re: [A-List] European Workers Party

["Mark Jones" <markjones011@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's part of an offlist response from someone I much respect:

>> .... I think the first
thing is to say the whole idea isn't great. It looks just like another small
sideline thing.

The way I look at it is that it would be great to see something like that
with a mass following but its just not going to happen. Rather than setting
out an agenda which everyone agrees to beforehand - you must chase the
people and hear what they are saying which you can then use for your own
purposes.

The way to create a EWP is not through mentioning Marx or lenin but by
acting like them. I would stay a mile away from that Worker's party stuff.
People's party does just as well - you can have perfect historical
materialist material just don't mention the word communist. Socialist is
enough and you should use it pretty much interchangably with words like
equality and the like. Words like marxism that are just shackles to keep you
from the people - we can talk like that between ourselves but not to the
people (not when introducing our programme). If you are going to present a
programme then make it very simple - yes, mention US imperialism but don't
put people off with terms they (unjustly) associate with failure and the
like. If they are really interested they will pick it up with time but you
are looking to speak to people directly.

As far as the nuts and bolts goes - I wouldn't be drafting up a manifesto at
this stage anyway. What's much more useful is to work away creating a
network of like minded progressive (and LARGE SCALE) organisations in
Europe. That's going to be hard work. If you have differences with them over
issues such as expansion - argue with them but form linkages. I just can't
see anything else working in a meaningful sense.[snip] I would
be working on the makings of an
organisation within [a reformist entity like the Socialist party in Holland]
(clandestinely). With time, these large organisations
will adopt to EU-wide struggles. That will happen with time - the question
is have we got enough - I don't know....<<