13.05.2009

New generation

Ben Lewis looks forward to Communist University 2009 (August 8-15, south London)

Our annual Communist University is one of the high points of the CPGB’s work, and this year will be no exception. In articulating a positive programme for humanity to overcome the latest crisis that capitalism in decline has thrown up, it is incumbent upon revolutionaries to study and understand what it means for the system and what our response ought to be.

But looking ahead also means taking a good look at our past and drawing from the healthiest elements of our tradition - at the same time subjecting every leader, every party to rigorous criticism. In order to come to terms with the historical challenges being posed, we must unite the advanced sections of the working class into a single, united Marxist party - thus the image for this year’s Communist University illustrates the dialectical process of a magnet attracting and repelling splinters in a process of radical realignment.

In all our work we struggle to convince comrades not simply of the worthiness of this or that campaign: we are fighting to make a new generation of Marxists and the annual CU is absolutely indispensable in this struggle. As comrades will doubtless appreciate, organising such a prestigious event (now the only weeklong school on the left) with such excellent speakers costs a lot to put on.

Make sure you book your place early and - if you can - send any donations to help cover some of the extra expenses we have incurred this year. Our CU team will be calling Weekly Worker readers asking for one-off donations as well as standing orders - but don’t wait to be contacted! Materials will be produced by the end of the week so that comrades across the country can build for this year’s CU as an integral aspect of our annual fundraising drive, the Summer Offensive, which will be launched at our next aggregate on June 6.

A special interactive blog will soon be up and running to keep comrades up to speed with developments around the Summer Offensive and Communist University - check the CPGB website for more information and to keep up to date with the latest news and developments.