A new socialist movement in the West

Start with some 'socialist' fundamentals. 

The huge leftwing parties in the first half of the 20th century; the Communists led by Stalin's role in the Soviet bureaucracy; and the Social Democrats, who were constantly scared of revolution, leading instead towards efforts to link with capitalism, have both failed. In the second half of the 20th Century and the first quarter of the 21st, the mass working classes in the European west felt a deep suspicion of all these decaying parties despite even the various minor Trotskyite alternatives. The communist parties declined before the1980s and finally collapsed after the fall of the East German wall. Meanwhile the constant failures of social democracy became the desperate 'turn to middle ways', openly trying to support from mainly middle class political bases. Macron and Blair are still banging the hollow bell. Finally the remaining worker's movements had broken in the turn of the century, created by deliberate government decision in the case of the UK, leading to a rapid decline of large-scale industry in the West. The most significant working class industries were re-created by the development of nations that were defeated by the imperialist West, most significantly by China. 

The weakness of the socialist left was also undermined by the promise of Western democracy between 1914 and 1950. But the 'precious gem' of Western democracy and the parties that organised their votes, rapidly passed their peak after the full franchises were finally forced for the vote by women and trade unions. At the end of the second world war the franchise became mainly ruling class systems that were narrowed into what was 'the vote'. Instead 'democracy' was used by huge wealth to maintain the upper classes status quo avoiding all major aspects of the social system. Gradually, through world wars and a hundred years or so of the vote, the mechanisms of the West's 'democracy' is now also increasingly becoming unacceptable as a genuine advance among the majority of the new working classes in the West. The features of this are spreading and patently obvious as Berlusconi twirled his cheery stage in Italy, followed today with another clown in the UK, desperate for power and money. Fake democratic and fake political 'offers' are now presented to the new working classes. Even where the ruling class were stubbed by Brexit for example, there was no change at all of the 'ownership' of the UK and not the slightest concessions to the working class.

The old versions of socialism have broken down. But so have the means of Western democracy. Another working class is rising. In the West we are having to work out a new socialism. 

The beginnings of the new socialism in the west.

Significant risings from workers are growing in France and the UK. Several UK unions are organising for equal pay for the 10% price hike. Large and continued strikes are, de facto, assembling united actions. Serious pressure is being developed by governments against workers and vice versa, despite previous elections. Government promises were dumped after their elections in both the UK and France. 'Ensemble', the latest French parliament left combination, despite Macron's disappearing 'centre', is beginning to lead French society and challenging the right. 

Meanwhile, an enormous number of self-organised groups, attached from schools, from churches, from the streets and the local areas are directly managing the growing problem of food and heat, totally outside of government. 

The UK government and both the main parties in Parliament are facing the break-up of Britain.  There is the increasing role of the self style Welsh Labour leadership, the Scottish leadership that have decided to set up a new Scottish independence referendum and the UK Northern Irish Sinn Fein Party, elected by the NI voters, which is unable to carry on through supporting the people because the UK government is dropping its own treaties. 

Some immediate steps.

The new socialism has to first centre itself as a part of the actions of the new working class and its contexts. Those actions are the central necessities. For example, the gathering and combining of those who are supporting the unions and those working on providing food, heating, etc.  There are those who seek the support for social and medical difficulties. The more that combines - the more people will step ahead. We can build examples by pinning buttons for everyone, green with black lettering stating 'support the unions and communities'; making noise outside Number 10 with demands on party food; demanding rations across the most poverty areas and the most rich. Most significant, starting from France's 'Ensemble', socialism needs to help blocks that will be bringing together all those that act together. From there comes the new movement learning for a new society.

Socialism cannot simply reconstruct the roads of the old parties took, added with a few set of different theories, however genius, and to expect this or that leader in history that will really deliver the answers that will no longer fail. Socialism has, like the growing populace, to learn in the now, using our histories to change in the practice of the difference of now. The theory and practice of socialism with different ideas and different activity has only just begun.  

But don't be late!

The UK Secretary of State Truss has just explained why the UK should have got going earlier over the Ukraine war, and should now prepare a fight over the Chinese about Taiwan. This dangerous idiot (another minister who hasn't read, or has decided to dump the British - Chinese treaty) is the mad, half-baked leadership, declining at home and dangerous abroad, as the UK's bandit society is running itself down.

End of globalisation ... and capitalism?

Some investors that were settling in Davros Switzerland called for the distribution of windfall taxes. Why? Because social eruptions are beginning across the globe. The rich fear the instability of modern capitalism. The British Tory Members of Parliament have just sprayed £15 billion across the poor (and the rich) hoping to smother the beginnings of mass strikes and to maintain the continuation of the government itself. Across the West and the South and the East the countries, in different conditions, are rising against the effects of the end of globalisation's domination.

Economists see the demise of the three decades of the era of globalisation. 'It's going to reverse.' (Financial Times.) 'Grappling with vital (new) strategic decisions.' (Davos, World Economy Forum.)

Current political leaders blatantly see it is now that the governments are needed to hold back and cover up the overthrow of the drastic disintegration of globalisation. There are many versions of these exercises but all have the same purpose, from escalating wars, to offering older versions of apparent 'benefits' from previous histories. All of the new politics is used to turn peoples' directions away from their own, genuine, grievances that have actually arisen from the break up of global capitalism. For example Prime Minister Boris Johnson suddenly wants to use the Queen's ancient birthday to turn back metric EU measurements. Hurrah!? 

At the same time as Boris offers pints of beer in pubs there is to be a major review of all EU laws automatically kept on the statute book since Britain exited Europe. 'Brussels-made legislation will be improved or repealed if it is not to benefit the British people' booms the new future. (Government press release.) But the UK 'improvement' and its 'benefit' covers much more than beer and bananas. Along the governments list, tucked away, is the (already feeble) EU Trade Union laws. 

Boris and the UK government have been watching the postal workers strikes, the decisions for action from teachers and health and welfare workers. They are studying the enormous 'yes' union votes for strike actions. Railway workers are fighting against potential sacking of thousands, where the remaining railway workers will have their wages cut and where those that are facing pensions will be sliced up in old age. This is piling up for a massive clash with Boris's government. 

And here is the ticket. Boris is trying to use Brexit by turning the entirely legal union actions (that are already dealing with the worst labour laws in Europe) of the workers, particularly now on Railways, to smash these critical union decisions, which will affect all of the working class. The rail workers' battle is now the most critical. Here is the Boris's plan to use his version of Brexit. Boris's aim is to break all the remaining organised working class by using the removal of the EU's laws. The destruction of the remains of the unions will be smashed up by the UK taking its own way against European decisions. Boris intends to mobilise commuters, families with children at school, the public that is part of the six million or more seeking NHS requirements and many others, as the means to end what are already poor workers' legal rights.  

Already Boris and his cronies have been developing a new law to allow railway workers to continue certain work if the strike goes ahead. Already he and his ministers are considering the removal of unions among teachers replaced by 'professional' organisations. These and others will be presented as a big part of the potential success against the EU. 

Boris, who was called a new Berlusconi by EU officials and who had the doubtful pleasure of talking with him, is now desperately wanting to be a Thatcher. The wave of union votes is already raising the need of a collective, joint-action, which could provide the only means to prevent the intended new, crushing Thatcherite block of the current government and instead allow the reality to open out of its real conditions of and for the vast majority of a despairing society.  

These are some of the political mechanisms, particularly in the West, that are being used as the fundamental issues, pushing away the key questions of the dissolving of capitalist globalisation and the creation of new alternatives. Already the Trumps, the Bolsonaros, the Orbans, the Dudas, the Putins etc, respond entirely by using brutal force to deal with the crises through those who show any opposition to them. Other political actors, from Biden to Macron, spend their time insisting on the return of the 2000's, while trying to find means that might save time by a temporarily diverted society. 

But society cannot avoid the pretence that the previous 'success' of globalisation is collapsing by the day. Not one of the current political leaderships, whether initially subtle or openly violent, inevitably fiddle with the only perspectives that they really have; splitting up their 'dangerous' working classes and its allies and / or going to war. 

The real and possible response? Action for truth. Stop, or prepare to stop, wars resulting from the dying capitalist state competitions - as with the Russian/NATO proxy battle. Retrieve decided proportions of profit to the needy. Re-establish rations once more, starting with heat and food. Wages should rise at least with inflation. Creating direct public votes for key decisions. Starting a new peoples' society increases the rights of those who face drastic decline. Introduce the increasing power of the vast majority. Hidden change created by backward politics and politicians that pretend that they will give us an apparently previous status quo, has to be swept away, in favour of the new practical political reality.

Brian Heron