This is a collection of speeches and papers presented to the Stockholm and London conferences on Czechoslovakia convened by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Contributors include, Ernest Mandel, John Berger, Ota Sik, Stephen Bodington and others.
As with all such collections there is some unevenness, and because the contributions are all on one general theme there tends to be a little repetilion. Nevertheless, there area number of well argued essays that need to be read and discussed. John Berger perhaps sums up what the
Czechoslovak events meant
"What ultimately was at stake in Czechoslovakia was the continuity of the present form of leadership of the Russian communist party and all other parties based on the Russian model. Almost despite itself, the Czech party has been forced to challenge this continuity in order to put ar. end to Stalinism and rediscover its own revolutionary meaning" It was precisely to abort this rediscovery that the Warsaw Pact armies invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968, and since then have proceeded lo gradually ease oul the 'liberals' and suppress the free debate that had blossomed. What was being strangled was much more than the right to express opinions, it was multipicity of initialives and the resurgence of a new-found strength on the part of the Czechoslovak working class. Stephen Bodington remarks,
"It is remarkable that the new ideas have become so deeply rooted within a matter of months, only since the January reforms. These days suggest almost that the potential of a socialism based on free self-determining individuals as against political government based on the manipulation of masses controlled by central authority, has a power init much greater as, by analogy, atomic
power Js vreater than chemical."
This, above all, is what the bureaucrats of all the Eastern Boropese countries were so afraid of.
is bring lonether socialists of various Yuncds ebotiaawes how deeply fell was the sense of outrage and Shag “tobe Sosteb mvasior Perhaps one of the most Iniers Ci essave an the collection is the one by Mihailo Shithovie ot the Carversity of Belerade entitled "An Experrepee Tt ihe Strurnte Asginst International Bureaucracy”. Phos underlines the international character of this social caste and didieates that ifs main source of streneth is still within the Soviel Uiaon, Perhaps what we witnessed in Prague will happen im other countries until Moscow has its 'spring'. Thes one doubts if there will be any ‘friendly’ powers ready to protect the bareaucrats from the ‘atomic’ power of the Soviet workers.
The Kussell Foundation have performed a genuine service by making these essays available, perhaps they will make others
ie as they become available,
ACCESS
* Published by the Bertrand Russell Peace Faundation
price 25. hardback. 7 6d paperback.
R. Carter. A New Annual”
Merlin Press have this year published a stabte mate to Socialist Resister, ii is the Prade Union Register*. The new
is edited by Keu Coates, Pony Tophan: and Michael
There is an impressive list of contributors, Revister
Barratt Brown,
which seems to cover many shades of the left (and centre?), The book claims to be “A symposium designed for active trade unionists’. However, one can hardly imagine that an factive trade unionist’ would tind time to read all the material collected in these 350 pages. If future issues are to live up to the stated aim they will need to be slimmed down somewhat. One has the feeling that the editors were a little unsure of their own aims when assembling the material and henee the large selection, Some of the essays are more suitable for publication in journals than in a book, which presumably is meant to be partly a reference volume. Also some of the essays are so heavily annotated that the references serve to impede ones progress,
51 These are however minor criticisms compared with the real value of the book. All the contributionsare of a fairly high standard, and many introduce new ideas on perennial topics, Janet Blackman's contribution on the Campaign for Women's Rights is a must for all those who are interested in this subject (and shame on you if you are not). Her point about there being two labour forces - mens and womens - is a very useful idea. She points out that far from women gaining equal rights what is really happening is that a small number of women are jumping into the male labour force without changing its
character, and the vast majority of women still work in what are classified as womens work. Men do nol join this labour force under any circumstances, ~~
Tony Topham writes a very solid item on Productivity Bargaining, tracing its development since the early sixties, and demonstrates how this has now become the central part of the employers and Government's insidious attack on the unions, He also examines the reactions to this development by the trade union movement, ranging from full co-operation to outright rejeclion, He also demonstrates that this is a method of keeping the proportions of the division of the national income either static or pushing it in favour of profits. Quite cogently argued is the need for an offensive strategy by the unions in face of this development.
John Wughes, Ken Coates and Richard Silburn all contribute essays on low pay, and John Hughes analyses the unemployment trends since 1964 bringing oul some very disturbing and little noticed factors.
One essay in particular makes this volume significant. This is Andree Hovles' item on the Occupation of Factories in France: May 1968, which is based upon on the spot research, the basis for which was an extensive questionnaire which was used in selected factories. This seems to be the only attempt so far to find out what was actually happening in the factories and among the rank and file workers. Most writings that have appeared so far on the French events have concentrated upon the political-cum-student aspects, not surprising in view of the ease with which material can be gathered on these aspects and the fact that the students in particular were very articulate. However, in many ways Andree Hoyles' research presents a more fundamental picture of what was actually going on during those very hectic days, it is much closer to the grass roots. No one who wants to oblain a full picture can afford to miss this vital piece of research,
It is not possible in a short review to mention any more of the contributions, but most of them are worth study. One final
52
point, the book contains a very useful Diary for 1968 and several statistical tables, both of which are useful for those who do not have the time to hunt around for such information.
JW.
* Published by Merlin Press Ltd. price £2 hardback,
£1 paperback.
Condemned from the Dock - John Maclean's speech to the
court in 1918*
The reprinting of this speech is a step that is very welcome at the present time. John Maclean has long been a neglected figure in British working class history, both the Labour Party and the Communist Party, each for their own reasons, have tended to bury his memory. However, it is well that workers should be reminded what red-blooded Marxist leaders are like. Having suffered over the last few decades froma surfeit of boneless wonders, Maclean's words come as a breath of fresh air. "Tam not here as the accused: I am here as the
accuser of capitalism, dripping with blood from head to foot." Little wonder that Lenin was happy to have such a man as the first Soviet Consul in Britain. As Nan Milton says in the Forward "His speech.... was a vivid exposition of international socialism, and should be preserved as a part of the socialist tradition."
I certainly recommend this pamphlet as a 'good buy’.
JW, * Obtainable from Smith, 61 Fergus Drive, Glasgow NW.
2/- post free.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE
INSTITUTE FOR WORKERS’ CONTROL
PAMPHLET SERIES
1. The Way Forward for Workers’ Control Hugh Scanlon 1/6 2. Productivity Bargaining Tony Topham 1/6 3. Labour and Sterling M. Barratt Brown 1/6 4. Opening the Books M. Barratt Brown 1/6 5. The Labour Party’s Plan for Industrial Democracy
Ken Coates & Tony Topham 1/6 7. Steel Workers’ Next Step A group of Sheffield Steel Workers 1/6 8. industrial Democracy and National Fuel Policy 1/6 10. A Socialist Strategy for Western Europe Ernest Mandel 1/6 11. Ten Essays Antonio Gramsci 2/6 12. The Dockers’ Next Step
Hull & London Dock Workers’ Control Group 2/6 13. Four Steps to Progress (Workers’ Control and the Buses)
Jack Ashwell 2/6 14. The ‘Big Flame’ and What is the IWC ?
M. Barratt Brown and Ken Coates 9d 15. The Law versus the Unions Ken Coates and Tony Topham 1/6 16. Job Evaluation and Workers’ Control Ray Collins 1/6 17. GEC - EE Workers’ Takeover 2/- 18. A Hope for the Miners ? John Hughes 6d
BOOKS
A Future for British Socialism? Edited by Ken Coates 5/- Workers’ Control — Report of the 1967 Workers’ Control Conference
Edited by Tony Topham 10/- How and Why Industry must be Democratised —
Papers and proceedings of the 1968 Workers’ Contol Conference
Edited by Ken Coates and Wyn Williams
Hardback 32/6 Paperback 15/- Democracy in the Motor Industry Edited by Ken Coates 5/- Can The Workers Run Industry ? Edited by Ken Coates 8/6
THE INSTITUTE PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY BULLETIN
Single Issues 5/- Subscription for six issues 30/from IWC, 45 GAMBLE STREET, FOREST ROAD WEST, NOTTINGHAM Partisan Press Ltd. TU. all Depts.