Socialist/Communist parties of your country?

[Nimismies]

In Finland we have 3 parties that can be defined socialist. The Social Democratic Party is the strongest with 24% support and has ministers in the Cabinet. But SDP is only a remnant of its days of glory. It has really abandoned socialism and now concentrates on keeping the welfare state just as it is.

Then there's the Left-Wing Alliance. They have politicians with variability. Some of them are socialist and the others are much like those of SDP. The Environemental values are strong especially among the young members of this party and is by far the strongest real socialist party in Finland. But still its ideology has given in a little during the last decade...

The Communist Party of Finland is the last of the three parties that still prases Karl Marx. They have no representation in the parlament but they are very active in proportion to their resources. Their ideology is pure and they condemn the socialism practised in the former Soviet Union as undemocratic. They are still a minor party but have won seats in the last municipal elections.

So how's the situation in your country? :)

[praxis1966]

Pretty piss-poor here in the U$. There are several leftist parties here, but most of them are rather small regional parties with little or no influence.

The Socialist Party USA, SPUSA for short, is probably the largest socialist party in name and practice. I'm a member of SPF, or Socialist Party of Florida, the division in my home state. They are relatively idealogically sound and one of the largest.

The CPUSA, or Communist Party USA, is a mere shadow of its former self. There was a time, many years ago, when they were on the vanguard. Today, however, they no longer run presidential candidates. Instead they simply endorse the ruling class candidates of the Democratic Party.

There are a great many more, but I really don't know that much about them so I will just provide links at the end and you can decide about them for yourself. These include the Freedom Socialist Party (primarily an issue party dedicated to women's rights), Workers Party USA, Workers World Party, Democratic Socialists of America (which is pretty bourgesie in its own right), New Union Party, and the Socialist Labor Party. The last two seem pretty dedicated to this whole cult of personality surrounding one Daniel De Leon, a politician with whom I'm not really familiar.

CPUSA: http://www.cpusa.org/
Democratic Socialists of America: http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html
Freedom Socialist Party: http://www.socialism.com/
New Union Party: http://www1.minn.net/~nup/
Socialist Labor Party: http://www.slp.org/
SPUSA: http://www.sp-usa.org/
Workers Party USA: http://www.workersparty.org/
Workers World Party: http://www.workers.org/

[Sabocat]

I would also add the Socialist Equality Party to that list as well. They ran a candidate in this year's election as well.

SEP (http://www.wsws.org/sections/category/icfi/sepuscat.shtml)

[h&s]

I'm sure that someone else will come into this in more detail, but the situation in the UK ain't too good either. We have the new 'Labour' party that, although being a borgeois party, did at least look out for the working people at some stages in its history, and used to be the worker's party. Now pretty much everyone considers it to be Thatcherite, and invading Iraq, privatising anything they can get their hands on, and charging university students aren't very socialist policies are they? Funnily their website carries the phrase 'Don't let the Tories (conservative party) wreck it all again.' No, Labour have already done that.
Even funnier I found this on their website: 'The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party.'
As if.
We do have some left wing parties. One called Respect (the unity coalition) has recently been formed by the reactionary Socailist Workers Party. Respect has been moderatly successful, but thats just them playing on reactionary policies by standing candidates as 'the only muslim candidate in the ward.'
I'll just use this thread as a ploy for my party: vote Socialist Party!
Someone else can comment on the other parties.

[BOZG]

There's a list in the Practice forum but it's not very good. Many of the parties were listed purely for having 'Communist' in their names and most members know nothing of these parties. I'm currently in the process of doing a revamped list based on parties that are well known, supported by the membership or at least offer a serious revolutionary platform.

[bolshevik butcher]

The Scottish Socialist Party is pretty good at the moment. It's got 7 MSPs.

[BOZG]

Is it not 6 MSPs?

It's taken quite a strong turn to the right.

[chebol]

Yes it's 6 MSPs, and No, they haven't taken a turn to the right.
It's become the practice of disgruntled sects to criticise anyone who makes any progress (especially more than they have) as having turned "right", "nationalist", "neo-Stalinist capitalist", etc.
Bollocks.

[BOZG]

I meant the leadership.

Tommy Sheridan praising mixed economies and situations like with German and French workers isn't a shift to the right, no?

Refraining from calling for nationalisation of industry or for a socialist Europe, instead replacing it with a 'social' Europe isn't a drift to the right, no?

[BOZG]

As for being a sect, I support working within the SSP but as a revolutionary organisation.

[chebol]

The SSP functions as a "combat party"- mixing long term aims with arguments for immediate gains for the movement, both inside and outside of the parliamentary process. The dominant tendency, the ISM, is still revolutionary in it's perspective, as is the majority of the leadership.

There is something of a slander campaign being run by the tabloids about Tommy Sheridan (who has resigned as national coordinator, apparently due to family commitments- his wife is pregnant), and certain sects have taken the opportunity to repeat the same claims in the interest of destroying/ 'rectifying' the SSP. While there appear to be some divisions in the leadership of the SSP, these are not apparently fatal.
Also, it would be useful to outline this "turn to the right" in detail, rather than simply make assertions.

[Commie Rat]

we go 5 majjor parties here in Aus
Liberal ,Labor ,Greens, Independant and Family First [a bunch of cristian nut jobs]
there was also One NAtion which was a very racist party they got disbanded bacause there leader ws sent to jail

which ever party Little johny is in [not sure if its labor or liberal] won majority at the last election and he want to privatise the telcomunications system and abolish unfair dissmissle laws

at this point in time there are no major communist parites in Aus though labor is menat to be for the workers i doesn't annouce that it follows a Marxist - lenninist or any communist idealologies

[praxis1966]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2004, 05:42 AM
I would also add the Socialist Equality Party to that list as well. They ran a candidate in this year's election as well.

SEP (http://www.wsws.org/sections/category/icfi/sepuscat.shtml)
I had never heard of them, either. If they ran a presidential candidate, as you say, he wasn't on the ballot in Florida. Not that I am disputing your assertion, but I don't think they're fully national. In any event, I also forgot about the Revolutionary Communist Party, also known as the RCP. I don't particularly like these guys (even though they have really good bookstores), as they are openly Maoist. I've also seen some pretty heated arguments around here about their party chairman, Bob Avakian.

RCP (http://www.rwor.org/rcp-e.htm)

[fuerzasocialista]

As far as Puerto Rico, there is the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Independence Party) which has socialist roots and principles and also runs candidates in local and state elections. Then there is Frente Socialista (Socialist Front) but they really don't run candidates in any elections and usually will back the PIP candidates.

In Puerto Rico, the PIP makes up a tiny minority if you look at the tallies of votes they have received. They Generally don't pass the 5% mark during any of the elections. But there are some people who harbor independent feelings but keep voting for the Partido Popular Democratico (Popular Democratic Party); the major anti-statehood party. The problem is that the pro-statehood party, the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) is a very strong party with a very strong following. About 40-45% of the people of Puerto Rico want it to become a U$ state. These people are nothing more than a bunch of sellout mofos in my opinion. They are scared to give up the welfare they receive from the U$ thus making them incapable of doing for themselves. They are the lowest of the low in most cases. Some of them are not bad people, but again, its only some. The majority of these PNP pieces of shit should pick a state and move to it so we can get to the business at hand and move PR forward. Que Viva Puerto Rico LIBRE!!!!!!

In the Dominican Republic there is the Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana (Dominican Liberation Party) but they have been straying from their socialist past and are becoming an increasingly free-market entity. The is also the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (Dominican Revolutionary Party) but they are a bunch of fuckheads and are only out to take your money. There is absolutely nothing socialist about them. Again, they have strayed off the socialist path more than the first party I mentioned.

Infact, both of the Dominican parties were founded by the same person, Prof. Juan Bosch. The PRD was founded first in the 1930's I believe while he was in exile in Cuba. It was a counter movement to the dicatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo that was established in the DR. After the assassination of Trujillo, Prof. Bosch became the first democratically elected president in 30 years. However, his sympathy for the Cuban revolution put him at odds with the U$, and soon after his inauguration, US marines were deployed in order to prevent "another Cuba". This also helped maintain many of the remnants of Trujillo's inner circle in power, principally, Dr. Joaquin Balaguer. Dr. Balaguer went on to found the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (Christian Social Reform Party) which is recognized as the right winged party of the government. Under his installment as president, Balaguer proved to have a taste for blood and corruption that equaled his mentor Trujillo. Assassinated journalists who dared to speak out, rigged elections, rampant poverty and a blatant racist attitude towards the black Dominicans (blacks and mulattoes make up the vast majority of the DR) and Hatians were his policies. Prof. Bosch broke away from the PRD after certain factions were taking it in the wrong direction and thus he formed the PLD in the early 70's. He died as the patriarch of that entity which is now under the direction of Dr. Leonel Fernandez who is currently serving as president. But he has been increasingly pro free-market and pro U$ which is starting to piss me off. There are no major parties in the Dominican Republic that claim Socialism as their cornerstone. I myself was a supporter of the PLD, but they have really been disappointing me as I stated. I don't think Prof. Bosch, who I define as the greatest philosopher and thinker the Dominican Republic has ever had, would have wanted this direction for the country.

[BOZG]

Originally posted by [email protected] 2 2004, 12:35 AM
The SSP functions as a "combat party"- mixing long term aims with arguments for immediate gains for the movement, both inside and outside of the parliamentary process. The dominant tendency, the ISM, is still revolutionary in it's perspective, as is the majority of the leadership.

There is something of a slander campaign being run by the tabloids about Tommy Sheridan (who has resigned as national coordinator, apparently due to family commitments- his wife is pregnant), and certain sects have taken the opportunity to repeat the same claims in the interest of destroying/ 'rectifying' the SSP. While there appear to be some divisions in the leadership of the SSP, these are not apparently fatal.
Also, it would be useful to outline this "turn to the right" in detail, rather than simply make assertions.
Nationalisation of the means of production, or even just of major corporations is a short term gain and a very basic transitional demand by socialists, something which the leadership of the SSP has argued against when motions were raised by members of the CWI platform.

The right-ward shift is shown also at the time of the formation of the SSP when people like Tommy Sheridan and Kevin Williamson split from the CWI, essentially calling for the dissolution of the revolutionary party within the broader SSP, a turn towards parliamentary methods.

Tommy Sheridan speaking out in favour of a mixed economy is a very clear picture of the outlooks that exist within the leadership. Hardly, the attitude of a socialist, nevermind a former Marxist.

[bolshevik butcher]

sorry, it's 6. SSP has not taken a turn to the right, it's just bad press.

[duk]

well in lebanon we have many leflist parties.the biggest leflist parties are :
1. Lebanese Communist Party ( lcparty.org )
2. Libertarian Communist Alternative
3. Progressive Socialist Party ( psp.org.lb )

[bolshevik butcher]

Didn't Karl Marx say that communists should work with other socialist groups rather than form their own party?

[PRC-UTE]

In Ireland, the largest socialist party is the Irish Republican Socialist Party. (http://www.irsm.org/) There is also the SWP/SEA, CPI, SP. But according to Bertie Ahern, he's the only socialist left in Irish politics. :lol:

BTW, in the USA there is also the Peace and Freedom Party. (http://www.peaceandfreedom.org/) They ran Leonard Peltier for president and recieved over 22,000 votes in California (the only state where they were on the ballot).

[BOZG]

They may be the biggest on paper but I've been told that they're quite inactive.

He said he was one of the few socialists left, not the only socialist. Tut. He's done so much for our centrally planned economy.

[truthaddict11]

Originally posted by [email protected] 2 2004, 02:00 PM
Peace and Freedom Party... They ran Leonard Peltier for president and recieved over 22,000 votes in California (the only state where they were on the ballot).
i thought prisoners were disenfranchised and couldnt vote or run in elections.
I cant believe that party is still around, I thought after Vietnam they ended.
In my opinion there are no real communist parties here in the US just a bunch of reformists trying to use the CAPITALISM ELECTION SYSYEM, to make changes, it simply doesnt work.

[Zingu]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2004, 06:04 AM
In Finland we have 3 parties that can be defined socialist. The Social Democratic Party is the strongest with 24% support and has ministers in the Cabinet. But SDP is only a remnant of its days of glory. It has really abandoned socialism and now concentrates on keeping the welfare state just as it is.

Terve! :)

I'm a Finnish-American here, when turning 18 I'm thinking of joining the LA or the SKP, is the SKP a Leninist party? I know the LA is a collection of many different Socialists ranging from all over the spectrum.

If there is not much of a choice, we should form our own party when we old enough :P .

[PRC-UTE]

They may be the biggest on paper but I've been told that they're quite inactive.

They're active in the working class communities of the north, trade unions, various campaigns and the new Teach na Failte project.

Anyway, who told you they're not active? The SWP? :lol:

[Nimismies]

Originally posted by Zingu+Dec 2 2004, 11:24 PM--> (Zingu @ Dec 2 2004, 11:24 PM)
[email protected] 1 2004, 06:04 AM
In Finland we have 3 parties that can be defined socialist. The Social Democratic Party is the strongest with 24% support and has ministers in the Cabinet. But SDP is only a remnant of its days of glory. It has really abandoned socialism and now concentrates on keeping the welfare state just as it is.

Terve! :)

I'm a Finnish-American here, when turning 18 I'm thinking of joining the LA or the SKP, is the SKP a Leninist party? I know the LA is a collection of many different Socialists ranging from all over the spectrum.

If there is not much of a choice, we should form our own party when we old enough :P . [/b]
Joo terve vaan =)

I'm allready a member of LA (Vasemmistoliitto). SKP isn't really a Leninist party since Lenin believed in some sort of totalitarism while SKP condems the Soviet totalitarian governement.

Forming a party of our own would be cool but it would also mean very hard work because you have to collect 5000 signatures for that :P

[Zingu]

Forming a party of our own would be cool but it would also mean very hard work because you have to collect 5000 signatures for that

True, but there are plenty of flaming revolutionaries in Finland! Plus, we can sneak some Canadians immigrants in taking advantage of Finland's open immigration policy. :lol:


I really want to move back to Finland when I hit 18 :( . I used to live Kokta, east of Helsinki, near the Russian border, you live where?

[Orange Juche]

For any CPUSA members:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cpusaredfaction

[flyby]

Let me chime in on the RCP,USA...

Here is a party right in the heart of the most powerful imperiailst country, which has dared to take as its goal bringing down Babylon (imperialism) from right in the belly of that beast.

It is a highly undogmatic and sharply revolutionary party. And it is led by one of the most creative and profound communist thinkers in the world today, Bob Avakian http://bobavakian.net

Obviously you can't sum up a party and its history, and its vision and its program in a quick post.

But I suggest you check things out.

It is obviously not electoral -- but has its own creative approach for "preparing minds and organizing forces." They have an approach that involves taking the revolutionary press as a "hub and pivot" http://rwor.org -- a central task that they define as "prepare public opinion seize power." And a strategic concept for repolarization of classes that they call "united front under the leadership of the proletariat."

one particularly useful way to get an overview is to check out their current draft programme: http://rwor.org/margorp/progtoc-e.htm

This draft programe opens with a particularly consise condemnation of capitalism and a sharp discussion of why communist revolution is the answer... http://rwor.org/margorp/progpart1-e.htm

It has the feel of "a Communist Manifesto" for today.

There is so much that is shitty about the U.S. today, so much that is reactionary, imperialist, aggressive, racist, fundamentalist, etc. But one bright and remarkable thing is the existance of a party like this, and a leader like this -- and (I believe) it is a tremendous positive factor that makes it possible to see the chance for actually preparing and then making a revolutionary attempt.

[BOZG]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2004, 04:45 AM
They're active in the working class communities of the north, trade unions, various campaigns and the new Teach na Failte project.

Anyway, who told you they're not active? The SWP? :lol:
Actually it was by Tarasi/Death/Mahir Cayan, who considered joining them.

[Nimismies]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2004, 05:09 AM

Forming a party of our own would be cool but it would also mean very hard work because you have to collect 5000 signatures for that

True, but there are plenty of flaming revolutionaries in Finland! Plus, we can sneak some Canadians immigrants in taking advantage of Finland's open immigration policy. :lol:


I really want to move back to Finland when I hit 18 :( . I used to live Kokta, east of Helsinki, near the Russian border, you live where?
Helsinki (:

[flyby]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2004, 05:00 AM
Forming a party of our own would....mean very hard work because you have to collect 5000 signatures for that :P

Forming a revolutionary vanguard party is hard work, but not because you need a certain amount of signatures.

Puleeez!!

It is wrong to think you can only form a party according to the rules of the enemy's state! You can only form an ELECTORAL Party by obeying those rules. But who the fuck cares about that?

[il Commie]

In Israel, like in every other aspect, things are crappy:

The Labour Party
Once upon a time, this was a social-democratic party. They promoted a welfare state, built kibutzim (communes) and said they're going forward to Socialism step by step. They were racist towards arabs and oriental jews, and started imperialist wars, which isn't very socialist, but atleast they had some things right.
These days are gone. Today they're a right-wing party. They support Neo-Liberalism full heartly. There is only Peretz, leader of the trade unions, who is running to be their next leader, who supports social-democracy. I don't support him, but I hope he'll win so that the left will be closer to consensus.
They have 21 seats in the Knesset (out of 120).

Social Democratic Israel
Once upon a time, this was a socialist-zionist, very pro-sovietic party who built kibutzim. My grandfather joined it back then because he was a WWII veteran of the Red Army.
These days are gone too. But atleast they are not extreme neo-liberals - they support less privatizations and more welfare. They also don't treat the arab citizens the horrible way the LB does.
They have 6 seats in the Knesset.

Israeli Communist Party
The only remaining socialist party in Israel. We are anti-zionists and communists. We were the only party to oppose the '56 war, '67 war and '82 war from the begining. We are the only party in the Knesset who opposes any privatization. We run for the Knesset as party of the "Democratic Front for Peace and Equality" coalition, together with Ahmad Tibi (a non-communist left politician).
We have 3 seats in the Knesset (2 of them are communists).

Organization for Democratic Action
A small socialist party who opposes working in the trade unions and have a small arab trade union of their own. They have a small organization who supports the refuseniks, and they have a culture club.
They get 1000 votes for the Knesset in average, and it always comes instead of the DFPE. Not very unity-loving people.

Sons of The Country
A palestinian patriotic organization inside the green line. They support one democratic state from river to sea. They support social reforms. They don't work among jews and they don't consider the jews in Israel to be a nation.
They don't run or vote for the Knesset.

[Zingu]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2004, 09:53 PM

Forming a revolutionary vanguard party is hard work, but not because you need a certain amount of signatures.

Puleeez!!

It is wrong to think you can only form a party according to the rules of the enemy's state! You can only form an ELECTORAL Party by obeying those rules. But who the fuck cares about that?
Actually Finland is heavily leftist, a left wing coalition between SDP (Democractic Socialists), LA (Left Alliance) and I think the SKP command the Eduskunta (our parliment), this is the SKDL thats still around, right Nimismies?


The liberals and right wingers have weak powerbase in our home country, so becoming a offical party, (if we actually were serious about it!) would be nothing that hard to do.

[leftist resistance]

There used to be a socialist party in my country in 50s-60s.Pro-communists.And there were also unsuccesful attempts by the local communists at that time.Now the party is no more and many communists leaders were imprisoned in an operation that took place around 60s,i think.
There's a leftist party here but i don't really know about the party.

[praxis1966]

Originally posted by [email protected] 2 2004, 01:00 PM
BTW, in the USA there is also the Peace and Freedom Party. (http://www.peaceandfreedom.org/) They ran Leonard Peltier for president and recieved over 22,000 votes in California (the only state where they were on the ballot).
I'm aware of that, but they've been dead since Abbie Hoffman left and went soft. He's since settled for more liberalist issue activism like environmental advocacy. Not to mention that, while I think he's there on trumped up charges, Leonard Peltier is in jail. You're never going get too far if your candidate is serving a life sentence in Ft. Leavenworth for murder.

[flyby]

Originally posted by praxis1966+Dec 4 2004, 08:32 AM--> (praxis1966 @ Dec 4 2004, 08:32 AM)
[email protected] 2 2004, 01:00 PM
BTW, in the USA there is also the Peace and Freedom Party. (http://www.peaceandfreedom.org/) They ran Leonard Peltier for president and recieved over 22,000 votes in California (the only state where they were on the ballot).
I'm aware of that, but they've been dead since Abbie Hoffman left and went soft. He's since settled for more liberalist issue activism like environmental advocacy. Not to mention that, while I think he's there on trumped up charges, Leonard Peltier is in jail. You're never going get too far if your candidate is serving a life sentence in Ft. Leavenworth for murder. [/b]
Hoffman didn't "leave" the Peace and Freedom Party. He was the founder and leaders of another group, the Yippies (Youth International Party.)

Hoffman didn't "go soft" -- he is dead. So he more "went to powder."
He was active in environmental causes while he was underground, avoiding a prison term.

And finally, I don't agree that running a candidate who is in prison is a useless tactics. It has many values and has been used often (Debs ran for president from prison in World War 1). It publicizes key issues, it gives great exposure to political prisoners (and Leonard Peltier's story should be wisely told and known), and it associates the movement with defiance.

Running a prisoner is a great "fuck you" to the system -- and objecively says "your standards of justice are fucked. Some of those you imprison we think should be elevated to power."

By the way, Bob Avakian was one of the founders of the Peace and Freedom Party, and (before he became a revolutionary) he ran for office on one of their campaigns. Long and interesting story.

[Djehuti]

Well, here in Sweden we have the Social Democrats, they are the largest party and have ruled most part of the 20th century. The last 20-30 years or so they have turned from social democratic to a social liberal party. They have not really been socialists ever in Sweden.

Then we have the left party, they are cooperating with the Social Democrats and the Green Party, but the Social Democrats have neither allowed the Left Party nor the Green Party to form a goverment with them, the Social Democrats keeps all the minister seats for themselfs, even though they do allow the other parties to get their will through in some questions, otherwise the Greens and the Left would withdraw their support and thus the Social Democratic goverment would fall. The Left party currently have a leader who calles himself a communist and man, the bourgoisie really, really hates that and there have been ALOT of propaganda all over Sweden against the Left party resulting in a rather large drop down to around 7-8%, though these numbers can change real fast, I think the Left Party will get up to atleast around 10-12% within a couple of months.
There is some fractioning going on within the left party however, mainly a group of "market socialists", they have some quite intresting opinions when it comes to organization and stuff likes that, but otherwise they do really suck. The Left Party aint great either, they are basicly like the Social Democrats were like 25 years ago. And their party leader are not a communist, even though he calls himself so.

The Left Party have a really large youth organization however, almost as large as the social democratic youth party (the largest), and pretty much larger then the rest of the youth parties. The Young Left have alot of fools, but also some great members,
many marxists and communists of different kinds.

The Green Partys youth organization are also left of their mother party,
though they are almost all fools. Nothing to care much about.


Then we have the Communist Party Marxist-Leninist (Revolutionaries), they do not take part in the elections, besides in some local areas. It is hard to know how wide their support is, but I would guess around 1.5% or so. In some towns they are quite large though and have some influence. They generally focus on other stuff though,
for example they took a great part in rallying people for the Anti-war protests, etc.
They are marxist-leninists, and many of them likes Stalin, and some even defends North Korea. I do not like them much.


We also have some leninist-breznjevist party Swedens Communist Party, they are not far from KPML®, mainly lesser differences, like they are pro-nuclear power for example. I do not now much about them though. They are not especially large, though they have some influence in some parts of Sweden.


Socialist Party, they are a part of the forth international and have trotskyist roots,
though I would not call them trotskyites. SP is a rather broad party really, they have all kinds of socialists. Trotskyites, Council socialists, market socialists, etc. Some parts of the party is great, others are crappy. They have a quite international profile, and have some activity at some large factories and such, etc...


The Justice party Socialists, are quite active even though quite small. But they are quite secterian and they are putting alot of work on their members. Most grow tired quite fast, but they always manage to recruit more people, mostly youths.
They are a kind of trotskist party.


Workers Power is a pure trotskyite party. They are few, and much academics, and focus on theory, though they do pracical stuff to, mostly the same stuff as most leftist organizations...


Peoples Power is an now dead communist organization, much council communist influences and with some influences from the Brittish Class War papers.
Their gretest effort in my opinion is that they translated and spread:
1: Intresting texts by primary council communist theoretics, but also others.
2: Class hate through their paper.
And they also managed to create a class war orientated anarchist movement,
and thats great cause all anarchists in Sweden at that time were like night black and totaly screwed. Now a new communist anarchist movement begun to grow.
They theoretical paper survieved the fall of Peoples Power, and is really, really intresting. Very much influenced by the brittish Aufheben: http://www.geocities.com/aufheben2]http://www.geocities.com/aufheben2
Peoples Power were quite brittish in most accually, many members were like:
"causal-communist-beer-drinking-fotball-supporters".
And there is very much possible that Peoples Power will start up again.


And there is alot of other smaller groups, etc, etc, etc...

[__ca va?]

First of all, I say hello to all of my ugric relatives :D

Well, in Hungary, as always, things are not so clear. The story begins in the mid 1980's when the only ruling party, the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (MSZMP) started to reform itself, because the younger generation hadn't been keen on the leninist leadership. After numerous reforms and changing the first secretary (Kádár - 1st secretary for 32 years), they started discussions with the rather small opposition. After changing the constitution several times and letting parties to be founded, the republic was proclaimed.

This is when the Socialist Workers' Party divided into two: the Hungarian Socialist Party and the Workers' Party. As some funnily say: the WP received the Communist Manifesto and the SP got the Capital. So the WP is a hard-liner leninist party, and the SP was reformist.

But have been confused until now. The SP has become a libertarian, capitalist, but still compassionate, popularist party. They are governing at the present, they have 178 seats of 386 in the Parliament.

There is a Social Democratic Party. But it considers itself to be the "Historical Social Democratic Party" which means it is not socialist at all! (The HSDP was a party at the time Hungary was a rightist dictatorship in the 20's-30's. They had claimed to be socialists, but they were rather rightists)

And there is the New Left which consists of former MSZMP members and many others, but it supports the rightist party.

The rightist party, however (Alliance of Young Democrats - Fidesz) started to be a libertarian one in '89. In 1998 they made a 180° turn and became conservatives to win the elections. In 2002 they even allied with the right-wingers to win the elections! But they didn't. Because the people had enough of the nationalistic nonesens. So what was their next step? They started toi speak out for the workers and the poor, and are now against privatisation! They still kept their nationalistic side though, so I would say they are bolsheviks now.

So these are the leftist, pseudo-leftist, and it-is-their-interest-leftists of Hungary.

[BOZG]

Djehuti,

By Justice party do you mean Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna?

[praxis1966]

flyby: Perhaps, but as far as I was aware, the Yippies and the PFP had a working relationship, at least by proxy through the SNCC. It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, however.

In any event, my point remains the same. PFP is rather innefectual these days, has been for decades. If it's any indication, I was not even aware they still existed until you brought it up.

[Djehuti]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2004, 01:12 AM
Djehuti,

By Justice party do you mean Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna?
Yes.

[BOZG]

I thought so. Yeah, they're Trotskyist.

[Conghaileach]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2004, 11:59 AM
CPUSA: http://www.cpusa.org/
Democratic Socialists of America: http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html
Freedom Socialist Party: http://www.socialism.com/
New Union Party: http://www1.minn.net/~nup/
Socialist Labor Party: http://www.slp.org/
SPUSA: http://www.sp-usa.org/
Workers Party USA: http://www.workersparty.org/
Workers World Party: http://www.workers.org/
What about that recent split from the WWP, the Socialism and Liberation Party (or something along those lines)?

[Conghaileach]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2004, 04:45 AM
They're active in the working class communities of the north, trade unions, various campaigns and the new Teach na Failte project.
The IRSP are getting involved in a lot of work regarding the anti-water tax campaign, and they do indeed have members active in trade union circles, but for the past few years the party has been busiest dealing with a lot of internal issues such as organisation and education. This is why they might not have appeared active.

[duk]

www.broadleft.org ,u can find many leftlist parties .

[BOZG]

Conghaileach,
Fair enough. They're not active in the south at all really.


duk,
That is pretty shit to be honest because it just lists every known organisation which is pretty worthless as it tells you nothing about the organisations or their policies.

[Conghaileach]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2004, 10:27 AM
Conghaileach,
Fair enough. They're not active in the south at all really.
From what I know, that would appear to be true. They do have cumainn in Cork, Dublin and Bray in Wicklow, where IRSP founder Séamus Costello was from. One of the strange things about that town is that most people know and respect Costello for all the work he did in his life (when he was assassinated he was on a dozen or so bodies, including Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow Committee of Agriculture, General Council of Committees of Agriculture, Eastern Regional Development Organisation, National Museum Development Committee, Bray Urban District Council, Bray Branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, Bray and District Trade Unions Council, the Cualann Historical Society) but very little people in the area know anything about the IRSP.

[BOZG]

I think that's true of a left of groups on the left. Certain members are respected but the party as a whole isn't well known. It was the same with the SP down here for a period. Joe Higgins was well known but the party was unknown though it's changed over the past few years.