Re: Building a broad mass movement, UK

[Ben Courtice <benj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ian Willmore wrote:
My comment would be that David Yaffe has long been one of the most notorious 
sectarians even
on the (generally viperous) British far left.

It's noticeable that his latest miserable article attacks Monbiot and Vidal - 
two of the most
successful and effective green journalists in Britain - as well as CND and the 
SWP for their
"unprincipled" (i.e. effective) work in the Stop the War Coalition.

Step 1 on the Yaffe Road to Socialism: rubbish all activists, groups and 
individuals actually
doing anything. Step 2: offer the unique and principled leadership the working 
class and
progressive forces need - in the form of Yaffe.

Somehow, I suspect this is doomed to failure.
--------------------------------------------

Maybe I shouldn't have quoted Yaffe if it will generate so much heat. I'm aware of the 
RCG's bad reputation. I happen to think that they produce a generally informative and 
interesting newspaper. I don't necessarily endorse the views of David Yaffe I posted; he 
seems to be advocating a break up of the real broad mass movement that is developing, in 
the name of a "revolutionary anti-imperialist movement against war, capitalism and 
imperialism" that only exists as a wish. (If I have misconstrued Yaffe then 
apologies to him).

I was hoping however to hear if Yaffe's specific attacks on the STWC have any currency 
whatsoever? First, on the alliance with the left labour types (I guess there are 
different viewpoints about this on the list too... pro and anti Labour) and Monbiot and 
Vidal (who allegedly "ratted").

The Labor Party is involved in the peace movement in Australia too, or at least 
sections of it. If these sections are genuinely against the war of course we 
want to work with them. On the other hand, to the extent that they try to 
impose top-down, closed, invitation-only organisational structures on anti-war 
coalitions they may do the movement more harm than good. Certainly my local 
anti-war group has problems in this regard. I'm curious what parallels anyone 
sees in Britain?

Ben Courtice





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