I have another question. Isn't it also class collaboration to unite with pro-business forces in a capitalist government? Imagine, for example, communists taking up ministerial posts in a government whose policy has been to privatise public services and resist workers' demands for better wages and conditions in order to protect profits. Imagine them speaking out against strikes and even sending in the state's forces to defeat them. Imagine them actually fronting the privatisation drive. Imagine them heading the bourgeoisie's intelligence services. In short, isn't it class collaboration to help run capitalism? Best wishes from London Peter Manson Weekly Worker ----- Original Message ----- From: Dominic Tweedie To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 6:48 PM Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Re: Alliance vs. Coalition
The distinction that you have to get right is between class alliance (usually good) and class collaboration (always bad). Class alliance is unity in action for a specific goal, or a joint minimum programme. It is negotiated on an equal basis. Alliance means a unity between different things. Hence it is wrong to say that COSATU is "affiliated" to the ANC, for example. They are allies. They are not members of each other. They are separate, and different in kind, but allied. Class collaboration is when you unite with the bosses, on the bosses' unilateral terms. That's not good, comrades. Coalition usually refers to an arrangement between political parties in government together. It just means "gathering together" in a general way, usually of organisations that are similar in nature, e.g. political parties. VC 2009/9/14 Mbulelo Ngaba <[email protected]> Cdes Can anyone draw for me a distinction between the 2 political terms,i.e. alliance and coalition. I am requesting this in the context of the current action by opposition parties to form a coalition against the ruling party. It may be understandable as far as parliamentary politics and democracy, but what are the distinct features of each. Socialism is the future. Build it now! NB: This email and its contents are subject to our email legal notice which can be viewed at: http://www.treasury.gov.za/Email_Disclaimer.pdf -- Blog at: http://domza.blogspot.com/ Communist University web site at: http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/ Subscribe for free e-mail updates at: http://groups.google.com/group/Communist-University/ Library of documents (CU "CD") at: http://cu.domza.net/ [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.97/2370 - Release Date: 09/14/09 11:36:00 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
