In this section BRS gets to grips with how the ruling class maintains its economic, political and ideological/cultural dominance, each distinct but interconnected, which all demand responses from the working class and – from other sections of society that lose out to monopoly capitalist power.
In facing society’s injustices and inequalities, people develop ideas and activity… and through these, demands, organisation, policies – and class consciousness.
Our responses to capitalist power need to be systematic and coherent – not dislocated and fragmented as they often are. Creating that coherence is the purpose of the Left Wing Programme in the working class movement. Economic, environmental, social, cultural, financial, political, domestic and international injustices and inequalities all need to be countered by our own programme, to strengthen our class through confidence, organisation and unity.
The development of such a programme enables workers to see the “Big Picture” of society – and BRS identifies the role of an Alternative Economic & Political Strategy in this, again the result of analysis of often rapidly changing situations, making the connections, challenging the fundamental characteristics of capitalism to present an effective and achievable way forward.
But BRS makes it very clear that while these struggles and developments can open the way towards Socialism there is far more to the stages of a revolutionary strategy for real transformation of society. BRS asks of the current stage of State Monopoly Capitalism, “How would a popular, democratic anti-monopoly alliance seek political power, including the role of elections and governments?”
State Monopoly Capitalism blocks the advance of the people on every front – economic, societal, cultural, environmental. It undermines our pay, our homes, our services, our future security. It impoverishes workers and destroys small businesses.
In this context we discuss the need to defend and extend the role of strong, democratic, trades unions working with communities and their organisations to protect and improve living standards of working people and end super-exploitation. But BRS also asserts that industrial organisation and militancy in the fight on economic issues, is not enough. It has to be integrated with political understanding of class power and the State if we are to take the road to Socialism.
We need such politically aware organisation in our communities to extend democratic activity and freedoms, and to take the struggle into every sphere of the state apparatus – including local councils and parliament.
Such movements in workplaces, unions and communities raise the ideological “battle of ideas” where individualistic self-interest is challenged, and co-operative, collective class interest is promoted.
BRS goes on to look in some detail at policies and action for building a productive, sustainable economy – focusing on full employment, renewed investment in production and in hi-tech green industry, securing the rural economy… and democratic public ownership – with new and inventive forms of social enterprise and common ownership.
Clearly, these challenge the basis of the capitalist motivation – profit – as do policies against the capital driven global environmental catastrophe. These policies need to be examined in their entirety – not summary – but the point BRS makes is that the struggle for these increases awareness of the massively destructive role of capitalism, strengthens links between communities, and helps prepare workers for state power where we will face all these problems in a new context!
A section on social policy and democratic culture shows how capitalist culture of individualism, competition, exploitation and greed results in powerlessness, insecurity and physical or mental ill health for many… and often anti-social and criminal behaviour amongst those most abandoned by the system. Conversely, policies of equality, full employment, secure homes and communities, services and mutual support reflect working class culture.
The progressive movement needs always to protect and promote the social, liberating nature of cultural activities of the people – too essential to be left to the base nature of the “free market”. In this the struggle of education workers, those in arts of all kinds – and of course those in the media – and particularly the Morning Star – are vital.
BRS emphasises both respect for diversity of cultural expression and, equally, opposition to any and all oppressive ideas and practices in all cultures. It asserts that state action against sectional hatred and discrimination is essential, but that laws are no substitute for the mobilisation of the people against these social evils of the system.
Directly confronting the reactionary propaganda that progress is “unaffordable” BRS presents a dozen bullet points of practical measure to fund radical improvement of workers’ lives – even within capitalism – with the Left Wing Programme. It is not “unaffordable” to capitalism – just unacceptable.
The hope of the people for economic and social advance means a battle to expand democracy against the power of Big Business, and our class learns from experience that hard-won rights are constantly under attack – rights of assembly and demonstration, of the organisation of workers into unions, in the workplace and contracts, in equal pay etc. BRS condemns all forms of sexism, racism and xenophobia and the division and super-exploitation they underpin.
It goes on to demand electoral reforms – including votes at 16 and proportional representation – so that political assemblies could more closely reflect their communities – and make debates more practical and significant… public debate being enhanced too by breaking up the media monopolies. Again, predictably, none of these are permitted willingly by the ruling class
Here BRS introduces a major initiative in the area of political representation – Progressive Federalism – aimed at bringing political issues and government closer to the nations of Britain and the regions of England, and strengthening people to demand and ensure that elected assemblies take up their issues, needs and demands
Finally, this section of BRS discusses what it emphasises as “the first stage in the revolutionary process” – the development of support for AEPS and left wing programme in the working class movement, and the development of the anti-monopoly alliance. This will enhance the move toward the election of left governments in England, Scotland and Wales which would need to be protected a mass working class movement.
But the section finishes with a warning, borne out clearly by the State orchestrated successful attack on Jeremy Corbyn’s left leadership of the Labour Party. BRS points out that democratic rights are limited, distorted and precarious and can be countermanded by wealth and power in capitalism… that the ruling class is “utterly ruthless” in defending their interests… and any left government in Britain would need to be rooted in mass extra-parliamentary campaigning and militancy.
Video
Questions for Discussion
Try to refer to real examples & experiences locally, nationally and internationally
- What is meant by State Monopoly Capitalism – and what role do the AEPS and LWP play in developing a broad, democratic and popular alliance against it?
- What is Progressive Federalism and how does it meet the needs of today in Britain?
- If it’s true that “Industrial organisation and militancy, and the fight on economic issues, is not enough. It has to be integrated with political understanding of class power and the State if we are to take the road to Socialism”… how do we organise to bring this about?
- What do communists mean by multiculturalism – “respecting & celebrating cultural diversity while opposing oppressive ideas and practices in all cultures” and how does this relate to the liberal Idealist notion of cultural relativism– “that beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person’s own culture, and not be judged against the criteria of another”? And how do these relate to the central question of class culture in capitalist society?
- What steps do we anticipate the capitalist state taking against the emergence of a renewed left leadership of the Labour Party – and how do we anticipate and deal with it?
Further reading
Recommended Reading:
- Aaronovitch: The Road from Thatcherism
- White (ed): Building an economy for the people
- Greenshields: Capitalist crisis, Socialist solution