>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >The fight back is on! > >The crisis of capitalism and British imperialism > >by Eric Trevett > >WAR clouds are gathering over Africa and imperialism is opening its >claws. >It's out to defend property relations established in the days of >colonialism and to Protect its investments in that major resource-rich >continent. > > Imperialist aggression has been increasingly unrestrained since the >demise >of the Soviet Union and socialist countries of Europe. Now, British >imperialism is unveiling its iron fist. > > It has created new devils for us to hate, with stories of atrocities >by >the "bad guys" to justify British political and military intervention >in >Africa. These new "devils" are Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe; >and >Foday Sankoh, leader of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra >Leone. > > In Sierra Leone, we are told, British forces were only going in to >safeguard British nationals. But judging by the high level of British >troop >commitment, the speed with which they have dug in and commenced >defensive >measures, and the naval involvement, it would appear something else is >being "safeguarded". In the words of Simon Jenkins in the TheTimes >(10.5.00), Foreign secretary Robin Cook's "language and past actions >suggest that they will stay a long time. He is the maestro of mission >creep." > > We need to remind ourselves that we are living in an era of war and >revolution. Uprisings and revolution are likely to occur at the weak >points >of imperialism or, in other words, where exploitation is sharpest. > > Mr "Ethical" Cook, striving to bring down the Mugabe administration, >called upon African leaders to put pressure on Mugabe. They large]y >disappointed Cook. This was partly because the leaders know that they >are >all sitting on a powderkeg of discontent and anger. The people are >demanding a better future that can only be achieved by social upheaval >and >anti-imperialist struggle. > > The election of Ken Livingstone to the position of mayor of London >was >a >victory for the left and the working class and the entire British >labour >movement. His vote of 776 ,427 together with Dobson's vote of 223,884, >in a >fairly low poll, meant that the labour movement polled just under a >million. > > The NCP's analysis was developed by drawing upon the experiences in >Scotland and Wales where the Labour right wing sought to impose >nominees >against the wishes of the constituency parties. The fight for >democracy >is >an important factor around which the working class is rallying and we >saw >the need to make a tactical change in out electoral policy to take >that >on >board. > > That change, endorsed by our recent Congress, enabled us to make an >immediate and clear statement in the New Worker supporting Ken >Livingstone's decision to stand for mayor. Our statement, which >explained >why Ken Livingtone should be supported, also gave a clear lead to our >own >supporters. > > Livingstone's position has to be understood in relation to our >strategy >for working class unity, which can only be achieved on the basis of >militant anti-capitalist policies. The reason is straightforward: The >interests of the working class are only served by confronting the >capitalist class, eventually leading to a revolution in which working >class >state power is established. Only then can the construction of >socialism >begin, setting off a lengthy period of transition to the classless, >communist society. > > Maintaining the organisational link and structure between the trade >unions >and the Labour Party is very important and is related to the struggle >for >working class unity. That does not, of itself, signify the achievement >of >working class unity because both the trade unions and the Labour Party >leadership are dominated by class collaborators. Their influence only >encourages the passivity of the working class and the perpetuation of >capitalism at the expense of and to the detriment of the working >class. > > Therefore, the question of how to defeat the right wing cannot be >avoided. >The challenge is made fundamentally by the working closing ranks >around >policies and demands over immediate economic matters -- wages, >political >demands for public ownership, peace, anti-imperialism and democracy >within >the labour movement. On the last question of labour movement >democracy, >this includes active opposition, particularly when it is possible to >expose >corrupt practices and find a way of defeating them. > > The working class has many ideological weaknesses but it also has >many >fine qualities including a sense of fair play and justice. This has >been >expressed by the class in London over the question of Ken Livingstone >and >the manner in which he was cheated out of the nomination. > > The overwhelming majority of London Labour Party members voted for >Livingstone -- not Dobson. Dobson scraped through solely through the >weighted votes of MPs and MEPs. The role of the former leader of the >GLC on >transport is also remembered approvingly and his opposition to the >privatisation of London Underground is one which is supported by the >majority of Labour members in London, and the mass of the people in >London. > > It is not surprising that there should have been the necessity fora >change >of tactics in our electoral policy, especially with a Labour >government >in >office, and at this particular stage of the capitalist crisis. > > We oppose the government on many of its economic, political, >imperialist >policies and military actions; and it is just as correct for us to >oppose >its violations of democracy as it seeks to impose candidates to >further >foreign and national policies which are detrimental to the interests >of >the >working class. > > Therefore, whilst our general position remains to vote Labour >everywhere >in general and local elections -- apart from the European Union polls >where >we are calling for a boycott -- our Party reserves the right in >certain >circumstances to defend the interests of the working class when the >right >wing Labour leadership seeks to ride roughshod and there is a mass >base >of >opposition to that endeavour. > > Since his election Livingstone hasn't let the grass grow under his >feet. >He has appointed a black radical activist Lee Jasper, a Brixton >community >leader, to be responsible for race relations and liaison with the >Metropolitan Police. > > He has expressed concern for the Dagenham workers and is giving a >lead >opposing privatisation of the Undergroumd. He has also indicated his >desire >to have his suspended membership of the Labour Party lifted. > > In the light of successive governments pursuit of privatisation >policies, >the London Mayor's opposition to the privatisation of the Tube is of >vital >importance and can be a rallying point for virtually the first >mass-based >resistance to the privatisation process. > > This is a demand that is reasonable and if not granted can be imposed >on >the Blair government. A number of constituency parties are expected to >table motions calling for his reinstatement. This should also be >raised >in >trade union and broad peace and labour movement organisations, since >he >was >the peoples' choice. > > The position of supporting his Labour Party re-admittance is also a >factor >in countering moves by understandably disgruntled members from leaving >the >Labour Party and thereby risking isolation. That is, unless they join >us. >If not, then the fight within Labour to democratise it and to work for >anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist policies should go >on. > >In this way, the fight to preserve the public ownership of the Tube is >not >just a London affair, but its success will strengthen the Labour >movement's >struggle for progressive policies as a whole. > > Since London buses were privatised, though not deregulated as they >were >outside London, service frequency has deteriorated despite being full >up. >Expansion is needed. The service therefore depreciates in favour of >profits >and dividends. > > We can now see how important it was for the ruling class, as well as >right >wing Labour, to remove Clause 4 from the Labour Party's Constitution. >It >wasn't just to consolidate the dominance of so-called "New" Labour >over >"Old". > > It was to remove the constitutional obstacle that could have been a >rallying point to oppose the government's privatisation programme from >within the Labour Party and labour movement. > > Big business, nationally and internationally, is demanding >privatisation >policies. This is related to the tremendous build-up there has been of >capital looking for profitable and safe investment areas. This in turn >has >led to inflationary values on shares, that threatens a similar stock >market >and economic crisis that occurred in Japan. > > Finding safe and profitable outlets for capital investment has become >an >increasing problem since the crisis in the Japanese economy, and the >difficulties in the economies of many the east Asian countries. >Another >factor in the crisis is the continuing production distribution cycle, >which >invariably leads to still more capital seeking profitable investment >areas. > > Aggravating that further is the acceleratinn rate of technological >research, development and its application to production, distribution, >administration and commerce. It is surely the fastest rate of >technological >development in the history of capitalist crisis. > > Competition between the capitalists themselves is intensifying. The >emphasis is on productivity, or output per person. This is accompanied >by >deteriorating working conditions, lay-offs, with an increasing >workload >for >those remaining in employment, and a massive growth of job insecurity. > > It has to be stressed that although the industrial working class has >been >decimated, the process of proletarianisation is a continuing one, and >the >working class is expanding even though the tendency is for the >employers to >require falling numbers in employment. > > The last general election saw many workets, who don't necessarily >recognise themselves as being workers, voting against the Tory >government. >As they say, material circumstances have a way of conditioning >consciousness. And whilst we should not exaggerate the degree of >political >consciousness there is at the present time, we are correct to note >this >positive development. > >In the recent fight back the May Day marches tended to be slightly up >on >Previous years, and the anticapitalist demonstration in London, >largely >involving people from outside the labour movement, as well as its >counterparts in Washington, have made a positive contribution by >focusing >attention on capitalism. US trade unions were involved but the thrust >of >their call was for protectionism and a call for an embargo on trade >with >China. > > The weakness of these demonstrations is their lack of a perspective >of >a >way forward and their lack of a connection with the labour movement. >In >relation to the desecration of the War Memorial, which was both stupid >and >indefensible, it is quite feasible that anarchists would pursue such >an >objective. > > But it is also quite possible that certain people were incited by >agent >provocateurs into taking that action. It should be noted that the >Cenotaph >was not defended or bearded up, and if you wish to discredit that >demonstration and, by the way, cast a further slur on Livingstone on >the >eve of the election, you couldn't do more damage than desecrate the >Cenotaph. > > Part of the fightback, focused by trying to retain an industrial base >in >this country, is the battle against the shutdown of the car industry >-- >notably, Fords and Rover. But hard lessons have to be learnt here. >Without >ownership the workers can have no control, and employers' promises are >not >always worth the paper they are written on. > > Therefore, in this situation, where resistance includes appealing to >the >employers' better nature, it is quite clear that trade union struggle >has >to be complemented by political action. The demand for public >ownership >and >the nationalisation of these car plants is essential. > > But even this is only a stop-gap measure, because the basic problem >is >the >overproduction of cars in relation to what the market can absorb. That >trend is likely to increase if there is to be success in providing an >adequate public service to attract cars off the road. But, at least, >if >you've got a car manufacturing industry, it can be switched to the >production of other forms of transport and the skills of the trade >will >be >preserved. > > But this struggle, to be successful, has to be linked to the struggle >for >socialism, that means working class state power. There is no basis for >success at any stage of this struggle through some mythical >partnership >with the employers. > > The decision to cut back car production in Britain is anotherexampie >of >the monopoly capitalists' abi 1ity to play off workers from different >countries against one another. How can this be countered? Only by >strengthening working class unity internationally -- and developing >within >that the revolutionary perspective of the working class as a whole for >socialism. > > > The following points indicate a way forward: > > 1. Setting up industrially-based bodies primarily involving active >shop >stewards and conveners, as distinct from paid union officials, to >co-ordinate action relating to wage demands, working conditions and >job >security; > > 2. There must be a renewed campaign to repeal anti-trade union laws >and to >re-establish collective bargaining. Many right wing trade union >leaders >use >the anti-union laws as an excuse for a quiet life. > > If those laws are to be removed, it will require a campaign springing >from >the rank and file with the subsequent involvement of the union and TUC >leadership. There should also be branch resolutions to union >executives >and >the TUC calling specifically for repeal of anti-union laws and, where >appropriate, the re-establishment of bargaining rights; > > 3. Members of trade unions must face the fact that without their >involvement and attendance at branch meetings, democratic principles >can >easily be violated. The cohesion of the workforce can then be >undermined in >the struggle to defendjobs and maintain and improve wages and >conditions. > > One of the negative features of the present situation is the way the >Tory >government, followed by the Labour government, is beginning to try and >exploit the race card as a means of dividing the working class and >vilifying a minority, especially on the asylum seekers issue. > > There are several things that need to be said about this, and one of >them >is that the problems that these people face are down to the role of >British >imperialism in the first place. Such as the imperialist efforts to >bring >down the progressive government, which liberated the women and led to >big >socialist advances in Afghanistan. > > British and American imperialism actually backed the Muslim >fundamentalists who now run the country and have robbed the people, >especially the women, of all of their democratic rights. > > Similarly, the decision to bomb Yugoslavia and destroy its >infrastructure >and giving support to the Kosovo Liberation Army, has again helped >create >chaos in that region Soon, no doubt, there will be an influx of people >from >Zimbabwe; but that will be all right because they're white. > > We must consistently oppose racism and anti-Semitism. Having said >that, it >is encouraging to note that the Tory Party under Hague is not >succeeding in >building its electoral base by adopting racist policies, and there is >mounting opposition to that within the Tory party itself. > > It seems that there is now tangible evidence of a fightback against >capi >talist policies developing; and there are possibilities for broadening >and >deepening various campaigns as the capitalist crisis gets worse. >Clearly, >as capitalism sinks deeper into economic crisis, greater hardships and >social turmoil are brought in its wake for the working class. > > This crisis daily proves the validity of Marxist-Leninist theory. It >lays >the basis for socialist revolution and the New Communist Party has >policies >which link to and form part of a revolutionary strategy to carry that >out. > > >New Communist Party of Britain Homepage > >http://www.newcommunistparty.org.uk > >A news service for the Working Class! > >Workers of all countries Unite! > > > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Best friends, most artistic, class clown Find 'em here: >http://click.egroups.com/1/4054/8/_/_/_/959235031/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
