Socialist Resistance

Last weekend in Paris there was a meeting called by the Ligue communiste révolutionnaire of European anti capitalist parties. This is a translation of the statement that was issued from it.

There were about a hundred representatives of about thirty organisations from sixteen countries present. Among them were the principal organisations of the revolutionary left in Europe which represent thousands of activists and sympathisers.

Also present was an observer from the ISO ((International Socialist Organisation) in the United States .

This international conference of the radical, anti-capitalist and revolutionary European left was undoubtedly a big success. For the first time since May 68 nearly all the anti-capitalist left was brought together.
It was remarkable that this first meeting took place. The fact that it decided to continue and meet for a second conference in 2009 shows that something new is happening for Europe’s radical left.

This success is first of all connected with both the support for and the curiosity about the LCR’s initiative and the new anti-capitalist party. But there is something else.

It is a change in the historic period which has unsettled the workers’ movement and organisations for several years, a process which is perhaps coming to maturity in a number of countries. The combination, in the framework of capitalist globalisation, of the current financial, banking and food crises of capitalism - of the redoubling of attacks against social and democratic rights, and the social-liberal evolution of the traditional left opens a space for the radical left.

These questions were dealt with in a first discussion introduced by François Sabado, a member of the LCR’s leadership. He indicated a series of points of convergence on the nature of the capitalist offensive on the evolution of the social-democratic and communist parties on the dynamic of the class struggle. This debate also confirmed the points of agreement about the principal anti-capitalist measures in the face of neo-liberal capitalism and the need for a clear independence from social democracy. All the organisations present reaffirmed the necessity of rejecting the politics of parliamentary or governmental coalitions with the social liberalism of social democracy or the centre left.

These main reference points for rebuilding a new workers’ movement and an anti-capitalist alternative don’t exhaust all the indispensable debates for rebuilding a socialist project, debates which we must have on the different experiences in Europe , questions such as the formulation of an European anti-capitalist programme, the war, an ecosocialist response to the ecological crisis and of course about the content and forms of socialism in the 21^st century.

So we have to work and debate. The next conference in 200 will be focused on the struggle against the war, NATO and military politics in Europe .

There was something else positive about this conference. It is not only a questions of debating but also of acting. There were three discussions after the main discussion. The first, which was introduced by LCR leadership member Yvan Lemaitre, about the war, in which returning to the warmongering policies of the ruling classes and the role of NATO to organise a large international demonstration in Strasbourg and Kiel next spring.

For the first time a conference of this type looked at the question of global warming. It was introduced by Laurent Menghini. This second debate showed that all the anti capitalist organisations are developing an ecological dimension.

There was a third debate, introduced by Emmanuel Siegelman, on the importance of the struggle against racism and xenophobia. Following the example of the Lega Nord in Italy, which is waging a real campaign against foreigners, the attacks against immigrants are a central element of the attack of reactionary governments against social and democratic rights. Anticapitalists must make this a central axis of their activity in Europe .

After a short summary of the proceeding by Galia Trépère all the participants have decided to have a joint intervention at the next social forum in Malmo in Sweden, and especially to consider common activities at the time of the next European elections in 2009. What is at stake when the far right, the socialist and communist parties have European structures is to begin to build a European anti capitalist pole of attraction. This is one of the most difficult questions for each organisation has a different history, there are specific relationships of forces in each country. Some organisations have already responded positively. Others are going to discuss it, and some, without taking part in a European campaign, are open to common initiatives.

In short – the new anti-capitalist party is getting things moving in Europe !

The organisations represented were:

Denmark : Red Green alliance
Switzerland : Solidarités, Gauche anticapitaliste, Mouvement pour le socialisme
Germany : ISL, RSB, BASG, Marx21, Interventionist Lef, Anticapitalist Left
Austria : SOAL
Sweden : Socialist Party
Poland : Polish Labour Party
Belgium: LCR-SAP
Norway : Socialist Unity
British state : Respect, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party
Spanish state- : Espacio Alternativo
Turkey : ODP
Portugal : Left Bloc
Italy : Sinistra Critica
Netherlands : SAP
United States : ISO
Greece : ARAS, Kokkhino, Syriza, KOE, Synapismos, New Left Current (NAR), Left Recompostion, DEA, OKDE, Ecologist Alternative, SEK, AKOA
France : LCR

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John Mc Anulty on 1968

Extracted from Corriente Alterna

Alex and Yoann (JCR Paris-Nanterre)

French youth continue to show their potential for mobilising against education reforms. This time it is the turn of high school students, who, during the last weeks, have been on the streets against the suppression of teachers’ jobs in high schools.

Everything started with the Sarkozy government’s announcement of the elimination of 11,200 high school teacher jobs during the next year. In doing so, they have gone one step further in their policy of frontal attacks on education rights and of reducing public expenditure. Consequences will include the elimination of optional subjects (arts, Latin, foreign languages) and increases in student-teacher ratios and in teachers’ working hours.

The first to mobilise were the teachers. On 18 March, responding to the call of the SNES, FO, Sud and CGT unions, thousands of teachers went on strike and demonstrated in Paris. There were around 2,000 on the demo, accompanied by 3,000 high school students who gave the first sign that a mass youth movement was rising again.

Since then, the dynamic of the teachers’ struggle has been overtaken by that of the students, who have started organising themselves and taking the initiative. Methods of action reflect the experience acquired by French youth during the recent strikes: blocks and strike pickets, speeches during the lessons in order to interrupt them and to be able to mobilise for massive demonstrations in Paris.

In contrast to the other movements, this time it is the high school students in the most working-class areas that have taken the initiative and have formed the majority of the demonstrators. In this way, massive demonstrations and the capacity of organization of the French students’ movement have begun to converge with the combativity and radicalisation of the youth from the Paris suburbs.

From these beginnings, the movement has spread like wildfire. First in Paris, where hundreds of high schools have gone on strike spontaneously, overwhelming all political organizations and trade unions. But not only in high schools: the movement has reached dozens of middle schools (11 to 15 years), which have also blocked lessons and have massively mobilised for demonstrations. These demonstrations have brought together up to 50,000 people in Paris twice a week.

But the movement is not only in Paris. In Toulouse, Lyon and Grenoble, the mobilization has also achieved a historically unprecedented scope. On 18 April students in Paris started their holidays which are two weeks long. It is therefore the turn of high schools in the provinces, which are coming back from holidays now. And they have got started quickly. On 22 April, 15,000 students demonstrated in Tours, 2,500 in Toulon, 500 in Lille and 3,000 in Strasbourg. These actions will give a push to the movement in Paris when the holidays finish there.

To achieve this level of activity, it is also essential that the movement organises itself and adopts democratic structures. Coordination is beginning between the high schools that are in struggle, with the first national meeting taking place in April and the next one on 3 May.

6 May is the key date: the teachers’ unions are thinking of calling a General Strike on education, and FO (Force Ouvriere – Workers’ Force) is even thinking of the possibility of calling an inter-sectoral strike.

Update: Teachers’ Unions FERC-CGT, SGEN-CFDT, UNSA-EDUCATION, SUD EDUCATION have called a strike on 15 May. May promises to be a month of action.