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Lets talk about RESPECT. The future for the left - or a coalition with Reactionaries?
 national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis
 Wednesday August 04, 2004 18:13 by Conor - SAucd
In the Past few months, The British SWP/IST has taken the unprecedented step of rejecting Secularism
In the Past few months, The British SWP/IST has taken the unprecedented step of rejecting its core Secular Revolutionary Socialist principals, and traded them off for electoral success by entering a coalition with religious reactionaries. In a Move that even the revisionist/opportunist NewLabour would find a step too far to the right, the SWP has decided to set up the “respect coalition” with the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
Billed as a “mass, left alternative to New Labour” Respect made some gains in the local by-elections in Britain recently. Although reasonably impressive in electoral terms, the gains are at the expense of a clear move to the right. Far from beating Blair by revolutionary means, the SWP are entering his game on his terms.
As the SWP would see it, RESPECT is the revolutionary thorn in Blair’s side. After 10 Years of New Labour, they decided against the multitude of Socialist and progressive alliances available, and instead decided on a coalition with a group who see homosexuality as a “sexual perversion”.
The MAB identifies unambiguously with the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is a moderate, reformist, Islamic party, which builds its upfront public profile around welfare and religious education. It is no surprise that it should use writers like Pilger, Fisk and Ritter to give itself a plausible public face. Its basic politics are, however, the same as those of the shriller fundamentalists: the overthrow of secularism, democracy and women’s rights, and the introduction of a state run under Islamic law.
An article in its “Inspire” freesheet explains a little of what the MAB understand by an Islamic state. In their ideal state, a person who “chooses not to embrace Islam” may have the right to be a citizen, but only if they “express loyalty to the state and recognise its legitimacy so that he or she does not engage in any activity that may be construed as threatening to its order”. Even then that person’s citizenship is “qualified”, “and such qualification is only lifted when the concerned person embraces Islam”. Lenin would be proud.
At the front of the RESPECT charge for reformist-capitalist-parliamentary victory is former Labour member and long time charlatan, MP George Galloway. Not one to Shy away from the pro Saddam rhetoric, and a fan of violent Iraqi insurgents who are “giving them [the American Occupiers] a bloody good hiding all over the country”, Galloway has long been a discrediting force to be reckoned with on the left. His relationship with Saddam is just one part of this mans singular brutality – his critique of the Green party descended to the intellectual depths of "I don't call them the Greens - I call them the Whites - if you look at their list [of candidates] you see middle class whites”.
In 1994 he visited his old friend in Baghdad and said “Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability"
When not discussing the aesthetic qualities of red top busses, or eating Quality Street chocolates with Saddam, George can be heard trumpeting on about how much he admired Stalin “I think the disappearance of the Soviet Union is the biggest catastrophe of my life” a gift to the Right, if ever there was one.
No-one doubts the problems faced on a daily basis by Muslims and other Minority groups in Britain, but the role the left should play in such matters should not extend into embracing a reactionary group, their policies, politics, and eventually their partnership in a political Coalition. The MAB are a reactionary group. The left should not consider it an ally.
Who would think that the SWP would loose the Revolutionary AND the Socialist tag in one, quick year. In RESPECT, the IST/SWP have paired off with the MAB, a former journalist for the most reactionary of papers, and "gorgeous" George.
Do the Irish IST/SWP support the move to the right & RESPECT? Or will they finally outthink their financial masters in Britain? The answers are unknown, because the Irish SWP has been strangely quiet in explaining themselves. I hope they will now.
http://www.mabonline.info/english/
http://www.respectcoalition.org/
http://www.istendency.net/
http://www.swp.org.uk/
http://www.swp.ie/
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Comments (27 of 27)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27The Founding Declaration of Respect - the Unity Coalition
01/02/2004
The greatest mass movement of our age has brought us together.
We have marched in unprecedented numbers against war, against racism, and in defence of democracy and civil liberties. Our views are shared by millions, often a majority of the people in this country. Yet no establishment politician, and very few elected representatives of any kind, will lend their voice to this movement.
The two most important statistics in contemporary politics highlight the growing chasm between ordinary working people and the political establishment—on the one hand we have participated in the greatest political demonstrations in modern history, and on the other hand the last general election saw the lowest turnout since universal suffrage was introduced.
This chasm is at its widest on the question of war and peace. Tony Blair's New Labour has taken us to war five times in the last six years, each time with calamitous consequences. The bloodshed, the waste of precious economic resources, the lying and hypocrisy that have accompanied the attack on Iraq have
brought many to the conclusion that they must rethink their traditional political allegiance.
But the yearning for a political alternative is even wider than the anti-war movement. Pensioners, students, trade unionists, Muslims and other faith groups, socialists, ethnic minorities and many others have been deeply disappointed by the authoritarian social policies and profit-centred, neo-liberal economic strategy of the government.
There is a crisis of representation, a democratic deficit, at the heart of politics in Britain. We aim to offer a solution to this crisis.
We stand for:
An end to the war and occupation in Iraq. We will not join any further imperialist wars.
An end to all privatisation and the bringing back into democratic public ownership of the railways and other public services.
An education system that is not dependent on the ability to pay, that is comprehensive and gives an equal chance in life to every child no matter how wealthy or poor their parents, from nursery to university.
A publicly owned and funded, democratically controlled NHS, free to all users.
Pensions that are linked to average earnings.
Raising the minimum wage to the European Union Decency threshold of £7.40 an hour.
Tax the rich to fund welfare and to close the growing gap between the poor and the wealthy few.
The repeal of the Tory anti-union laws.
Opposition to all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs (or lack of them), sexual orientation, disabilities, national origin or citizenship.
The right to self-determination of every individual in relation to their religious (or non-religious) beliefs, as well as sexual choices.
The defence of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Opposition to the European Union's 'Fortress Europe' policies.
We will strongly oppose the anti-European xenophobic right wing in any Euro referendum. But we oppose the 'stability pact' that the European Union seeks to impose on all those who join the euro. This pact would outlaw government deficit spending and reinforce the drive to privatise and deregulate the economy
and we will therefore vote 'No' in any referendum on this issue.
Support for the people of Palestine and opposition to the apartheid system that oppresses them.
An end to the destruction of the environment by states and corporations for whom profit is more important than sustaining the natural world on which all life depends.
We want a world in which the democratic demands of the people are carried out; a world based on need not profit; a world where solidarity rather than self-interest is the spirit of the age.
Let this be the rebirth of hope for those who have become disillusioned.
Not quite socialism - is it
A long comment containing nothing but a cut and pasted article by Alex Callinicos (SWP) was snipped.
The original article appeared in International Socialist Tendency’s Internal Bulletin No.5, July 2004 with a more readable HTML version available here.
I think it's great that Conor wrote something on this issue. It's about time that there is proper discussion about this. This is an important topic as it involves much about what people think about building the left.
I would be a critic of Respect. I think that the SWP are involved, uncritically, and without principle with some reactionary elements in the British Muslim community. They voted against having women's rights on the manifesto, They voted against Respect having a workers' wage policy. This is not exactly the way the ideas of socialism should be fought for. It's not as if the SWP argued for these policies and then lost a vote- they did not even raise them!
Before I'm attacked for being anti-muslim I will say this. An serious revolutionary socialist would put forward policies and proposals for solving the problems that minority communities face. A socialist will raise these issues trying to get united action between working class people of all ethnic backgrounds. The SWP are NOT doing this. The SWP are in an alliance with conservative muslim forces (eg MAB). These are the very people that Muslims should be moving away from and opposing. If the SWP raised the idea of women's rights they would probably be supported by most working class muslims! If the British SWP wished to orientate to the 5 million strong Irish community would they tailor their demands to the Catholic hierarchy and stand outside mass on a Sunday?
I've no problem with socialists making leaflets for different communities as every group in society can see things differently or have different problems. What I do have a problem with is that the "Respect- a Party for Muslims" leaflet does not point towards unity with other working class people in Britain, it merely says that George Galloway is Tee-Total, his wife is a muslim and that "Sister Yvonne" (candidate Yvonne Ridley) is a muslim.
I could go on and on. I would be interested in serious debate on this (including SWP members and/or supporters)
Just a tired old article from comrade Alex. This is a serious issue for the left. Do the SWP (Ireland) support the reactionary leanings of their right wing IST comrades (if thats a correct term to use) in RESPECT?
Still no Answers
As this seems to be coming between you and your sleep, I can say that personally
I think Respect is worth a shot and that I support Callinacos writings.
Respect is NOT homophobic, it is NOT reactionary and your continuing attempts to paint it as such are bullshit.
Your own comments and selective quotes are at best misleading /.
Prehaps you have not heard but theres a imperialist war in Iraq and a war on muslim communities in the West. What are you saying about that?
If anybody was to convince me it was a bad idea it sure as hell wont be you son.
Now , you can go to sleep
Conor,
I think you are going over the top on this subject.
There are many voices in RESPECT - here is an interview in the Weekly Worker with one of them, the newly elected councillor Oliur Rahman :
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/534/rahman.html
You can also find an interview with another election candidate Yvonne Ridley; her politics are to the right of Rahman
But these issues will be resolved in Britain, not Ireland. it would be interesting to attend the RESPECT annual conference in London next October.
Another question is more important : if any broader left formation gets off the ground in Ireland, it is likely to contain a range of views; expect very heated polemics.
I will throw in one issue which provokes very different responses - I think the only realistic policy that can be followed on the left regarding illegal drugs is to campaign for legalisation and decriminalisation. I strongly disagree with the views expressed by, for example, Tony Gregory, Cieran Perry, or the Sinn Féin party.
Where do you draw the bottom line? How do you ensure a democratic internal discussion?
SWP Ireland is merely an extension of SWP England. Their so-called theoreticians are English or Anglophile clowns like Tony Cliff. Read Eamonn McCann. He makes a nice living writing articles for the capitalist press attacking the leader of Ireland's indigenous revolutionary movement. He makes ridiculous statements such as the main problem confronting the Irish people is Anglo-American imperialism in Iraq. And he thinks George Bush is a Baptist. He deservedly received a laughable vote in the recent European election. The fascist, Justin Barrett, received a higher percentage. The SWP, including its Irish wing, headed by McCann, is heading fast for that well-known historical dust-bin.
Of course John wouldn't be biased in his response to Conor. It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that the biggest facilitators and apologists for the SWP within Respect has been the ISG the British wing of the USFI. Alan Thornett has played a blinder in being a mudguard for the dilution of socialist politics from that which the Socialist Alliance was attempting to bed down to the populist rhetoric of Respect. It would seem that on this occassion Respect will show that the road to hell is paved by opportunism. Looks like the USFI have learnt nothing from their experience in Brazil.
As to the inteview that John introduced to the debate, here's another, compare and contrast.
Secularism is the bedrock of tolerant British society. RESPECT in its own small (islamic) way threatens this.
Could the disappearance of the SWP in Belfast from SW branch list have anything to do with the Respect issue? Only looked when I seen a full page in SW on racism in Northern Ireland and their front the ARN was not mentioned. The unholy duo Dave Carlin and Barbara Muldoon were not mentioned either. Usually they would be quoting their front men
They are still on the web but removed from the SW paper
I have to make a few points about John Meehan's argument.
John is right to point out that Respect do have a variety of forces. Mainly the SWP and MAB (Muslim Association of Britain) dominate with the vast majority of members. Others such as John's organisation (ISG, USFI Britain), the CPGB, and other small left groupings are members/supporters of Respect.
John says that Repect is in Britain and not in Ireland. Obviously true, but why should this stop us debating it? It raises a number of questions about building the left. In Belgium a few years ago the main Maoist Party launched an initiative with Muslims. Like Repect it was an opportunistic formation that fell apart as quick as it was formed. It would be correct to launch initiatives that will appeal to radicalised Muslim people and to unite them with other working class activists. But this is not what is being done. Respect involves conservative leaders of Islam in the UK. Again, would you enter into an uncritical alliance with the Catholic hierarchy to win over the Irish community in the UK? No you wouldn't!
John, you are right to say that any new formation will have a variety of views. That's a good thing if there's a healthy debate. But it's a totally different thing if there are homophobic, anti-women, and conservative elements in the formation. I am also interested at your inclusion of Sinn Fein as a party that could be a party of a new mass workers' party! Do you think that Sinn Fein offer an alternative to the Irish working class? Do you not realise that already many many working class people distrust Sinn Fein and their opportunistic politics.
Finally, John, I think that you should think about these things. I know that your Party (the USFI) have been involved in bad political arrangements elsewhere. The USFI support Lula's government even though the PT is discredited. The USFI entered a capitalist cabinet in Brazil and are implementing cut-backs!
Steve you might have some credibility if your own outfit the SP/CWI gets into bed with every reactionary around. Whether its rightwing independents who hapen to opose schol privatisations and who end up doing worse than the monster raving loney party. Or how about your position in the North. Suporting the right of Orangemen to trample over Taigs. And we will never forget the disgraceful role the SP plays in the anti war movement. Yes Steve, your sabotage at Shanon and the Virtual wariors remarks will never be forgotten.
Could it be that Shannon direct actionistas have suddenly discovered an overwhelming interest in the minor candidates in a by-election in England? Or could it just be that a desperate member of the SWP is doing a bit of impersonation in order to change the subject? Let me think... Ok, I've thought.
Our troll above is a member of the SWP trying to derail the thread by bringing up any issue he or she can think of. Trying to use Shannon as one of the ways to turn a thread about Respect into a fight about some aspect of SP policy is quite subtle for an SWP member.
Unfortunately throwing that in at the end wasn't quite subtle enough. Not after the straight from the SWP branch meeting opening gambit about Leicester.
Order of Lenin for you then, for the use of a bit of imagination in the service of random sectarian bile. But really, you'll have to do better next time.
In the meantime, I suggest that you occupy yourself by actually trying to respond to the points that have been raised about the Respect Coalition.
wern't the shannon nvda's anarchist christians?
Aren't the irish swp attempting to ignore/harass these people?
Didn't the swp (dis respectfully)attempt to wreck their recent anti bush demo at shannon?
So swp, a question: it's o.k to go into alliance with extreme conservative muslims in the u.k yet in ireland you hassle revolutionary/ anarchist christians, can you explain the logic for these policy decisions?
I don't really expect an answer since it would be impossible to provide a coherent one.
SD is the (SP?) troll. The Brazill issue has been dealt with 10 times already. SD is wilfully misrepresenting the USFI. He knows that their section has been wich hunted by Lula. The USFI oppose the Lula cutbacks.
The USFI DO NOT oppose the Lula government. Thay continue to have a minister in Lula's cabinet.
This issue has NOT been dealt with here by JM, does Socialist Democracy (USFI Ireland) support Lula's government or not? Does Socialist Democracy condemn the participation of a member of theirs in Lula's cabinet?
Regular readers won't be surprised - I will not debate anything with anonymistas - even when - as with "Stephen Daedalus" - we can have a bit of fun smoking out the troll. This one might hang around Thomas Street. This author may have a career ahead of her/himself in a satirical magazine - for example The Phoenix. Political fiction taking a puck at far left groups is welcome there - but don't expect leeway if you are going to have a crack at Sinn Féin.
People seriously interested in the Lula/PT/USFI issue might like to follow the link below.
I have no idea if Paul Maguie is a real person - if you do exist Paul, you might like to comment on Andrew Kennedy's article, and correct tthe misinformaiton you have published on this thread.
The USFI is not a monolith - different people and currents within it argue the toss. The organisation has been debating the Brazil issue for some months now - you can find references to this discussion on Phil Hearse's website:
http://www.marxsite.com
This site also contains an interesting interview with Tariq Ali on the Chavez referendum in Venezuela - Tariq also makes some scathing comments about the Lula government in Brazil.
I agree with the general argument in Andrew Kennedy's article, and Tariq's comments. In other words, I think Helena Heloisa was correct to oppose the rightwing fiscal measures proposed by Lula's government - and I think the time has long passed for the comrades in the Brazilian DS current to prepare an "exit strategy" form Lula's PT. But that is only one person's opinion.
http://www.socialistresistance.net/PSOL.htm
Kieron, Joe, Rory, Richard - Anyone at home in the SWP. I come back to this thread after a week of bourgeois pleasures and posturing, to find no reply from the oirish SWP.
Well : In my opinion, the SWP is no longer a socialist party of any measure. A coalition with reactionaries is a coalition with reactionaries.
It seems strange now to think that when we left the UCD branch in 2001, we were accused of "Moving to the Right" by the SWP, a party who by extension, now see homosexuality as "sexual perversion".
Today in Dublin I passed by a stall in Dublin City that the SWP were running. Rory Hearne was on it with other SWP members. One SWP member with a megaphone called for "Victory to Al-Sadr" as he was "Against the United States". For an organisation that thinks of themselves as progressive this is amazing. Al-Sadr is a reactionary. He is not way progressive and is no alternative for the Iraqi people.
"What exactly is Muqtada al Sadr's crime?
Is he a former Ba'athist who seeks to reinstate the Saddam regime?
No.
Is he a terrorist who is encouraging the random bombings and kidnappings around Baghdad?
No.
Is he a "foreign fighter" who has entered Iraq to destabilize the country and undermine its prospects for democracy?
No.
Al Sadr's crime is that he is an Iraqi nationalist and a popular leader who categorically rejects the colonial aspirations of the Bush administration.
Period."
But that doesnt mean he is a progressive by any measure.
Still no answer.
life is peaceful there. Still no answers.
Will the SWP drop the S and the W and adopt a B and an M?
The BMP - if you cant beat the reactionaries, try them on their term in their own game.
The marines? The CIA headed us imposed government? And what say you to the fact that at the time of the previous 'seige' in najaf Al Sadr had the support of up to 90% of Iraqis.
sadam Hussein with the connivance of the US military put down mercilessly a shia revolt in the immediate aftermath of the gulf war 1 - Now his successors are doing the same - do you support them in this?
sadr's main demands have been Coalition out and immediate elections. Please fill us in on your problems with these demands.
And by the way - are you having fun trolling?
Radical Islamists seem to have a problem with it now.
Obviously this is long over but I could not resist. In the recent general election MAB was prepared to endorse only a few Respect candidates. The wild Islamophobia on display in some of these comments goes so far as to invent entirely fictional alliances. Its a joke. Also surprising to see Irish comrades so enthusiastic about the tolerence of British society apparently under threat from Galloway and evil fundementalists. What a joke.