[Marxism] Conference on US Trotskyism -- New York -- 25-27 July

["Paul Flewers" <rfls12802@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

List members in the USA may be interested in this conference.

Paul F

++++++++++++++

The Legacy of Leon Trotsky and US Trotskyism: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow --
Conference 

25-27 July 2008, Fordham University, New York City 

A diverse group of veterans of the Trotskyist movement have organized a
conference to discuss and better understand past and present struggles, to
clarify issues and to build the socialist movement today and tomorrow. 

It's shaping up to be an exciting event! 

A sampling of plenary/workshop sessions and speakers include: 

Plenary Sessions: 

Permanent Revolution and the Evolution of World Realities
 
Social Movements and Class Struggle in the United States
 
What Kind of Political Organization do we Need?
 
Lessons of the SWP Experience 

Speakers will include: 

Esteban Volkov, Leon Trotsky's grandson 
Celia Hart, Cuban revolutionary (likely via electronic hook-up) 
Bryan Palmer, author of 'James P. Cannon and the Origins of the American
Revolutionary Left, 1890-1928' 
Ahmed Shawki, Editor of International Socialist Review 
Gus Horowitz, SWP national antiwar director, and founding national
co-coordinator, Student Mobilization Committee 

Workshops (preliminary list): 

SWP memory project, health care, women's liberation, electoral action,
student and youth, the national question, race-class-gender, gay issues and
rights, Cuba, labor and the environment. 

Theoretical and political perspectives to be discussed: 

What remains relevant in the Trotskyist theoretical and political tradition?
 
What do developments of the late 20th and early 21st century indicate
regarding the value of such concepts as permanent revolution, workers'
states (and/or workers' and farmers' governments), workers' democracy, the
revolutionary potential of the working class, the revolutionary potential of
social movements, Lenin on the vanguard party and democratic centralism,
imperialism, the national question, and the relation of democratic struggles
to the revolutionary struggle? 

And what we should do now? 

What is the best way to organize for change in the world today?
 
What is the political situation that we face, particularly from the
standpoint of those who continue to want to create a socialist society?
 
What is the situation in Cuba today and how does that impact permanent
revolution in Latin America in countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia?
 
What are the dynamics in the Middle East created by US Empire building and
US wars?

What is happening on the Left, in the unions, in the immigrant rights
movement, the antiwar movement, among environmentalists, and in other social
movements?
 
And what are the lessons of the SWP experience that can help to point the
way forward today? 

Details: 
 
Dates: Friday-Sunday, July 25-27, 2008 

Location: Fordham University, Bronx New York 

Cost: $60/day for room (dorms) and board (3 meals/day, on-site cafeteria) +
a registration fee of $40/full conference or $25/day 

Donations: We would like to offer scholarships to defray registration costs
and expenses for those unable to afford them. Please send pledges (payable
before the conference) or donations to: 

Paul LeBlanc, 9000 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, leblanp1@xxxxxxxxxxx 

A Conference registration form will be mailed to you shortly. 

For more information, or to help in planning and organizing the conference
(we welcome your participation!), contact the Conference Coordinators: Linda
Thompson: 203 453-2770, lthompson321@xxxxxxx on the East coast & Robin
David: 415 285-8548, robindavid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx on the West coast. 

We are looking forward to your support. There is a lot of excitement and
interest generating for this event. 

The Conference Planning Committee: Tom Bias, Steve Bloom, Robin David,
Alexei Folger, David Keil, Paul LeBlanc, Ahmed Shawki, Sharon Smith, Asi
Somburu, Kwame Somburu, Zakiya Somburu, Linda Thompson, Dave Walters 





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