The reawakening of the world working class and the tasks faced by Marxists

international | anti-capitalism | opinion/analysis Sunday February 19, 2006 22:37 by hs - sp (per cap)

An interesting thesis by Alan Woods on the future of class struggle on a world basis.
Alan Woods was a leading member of the British militant tendency who split with the grouping over it's decision to break with the labour party and form the English and Welsh Socialist Party and Scottish Militant Labour, forerunner to the Scottish Socialist Party. He believes socialists should remain inside the labour party as it is the only vehicle to create change, even with the emptying out of the party under Blair. Although most activists would have little time for Blair's new Labour Wood's thesis is well researched and makes very interesting reading. Although personally I would fundamentally disagree with much of Woods ideas, especially those on the modern social democratic parties his thesis is an excellent basis for a debate on europe, china the usa and more. I think most would agree that the entering of China into the capitalist world market should have a few suprises along the way. And his comments on the Italian situation also makes interesting reading. hs

"Politics is the science of perspectives. This is the key to all our work. The present world situation entirely confirms the general line of our perspectives worked out in previous world perspectives documents. It may be necessary to correct this or that detail, but the fundamental analysis of the period through which we are passing has been confirmed by the march of events. This should strengthen our confidence in the ideas of Marxism and in ourselves"

"The most important question on which we must focus our attention is the political and social effects of the crisis of capitalism – the way in which this is finding a psychological expression among the masses. Even the events of the last two or three months have furnished us with a wealth of information in this respect. A serious political crisis is developing in one country after another. Everywhere there is the beginning of a ferment among the masses. The explosions in France indicate a growing mood of revolt among the youth. In one country after another there have been important strikes. There is an acceleration of the process of radicalisation. We are witnessing the reawakening of the working class on an international scale"

"A few months ago The Economist published an article saying that to solve the problem of the Italian economy they need to lay off 500,000 workers in the industrial sector, and cut wages by 30%. This shows the real plans of the bourgeoisie. It shows how much pressure will be on the Centre-Left government when it comes to power. It will be forced to carry out attacks on the workers. But it will also be under the pressure to carry out policies in the interest of the working class. This will open up a ferment of opposition in the ranks of both the RC and DS, with big possibilities for the Left Wing and the Marxist tendency, which has already made important gains.

Italy is now in the front line of the class struggle in Europe. But Germany and France – two key EU countries – are not far behind. In both countries there is a deep political crisis. The result of the EU constitution referendum in France was a bombshell. It was not just a vote on the EU constitution or even against Chirac. It was a protest against the whole situation, a vote against the whole political Establishment."

THE COMPLETE THESIS

Part one
http://www.marxist.com/reawakening-world-working-class1...6.htm

Part two
http://www.marxist.com/reawakening-world-working-class1...6.htm