Q
26th September 2010, 23:58
The following is a translation of a Dutch press release to announce that the Dutch CWI section is having a new name:
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Today we publish issue 1 of Socialistisch Alternatief. This is the successor of the paper Offensief.
After our founding in 1977 with the names "Inter" and "Voorwaarts", since the early 1980-ies the Dutch branch of the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) used the name "Offensive", but times change and so we move along under the name "Socialist Alternative".
With the new name we want to underline the need for a socialist alternative, in a period where the crisis of capitalism is hitting more and more aspects of everyone's life. With "Offensive" we wanted at the time to express the need for a change in the character of the class struggle in the 1980's which was of a very defensive nature to keep the gains of the working class against the attacks of the governments. "Offensive" was the right name for that period and we still hold the basic message dear: Only through struggle can we as a working class in the Netherlands and internationally get somewhere.
There are many parallels with the 1980's and now. Like then, capitalism is now in crisis, we are again being confronted with rising unemployment and harsh cuts in all Western countries. In the neocolonial world, capitalism means hunger, war and environmental disasters. The objective need for a socialist society has never been greater.
However, socialism as a living alternative is now far less present in the ideas of workers and youth. The collapse of the Stalinist states and the ideological propaganda-offensive of the right which stated that capitalism had "won" and socialism doesn't work, have had their effect. We counterpose to that, that socialism has nothing to do with the Stalinist regimes and that socialism can only work if it is democratic and not limited to a small number of countries. Another factor in our namechange is that in recent years the word "offensive" is more and more related to a military context, especially against the background of the brutal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
With "Socialist Alternative" we want to underline that socialism is the alternative to capitalism and appeal to youth and workers who are looking for an answer on this system. We want to have discussions with them and move into action with them. Are you one of those that want to fight for a socialist society? Join us!
You can reach us on:
http://socialistischalternatief.nl (Dutch)
[email protected]
http://socialisten.net/templates/lsp/images/lsp/logo.png
Today we publish issue 1 of Socialistisch Alternatief. This is the successor of the paper Offensief.
After our founding in 1977 with the names "Inter" and "Voorwaarts", since the early 1980-ies the Dutch branch of the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) used the name "Offensive", but times change and so we move along under the name "Socialist Alternative".
With the new name we want to underline the need for a socialist alternative, in a period where the crisis of capitalism is hitting more and more aspects of everyone's life. With "Offensive" we wanted at the time to express the need for a change in the character of the class struggle in the 1980's which was of a very defensive nature to keep the gains of the working class against the attacks of the governments. "Offensive" was the right name for that period and we still hold the basic message dear: Only through struggle can we as a working class in the Netherlands and internationally get somewhere.
There are many parallels with the 1980's and now. Like then, capitalism is now in crisis, we are again being confronted with rising unemployment and harsh cuts in all Western countries. In the neocolonial world, capitalism means hunger, war and environmental disasters. The objective need for a socialist society has never been greater.
However, socialism as a living alternative is now far less present in the ideas of workers and youth. The collapse of the Stalinist states and the ideological propaganda-offensive of the right which stated that capitalism had "won" and socialism doesn't work, have had their effect. We counterpose to that, that socialism has nothing to do with the Stalinist regimes and that socialism can only work if it is democratic and not limited to a small number of countries. Another factor in our namechange is that in recent years the word "offensive" is more and more related to a military context, especially against the background of the brutal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
With "Socialist Alternative" we want to underline that socialism is the alternative to capitalism and appeal to youth and workers who are looking for an answer on this system. We want to have discussions with them and move into action with them. Are you one of those that want to fight for a socialist society? Join us!
You can reach us on:
http://socialistischalternatief.nl (Dutch)
[email protected]