En Passant

History must judge Castro both as the freedom fighter whose defiance humiliated US imperialism and as the ruler of a repressive, unequal society. It was right to support his resistance to the US attempts at revenge. But he cannot be absolved of abusing the idea of communism to rule over a capitalist society. The socialism he claimed to represent is as important as ever—but making it a reality means workers’ self-activity, not state control from above.

Many (including socialists and those opposed to socialism) see Cuban society as a model for socialism. But a look at its history presents different conclusions, argues Mark Gillespie in socialist magazine Solidarity. Written six years ago Mark outlines the development of state capitalism in Cuba. Another article I will post in the days to come will outline the ongoing shift in Cuba from state capitalism to market capitalism.

Socialism is about more than just voting for one person in one election. But what else? Eric Ruder in Socialist Worker US looks back at the centuries-old socialist tradition to provide some answers.

Charlie Kimber in Socialist Worker UK looks at the rise of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and argues that ‘the old politics is under extreme strain, and millions of people are looking for an alternative.’ However Sanders is not that alternative because ‘he is prepared to stay within the limits of the thoroughly capitalist Democratic Party.’

Charlie Kimber in Socialist Worker UK looks at the rise of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and argues that ‘the old politics is under extreme strain, and millions of people are looking for an alternative.’ However his support for Clinton in the end means ‘he is prepared to stay within the limits of the thoroughly capitalist Democratic Party.’

What is socialism and where will it come from? What we mean by socialism is bound up with the questions of how we think a new society can be achieved–and who can achieve it. Alan Maass explains why in Socialist Worker US.

Thank Russian and German workers for their revolutions that ended the war to end all wars. The fact that imperialist and other wars continue today shows that our task as socialists remains – to fight for socialism to end war. Only democratic socialist revolutions by the mass of workers can end war.

Many of my readers will be hoping for a Jeremy Corbyn in Australia to move the Labor Party here to the left. There is no Corbyn in the Parliamentary Labor Party. The Labor left, such as it is, is thoroughly imbued with the logic of neoliberalism. In the main it is a tribal allegiance rather than an ideological ferment of ideas to challenge capitalism. You never hear the S word from these very models of a modern major general of capital. None of the possible contenders for Corbyn down under have the same track record as Corbyn in opposing austerity or fighting against social and political injustice. Indeed people like Albanese and Plibersek have been Ministers in Labor governments that have implemented neoliberal policies and attacked public services and workers’ rights and conditions. They are part of the very problem Corbyn is fighting against.

In a wide ranging and thought provoking article in RS21, Mike Gonzalez charts the recent deal between Washington and Havana and asks if this really is the end of an era with the lifting of the embargo. He concludes:

For socialists there is nothing to be gained from pretending, as some international commentators have done, that nothing has really changed and that the agreement is a victory for Cuban socialism. Nor can we associate ourselves with the gloating of a global capitalist class which, sadly, will be the beneficiary of the decision. From the Cochabamba water wars of 2000 onwards, a new understanding of what socialism means has been on the agenda, active on the historical stage. And it is a very different understanding from the centralized, bureaucratic state structures of the Soviet era, which Cuba reproduced. The new vision is of a society run and controlled directly by its majority, shaped by their priorities, and defined by its transparent, democratic processes. That is some way ahead, but it is present and alive in the logic of the movements that have brought change to Latin America in this last exciting decade and a half and that will continue to organize, in a complex reality, for the realisation of the dream of a better world.

To read the whole article click here.

Revolt swept across Eastern Europe 25 years ago, toppling the Berlin Wall and the Stalinists who built it. The real socialists were cheering, argues Tomáš Tengely-Evans in Socialist Worker UK

World leaders are coming to New York City this week for another United Nations-sponsored summit on climate change. This time, though, they’ll be greeted by the largest climate justice march in history. What are we fighting for in New York City? Chris Williams, author of Ecology and Socialism: Solutions to Capitalist Ecological Crisis, looks at […]