More debate on Australian Socialist Alliance

[Peter Boyle <peterb@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>From Socialist Worker Issue 503, November 1, 2002, Page 11

Clarifying Politics

I WOULD like to comment briefly on some of the issues in the
important and welcome discussion which the Democratic
Socialist Party has opened up around left unity.

The term "united front" is being used in a very confusing
way in the discussion to cover virtually every form of
united action.

Given that comrades in the Socialist Alliance come from a
range of different political backgrounds it is important
that we understand just what comrades mean.

There is a very large literature on the issues raised by the
difference between a united front and a popular front,
issues that go to the heart of a series of historic
betrayals of the working class.

Marxism is not a dogma and it is correct to develop concepts
in the light of new developments, but if comrades want to
jettison or modify the traditional meaning of terms like
united front, they should clearly explain why they are doing
this.

The DSP's offer of Green Left as a vehicle to build
Socialist Alliance is welcome, but it should be treated with
some caution.

For full text see:

< http://www.iso.org.au/socialistworker/p11c.html>

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