CWI's View of Left Unity?

  1. Fourth Internationalist
    What is the CWI's view of left unity, like what the CPGB advocates for? Also, what are its views of other existing revolutionary socialist parties and organisations?
  2. Tower of Bebel
    Tower of Bebel
    Both views are like water and fire. If you got some time to read, read Socialism and Left Unity. It will help you understand what (de)motivates the CWI to back left unity projects.

    "We, for our part, intend to continue to pursue a policy of debate, dialogue and discussion with genuine left organisations as well as building and strengthening the Socialist Party."

    "This is a precondition for rearming the labour movement for the battles to come. We are also prepared to unify our forces in practice with all genuine Marxist organisations on an agreed, principled basis."

    "We will not, however, jeopardise the work of our members or supporters that we have built up in unprincipled amalgamations in which the approach of organisations differ so widely as to produce paralysis."

    "This would only prepare the basis for further splits and schisms at a later stage. However, what we can do today is to bloc with genuine socialist and Marxist forces with their roots in the working class and the labour movement in the task of preparing the basis for a new, mass left party in Britain."

    "We have argued this case for over a decade and will continue to do this in the present period."

    "We appeal to all those who have read and agree with our analysis and programme to join the ranks of the Socialist Party and the CWI."

    "A strong Marxist left is vital, providing the ideological backbone to any new formation that will arise in Britain."
    Basically, the CWI promotes the idea that there is some kind of double task to be done. One is to strenghten the workers' movement while at the same time building the revolutionary party. In general, the emphasis rests heavily on the latter, the revolutionary party being the CWI most of the time (...all of the time?).

    Left Unity fits both parts, but this only according to specific circumstances. (I mean "perspectives", the general prospect of where the working class and capitalism are going and what are the opportunities that confront us.) Britain, the sick man of Europe's left, with it's multitude of left unity projects, could explain why left unity, by itself, could be seen as a relative break on the task of building the CWI.

    The CWI also promotes the concept of a "new workers' party" in many European countries, emphasising the political unity of workers instead of the unity of the left. With the rise and decline of many new left parties in Europe (Die Linke, Syriza, Rifondazione Communista, ...), and the lack of any real such initiative in Britain, this concept has proved to be a very diverse one.
  3. Fourth Internationalist
    Thanks