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We need an alternative to the SWP

Gary Shlomo | 28.04.2002 08:06

The left has a problem

As a anti-capitalist and a strong believing in (direct) democracy i think the left needs a new group/organisation.

The only significant one that exists is the SWP. I and many others dislike the SWP and do not want to be a member. But where else do we go? Do we do things by ourselves?

We need to form a new organisation which is anti-capitlist, non-hierarchical, 100% democratic and not authoritarian like the SWP.

We in the anti-globalisation movement have alot in common and need to get together to form a new organisation which can bring about social change and maybe revolution.

Maybe we can use IndyMedia to form a new non-Leninist organisation/group.

Gary Shlomo
e-mail: gary224@email.com

Comments

Hide the following 14 comments

Too right you havea problem

28.04.2002 09:07

Your problem in West isyou are minority, no on votes for Socialist Alliance because a) candidates are unattractive b)everyone is Capitalist

serge skarov

agreement

28.04.2002 09:09

This post is obviously going to get criticism from SWP members, but I don't think that this will be justified. Whether or not they agree that the SWP is all the things it is accused of being, that is the way a lot of people feel about the organisation.

I for one would be very interested in being involved in a new orgnaisation with a socialist or general 'left' agenda, however for me it is the doctrine of revolution which is the source of many of the problems with the SWP so I would not want to join an organisation that had this as its central principle.

The 'one solution: revolution' line is what leads to SWP tactics in my opinion and I would be much more interested in an organisation that was more open-minded about the scenarios under which it would consider its work a success. This might seem a strange point to pick up on, but I would be happy to elaborate via email rather than clogging up Indymedia.

I also think that any political organisation at the moment that does not address the climate change issue is basically an irrelevance. It seems quite clear that there is no other single issue more important to the future of humanity and an anti-capitalist organisation which seeks to replace capitalism with another system which leaves production and consumption at the same level is completely pointless.

If this is the kind of organisation that you are thinking about then it is something that I would very much like to get involved in. If not then I'll have to keep on looking.

Peter
mail e-mail: student_peace@hotmail.com

Co-ordination is needed

28.04.2002 09:57

What is good about the SWP/GR is their co-ordination and high level of organisation. What is bad is their singular lack of internal democracy and the overwhelming power of the hierarchy to dictate ideology. An alternative to the SWP/GR is a co-ordinating body whose purpose is to enable the enhancement the diverse groups in the left. Less stress should be put on ideological concerns, eg the proper reading of Gramsci or the fate of the Second International, and more on logistical considerations, with an element of spokesmanship and media management that enables the public the relate to what the left is doing. It needs to pull in not only established groups but also those individuals who are 'non-aligned' and don't wish to be forced to undergo a labotomy for the sake of the party. It can rally around central themes of interest to those on the Left: poverty, exploitation, militarism, oppression, etc. But it should not be a political party or interested in standing in elections. Perhaps the SWP can join, but as equals not as a monopolising force.

I don't know how such an organisation can be formed or whether it's achievable. Like any idea put up in a forum such as this, people might agree but there needs to be some initiative and dedication from some individuals. Also, there are many who will ask that such a venture is pointless, since everything is okay as it is - they may even be deterred by the word 'organisation'. Somehow, I don't think this is the case and the left in Britain acts more like a scatty, disorganised rabble. Also, organisation does not mean the imposition of an ideology - it just means trying to enhance what we already have.

Dan Brett
mail e-mail: dan@danielbrett.co.uk

anarchist?

28.04.2002 14:38

what?Are`nt there any anarcho-syndicalist organisations in England you can join?

anarcho-syndicalist

alternative

28.04.2002 15:02

Of course there are non-hierachical anti-capitalist organisations in this country. It's just easier for people to join the SWP and be told what to do, what to think. All members of anarcho-syndicalist organisations are equal and so have equal responsibility for how the organisation functions and is run. It is a much harder task and a much longer term strategy to build an alternative world in the shell of the corrupt present one but some of us are doing just that with the Solidarity Federation.

Steve
mail e-mail: solfed@solfed.org.uk
Homepage: http://www.solfed.org.uk/

Will somebody please get a life?

28.04.2002 16:43

It really bothers me how indymedia often ends up looking like a chatroom for bitter and twisted ex-trots. Surely there are more important things for us to talk about than which gang of lefties is the shitist?

reindeer

Yes, SWP is a serious problem

28.04.2002 16:56

its symptomatic of the decline of the left.
The question is WHY is the SWP able to maintain such a grip on the socialist movement, when its so DULL ?
That is the question genuine radicals must address, for then all the oddities of the SWP, such as its inability to debate seriously and its overnight changes of policy will become clear.
Incidentally, I notice that the SWP bookshop in C. London (I wont give the address) is very close to the Trades Union HQ, and the SWP even have a display in their window. Is there some kind of "reciprocal arrangement" going on, because I never understood why they had a bookshop in such an un-lefty area ?

Bill Bore

To Mr Brett...

28.04.2002 17:11

I disagree. Theres no point in enshrining organization for its own sake; you may be aware of the warnings against that by Marcuse and William Whyte. And, if anything, the entire movement needs to put MORE effort into ideological clarification, not less; this is why its not the SWP or the Anarchists who stand out in this field but New Left Review, the last vestige of the spirit of 1968. As I suggest above, the secret of the SWP is in NOT developing a serious critique, and undermining those who try...
Of course, theres no point in ideological investigation unless you're prepared to tolerate NEW IDEAS, (something the people of Britain are very reluctant to do, leftwingers or otherwise) and be prepared to come to radical conclusions.

Bill Bore

Join the anarchists

28.04.2002 19:25

The SWP have been undermining and substituting for serious protest movements for years. This Globalise Resistance Trafalgar Square Mayday thing is just the latest example. But we have to understand the role that the SWP play in innoculating potential activists against radical politics.

I don't think you need another organization to supplant the SWP. Why not join the quite good already existing groups, if you feel that way inclined? Or just get involved in the wider movement, as an active individual.

Organization is a fetish, and you end up with structure, leadership, hierarchies, and activity is turned. Small affinity groups work better.

We need to make sure that the SWP cannot infiltrate and undermine our work. Take the Shac anti-HLS vivisection laboratory protest in Diss Norfolk on Saturday. No SWP paper sellers there! There must be some sort of anti SWP pathogen in the animal rights movement, which keeps them away. We need to reproduce this in the wider movement.

Ultimately, it is up to us to build a better present and a better future. If we leave it to hierarchies like the SWP and other such groups, we will fail.

Steve Booth
mail e-mail: grandlaf@lineone.net

Well. pal - get it sorted

28.04.2002 22:21

Doubt you have ever read Lenin.
Stop this stupid sniping and argue within the Social Forum, or go back to bed. Let's have a cogent argument. There's a world to win innit? Suggestions for a real way forward please.

AC

andyC

Suggestions for a name!

29.04.2002 01:32

How about the Party of Socialist Workers (PSW)?

P.S. I'm not the messiah.

Brian of Nazareth

MY POint

29.04.2002 09:29

my point is that all those people who want to get involved have nowhere to turn apart from the SWP.

Anarchist groups are to small and few are aware of their existence.

I think we need some umbrella group like Globalise Resistance which comprises of the various Anarchist groups and one which people espeically ideological youngers can join.

At the moment people are forced to do things by themselves or with the SWP

Gary Shlomo

well i don't know about you but...

29.04.2002 13:43

I got in touch with AYN (anarchist youth) and DAAWN at a protest. same with REVO and met a few anarchist-fed people too. you don't have to find out everythign over the net. in fact it would probably be better for the more active amongst the ranks to do more organising offline than on. if you hear about a demo you agree with, turn up, meet people, hook up and whatever. otherwise, you'll have to scour the net. but there are gropus out there.

NTG

Speaking personally...

29.04.2002 20:33

...I've always found sitting in a bath of cold sick to be an attractive alternative to the SWP. But whatever...

MC Ice-Pick

UK Indymedia