23.03.2000

www.cpgb.org.uk

The Communist Party launches its new website this week at www.cpgb.org.uk. The transition to our own domain name represents a qualitative development in our use of the medium which is set to dominate communications in the 21st century.

The CPGB has had a website for some time now. In a period of almost three years, 30,000 visitors have used our site - an average of 200 a week. The site has played an increasingly important auxiliary role in expanding the influence of the Weekly Worker. However, the scope for our work on the internet goes much further than being an electronic form of our paper. There is a huge potential for us to expand our organisational work through the internet, to broaden and deepen our debates, to raise money, to start businesses and to make contact across the UK and globally. Of course, as ever, politics will remain central.

In stark contrast to sects which base their projects on developing politics behind the back of the working class, the CPGB is committed to revolutionary openness as a central weapon - not only in the reforging of a Communist Party worthy of the name, but in equipping the working class itself with a culture and theory capable of transforming it into a ruling class. The openness of online culture is a useful arena in which to further this struggle.

Where the SWP felt it necessary to ban its members from contributing to an unofficial International Socialist discussion list, and Workers Power ended up closing down the discussion section of its own website, such possibilities for debate are welcomed by the CPGB. Obviously the Weekly Worker will remain at the heart of debate and organisation.

The establishment of our previous site was not fully thought through. Originally set up at the initiative of one key individual we recruited in the SLP during the height of our intervention in Scargill's organisation, our website started off in a rather disorganised fashion. As a tool it was certainly not utilised to the full.

From these haphazard and spontaneous beginnings, reflecting both the strengths and weaknesses of our CPGB, there soon evolved a more coherent, better organised site.

The recent decision by the Provisional Central Committee to devote increased personnel, time and resources to our work on the internet - we have a specialist cell - is resulting in a more conscious approach to this technology.

The potential of the web as a means of publicity was demonstrated during the 'Weekly Worker' campaign for the European Union elections in 1999. While our vote was extremely modest, the interest in our politics increased. Daily hits to the site mushroomed - especially after we were linked to the BBC's own election site.

The skills of members responsible for this work is growing rapidly. These abilities allowed us to quickly establish the framework for the website of the London Socialist Alliance - currently an essential tool in our united campaign for the Greater London Assembly.

Yet the fact that we as yet do not have the resources to commit someone full-time to our web work is a drawback which has meant, for instance, the day-to-day functioning of the LSA site now has to be handled centrally at the LSA office. Nevertheless, our electronic connection to the LSA site means that we are already receiving increased correspondence - particularly from SWP members.

The potential for our web work is as obvious as it is large. Organisationally, the internet has improved our ability to reach and maintain contact with supporters and contacts who are in regions where there is as yet no re-established Party organisation. Due to our internet site, applications to join the CPGB have increased - particularly from younger comrades. Some of them are now turning into active supporters.

Comrades have discussed the possibility of furthering our organisational work in the UK and internationally through use of this growing area of technology. The potential for 'e-cells' - units of our Party based on electronic communication - is one area for consideration.

Our plans for the site are ambitious. Soon there will be a comprehensive search engine, making use of the site easier and access to past issues of the Weekly Worker more systematic.

Secure pages will allow for supporters' and members' pages. We will shortly establish a facility allowing for donations to the Party online by credit card - crucial during the Summer Offensive or in fundraising periods such as the present election campaign.

We aim to use our web knowledge - both technical and aesthetic - to make money for the Party. Feasibly, the design and maintenance of sites has massive commercial potential. Such an undertaking could support at least one full-timer for our organisation. Building the London Book Club is another online business waiting to happen.

In this period of reaction the organisations of the left are in crisis. The internet, with its instantaneous spread of information around the world, gives us the potential to rapidly learn the lessons from past defeats. In many respects, we are only limited by our imagination, our enthusiasm and our willingness to get down to business.