Marxism Festival

[Sam_b]

I have just returned from five days of political debate and analysis at the SWP's Marxism festival, which was held 3-7th of this month in London.

I'm unsure if this is the right forum, but were any comrades able to make it along? And what did you think of it this year?

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

I was going to go, but was unwell at the weekend. However, I was only going to go to John Rees's meeting and give him grief over 'dialectics'.

Maybe next year. It'll be the same old stuff we are fed, anyway...

[Sam_b]

It was a great event this year, and some excellent meetings. My personal favourite was Costas Lapavitsas explaining the credit crunch, it was set out very clearly and generated an interesting floor debate afterwards.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

I am glad you enjoyed it. The last time I actually attended was in 1990!

[Sam_b]

Yeah I did enjoy it. This was my second time there and I plan to try and make it every year. Kind of a 'socialist holiday' i guess

Richard Seymour from Lenin's Tomb did a meeting!

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Yes, I know. His book has just come out:

http://www.versobooks.com/books/nopq...f_murder.shtml

[The Feral Underclass]

I remember Marxism. My first one was in 1997. I had an amazing time.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

I went briefly last year, just to meet a friend. I did not go in, though.

It was a rather sad affair compared to the late 1980s, when there were literally thousands of comrades milling around all the time (especially between meetings), with other groups trying to recruit and sell their papers.

None of that in 2007.

And the whole thing lasts just 5 days now (3 days plus two half days, in fact), unlike the 7 back then.

I hope it picks up again, since it was quite impressive.

[Sam_b]

It was a rather sad affair compared to the late 1980s, when there were literally thousands of comrades milling around all the time (especially between meetings), with other groups trying to recruit and sell their papers.

Haven't numbers grown every year? According to the comrades at the closing rally, this year has been the higest attendance. And there were loads of groups going about, more than I can remember in 2006.

[studd]

Dam I missed this, is there anything else going on this summer in london? Checked SWP website and indy media UK but not much. Where else should I look?

Why wasn't this festival on indy media? I only saw a poster for it after the fact on a phone booth near the natural history museum. The LO fete in Paris after the Labour Day parade is advertized everywhere by contrast.

It would be nice to hear Tony Benn speak while I am in town this summer.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Sam b -- there were loads more meetings back in the 1980s and 90s, and the whole thing lasted the best part of seven and a half days. I wish it were growing, but it looks like it isn't. We were told the same sort of thing every year back then too. You only ever get good news when you join a revolutionary party.

Of course, things may change; let's hope they do.

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Studd, you should be able to access some of the meetings on YouTube.

MP3s from previous years can be found here:

http://www.resistancemp3.org.uk/

They should be publishing MP3s of most of the meetings for 2008 soon.