ISN Disaffiliates from IAWM

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Tuesday March 23, 2004 13:54 by Irish Socialist Network irishsocialistnetwork at dublin dot ie

The Irish Socialist Network, a Dublin based radical socialist organisation committed to participatory socialism, has disaffiliated from the IAWM. [ Ed note: I had to change the title from all uppercase/caps. Please don't do this. Uppercase/caps are considered SHOUTING and it's rude. The submissions form specifically asks contributors not to do this. Thanks and sorry if this sounds scolding: it's more of a public announcement just to remind people. R Isible]

The Irish Socialist Network, a Dublin based radical socialist organisation committed to participatory socialism, has disaffiliated from the IAWM and welcomed moves to create new inclusive and democratic anti-war structures.
The following letters, sent to the IAWM secretary, outline the reasons and timing of the ISN disaffiliation.

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Colm Stephens,
Secretary,
Irish Anti-War Movement

1st March 2004

Dear Colm,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Irish Socialist Network, an affiliated organisation of the Irish Anti-War Movement. At our most recent meeting on 28th February, a discussion took place with regard to our continued affiliation of the Irish Anti-War Movement. We have been unhappy for some time about the direction of the IAWM but have always been prepared to accept decisions at both steering committee and at the delegate meetings that have been made democratically. When we were represented on the Steering Committee we frequently put forward a different perspective to that of the majority in an open and constructive manner.

We were heartened at the broadening of the organisation that occurred at last year’s conference. Although we differ in analysis, method and principle from both the Socialist Workers Party and some of their opponents within the IAWM, we welcomed moves towards greater democratisation of the organisation. We are, therefore, very concerned at recent events, namely the resignation of Dr. Fintan Lane as PRO of the IAWM, the disaffiliation of the Cork Anti-War Alliance and the suspension in dubious circumstances of two members of the Steering Committee.

Two of our members were present at the national meeting of the IAWM on January 31st. In terms of the issues debated and voted on, the ISN delegate took a variety of positions, determined, not by which ‘side’ was making a proposal, but the merits of each proposal as seen from a participatory and democratic socialist position. The report of the ISN delegates confirms that this was indeed a chaotic and bad tempered meeting. Although the Steering Committee found fault with the behaviour of two of its members, the ISN delegates made clear that there was fault on all sides. We do not condone the intemperate and insulting language used by those involved, especially that directed at the guest speaker Raymond Deane of the IPSC. However, it was clear to the ISN delegates that there was also an attempt by the Socialist Workers Party to pack the meeting and that some prominent members of that organisation also engaged in insulting and childish behaviour, including the labelling of opponents as ‘agents’.

We view the action taken by the Steering Committee as one-sided and would like to know whether there are any inquiries taking place at Steering Committee level to investigate the behaviour of SWP members at this meeting and the blatant packing of the meeting. We are firmly opposed to bureaucratic means of dealing with political differences and condemn the reported suspension, without prior notice, of the two members by a small minority of the Steering Committee.

In light of these developments the ISN is reviewing its affiliation to the IAWM. However we feel it only fair to write to the Steering Committee expressing our concerns before we make any final decision. The ISN wants to see a genuinely broad, democratic anti-war movement in this country; we have worked with like-minded people both within the IAWM and outside. We will continue to do so. We would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience.

Yours Sincerely

Paul Moloney
Secretary
Irish Socialist Network

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Colm Stephens
Secretary
Irish Anti War Movement

15th March 2004

Dear Colm,

I wish to inform you that the Irish Socialist Network has disaffiliated from the Irish Anti War Movement. This follows our previous letter expressing our concern at recent developments in the IAWM and the regrettable failure by the Steering Committee to respond to our communication. We find it disturbing that you have failed to even acknowledge a letter in which we indicated that we were considering disaffiliation.

The ISN has been affiliated to the IAWM since 2002. We believe that we have played a constructive role despite the fact that we often found ourselves in disagreement with the dominant force in the organisation, the Socialist Workers Party. During the period when we were represented on the Steering Committee our delegates frequently disagreed with the SWP and others over a number of key questions including; the correct balance between direct action and mass protest, the lack of internal democracy and the uncritical relationship with the Labour Party and trade union bureaucracy. At last years AGM we decided not to put a candidate forward for the new Steering Committee but to remain affiliated. We were, however, heartened by the diversity of the newly elected Steering Committee.

During all this period we continued to work with anti war activists outside the IAWM, in particular the Grassroots Network Against the War. We successfully brought together people from various political backgrounds in Finglas to build for the 15th February demonstration in Dublin. Our members participated in direct action initiatives in both Shannon and Dublin. Our position has been both in theory and practise, that there is no contradiction between these two forms of activity and that it is mistaken to make a fetish of either.

As an organisation which is founded on the principle of participatory and democratic socialism we can no longer remain affiliated to the IAWM. The manner in which the chaotic and bad tempered national meeting of 31st of January was packed by SWP members, the underhand manner in which two steering committee members were suspended, the lack of accountable democratic structures, the intolerance towards differences of opinion, the dogmatic attitude toward direct action and the attitude towards protests at Shannon, leave us with no alternative. The recent disaffiliation of a number of groups and individuals renders the IAWM as little more than an SWP front. We urge the remaining affiliated organisations and individuals to leave the IAWM and play their part in the renewal of the anti war movement.

We wish to acknowledge the fact that two members of the Steering Committee contacted the ISN privately and to express our appreciation of their efforts.
The ISN has not taken this action lightly nor have we been stampeded into action. We have taken time to analyse the situation and draw the appropriate conclusion. As a small organisation, we have no illusions about the impact of our decision but we hope to play a positive role in building new anti war initiatives that are firmly based on democracy and respect for theoretical and tactical diversity. We will continue to work in a constructive manner with all those who are opposed to war and imperialism.

Yours sincerely,


Paul Moloney
Secretary
Irish Socialist Network

PS: In order to avoid undermining the success of next Saturday’s anti-war march in Dublin, we will not announce our disaffiliation publicly until next week.