Active Politics

[Harrison20]

I have a feeling this might be in the wrong part of the forum but since i'm a complete novice to Marxism - Lennism I dare not post anywhere else :blushing:

I just have a few questions about the British political scene:

1. The Communist Party of Britain - worth it?
2. Is there a Marxist presence within the labour party that would be worth joining.

Basically i'm using this summer to throw myself into Communism and when/if I become the slightest bit competent in Marxist teachings I would like to get actively involved but I am unsure as how best to do that.

Thanks for your time.

P

[Mr. Natural]

Harrison20, Your enthusiasm will be welcome in all groups, and I recommend you take a look at a number of left tendencies, anarchist to communist. Get a decent handle on the major points of the Manifesto and take a tour of the left.

Beware the groups that have a "line" you must follow. Obviously, no one has a correct line at present--it has yet to be developed--and most groups are dogmatic and conservative and would stifle your creativity and enthusiasm.

My red-green best.

[ArrowLance]

Beware the groups that have a "line" you must follow. Obviously, no one has a correct line at present--it has yet to be developed--and most groups are dogmatic and conservative and would stifle your creativity and enthusiasm.


It is important to have a 'line' and this doesn't mean the stifling of creativity and enthusiasm.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Not sure of CPB is any more or less worth while that the other groups, best get some info from them directly and see what you think. I was a member of Socialist Party for a couple of years, they were once a part of Militant Tendency (a Trotskyist group within Labour). Labour has Socialist Campaign Group and some other groups within the party that try and steer on a more hard left route but to avail.

[Brosa Luxemburg]

If you are talking about CPGB-ML, fuck them. Seriously, they have a weird North Korea fetish and are just, well, stupid. Even most Marxist-Leninists (Stalinists) would agree.

[ed miliband]

If you are talking about CPGB-ML, fuck them. Seriously, they have a weird North Korea fetish and are just, well, stupid. Even most Marxist-Leninists (Stalinists) would agree.

nah he's talking about the communist party of britain who put out the daily paper the morning star. they're basically the labour party though, so he's asking us whether he should join the labour party or the labour party.

[The Idler]

Why choose a party before you know where you stand or what the party stands for compared to other ones? Attend meetings of multiple parties before you decide and commit. What do you want out of a party? How many parties calling themselves communist have you heard of? Why are you interested in the CPB?

[Harrison20]

I only mention the CPB because of their oposed link with the late CPGB.

I bring the issue of both parties up because, having been a visitor on revleft for a while, I have read posts that suggest that no party as it is now is capable of performing the function of a "vanguard party". Therefore, to be a member of any is ..... "anti revisionist (i think) or conter revolutionary or something to that effect.

Basically, i didnt want to spend the time and money on something that would offend the majority of communists.

Thank you for your help I am indeed reading the Manifesto and am finding Marxists.org to be invaluable. My printer is working overtime!

[Harrison20]

Its not a case of me wanting to chose a party now simply because i can not really associate myself with a tendancy yet. I was more curious that if in the future I chose to join any, would it be worth it?

I mention the CPB becuase they seem to be the most profesional party being direct decendants of CPGB.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I would avoid any of these 'democratic centralist' sects on the British left like the plague, whether they be Marxist-Leninist, Trotskyist or any weird offshoot. They are, to a man/woman, dead ends in terms of building a movement.

If I were you, i'd start a reading group, join up with other individual Socialist-leaning people in your area/school/university etc., unionise and try and get involved in the workers' movement, as opposed to confining yourself to some dead-end sect that has little to no relevance to the actual existing workers' movement.