My previous post concerned Socialist Worker, especially in the upturn years of 1968-74, as an illustration of the role of a newspaper in building socialist organisation. This included my final link to one of Tony Cliff's own articles, but I think it's also useful to read Ian Birchall's account of this period. There's a great deal of overlap with Cliff's 1974 article about Socialist Worker; as a historical summary, focusing especially on how the International Socialists (forerunner of the Socialist Workers Party) responded to the times, it provides all the relevant background.
As well as illuminating this hugely important era in the history of the left and the working class movement in Britain, Birchall's essay also offers some fascinating insights into how a revolutionary socialist organisation can grow. IS had 400+ members at the start of 1968; by 1974 it had over 3000. There was no weekly paper at the start of 1968; by 1974 a 16-page weekly Socialist Worker peaked at a circulation of 40,000. The journey was uneven and dotted with obstacles, but it remains a superb achievement for such a small group to make so much of the possibilities - and reap the benefits.
Showing posts with label 1970s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1970s. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Nothing so romantic
Posted item #4 'Nothing so romantic'
This classic interview from 1970 provides insight into the times as well as some illuminating examples of Cliff's political positions and preoccupations. He stresses 'the statement that the emancipation of the working class is the act of the working class'. This distinguished the IS tradition from not only reformism but also Stalinism and its variants - Maoism was still fashionable on the left at the time, while many revolutionaries romanticised Third World struggles at the same time as despairing of Western working classes.
Cliff repeatedly insisted there can be no substitutes for mass working class struggle, no convenient shortcuts. This helped distinguish IS in late 60s and early 70s - from Labour and the Communist Party, yes, but also from many who considered themselves revolutionaries.
He acknowledges that IS at the time didn't yet have a strong enough base in the manual working class - admirable honesty (typical of Cliff), especially as he was addressing a largely non-IS audience. The high student representation in IS was mainly a symptom of the organisation's highly successful work in the universities in 1967-68.
Over the next few years - a period of upturn in working class struggle - IS did indeed orient sharply on building amongst (and recruiting) workers. By 1974 membership was 3-4000, up from 1000 at the end of 1968, and Socialist Worker was a 16-page weekly with a circulation that stretched far beyond the membership of IS. The paper, together with great energy being devoted to rank and file initiatives in industry, enabled the organisation to implant serious roots in the organised working class.
This classic interview from 1970 provides insight into the times as well as some illuminating examples of Cliff's political positions and preoccupations. He stresses 'the statement that the emancipation of the working class is the act of the working class'. This distinguished the IS tradition from not only reformism but also Stalinism and its variants - Maoism was still fashionable on the left at the time, while many revolutionaries romanticised Third World struggles at the same time as despairing of Western working classes.
Cliff repeatedly insisted there can be no substitutes for mass working class struggle, no convenient shortcuts. This helped distinguish IS in late 60s and early 70s - from Labour and the Communist Party, yes, but also from many who considered themselves revolutionaries.
He acknowledges that IS at the time didn't yet have a strong enough base in the manual working class - admirable honesty (typical of Cliff), especially as he was addressing a largely non-IS audience. The high student representation in IS was mainly a symptom of the organisation's highly successful work in the universities in 1967-68.
Over the next few years - a period of upturn in working class struggle - IS did indeed orient sharply on building amongst (and recruiting) workers. By 1974 membership was 3-4000, up from 1000 at the end of 1968, and Socialist Worker was a 16-page weekly with a circulation that stretched far beyond the membership of IS. The paper, together with great energy being devoted to rank and file initiatives in industry, enabled the organisation to implant serious roots in the organised working class.
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