[CLIVE Bradley's review of Gavin Kitching's book "Rethinking…]

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CLIVE Bradley's review of Gavin Kitching's book "Rethinking Socialism' is very timely. The ideas expressed by the likes of Kitching may begin to have a real grip in these days of realism' I want et take up just one of those ideas, that right now we have to wait for the working class to 'mature' under capitalism, that capitalism lays the basis for socialism by developing a cultured, educated and "imaginative' working class.

Whilst partly true, this view is, I think, hopelessly one-sided. It is marked by a passive idea of how workers' ideas change. It doesn't grasp the crucial importance of mass self-activity and self-organisation in the 'education' of the working class.

To the idea that capitalism was a 'school' in which workers matured, Rosa Luxemburg used to say:

'What is there in common between the regulated docility of an oppressed class and the self-discipline and organisation of a class struggling for its emancipation... The working class will acquire the sense MARXISTS defend every working class gain. They seek at all times and on the widest political front to extend these victories. The aim is to exhaust capitalism and to bring about socialism.

In this last period, most of our struggles have been defensive. We cannot, as Marxists, choose our own battle ground. We have to defend both our wage levels and our nurseries.

At the centre of each conflict Marxists must provide that element of programme and leaderDONE New!

This new pamphlet tells Send letters to 28 Middle Lane, London N8. No morı than 400 words, please; we may have to cut longer of a new discipline not as a result of the discipline imposed on it by the capitalist state, but by extirpating, to the last root, its old habits of obedience and servility.

Luxemburg talked of a different 'school, the "living political school" that is the mass strike. She called it the "method of motion" of the workers' movement, the mechanism by which workers' consciousness, ideas and, yes their imaginations can he transformed.

As she put it, 'The working class must learn how to use power by using power, there is no other way.

This is no mere truism. It is a hard-headed strategic insight into both the nature of capitalist power and hon workers can challenge it. A power that can only be shaken off in periods of immense self-organisation! and seltactivity. A power that cannot be eroded by the extraction of "concessions" that are bought at the price of "whole-hearted cooperation with capitalism" as Kitching would have it.

And there lies the real role for a fighting socialist organisation. Jim Cannon, the great American socialist once said of the marvellous Teamsters' strike of 1934:

'In Minneapolis we saw the native militancy of the workers fused with a politically conscious leadership. In that combination one can see the power that will conquer the whole world.

ALAN JOHNSON Manchester ship which directs towards the source of the problem - capitalism itself. Conscious direction is the only road to final victory and in most cases today even halfvictories.

Socialist Organiser has stood at the forefront of all the anti-cuts fights. We have campaigned for occupations, supporting strike action, etc. The supporters of the paper have played an active day by day leadership role in these battles. Local authorities are closely connected with these services threatened by the Turies. In many cases they run them, and in others, like the hospital service, have their representatives on the management committees.

They are in a central position Editor, 'e are trying to research a Yes of articles about the ities of the Special Branch •the Security Service, MI5, ticularly in relation to domespolitics, trade unions, pressure groups, etc.

Our experience is that many individuals and organisations The GLC's anti-racist year is a significant event and has the potential to raise the consciousness of Londoners and become the focal point in the struggle for economic and cultural justice.

It can really help the struggle against racism on a significant scale.

Let London take the lead in the campaign to raise all the issues — overt and covert - of racism in Britain.

The Labour Party as well as trade union branches, feminists There is no doubt that the local government lefts will go the same way as Knight in Lambeth unless we in the Socialist Organiser Alliance intervene strongly. This means more than conducting a debate with Livingstone or London Labour Briefing. It means taking responsibility for the fight. It means organisation and commitment of be have come across these people in some way or another: questions being asked, mail going astray, even physical surveillad again and socialists obviously have a key role to play in the campaign for social justice.

The Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Jewish and other ethnic groups have developed their own organisations in recent years and must not be ignored even if their beliefs differ from those of the labour movement.

Employment is a major issue and must be seen as a fundamental part of the campaign.

Events like the Deptford fire, the trial of the Newham 8, and the ban on Kwame Tune are all ation can defeat the l'ories.

We should begin by our supporters in Islington calling upon the local council to organise a conference to plan the defence of Liverpool and all local councils in the London area. Liverpool has to be made We have, of course, a responsibility to prevent comrades from becoming part of the 'political corruption' of local government. I have every confidence in the level of political knowledge of the Socialist Organiser groups and of the new layer of left militants inside the Labour Party in stopping such corruption.

We should carry more discusance.

If yr inform please it Eu can supply us with any ation on these subjects write to either of us at clearly part of the institutionalised racism which pervades British society.

It is not only the "Jack booted" thugs of the various fascist parties who need to be monitored but also those with the "gentler" approach (such as the Conservative Party and businessmen).

It this must take the form of positive discrimination then so be it.

MICHAEL CALVERT JACK HUGHES London To some extent, therefore, it is possible to build local bases which will stand the Tory ideological offensives. Some of that vote was due to the determination and political direction of comrades in the Socialist Organiser Alliance. For instance we were at the forefront of the campaign to prioritise nurseries when the Labour Group took power in Leeds in 1980. The number of nursery places in Leeds has quadrupled over the last three years. As the chairperson of the Libraries Working Party of the Council I helped to open eight new libraries in the same period. This is not socialism, but neither does it represent capitulation to the Tory cuts machine.

UT this address. It would be help if you can give your telepho number so we can contact y quickly if necessary.

Yours sincere IAN BLAI NICK DAVIES The Guardi 119 Farringdor Ror London ECIR 3l JIM Denham's letter attac my short note is full of polit venom over what seems to t been a typesetting error in original article.

My own political pusitions the struggle against imperial are quite clear and in line y the standard position held Marxists since 1917 and befor That is, one fights the imp ialists under the separ banner of the working class. no time does one give suppor one's own ruling class. I means fighting alongside ca alist governments agai imperialist aggression.

The sharpest example Lenin's own lifetime struggle against Kornilov Russia in August 1917. 1 involved organising alongs the capitalist government Kerensky.

In fact the Kerensky Kor struggle was between differ layers of the Russian ruling cl on how they may best pursue aims of their imperialist mas in London and Paris.

That judgement of Lenir endorsed by Trotsky - y gave the same advice to sailors of Kronstadt who wan to try to remove Kerensky : Kornilov together - laid foundations for the isolation the Kerensky government &

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By cllr Garth Frankland