Revolution issue 4

REVOLUTIONSOCIALIST.NET/ REVOLUTION ISSUE 4 20p YOUTH PAPER OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARXIST TENDENCY\"The great appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise\" - james larkinrevolt against the rich EDITORIAL And if you fight it, they set their media on When we go out to protest that our future Why should we put up with this? These pol- you. It’s super-rich one-percenters who own all is being stolen from us, the politicians iticians, bankers and establishment figuresWhat does it say about the world when there the newspapers and TV channels, except the send their po- lice out to beat and have nothing meaningful to say to us. They are hundreds of thousands of people living BBC which is run by the government. They’re arrest us. Even tell us to work hard at school, but by the timeon the streets while billionaires own dozens of all on the same side. If anyone criticises the ing, the police when we’re not protest- we leave there’s no decent jobs, nowhere wemansions which are empty most of the time? lies, hypocrisy and criminality of the capitalist let politicians target us, while they can afford to live, and pretty soon there’ll be class and their politician friends they are im- about wars get away with lying environmental catastrophe as well. And it’s all Why are thousands of refugees being mediately slammed in the press and hounded people, anddrowned in the Mediterranean Sea or kept like day and night by the media. Just look at how get away that kill millions of their fault. Their system is disgusting, cor-animals in camps to stop them getting into Eu- they treated Jeremy Corbyn. theft. they let bankers rupt and finished.rope, when EU countries are some of the rich- with fraud and All they know how to do is exploitest in the world? And it’s not only the people for profit and crush opposition. media they set on us. But we have much more valuable knowl- Shouldn’t we do something about the mas- edge. We know what it’s like to worksive fossil fuel businesses that are tearing the two jobs and look after a family atenvironment apart just so they can pay their the same time. We know whattop executives millions every year? it’s like to help out a friend who’s run out of money, or It’s our world, our society, our life that’s been kicked out of his flat.being torn to pieces in front of our eyes. But We know how to deal withthe people responsible don’t care. The elite, the the stress and pressure ofrich and the powerful just hide away on private not being able to pay theislands or in high-security mansions. They only rent or get a decent job.poke their head out from behind their piles And we know how it feelsof money to tell the rest of us we’re lazy and to have been abused andstupid for not being as rich as them. They will exploited by bosses andsteal, exploit and sell anything from weapons landlords.to the NHS if they think they can make a profit In other words, weout of it. know how to work hard, work together, stay strong But the 1% don’t actually do any work. and get angry. We can useThey own businesses and make other people all this to fight them. Thework for them. They own stocks and shares bosses, the politicians and thein companies and get rich when other people capitalists don’t stand a chancemake those companies successful. They’re like against us if we’re united andleeches – parasites living off the hard work of working together. We’re the oneseveryone else. They get fat and happy by suck- who make their money for them, weing the life out of the people who actually do keep the shops and businesses open,the work. They cream profits off the top and and there are millions of us. Withoutgamble it away in casinos and on the stock us they’re nothing. We can use thismarket, while workers can’t earn enough to power to bring them to their knees andpay the rent or feed their family. to smash their broken capitalist system. We could build a new system where And because they’ve got so much money, pay, wealth and economic developmentthey spend it on buying the political systemfor themselves. They bribe politicians with ex- is decided on democratically by everyone.pensive lunches and promises of high-paying Then no one would be able to bribe politi-jobs after they leave politics. They give mas- cians or buy the media. We could have social-sive donations, of tens of thousands of pounds, ism, where we take control of our own lives.to political parties to make sure they do what Our schools, neighbourhoods, and workplacesthey want – not what’s actually good for the could be run locally, socially and democrati-majority of people. cally, all as part of one nationally and interna- tionally linked-up plan to make sure everyone’s That’s why our schools, our NHS, our pris- needs are met.ons, our social care, our universities andeverything else has been sold off by the gov- We’ve got the power, the resources and theernment to big businesses. The political and technology to do this. Things don’t have to beeconomic system is run by gangsters. They do the way they are. There is an alternative. Butdeals behind closed doors to steal everything we need to fight for it. Now’s the time to jointhat belongs to us and sell it off. the revolution

REVOLUTION way production in a factory can be organised. There is no market system here! All we are say-what is socialism? ing is that the whole economy should be run on such a planned basis, rather than being left to by rob sewell grants for those who wish to go to continue their own workplace. They could run it far bet- the vagaries of blind market forces. Of course, their studies in university. ter than the current bosses. They never make by planning, we do not mean the dictates of un-Socialism is the political, social and eco- such suggestions to their boss, as they would elected managers, but the democratic involve- nomic alternative to capitalism. Crisis, war We have more time-saving gadgets than find themselves out of work! “Efficiency” today ment of all.and poverty are caused by a capitalist system ever before, and yet we end up with less free means how best to make more money for thebased on profit and exploitation. Socialism, by time than ever before. If used properly, auto- capitalists, with fewer workers doing more The economic levers of society – the bankscontrast, is based on co-operation and demo- mation and robotics could do away with most work. Under a rationally-planned society, ef- and giant industries - should be taken overcratic planning. Capitalism means wealth for a manual work and abolish the burden of long ficiency would mean massive benefits for all. without compensation and run under dem-tiny handful and a declining standard of living hours of work for all of us. Instead of work- Of course, we would welcome the help of tech- ocratic workers’ control and management.for the rest of us. Socialism is about making ing longer, as now, imagine working just three nicians, computer analysts and engineers in Power would finally be in the hands of ordinaryeveryone better off. Capitalism is about re- hours a day in a five-day working week, with this enterprise. Scientists could help to build people. This will allow us to democraticallyinforcing the division of society into rich and increasing pay? Again, why not work a 10 or 5 a better world with new inventions that could plan the economy and finally live our lives topoor, ruling class and working class. Socialism or even a 1 hour working week? save labour and reduce the working week even the full. Art and culture, which was the pre-is about abolishing class society entirely. further. serve of a privileged minority, would now be A socialist planned economy would be able available to the mass of people. We can already see the embryo of social- to not only cut the working day, but reduce the If production was planned, there would beism within today’s capitalist system. For ex- age of retirement. The Russian economy after no unemployment. Everyone would be guaran- Eventually, as productivity expands and theample, the resources are there already to give 1917, despite the monstrous bureaucratic re- teed a decent job on a proper wage. As produc- last remnants of capitalism are eradicated, so-everyone a better standard of living. But to gime of Stalinism, gave a glimpse of the co- tion increased, so would wages. ciety will be based on the principle “from eachdo this we would need to nationalise - not the lossal possibilities of a planned economy. For according to their ability, to each according tosmall shops (who we would help to escape the instance, in the ten years from 1958 to 1968, The colossal wastage under capitalism their need.” In other words, a classless societygrip of the landlords and banks) - but the 150 100 million houses were built in Russia, more would be done away with under a socialist based upon solidarity and the harmonious sat-major monopolies that completely dominate than the whole of Western Europe, Japan and planned economy. Today arms expenditure has isfaction of everyone’s needs. The miseries ofthe economy, along with the banks and finance the United States put together. Imagine with become a massive drain on society. There are capitalism could finally end up in the dustbin ofhouses. We would not compensate these fat- the democratic traditions of British workers now 15,700 known warheads on the planet, history and we could finally progress to a newcat owners, as they have been bleeding us for and the high level of culture and technique, with enough power to destroy us several times future of peace and prosperity for allfar too long. what could be achieved here in a democratic over. Governments intend to spend one trillion socialist Britain. dollars on weapons of mass destruction in the We could then draw up a democratic plan next decade. What a scandalous waste! It wouldof production based on peoples’ needs, and Ah, that is a mad idea, say the capitalists. be far better to convert factories producingharness all the resources to get the job done. True, under capitalism, we are stopped from bombs to producing socially-useful things, andProduction based on need, not greed, would in- doing these wonderful things. They contra- so raise our standard of living.crease production by 20% or 25% every year! dict the whole idea of production for profit.The billions of extra wealth created could be So why not ditch the profit motive? The use of We would use our potential resources, notused to launch a mass house building pro- automation and the free time it provides could for wars and conflicts, but to increase ourgramme, slash rents to no more than 2% of give people the opportunity to develop them- well-being. The talent of scientists would notincome (instead of 50% today), introduce a selves to the full. For the first time, it would be wasted on building bigger bombs or moreliving wage for all, provide free gas and elec- free people to become involved in the running sophisticated weapons of destruction, but puttricity, free public transport, which would cut of industry and society. Genuine workers’ de- to productive use for all.pollution and improve our health (and would mocracy, freed from bankers and capitalists,dramatically reduce pressure on the health would thrive. Socialist planning of our resources is theservice). We would build more schools and way forward. Even the capitalists, who preachhospitals and make all education free, with But workers can’t run society, they say. the virtues of the market, do not apply the mar- Why not, we say? Working people are the ones ket in their own factories and workplaces. Here that do all the real work around here. The everything is planned down to the last item, workers will tell you exactly how best to run using the latest technology. That is the onlyEverywhere young people are angry at what been at the forefront of change. They are tice. They explained only the revolutionary against student fees, zero hour contracts, high is going on. The capitalist system is in deep searching for an alternative to this rule of overthrow of the system and its replacement rents, and every other attack on young people,crisis and it offers no future for young peo- bankers and capitalists. Conditions every- with a socialist planned economy would take but we will link these issues with the need tople. In one country after another they are where are preparing revolutionary events. humanity out if this nightmare. change society. Don't stand on the sidelines.beginning to challenge the establishment and Join us in this fight.its cronies. From Greece, France and Spain to We believe that for us to be successful the We need to build a revolutionary leader-Kashmir, Brazil, South Africa and the United scientific world outlook of Marxism is abso- ship that will not compromise with capital- “WITHOUT REVOLUTIONARY THEORY, THEREStates, youth are taking to the streets. Many lutely essential. Marxism provides us with the ism. We need to prepare ourselves for the CAN BE NO REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT” LENINare drawing revolutionary conclusions. knowledge of revolution. Marx, Engels, Lenin stormy events that lie ahead. The REVOLUTION and Trotsky, demonised by the ruling class, paper is helping to prepare this. Our task is HEAD TO SOCIALIST.NET/JOIN US.HTM This is not surprising. Youth have always showed the way forward in theory and prac- to educate, organise and agitate. We will fight TO JOIN!2

SOCIALIST.NETsmash sexism with socialism he root cause of all forms of oppression is is a right by sarah taylor, newcastle marxists a woman's place equal pay forT abortionthe division of society into classes. This op- is in the equal workpression can take many forms. Alongside class revolution, by lilly cockwill by hasnaa shaddad ucl marxistsoppression we find the oppression of one na- sheffieldItion over another, racial oppression, and the n 1920, the USSR became the first coun- marxists It’s often said that gender discriminationoppression of women. try in the world to fully legalize abortion, in the workplace is a phenomenon of the past, with the introduction of The Equal PayMarxists must fight against oppression and proving that the Bolsheviks were serious The burden of domestic tasks has been Act in the 1970s and the increase of women forced on the shoulders of women workers. However this is not the case. Cur-discrimination in all its forms, while pointing about women’s rights. Almost 100 years throughout the capitalist epoch. Women are rently, the pay gap between men and women expected to adhere unquestioningly to tra- is around 20% with the majority of womenout that only a radical transformation of soci- later and this is still a topic at the fore- ditional family roles, to be isolated within employed in the precarious service sector. the home and to take full responsibility for In fact, the situation continues to worsen, inety and the abolition of class exploitation can front of political debate, especially in looking after the children and the upkeep of 2014 average annual wages for women fell the house. Despite the enormous burden of from £18,000 to £15,400, while for men thecreate the conditions for the abolition of op- America. these tasks, they can’t be directly exploited figure was stagnant at £24,800. for profit by the capitalists, so they’ve alwayspression in all its manifestations and the estab- In January, a picture of Trump’s ad- been considered less important or not “real As we can see, even with the Equal Pay work”. Act we have not seen a significant change inlishment of a truly human society based upon ministration, re-imposing the global “gag the pay differential between men and women Now, more and more women are becom- which reveals that there is a more deep root-equality, justice and freedom. rule”, went viral. This rule means that any ing part of the workforce. Women make up ed problem that cannot be resolved through just under half (46%) of workers in the UK, laws and agreements. So what could be theThe oppression of women didn’t always ex- overseas organisation would have all US and 74% of women who have children also issue? The fact is that increasing profits by work. In 2015 one third of British working squeezing wages is an inherent part of cap-ist. In fact, the family as we know it today hasn’t funding removed if they so much as men- mothers were the main income provider for italism. When women joined the workforce their families. they were treated as cheap labour, beingalways existed. Marxism explains that it arose tioned the word abortion. In doing so, paid only what the factory owners were will- So, we see women are taking on even ing to pay and barred from joining trade un-together with class society, private property Trump removed the right of a doctor to more work than they previously had: not only ions as they were seen as a threat to male are they now a huge part of the workforce, workers. This inequality was justified by theand the state. The oppression of women is only talk honestly to a patient in need. it’s also assumed they will automatically car- exaggeration of biological differences. ry on their unpaid labour in the home along-as old as the division of society into classes. Its Abortion should be free and legal in side this! This double burden of exploitation Capitalism exists to create as much prof- must come to an end, and the only way is it as possible and one way of achieving this isabolition is therefore dependent on the aboli- any nation, for any reason, for anyone. It’s with a complete revolutionary transforma- to spend the absolute minimum on the cost tion of society. of labour power. A system like this will nevertion of classes, that is, on the socialist revolu- a basic democratic right. Forcing some- allow full equality, but will continue to cre- We should be sharing out all the work in ate artificial divisions of the working class,tion. one to go through 9 months of pregnan- society equally, so those at the bottom aren’t if not through gender then through race, working themselves to death just so those nationality, religion etc. Therefore, the fightThis doesn’t mean that the oppression of cy against their will is sadistic and cruel, at the top can laze around in luxury. Then for the equal pay of women along with bet- we could reduce the length of the working ter maternity, childcare and flexible hours iswomen will automatically vanish when the pro- something the capitalist system is neither day. With more time, the burden of domestic inseparable from the class struggle and the labour could be shared out, and household emancipation of the working class.letariat takes power. The psychological herit- uncomfortable nor unfamiliar with. work and the raising of children could be socialised. Marxists fight for the liberation of theage of class barbarism will finally be overcome In any case, limiting or banning abor- working class so that all women may be lib- A society like this would be for the benefit erated from the exploitative conditions of awhen the social conditions are created for the tion simply doesn’t work. In countries of all workers, especially women. This is a male-dominated society under capitalism. socialist society!establishment of real human relations between where abortion is illegal, more abortionsmen and women. But unless and until the pro- take place. Free and non-judgmental ac-letariat overthrows capitalism and lays the cess is more likely to reduce abortionsconditions for the achievement of a classless than banning them. We should be fundingsociety, no genuine emancipation of women is more healthcare and education, not less.possible. Why is abortion still a topic of debate?Nor does it mean that women should wait Because some of the most backward, re-for the socialist revolution to solve their prob- actionary, disgusting members of the rul-lems and in the meantime submit meekly to ing class still see an opportunity to dividediscrimination, humiliation and male domina- the working class amongst itself usingtion. On the contrary, without the day-to -day the hypocrisy of “traditional” or religiousstruggle for advance under the present society, values.the social revolution would be unthinkable. It’s We mustn’t let them divide us. If weprecisely through the struggle for partial gains unite as the working class, then we canand reforms that the working class as a whole beat the rich and powerful. We can stoplearns, develops its consciousness, acquires a them exploiting and oppressing us. Wesense of its own power, and raises itself to the can finally take control of our own bodies,level demanded by great historical tasks. our own lives and our own destinies.women are not objects by fiona lali, soas marxists against women. Specifically, scenes in film and TV that trivialize rape and glorify violence to advanceTurning on our phones, opening a paper or storylines encourage the reduction of women to walking out onto the street, we’re constant- passive objects of male desire.ly drowned in images of female perfection. Thebeauty standards are oppressive, exacting and The issue of objectification is ultimately autterly unattainable. For example, images in the class question. As long as the capitalist classmedia often promote a traditionally European maintains its monopoly over the media, womenideal of womanhood, even in our modern multi- will be objectified for profit. The feminist move-cultural society. ment makes strides towards changing people’s perceptions, but we also need to remove the This objectification of women in the media overarching economic system. The only way toand society is rooted in capitalism. Separating end this treatment of women is to dismantle thewomen from a feeling of comfort and acceptance capitalist system that ensnares usof our bodies is used to sell things to us. And thesexualisation of women is used as a marketingtool to make as large a profit as possible. This un-healthy depiction of women normalises harmfulattitudes within society. A woman’s existence should not be rooted inher desirability. Yet the capitalist class in controlof the media continues to churn out overtly sex-ual images of female bodies. These people areresponsible for fueling the sexism that resultsin increasing rates of degradation and violence

REVOLUTIONEDUCATION UND BY BEN GLINIECKI The idea of a meritocratic education system, increased by over 10% since 2008, and 15 local W H AT W E A R E F I G H T even if it’s implemented properly and with the authorities have reported a 50% rise in stress-re-Any society should be able to improve the stand- best of intentions, will always be distorted within lated absence. Fight selection in education – abolis ard of living for each new generation. We’re the context of a society divided into classes. Well- A massive programme of investmentold that there’s never been more wealth in so- off parents use Ofsted league tables to select the The conditions of work for teachers at exist- Kick profit out of education – no acaciety. So, we should be able to expect at least the best schools for their children. They’ll buy houses ing academies are already brutal and the attacks Full living grants for every student -same, if not a better standard of living than our in areas with better schools to bypass catchment on the pay and conditions of teachers that will at all levelsparents have had. areas, or pay solicitors for legal advice on how to go hand in hand with wholesale academisation, Set up student unions in every sch get their kids into the best schools. Most work- which is what the ruling class is aiming for, are students’ union And yet before we even leave school or uni- ing-class families could never afford tricks like only going to make this problem worse. Over- Schools and colleges to be run by rversity our opportunities are being sabotaged. this so the wealthier parents get to fill the best worked, underpaid and stressed teachers can’t the labour movementThey’re cutting our courses and increasing class schools with their children. be expected to teach well. Our education is suffer- Break with the capitalist system – fsizes. They’re taking away grants and increasing ing as a result of this privatisation. economy and education in the interest ocosts, including tuition fees for university. And At the same time the role of education in pro-they’re wrecking the job market so that, even with ducing fully developed and well-rounded mem- On top of this, the seven largest multi-academyperfect grades, it’s not guaranteed that we’ll get bers of society is being destroyed. Schools now trusts are currently sitting on a combined totala decent job. only care about teaching students how to pass of £111 million of cash in the bank. This is money exams, so that they can achieve a good Ofsted re- that could be being invested into the academies, They’re doing this because there’s an econom- port, which they need for more funding to keep but instead it’s used to pay the massive salariesic crisis, and they’re making us pay for it while the school open. of chief executives, even though some academiesthey get rich. The capitalists are desperately try- fail to perform better, and in some cases performing to make more profit. But doing that means Teachers are pressured daily to churn out worse, than local authority schools. Meanwhilethey can’t afford to pay for our education, or to results, so they end up teaching us how to pass the executives of these trusts are safe in theemploy us in decent jobs when we leave school exams, and how to regurgitate facts, instead knowledge that, unlike the local authority, theyor university. Faced with a choice between bigger of developing our ability to think critically and cannot be held to account through democraticprofits and our future, the capitalist system will carefully. Education is being replaced by memo- channels and so can continue to pocket publicalways choose profit. That’s the reality of the sit- ry tests. Now, instead of producing enlightened, money and put students’ education at risk.uation facing education under capitalism today. well-educated young adults with independent opinions and beliefs, the system encourages a All this privatisation is because the capitalistsEDUCATION IN WHOSE INTEREST? culture of jumping through the hoops of the ex- have run out of other ways to make a profit – soCapitalism has always seen education as a way amination boards and accepting everything we’re they’re turning to parts of society that have pre-to train up new workers. The division between told by teachers and lecturers without question. viously been shielded from the capitalist market,private schools and state schools, between gram- like education. The ruling class, with the help ofmar schools and secondary moderns, has always For capitalism, this is all that education is for. the government, is ripping open our educationbeen to separate out who would grow up to be the It’s supposed to prepare us for the world of work system and using it to make money at the expensebosses and the managers, and who would be the - for jumping through all the hoops our future of our future.skilled and unskilled workers. bosses put in front of us, and for unquestioningly accepting their word as law. Under capitalism, the THE PROBLEM OF PRIVATISED EXAMS Way back in 1944 it became a legal require- education system mirrors the society it serves.ment that every child be guaranteed education up For those of us who have taken exams, we already know how qualifications have beento the age of 15. That went up to 16 in 1973. This PRIVATISATION AND ACADEMIES completely privatised, with a multitude of different examination boards competing forwas a big victory for the working class, who had students as customers. The impact of this was seen at Queen Mary’s College in Basing-always been treated contemptuously by the cap- Education now is increasingly restricted to train- stoke last year.italist class, as if they weren’t worth educating. ing students in the minimal skills required to per- Students at the college were furious about an Edexcel Biology A-level exam. Edexcel ex-Education for every child gave a new generation form in a work environment, with an emphasis ams are set by the largest education multinational company in the world: Pearson PLC.of working class kids new opportunities and a on career prospects, corporate internships, cor- The exam had almost nothing to do with the course that has been taught that year. Inbetter standard of living. porate open days and corporate funded research fact, according to the students, the paper was a reheated version of an AS-level paper and development. from two years previously. Thousands of other students around the country agreed with But even though the capitalists had been these students by signing a protest petition.forced by working class pressure to guarantee This emphasis on education only being good It seems likely that Pearson cut corners by recycling an old exam to cut costs and boosteducation for all children, they did so on their for getting a job is increasing as more and more profits. This case proves the importance of keeping the private sector out of education.own terms and in their own interests. The rul- of the education sector is being sold off to private Exam boards that care more about money than anything else are likely to be recklessing class designed an education system in 1944 companies and big businesses. The is especially with the grades and futures of young people taking exams. That’s what has happenedwhich forced every child to take an exam at the the case in academies, which are run by private with this Biology exam.age of 11. For those who passed the exam, they companies instead of local government. But keeping profit-making out of schools is like swimming against the stream as longwent onto grammar school and possibly univer- as we live under capitalism. Privatisation and capitalism are inseparable. If we wantsity. But those who failed went to secondary mod- It’s now common to find that all support staff education and exams that are up to scratch then we have to end privatisation and cap-ern schools and then Further Education colleges in academies (i.e. all the workers at a school who italism. Workers who know what skills are needed in the workplace and teachers who(later polytechnics). are not teachers) are being sacked in favour of know what education they can provide are the best people to set exams. Multinational cheaper workers contracted from an agency to companies only interested in profit are not. This was the ruling class’s method of sorting do the same job. The only result from such moves BY RICHARD BAYWOODout which children would be the managers and can be declining conditions in schools.which would be the low-paid workers. This way it FIGHTING BACKcould teach them the necessary skills and their This is all part of the logic of capitalism. Busi-place in life from an early age. This humiliating nesses that run academies are incentiveised to What’s happening to our education isn’t uniqueand unfair practice, that mapped out your life at squeeze education workers as hard as possible to this time and space. Education in other coun-the age of 11, was fought against by the trade un- because, unlike in local authority schools, at tries is under attack in exactly the same way rightions and the working class. academies management pay is uncapped, with now. (See Fight like a Brazilian) And throughout one academy trust’s chief executive earning history working class people have had to fight to Although grammar schools and secondary £225,000 last year. If more money is saved in staff defend their right to education (See Strike like it’smoderns have now basically all been replaced costs, then there’s more money available with the 1980s). This is because attacks on educationby the secondary comprehensive system we have which the executives can line their pockets. The aren’t the product of bad people with bad ideas –today, the practice of selection still exists in the people in charge of academies are businessmen, they’re the product of a capitalist system that de-form of Ofsted inspections and league tables, and so have profit as their number one concern. mands an education system that serves its needs.and of course through the existence of private Education is of secondary importance to them.schools. This kind of selection today is all the We need to have this at the forefront of ourmore damaging for not being so obvious. Teachers are being asked to do more with less. Even in local authority schools this has been tak- ing place in recent years and the result is that the number of teachers taking stress leave has4

SOCIALIST.NETDER CAPITALISMTING FOR STUDENTS IN CLASSES OF 36 OR MOREsh Ofsted and league tables PLANNED TORY CUTS TO EDUCATION:nt in schools – abolish private schoolsademies and no privatisation- abolish costs and fees for educationhool and college – build a national schoolrepresentatives of students, teachers andfor a socialist society that plans the of need, not profitcampaigning to defend education. We can win FIGHT LIKE A BRAZILIAN STRIKE LIKE IT’S THE 1980Svictories by fighting back. But those victories High school students in São Paulo oc-can only be guaranteed by the overthrow of cupied their schools in 2015/16. There In Liverpool 1985, 30,000 students skipped their classes and 10,000 took the streets in an at-the capitalist system as a whole. Only then can were 18 technical centres occupied in tempt to prevent the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) from being set up by the government.we secure education that serves the needs of São Paulo and more than 70 occupied The YTS was a workplace training scheme which was aimed at 16-17-year olds on a voluntarystudents and society as a whole. Otherwise, as schools in Rio de Janeiro. The main is- basis. However, as with apprenticeships today, many employers took advantage of those youngsoon as they feel strong enough, the capitalists sue which led the students to occupy people and exploited them by paying less than £30 per week! The government was examiningwill reverse any concessions we squeeze out of their schools was the proposed “re- scrapping the unemployment benefits for those who do not participate in this scheme, and wasthem with our campaigns and continue in their organization” of the education system considering making it compulsory.mission to turn education into a profit-seeking which would have harmed a lot of stu- This provoked a massive reaction throughout the country because, at that time, the majorityenterprise. dents and resulted in the shutdown of of students left school at the age of 16. Thus, a national strike was held by young people, and more than 90 schools. in Liverpool, where the strike was strongest, the streets were overflowing with students. TheFOR A NATIONAL SCHOOL STUDENT UNION Early in 2016 it was the turn of the tech- strike held off the government’s attack by two years and taught a new generation a valuableWe need to get organised. The working class nical schools. The office for the admin- lesson in how to fight and win in the class struggle!has a long tradition of organising into trade istration of the schools was occupied BY NIKO TSILIunions. The unions allow workers to debate, by hundreds of students who demand-discuss and vote on what action to take when ed an end to the corruption of school WHAT WOULD SOCIALIST EDUCATION of the community and the economy, dependingtheir interests are threatened. That way, when lunches with poor quality ingredients, LOOK LIKE? on what work needs doing and what resourcesthey act, it’s not as individuals but in unity with for quality food for the students and we have.dozens, hundreds, thousands, or even millions more money for education. Further- If we kick capitalism out of education, and outof other workers. Faced with that kind of pow- more, the students occupied the legis- of society as a whole, we could make sure ed- We could abolish the distinction betweener, there’s nothing the bosses can do. lative assembly of the state of São Paulo ucation serves the needs of everyone, instead mental and manual labour, we could fully fund and managed to force the opening up of of the wallets of the 1%. Instead of education everyone who wants to study, and we could pro- We should organise our own school stu- an investigation into the theft of meals teaching us to jump through hoops and regurgi- vide education for people for the entire dura-dents’ union. If students at every school and from schools. tate facts, we could spend our time forming our tion of their lives, alongside their work, insteadcollege got together to debate and discuss how Those occupations were supported and own opinions and pursuing the kind of knowl- of artificially cutting it off at 16, 18 or 21.to keep privatisation out of schools, and how to accompanied by many others all over edge that we want to, and that society needs. Ifmake sure education is in our interests – not the country. The movement extended you remove the pressure of targets, profits and All of this would be expensive. But the moneyin the interests of the capitalists, then we could into states such as Goiás, Rio de Janeiro cuts to funding, then education could actually is there. The 1% have billions stashed away inbuild a massive movement. and Ceará. All this shows young people’s produce well-rounded, thinking people instead banks, which they’ve made by exploiting gen- willingness to fight and to organize for of cannon fodder for the capitalists’ workforce. eration after generation of workers who were With an organisation like that we’d be able the overthrow of the current system. trained for their jobs using the education sys-to go on strike, occupy and shut down schools BY ARIELE EFTING Teachers, parents, and students could col- tem. The capitalists have gotten rich thanks tountil they kick profit out of education. There are laborate democratically to decide what needs the education system, so it’s them who shouldfar more of us than there are of them – nothing to be taught, and how it should be taught and pay for improving it. We could expropriate theirwould be able to stop us. tested. We wouldn’t need chairmen and busi- wealth and nationalise their businesses to fund nessmen telling us how to run our schools. Ed- investment in education. This is what a revolu- ucation could be planned locally, nationally and tionary socialist policy on education looks like even internationally to be tied in with the needs 5

REVOLUTIONREFORM REVOLUTION OR BY LAURIE O'CONNEL, CAMBRIDGE MARXISTS a time of deep economic crisis after the Trea- order. dismantled and sold off to private interests. Re- ty of Versailles left the country crippled, the All of the reforms that can be won under forms are always limited by whether the stateCapitalism can’t be changed from within, and ‘left-leaning’ bit got discarded. Managing capi- (and the ruling class) can afford them or not, here’s why: talism under those circumstances really meant capitalism could be doubled or trebled under according to the logic of the capitalist system. protecting it from revolution - in fact, they ac- socialism. For example, under capitalism, no That’s why left-wingers like Jeremy Corbyn willThis year is the centenary of the greatest revo- tually ended up being very brutal against the matter how hard we fight for jobs, unemploy- never really be able to answer the question oflution in history, the October Revolution of 1917. revolutionary Left in Germany, even relying on ment will always occur because it’s cheaper for how they will be able to pay for their policies.However, since the fall of the USSR - an event a fascist militia, the Freikorps, to put down the a boss to pay one worker to work 10, 12 or 14 If you accept capitalism, you have to accept thethat bourgeois historians say proves the fail- Spartacist uprising in 1919! In this situation, hours a day than it is to pay multiple workers logic of capitalism, which in a period of cri-ure of revolutionary politics as a whole - almost far from being an ally to revolutionary social- for shorter working days. Besides, the boss- sis does not allow for sustained spending onevery prominent figure on the so-called Left has ism, left reformism proved to be its enemy. es need unemployment. If you can’t threaten things like welfare programmes.rejected the revolutionary ideas of socialism workers with unemployment, they might startand subscribed to an ideology which believes Reformism is based on the belief that the demanding things like better wages or working A revolution has the power to change so-that capitalism, bad as it is, can be changed contradictions, crises and exploitation of the conditions. The solution offered by reformists ciety for good. By taking the wealth out of theslowly rather than being overthrown entirely. capitalist system can be reformed out of exist- is to provide welfare benefits - a tiny amount hands of the capitalists and putting society un- ence by squeezing concessions out of the rul- of money which provides the unemployed with der the control of those who really keep it going This isn’t a new idea at all. ‘Reformism’, ing class, such as healthcare, a minimum wage just enough to survive on (at the best of times), - the working class - we will be able to actuallyas Marxists call it, has existed for a very long and the shortening of the working day. As such, as long as they lead a miserable and frugal life. change society, not spend decades fighting fortime, even before the Russian Revolution. It was reformism sees revolutionary ideas, radical so- However, in a socialist system, jobs would be improvements only to have them taken away aa trend in the 19th century German Social Dem- cialist policies and the common ownership of done for the good of society, and not for profit. few years later. Education, healthcare, homes,ocrats, where it was opposed by Marxists who the economy, as unnecessary and undesirable. It would be possible to share out the labour of food, and access to culture and leisure timeare still famous today, such as Rosa Luxemburg. society among the employed and unemployed should not be not luxuries, but under capital-It led to the abandonment of revolutionary pol- Marxists recognise that these reforms can to shorten the working day for all, whilst pay- ism they are being made into things that onlyitics by the leadership of the German Social be won under capitalism, under certain cir- ing people much more than the bare minimum the wealthiest can afford. Our generation willDemocratic Party, their enthusiastic support cumstances, but we argue that not only do the they need to survive. be worse off than our elders for the first timefor the imperialist slaughter of WWI and their capitalists usually offset their losses by exploit- in this era. All of the things which we have beenparticipation in a capitalist, anti-working class ing other workers harder (like immigrants or Unless workers fight to overthrow the bro- relying on having access to, such as educationgovernment after the end of the war. those in poorer countries where imperialism ken system under which we live, any reforms and a stable job, are disappearing. dominates), but also that these reforms are which we manage to win can also be easily In fact, the German workers had a good not sustainable as long as the capitalists are taken away. Reforms rely on the ability of cap- If this instability weren’t enough, the greedshot at a genuine socialist revolution in Ger- in charge. The bosses will always fight to claw italists to afford them. Every time there’s an of the capitalist system and its total inabilitymany after the war - there were even soviets them back as soon as they can and whenever economic crisis, this is paid for by the work- to allow for cooperation or long-term planning(embryonic workers’ governments) set up there’s a squeeze on their profits. Furthermore, ing class, not by the capitalists, whose prof- in running the economy means capitalism hasacross the country - but the reformist Social we reject the idea that the inhumane system it-making system is really to blame. The NHS, brought us to the brink of a potentially worldDemocratic leaders decided that instead, it of capitalism, which is based on exploitation for example, was implemented after WWII be- destroying environmental crisis as well as awas safer to stick with what they knew, so they and inequality, can ever be reformed enough cause the ruling class feared that a revolution social and economic one. For the sake of ourdefended capitalism. They saw themselves as to fully wipe out poverty and other social ills. would occur if they didn’t grant concessions to futures and for the future of the world, we haveleft-leaning ‘managers’ of capitalism - but in What is required is a revolution: the building of the workers. Today, however, this healthcare to reject capitalism and fight for a socialist rev- a socialist society in place of the old capitalist is being taken away as the NHS is being slowly olution 6

SOCIALIST.NETmarxism and anarchismby john russell, norwich marxists oppressed by their own state too. Anarchists have must revolutions be violent?? misdiagnosed the problem here. They’ve failed to by jonathan lees,, leicester marxists who have historically led mass movementsMarxism and Anarchism both aim to create a look at the issue concretely and instead focussed into bloodshed. Failed revolutionary move- classless and stateless society, abolishing on the abstract concept of “representation”. They Marxists are revolutionaries. We want ments are drowned in blood by the capital-capitalism. But while these two schools of thought haven’t looked at the question of representation a proletarian revolution in which the ist class who want to teach a lesson to themight appear similar on the surface, their dif- with a solid class analysis, grounded in a real sit- working class as a whole rises up and workers. Only a strong revolutionary partyferences are essential to understand. As today’s uation. transforms society for the benefit of all. based on a Marxist programme can guar-crisis of capitalism sinks deeper and deeper, a This means removing the bourgeoisie - antee the victory of a mass movement andrevolutionary mood is growing in society, particu- Anarchism suffers from a serious overuse of the billionaire class that oppresses and therefore avoid the violent reaction of thelarly amongst the youth. More and more people abstractions like these. It doesn’t ground itself in leeches off the working masses around the ruling class.are starting to recognise the problems inherent in a solid and scientific philosophy, and as a result world.capitalism. It’s important that the correct answers it comes up with positions that crumble as soon Historically the counter-revolutions ofare found to these problems, or else real solutions as they start to be applied to real events or situa- Does this revolution need to be violent? the ruling class have always been far morewon’t be possible. While both Marxism and Anar- tions. Anarchist thought, historically, has its roots No. A peaceful transformation of society is violent than the revolutions of the workingchism propose solutions, only one offers a correct in the old utopian socialists; a group of European entirely possible if the working class as a masses. One example is the slaughter of anbasis for revolutionary theory. philosophers in the earlier stages of capitalism. whole were to use the great power they estimated 30,000 men women and children Their ideas weren’t grounded in a materialist, sci- have at their disposal. But it’s true that the on the streets of Paris in 1871 by the French One of the key features of anarchist thought entific, class analysis. Anarchists today still suffer ruling class is also powerful and it won’t army as they brutally crushed the Parisis the rejection of all political parties, and the re- the same problem. Anarchists don’t tend to put give up its dominance of society easily. They Commune. By comparison only a handful offusal to engage with the current capitalist political the same emphasis on theory as Marxists do. They control the police and the army, and they deaths can be attributed to the rise of thesystem in any way. Anarchists put emphasis on a don’t stress the importance of reading and edu- have a history of using extreme violence Commune itself.mass movement, without leadership. Anarchism is cating themselves in revolutionary politics, eco- against the working class in conditionslargely concerned with the concept of authority, nomics, or history. of rebellion and revolution if they think The ruling class has no problem withand rejects all forms of it. To most anarchists, the their privileges are threatened. Sometimes using violence to achieve its goals and ter-capitalist boss and the political leader are consid- Marxists - who are grounded in a scientific self-defence is unavoidable in such condi- rorise the proletarian revolution. We can’tered equally guilty of imposing authority on the theory of socialism - understand the need for a tions of opposition. be pacifists. We’re willing to use violence, inmasses. well-educated, organized, revolutionary leader- self-defence, to defend our revolution and ship. Anarchists fetishize the spontaneity of the The stronger a revolutionary party the change society for the better. While this idea is very understandable, it lacks working class, as a result of these fears about greater the possibility of rallying the work-nuance. It doesn’t analyse what authority is, where political leadership and political representation. ing class as a whole, including members of This doesn’t mean we’re enthusias-it comes from, how it continues to exist, and it fails But history has shown us time and time again the police and the army, to the revolution. tic for bloody revolution. We don’t seekto draw any distinctions between different kinds that when a political movement happens, when That would mean defeat for the ruling class violence and we place all blame for anyof authority serving different interests. It uses the the working class kick out against capitalism and more quickly and with minimal violence. violence during the revolution squarely atidea of “authority” in an abstract way, not connect- against the state, it always starts as a sudden and the feet of the ruling class that sometimesed to any real situation. What about the authority spontaneous wave of action, but if it’s going to suc- In fact, it’s those who have failed to makes it necessary. We aim for and workof the working class, in revolution, against the cap- ceed then it needs a leadership formed from with- adopt a revolutionary approach, and those towards a peaceful revolution by building aitalist class - would that authority be an authority in the working class, which can guide an organ- who have refused to build a political party, strong revolutionary organisationto reject? ised and tactical political revolution. This is why Marxists emphasise the importance of a serious Anarchists also tend to argue that representa- approach to revolutionary theory, education, andtive democracy with political parties and organisa- organisation; because we understand the impor-tions inevitably leads to oppression by the repre- tance of building revolutionary leadership fromsentatives of the people who elected them. But if it amongst the youth and workers of todaywas just the fact of “being represented” that led tobeing oppressed, then the capitalists paying politi-cians to represent their interests would always be 7

REVOLUTION SOCIALIST.NET/ REVOLUTIONabolish the monarchy!by Beatrice Papapietro Constitutionally, the Queen is the literally nothing to earn the wealth that ultimate political authority. Whichever they have. Royal wealth is based on cen- party wins a general election doesn’t turies of oppression and exploitation ofThe monarchy is a backward, feudal actually form a government until the the poor, the legacy of which is handed hangover and an anti-democratic Queen gives express permission for it down generation after generation.and authoritarian weapon of capital- to do so. The Prime Minister then has toism. Don’t be fooled by the fact that this meet with the Queen every single week The royals swan around the worldweapon looks like a little old lady. It’s to update her on the political issues at our expense, claiming to speak onan integral part of the Establishment, of the day and to take her advice. And our behalf - as if a bunch of millionairesdesigned to defend the interests of the any law passed by Parliament has to be who have never had a proper job couldruling class. signed by the Queen before it’s valid. know anything about our lives. The cap- italist-owned media publish pictures of The monarchy is reactionary insti- On top of that, in the armed forces royal babies and royal weddings andtution and socialists must fight for its soldiers swear allegiance, not to their demand that we feel patriotic and grate-abolition. We must fight for a socialist country, nor to the people, but to the ful for the privilege of paying for theirrepublic. monarch. All of these powers tend to private education and extravagant wed- stay below the radar in normal times, dings. Most of the European monarchies but there’s no doubt that in a revolu-were swept away many centuries ago tionary situation they would be used by As socialists we struggle for a worldbut, like a particularly determined par- the ruling class to suspend democratic without classes and exploitation. Weasite, the British monarchy clung on in rights, undermine and attack the revo- want to be equal citizens, not “loyala zombified form. This is because the lution. subjects”. We have no pride in the bru-British capitalists decided that it could tal colonial legacy of the British Empireactually be politically useful to keep the Not only do the capitalist class keep and we have no desire to celebrate thatstuffed animals that decorate Bucking- the monarchy around as protection history by paying for the upkeep of theham Palace today in the form of the roy- against revolution, just as a landlord monarchy today. Working class peopleal family. might keep a dog, it also fills its royal have fought and died for basic demo- pet’s trough with cash. cratic rights. It’s an insult to them and Even though people claim that the to us that an anti-democratic, feudalmonarchy only exists for the sake of Today the Queen is worth £340 mil- institution like the monarchy still exists.“tradition” or to promote tourism, in lion, undoubtedly making her one of the The time is long overdue to clear out thefact it plays a sinister political role, not 1%. Millions of pounds of taxpayer mon- rotten rubbish of the monarchy.least because it gives strength to the re- ey has recently been spent on repairs toactionary idea of national unity which di- Buckingham Palace. She and her family Down with the monarchy! Down withvides the workers of the world amongst are the biggest benefit scroungers in capitalism! Forward to the socialist re-themselves. the country. The royal family has done public!THE OCTOBER REVOLFUESTTIIOVANLSFtruid2e0nt-CSeunntr2a2l, October London [email protected]