Socialist Worker

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Wednesday February 23, 2005 17:01

by Davy Carlin - Ind Revolutionary Socialist

I have to give credit where credit is due

I read a lot of differing activists newsheets and more especially their web pages. May it be differing Republican, Socialist, Anarchist or individualist sites one can get an understanding of the diversity of ideas or idealogies within the Movements.

Over the last few months though the British Socialist Worker has ascended greatly in my limited time for choice of reading - in particular the last few issues on Fallujah - on National liberation - and the present issue on Malcom X - Africa etc. Its general International and local reports with offering space to others within the Movement is another aspect that draws me to it.

As an activist once within a party and then through my practical experiences - in part -within such - having moved me to leave - I was therefore interested in the Laurence Cox piece in the Irish Socialist Workers present issue. More especially his points under´the title - What does the movement need from political parties

I have wrote on the issue of parties and DC etc before and state again that I believe that both a party and indeed some form of DC is needed . Not in the form though that on occassion that I had witnessed it in a practical way -or more especially seen developing in a more poltical way. That is, dogmatism - long winding Marxist academic points in answer to very simple points raised, seeing others on the left as the ascending enemy, and of course the mentality of the 80`s pushed and articulated by some. Such an approach as stated before,would be hugely detrermental to any organisation if that is ones method of engagement and attempted workings within the Movement

I would also agree with quite a few points raised by Kieran Allen. More especially the coming together to discuss tactics and strategies, ideas or idealogies etc. Kierans points of also acting as a fist again is an important issue. The point also Kieran makes of a revolutionary party having to be democratic - is of course fundemental more especially though in practice - as well as words. There are other points Kieran raises that I would again agree with but presently have limited time to write

Such debates, discussion etc are of course important. More especially I believe to individual activists who work to find out their own answers and understandings without that ´comfort´ of a party -as of course there are huge differences between the growth of the Networks and that of organised Centralised Parties and the way in which each works.

Therefore such publications whose direction is for active graft and engagement to the fore within the movement while providing in part an avenue for expression of its diversity -provides essential information for individual activists.

Of course their are many differing publications and I usually take time out to read their latest updates etc. But I have to give credit were credit is due and that is to the British Socialist Worker which over the last few months is now in my must read diary each Wednesday.