working class in Europe, will be presented
to the next European Social Forum in Athens in May 2006.
However, the confusion about the purpose and structure
of the charter mirrors the political disarray of much
of the European left, says Tina Becker
- "Party
discipline no longer works" November 17 2005
Elisabeth Gauthier is a member of the executive committee
of the Parti Communiste Français. She
spoke to Tina Becker about the recent riots in France
- State
of emergency against youth revolt November 10 2005
While France explodes, the left pontificates. Peter
Manson exposes the narrow-mindedness of economism
 Tentative
steps to unity November 3 2005
Around 300 people attended the first congress of the
European Left Party in Athens, October 29-30.
The congress did not achieve much in terms of political
clarity - but undoubtedly it was an advance in the cooperation
of the left across Europe. Tina Becker reports
- Realigning
the left
If the European Left Party does nothing else but
bring to an end the multiplicity of ineffective
umbrella organisations that exist on the European
left, it will have achieved something. Let us look
at a few of them.
- Unification
process
Interview with Haris Golemis, a member of the central
political committee of the Greek party Synaspismos
(Coalition of the Left and Movements of Ecology)
- Respect:
Britain out of the EU?
Leading SWP member Chris Bambery told participants
at the congress that Respect supports Britain's
withdrawal from the European Union
-
Making a difference
September 29 2005
Eva Bulling-Schröter is one of 54 newly elected
German MPs from the Linkspartei (Left Party), which
achieved a magnificent 8.7% at last week’s parliamentary
elections. She spoke to Tina Becker about the election
campaign, the merger negotiations between the PDS and
the Wahlalternative (WASG) and the possibility of Linkspartei
participation in government
- Opportunity
for left to rebuild September 22 2005
Sunday’s election had only one clear winner: the
newly established Linkspartei, which polled 8.7%
and will have 54 MPs - by far the best result for a
left party since World War II. This result is particularly
impressive, says Tina Becker, when one considers that
the social democratic government looked in danger of
outright defeat at the hands of the conservatives. People
were not intimidated by the threat of the right
- Minuscule
vote for Socialist Alliance September 22 2005
The Australian SA is in a sorry state, report Marcus
Ström and Greg Adler
- Rebuilding
the struggle September 15 2005
The regime of Robert Mugabe has overseen the destruction
of a huge number of self-built houses. At least 2.5
million people were affected. Yet protests and resistance
proved minimal and muted. There is a crisis of leadership,
reformists dither and the left does not grasp the necessity
of a Marxist programme and the centrality of democracy.
Instead, it is mired in economism and clutches at eclectic,
spontaneous single-issue campaigns. Rosa Zulu, national
treasurer of the International Socialist Organisation
of Zimbabwe, spoke to Peter Manson
- Capitalist
‘solutions’ and the rebirth of the left
September 15 2005
Politics in Germany have suddenly become interesting,
reports Tina Becker. The SPD could well stay in power
- and the new Linkspartei is gaining both members
and mass support
- Third
largest party
Ben Lewis is working with the Linkspartei’s
election campaign. He spoke to Ralph Steinmüller,
a member of the PDS on the Bonn steering committee
- Opportunities
open up on the left July 28 2005
The deep political crisis in Germany offers tremendous
opportunities for the organised left. Unfortunately,
the new Linkspartei looks unlikely to put forward any
of the radical answers needed to overcome it. Instead,
the comrades are bowing to populism, national Keynesian
solutions and their own version of George Galloway.
And, just like Respect, they have great trouble in accepting
principled politics like open borders, says Tina Becker
- Clutching
at Keynesian straws to save welfare capitalism June
2 2005
The forthcoming dissolution of the German parliament
to allow for early elections shows the deep crisis of
German capital and the political elite. A coming
together of the usually very fragmented left under Oscar
Lafontaine (pictured) opens up new possibilities.
But the left is in political crisis too: in response
to global capitalism it is marked by a rejection of
international socialism and the advocacy of national
Keynesianism. Tina Becker reports
 From
anti-capitalism to serving capitalism March 10 2005
The 6th Congress of Rifondazione Comunista, held
in Venice from March 3-6, was a strange affair, report
Tina Becker and Mark Fischer. The appalling decision
to join with Romano Prodi’s Olive Tree coalition
and (assuming victory in the 2006 general election)
follow him into government had already been made at
branch and regional level. Still, there were some very
heated debates at congress, with a sizeable minority
of comrades strongly critical of this turn, which has
gone hand in hand with an attempt to squeeze the democratic
space open to the party opposition. Clearly, this centrist
organisation is moving to the right. This is not just
bad news for the Italian working class - the European
left will suffer too
- The
opposition
The positions of the four oppositional factions,
including interviews with some of their leading
representatives
- Betraying
socialism March 17 2005
Rifondazione Comunista used to be regarded as something
of a model by sections of the disoriented left.
It was one of those parties of ‘recomposition’.
In reality Rifondazione is a centrist political
formation which, after dabbling in movementism over
the last few years, has just opted to join Romano
Prodi’s Olive Tree coalition. Tina Becker spoke
to Franco Russo, a member of the national
committee of Rifondazione Comunista, about this
shameful decision
- Aussie SA in trouble
March 10 2005
Marcus Larsen reports from the Socialist Alliance
in Australia, which seems to be going the same way
as the SA in Britain
- Socialist
or welfare state party? November 25 2004
Over the weekend of November 20-21, the first national
delegate conference of the German left alliance,
Wahlalternative Arbeit und soziale Gerechtigkeit,
decided unanimously to begin the process of setting
up a party. Tina Becker reports from Nuremberg
- Of
the left, not far left
Klaus Ernst, a leading comrade in the Wahlalternative,
spoke to the Weekly Worker
- For
a socialist party
Joachim Bischoff, for many years one of the few
West German members of the national executive of
the Party of Democratic Socialism, explains why
he has joined the WASG instead
- The
membership decides
Christine Lehnert, a member of the Sozialistische
Alternative (SAV), the German section of the Socialist
Party's Committee for a new International (CWI),
explains what her organisation wants to achieve
in the WASG - despite some of the democratic deficits
- Mobilising
against Hartz IV in Germany September 16 2004
Over the last couple of months, up to 130,000 people
have taken part in the so-called Montagsdemonstrationen
(Monday demonstrations) against a new law attacking
unemployment benefits. Could these provide the spark
for the long overdue foundation of a real working class
party?
- Remaking
the left
Hugo Braun is a leading member of Attac Germany,
which he represents at preparatory meetings of the
European Social Forum. He is also a member of the
German Communist Party (DKP).
- Mixed
message March 25 2004
While Jacque Chirac is punished by the electorate for
his attacks on the working class, the benefit is going
not to the alliance of France's two main revolutionary
groups, but the mainstream left: Peter Manson analyses
why
- French
left looks away February 26 2004
While thousands marched against the banning of muslim
headscarves, the French left was absent. Peter
Manson argues this was a mistake
- European
Left Party February 19 2004
The formation of the ELP should not be dismissed,
despite its shortcomings, argues Tina Becker
- Workers
Party and its fragmented left wing February 12 2004
The Fourth International’s Brazilian section
is in disarray over its relationship to the government
of president Lula. Mike Macnair looks at how Democracia
Socialista ended up with comrades on both sides of the
class divide
- Jacques
Chirac’s Lutte Ouvrière policemen January
8 2004
Sections of the French left, confused by interlocking
issues of secularism, women’s rights and freedom
of expression, are in disarray over president Jacques
Chirac’s plans to scapegoat the oppressed five-million-strong
muslim minority, writes Peter Manson
- Wanted
- an anti-capitalist transitional programme December
11 2003
In the light of the electoral agreement struck between
Lutte Ouvrière and the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire,
Emile Fabrol of Gauche Communiste (a revolutionary
faction within the Parti Communiste Français)
examines the possibilities for left unity in France
following the mass strikes of May-June 2003
- Electoral
deal ratified December 11 2003
Peter Manson reports on the December 7 ratification
of the electoral bloc between the Ligue Communiste
Révolutionnaire and Lutte Ouvrière
- Politically
correct Thatcherites June 12 2003
The South African Communist Party’s Blade
Nzimande is the Communist Party of Britain’s main
attraction at its weekend school. Peter Manson examines
the SACP’s role
- EuroTrotskyism
June 5 2003
What is the Fourth International for? Mike Macnair
discusses the recent congress of the USFI
- Shape
of things to come May 29 2003
Marcus Strom discusses why the SWP's sister organisation
in Australia has split
- French
pensions battle escalates May 29 2003
Peter Manson argues that a general strike poses questions
of state power
- ISO
setback April 3 2003
The SWP's sister organisation in Zimbabwe was
heavily defeated in the recent parliamentary by-election.
Peter Manson reports
- Zimbabwe
hits crisis point Marh 27 2003
Last week Zimbabwe was thrown into turmoil as the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change, in alliance with a section
of the bourgeoisie, launched a two-day stayaway/lockout
directed against the Zanu-PF regime of Robert Mugabe.
Munyaradzi Gwisai, a leader of the International
Socialist Organisation - sister organisation of
the Socialist Workers Party in England and Wales - spoke
to Weekly Worker editor Peter Manson
- After
Saddam February 20 2003
Though subject to severe repression under the Ba’ath
regime, historically the Communist Party of Iraq
has retained a mass base. Faced with the impending US-UK
military onslaught, the party says it must fight on
two fronts - against imperialism and against Saddam
Hussein. Henning Böke spoke to Rashid Ghewielib,
representative of the CPI in Germany, about the present
situation and the prospects for the Iraqi opposition
- ANC
moves further right January 16 2003
Expelled member of the South African Communist Party
Dale McKinley looks back at the December 16-21 congress
of the ruling party
- Which
way for the PRC? November 21 2002
Should Rifondazione Comunista continue to hide
its light under a bushell? asks Tina Becker
- Towards
a European party November 21 2002
Rifondazione Comunista organised a seminar to discuss
the reality of a European politial party. Tina Becker
reports
- Food
control November 21 2002
In a situation of economic freefall and rampant Zanu-PF
corruption, Zimbabwe is facing hunger on a mass scale.
Rosa Zulu of the International Socialist Organisation
reports on the first steps towards workers’
self-organisation
- Capitalist
characteristics November 21 2002
Maurice Bernal casts an eye over recent changes in the
upper echelons of the Communist Party of China
- Towards
a European party November 21 2002
Rifondazione Comunista organised a seminar to
discuss the reality of a European politial party. Tina
Becker reports
- Fight
for class independence November 5 2002
Ian Donovan analyses the much-predicted victory of the
Brazilian Workers Party's Lula
- Put
Lula to test October 17 2002
This is not a candidacy that socialists and communists
should welcome and recommend to the masses to support.
However a victory for the Workers' Party candidate
could give an impulse to the struggles of the working
class and the landless peasants, argues Ian Donovan
- Italian
comrades play host October 3 2002
Tina Becker attended Rifondazione Comunista's
annual Liberazione festival
- Rifondazione
leads Rome anti-war demo
Demonstrators took to the streets of the Italian
capital. Sarah McDonald joined them
- Break
with capitalist ANC October 3 2002
On October 1 hundreds of thousands of workers went on
strike across South Africa against the privatisation
policies of the ANC, fronted by Jeff Radebe,
one of six government ministers who are members of the
South African Communist Party. Reporting from Johannesburg,
Dale McKinley of the Anti-Privatisation Forum exposes
ANC-SACP double talk
- Reject
LCR-ISG opportunism September 19 2002
Socialist Democracy (Ireland) takes issue with its United
Secretariat comrades in France and Britain over
their support for Jacques Chirac in the French presidential
elections
- Vote
PDS and organise September 19 2003
How should the left vote in Sunday’s parliamentary
elections in Germany? Despite its reformism Tina Becker
says critical support should be given to the PDS
- Italian
comrades play host October 3 2005
Tina Becker attended Rifondazione Comunista's annual
Liberazione festival
- Vote
PDS and organise September 19 2002
How should the left vote in Sunday’s parliamentary
elections in Germany? Despite its reformism Tina Becker
says critical support should be given to the PDS
- Socialist
Party excluded from Euro conference July 22 2002
Last month’s conference of the European anti-capitalist
left, sponsored by the United Secretariat of the Fourth
International, was held in Madrid. The Socialist Party
was not invited. This is the revealing correspondence
between the SP and a member of the conference preparatory
committee
- Chirac
consolidates: Golden opportunity missed June 20
2002
Peter Manson castigates the left for its role in the
recent French presidential and parliamentary elections
- Permanent
coup d'etat June 20 2002
Maurice Beral analysies the Fifth Republic
- From
refoundation to innovation April 11 2002
Marcus Ström reports on last week’s congress
of Rifondazione Comunista
- General
strike: For a Third Republic
The Second Republic is in crisis. The main classes of
Italy are set for a strategic confrontation. Rifondazione
Comunista needs to fight for a Third Republic and take
the lead of reshaping the European left, argues Marcus
Ström
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