10.10.2001

Green socialists to join SA

At its annual general meeting held on October 6, the Green Socialist Network - formerly one of the networks set up by the Democratic Left - reversed last year?s decision and voted to affiliate to the Socialist Alliance by 23 votes to three.

The motion was proposed by Hyman Frankel, one of the ex-DL majority at the meeting, and Nick Long of Lewisham SA. Mike Davies of Leeds Left Alliance put an amendment calling on the GSN, which claims a national membership approaching 300, to delay making a decision until after the SA?s December 1 conference. If an ?acceptable? (that is, not the Socialist Workers Party?s) constitution was adopted, then the GSN committee should take the decision to affiliate, he proposed.

Comrade Davies?s contribution struck a note of pessimism and defeatism. He argued that the SWP would bus in large numbers of its members who would vote in accord with a rigid, predetermined line. Several comrades pointed out that, like it or not, the SA was the ?only cabbage on the stall? and that was where all socialists had to be. Many comrades said that they had worked closely with SWP comrades in the general election and found that not all of them had closed minds and were open to political discussion.

Terry Liddle pointed out that socialists were in a political situation similar to that in 1893, when the Independent Labour Party was formed. We could follow the example of the Social Democratic Federation and retreat into sectarian isolationism or follow the advice of Engels and take part in the wider movement.

He continued that demonising the SWP was futile, just as past demonisation of other groups was futile. As Marxists, he said, we must understand that everything is in a constant state of change. If we think we are correct, we must be confident we can win the battle of ideas. The amendment from comrade Davies was defeated.

Affiliation to the London Socialist Alliance was deleted on the grounds that the GSN is a national organisation. However, when a London group of the GSN is reformed, it will affiliate to the LSA. From the chair, GSN comrades were urged to join the SA as individuals and take part in the December 1 conference.

The contribution from guest speaker Louise Christian, an SA general election candidate, provoked a lively discussion on the relation between socialists and greens. John Morrissey of the Green Left said socialists and greens had very different political cultures. Comrade Liddle, former coordinator of Greenwich Green Party and now treasurer of Greenwich SA, said experience had shown there was an element in the Green Party actively hostile to socialism. John P Johnson, of Kingston Green Party, also voted for affiliation to the Socialist Alliance.

A motion supporting the aim of a democratic and social republic was passed. ?Federal? was deleted on the grounds that more discussion on federalism, nationalism and self-determination was needed.

An emergency motion on September 11 and the war from comrades Davies and Long provoked another lively debate. In the phrase referring to the attack on the World Trade Center, ?deplores? was strengthened to ?condemns?, drawing a line between the GSN and those who refuse to condemn an outrage by clerical reactionaries. Some comrades pointed out that asking the US and British governments to behave in a non-imperialist way was like asking leopards to become vegetarians. All agreed to support the anti-war movement and the demonstration on October 13.

The GSN?s decision to join the Socialist Alliance marks a step forward. Other socialists not already in the Socialist Alliance should follow this splendid example.

Terry Liddle