THE DURRUTI COLUMN
A Monthly Column from DORSET SOCIALISTS
A new year dawns. A year that will deliver a Trump Presidency, a close shave with Fascism in France, the framework of a Brexit that has the potential to fragment the UK political system and a continuing refugee crisis, as contending imperialisms pick over the bones of a shattered Middle East. This will be accompanied by a rising tide of racism and scapegoating, as the elites desperately maintain their grip over a system in terminal crisis.
It is not, at first sight, a particularly encouraging prospect for socialists. Chuck in an increasingly depressing climate prediction, and it all looks like a bit of a dog’s breakfast!
Can we find anything of hope in this? Actually, I think we can, if we look beyond the form and deeper into the content of the social movements behind the headlines. Trump, LePen and Jobbik did not Spring out of mid air, nor are they all products of a sudden collective human madness and intolerance.
THE MEDIA “As ye sow, so shall ye reap!”
The media has been sowing the seeds of division (of racism, sexism and other bigotries) for many decades in the service of the system that pays for the lifestyle of the rich, capitalism. The media barons are part of the upper class, part of the apparatus that keeps the other classes in their place, especially the working class. Witnes Lord Rothermere whose Daily Mail, then as now, reflected the interests of a section of the ruling class Jon the 1930s by flirting with fascism. That paper’s most infamous editorial bore the headline “HURRAH FOR THE BLACKSHIRTS”! That proves the depths that our national “leaders” are prepared to plumb in defence of their class interests!
Public acceptance of the truth of the mainstream media has sunk to an all-time low (6% in the USA), at a time when, ironically, there is a much too wide acceptance of the stereotypes the media promote. The consensus is starting to crumble. Up to 90% of news gathered by younger people is via alternate media. Whilst this shows decreasing trust in the Establishment, there is also a thriving market in fake news and Alt-Right (I.e. Fascist) sites and networks. The break with the Establishment is not guaranteed to be Leftward!
THE MOVEMENTS
A large proportion of those on the action end of the capitalist boot have had enough of a system of perpetual promises and little material delivery. Whilst democracy is the favoured tool of capitalism, so long as it delivers a compliant workforce (it was not always thus), it can only do this when capitalism itself is in boom.. In boom, a few crumbs may fall from the ever-expanding table. In recession, the crumbs stop dropping: we are left with “reformism without the reforms”. This is not a stable situation:
- The working class will cease to be convinced (this has taken a very long time here, but it has started!);
- The squeeze on incomes means the consumers cannot afford to consume. This was obscured in Britain by easy credit, the long-term affects of which are now becoming obvious!
- In the long term, the working class, skewered between a deficit in the income/consumption process and mounting personal debt, has only one choice: to fight for higher wages.
The beneficiaries of such a situation CAN be the socialist left, but it can also be the fascists or populists of left or right, whose rhetoric (but not practice) is anti-Establishment. Of the latter two, Trump and Syiza are good examples. Of the former, Ant.ar.sya and Marine Le Pen. Indeed, all the above can be beneficiaries at the same time. This lends the situation an enormous volatility, and requires sensitive tactics.
The key differentiating factor between the socialist left (including some currents of anarchism) and the right, or right/left populists, in fighting for hearts and minds, is the issue of racism and migrants. Only a steadfast fight for migrant and minority rights (including the right to freedom of movement) can deprive the ruling class of their main weapon: division of the workers into contending factions. Only a united and determined working class has the power to force concessions, and ultimately power, from the ruling class and it’s protectors, armed or otherwise.
FUTURES
“Reformism without reforms” is not an enduring social situation. Either a party or movement surrenders reforms to remain within the system, or the attainment of reforms must be allowed to challenge the system itself. The latter is known under the title of a “transitional programme”. The key fight over the next year will be the fight for refugees, against racism and for a united, fighting working class. Without this, parliamentary action will be doomed to failure.
Tim Nicholls
