[Individual-members-EL] Respectable politicians

[Thomas Kachel]

Hi all, 
 
Many thanks indeed for the informative postings from the UK and Norway. It neatly illustrates the purpose that I would see in this list: 
firstly, we should discuss the organisational problems of the EL and how we can influence / modernise the party (NOT BLAIRmodernise, I know) as a matter of democratic principle. Secondly however, I would love to see a debate unfold with as many different people as possible about their experiences with the practice of their left-wing parties in government at home. What do we need to do in the next couple of year is to refound a consenus of WHICH ECONOMIC CONCEPT THE LEFT CAN / WILL FOLLOW/IMPLEMENT IN GOVERNMENT. Does neo-keynseanism work ? Can a realignment of leftwing parties in government actually bring about the powerpolitical (with finance capital weakened), economic and fiscal conditions for a renaissance of the welfare state - too much of literature concentrates on the nation state but we need to talk about the European framework for this, because otherwise these noble attempts such as the one outlined by the Norwegian comrade will all crumble - because of the neoliberal environment provided by other states and the EU (remember France 1998) ... 
I am looking forward to hearing your opinions ... !
Bests Thomas 
 
 


Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:29:57 +0100From: kjell.underlid at netcom.noSubject: SV: [Individual-members-EL] Respectable politiciansTo: francis at socialisthistorysociety.co.uk; stephen_spence at btinternet.com; shakir786110 at yahoo.com; individual-members-el at listi.jpberlin.deCC: andrew3am at hotmail.com; helmut.scholz at die-linke.de; bob.g.king at ntlworld.com; hh.ettinger at gmx.de; thomaskachel at hotmail.com








Hi all, 
 
I am new on this mailing list. But many of the mails and discussions are interesting, for example this information about Respect. I have read about Respect earlier, but the information from Francis was informative. 
 
In Norway we have a center-left government. The parts are Labour Party (social democrats), “Senterpartiet” (traditionnaly a party for farmers) and Socialist Left Party. The government is one of the most radical in Europe. The defence minister protested recently against the American missile defence, as the only voice against in NATO. But the government had yet failed as a left-wing government, and supports the traditional neoliberal political line and NATO. There are great conflicts and tensions within the government. Yet, this government is in my opinion better than the alternative. The most important issue now is to influence the government to withdraw from Afghanistan. 
 
Besides that we have a party called Raudt (Red), which try to unify the Norwegian left. Red is the former maoist party. In addition, there also exist a traditional communist party, NKP, which is very weak, with exclusions and a rather sectarian leadership. 
 
I myself is a member of a small network organization called Mowement towards socialism (BfS). We are supporting a form of socialism or communism named HØD-socialism/communism. H = Humanism.  Ø (in English E) = Ecological sustainability. D = Democracy. I was one of the leaders of the old communist party, but when my best comrades were excluded of reasons that vere impossible to undertand, I left the party in solidarity with my comrades and friends. 
 
Best greetings from Norway
 
Kjell Underlid
 
 
 




Fra: individual-members-el-bounces at listi.jpberlin.de [mailto:individual-members-el-bounces at listi.jpberlin.de] På vegne av Francis KingSendt: 10. februar 2008 22:48Til: Steve Spence; shakir786110 at yahoo.com; individual-members-el at listi.jpberlin.deKopi: Andrew Stevens; helmut.scholz at die-linke.de; Bob; Helmut Ettinger; Thomas KachelEmne: [Individual-members-EL] Respectable politicians
 

Hi Steve, hi all

 

"Respect" is one of the stranger phenomena in British left-wing politics. It started out as an amalgam of at least four quite distinct groupings: George Galloway and his personal following, the Socialist Workers' Party, a miscellany of politically homeless Trotskyists and ex-Trotskyists, and groups of left-wing and anti-war Muslims in certain specific areas of Britain's inner cities. The idea was to build a political party on the basis of the anti-war movement in Britain, but most of the anti-war movement was sceptical about it from the outset. It has now split in two. The SWP and some of the other Trotskyists have broken with Galloway and his supporters, and now we have two groups, each laying claim to the Respect name, each proposing to stand lists of candidates in various elections. To be honest, I cannot see that either grouping will last for long. I have no objection to working with either side (or both sides), provided we do not get involved in the sectarian politicking that always comes with this sort of split. But I would not be keen to get deeply involved with either side at the moment.

 

Cheers

 

Francis

 

 
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