“The workers... battle-cry must be: 'The Permanent Revolution.'” — Marx and Engels, 1850

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First Permanent Revolution national event

Permanent Revolution 2007 that took place 29 June-1st July in London was very successful. More than 70 people came over the weekend to take part in the debates and discussions, browse the book stalls and, as it turned out for three comrades, join our organisation! Many more came to enjoy a lively fundraising event at the Bread and Roses pub in Clapham on the Saturday.

On Saturday morning, after a session on Bolivia, Paul Mason introduced on his new book "Live Working Die Fighting", sparking a discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of revolutionary syndicalism. This linked into a later session with a panel of speakers on the State of the British Working. Post Office and teacher strikers talked about the struggle between rank and file organisation and the trade union bureaucracy.

Sunday saw useful discussions on global warming and "eco-socialism" with Derek Wall of the Green Party, on Globalisation and developments in the world economy with Alan Freeman, George Binnette lead a dicussion on the lessons of Vietnam, and Alison Higgins discussed whether Micro-Credit schemes really helped lift women in the global south out of poverty.

The afternoon saw a panel discussion on international youth struggles with a number of international delegates from Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic of the iRevo tendency giving introductions. They were joined on the platform by Ben Lewis from Communist Students. The discussion focused around how we build revolutionary youth movements today in the era of summit sieges and the anti capitalist movement.

This was the first open event to be hosted by Permanent Revolution in Britain and it certainly benefited from a number of international visitors ­ as well as the iRevo comrades their were visitors from Eire, Austria and France. We hope the Permanent Revolution event will become a regular yearly fixture on the left ­ a forum for open discussion of Marxist theory, history and the class struggle.

Our thanks to all the comrades who attended.

Wed 04, July 2007 @ 17:36

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TWP said…

Very well done comrades. I really enjoyed the portions of the event I was able to attend. How refreshing too that we could sit through a discussion (and presentations for that matter!) without bombastic proclamations or shrill denunciations (save the IBT of course). I appreciated the realistic tone of the analysis coupled with the seriousness of proceedings - and what a book stall! Any chance you will be doing educationals in the near future?

Wed 04, July 2007 @ 22:22

kirstie said…

In London we would like to start a series of monthly meetings with the intention of developing our understanding of Marxism and the workers movement. If you have any suggestions or would like to volunteer for leading a discussion then contact me. Thanks to all the comrades for making the event a success and especially to Linda for the social - Karaoke here we come!

Wed 04, July 2007 @ 23:18

Liam said…

What or where is "Eire"? Is it near Austria or is it some piece of Marxist jargon?

Thu 05, July 2007 @ 00:44

Wladek Flakin said…

It is what you call "Ireland", you chauvinist pig! Just kidding. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eire

Thu 05, July 2007 @ 00:47

Liam said…

The names one uses for the various parts of Ireland are a very political choice and can get you beaten up if you are careless. "Northern Ireland" is used by pro-imperialists. Socialists usually refer to it as the "Six Counties" or "the north". "Eire" is archaic and associated with pro-imperialists who resented the limited freedom given to the southern state. Socialists generally refer to that as "the 26 counties" or "the south". But even the most diligent comrades can sometimes slip up.

Thu 05, July 2007 @ 22:45

Mike Calvert said…

Well, I agree with Tami. I think that the whole event was an excellent initiative. The sessions that I heard with Paul Mason and my conversations with comrades only filled me with hope. I have differences, I believe with PR over the Labour Party and how revolutionary socialists relate to it and the actually existing labour movement, but on the whole the event was well planned and open. It was inclusive and people who were not Permanent Revolution supporters were made to feel just as welcome as those who were clearly closer. I felt that there was a high level of discussion and Paul's presentation about his new book was instructive as was the discourse afterwards which included openly showing that there are some differences within Permanent Revolution and that the group is not an orthoTrot sect! I say more power to your elbow comrades! Mike

Mon 09, July 2007 @ 13:17

Wladek Flakin said…

Here's a friendly report (not so friendly to the IBT): http://macuaid.blogspot.com/2007/07/british-left-looks-weird-says-permanent.html

Thu 19, July 2007 @ 20:40

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