tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post7332916269066964669..comments2024-03-01T03:16:14.116+00:00Comments on Another Green World: Chris Bambery resigns from the SWPDerek Wallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-16468679441202414922011-07-11T07:52:12.960+00:002011-07-11T07:52:12.960+00:00You could be right John but you never know, I agre...You could be right John but you never know, I agree some caution is necessaryDerek Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-3647878340963737072011-07-11T06:39:12.969+00:002011-07-11T06:39:12.969+00:00Derek says swp and other far left party's open...Derek says swp and other far left party's open to new thinking that sounds like wishful thinking.john matthewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-5933699955625230532011-04-13T17:04:30.094+00:002011-04-13T17:04:30.094+00:00"I do lots of work with people in Leninist pa..."I do lots of work with people in Leninist parties who are increasingly aware of this kind of critique and want to do something different."<br /><br />From the little I have seen of it, this analysis hits the nail on the head, and is a really useful thing for all on the left to use to revise their practise now that 1968 is upon us. Whoops!PaulBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02659458661992171379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-42433983696041467172011-04-12T13:37:01.209+00:002011-04-12T13:37:01.209+00:00thanks Calum, pluralism is something which can be ...thanks Calum, pluralism is something which can be difficult to achieve and I appreciate the suggestions for reading.Derek Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-3572313703560380822011-04-12T13:30:38.771+00:002011-04-12T13:30:38.771+00:00Derek, I only mentioned Tourish's paper coz it...Derek, I only mentioned Tourish's paper coz it provides a context for what's just happened (& I think it should be better known). <br />I don't know Bambery but the vid u posted allows an impression to form. <br />As you implied, I think the NPA's intention & some of their current difficulties show that creating a more pluralist organisational life is quite difficult for Calumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-80060007978352428052011-04-12T12:03:43.271+00:002011-04-12T12:03:43.271+00:00All good, bare in mind while I am not a Leninist a...All good, bare in mind while I am not a Leninist and definately not an advocate of cartoon authoritarian versions of this model, I do lots of work with people in Leninist parties who are increasingly aware of this kind of critique and want to do something different.<br /><br />I do think at least some people in the SWP want to do a more fluid, less top down and more effective left politics.<br /Derek Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-79754542930315437782011-04-12T12:00:25.739+00:002011-04-12T12:00:25.739+00:00Tourish was a member of Irish Militant 1974-85, 6 ...Tourish was a member of Irish Militant 1974-85, 6 years as a full-timer. His paper is mostly on Militant, with some discussion of a US Maoist self-criticism group. <br /><br />Tourish focuses on 6 features:<br />rigid beliefs<br />non-falsifiability<br />authoritarian inner-party life<br />leaders acting arbitrarily<br />deification of leaders<br />hyper-activism<br /><br />Familiar?<br /><br />Calumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-70997422303494540822011-04-12T11:40:32.566+00:002011-04-12T11:40:32.566+00:00thanks, while I agree with this kind of analysis I...thanks, while I agree with this kind of analysis I don't think it can be reduced to it.<br /><br />I also get the impression that Chris Bambery was more authoritarian than some of his critics.<br /><br />So he is not in revolt against this kind of stuff.Derek Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-80382830483477065882011-04-12T11:33:51.682+00:002011-04-12T11:33:51.682+00:00Derek, you ask "what is this all about?"...Derek, you ask "what is this all about?". This followed your comment about far left organisations, so I'd like to refer readers here to an analysis of what living in a damaging organisational form can do to its participants.<br /><br />Too often far left groups have a cult-like form & practice. Bambery's resignation, following those of other prominents & less well-known Calumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-39692063396627455212011-04-11T20:04:08.925+00:002011-04-11T20:04:08.925+00:00I will blog it up!I will blog it up!Derek Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-1833741624651303052011-04-11T20:03:33.256+00:002011-04-11T20:03:33.256+00:00The SWP CC's initial response to Bambery's...The SWP CC's initial response to Bambery's letter is online here (you'll have to scroll down a bit): http://www.swp.org.uk/party-notesbat020https://www.blogger.com/profile/07101410408576442591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-2062330766207123432011-04-11T19:55:08.616+00:002011-04-11T19:55:08.616+00:00Who gives a monkey's? Trying to build the SWP ...Who gives a monkey's? Trying to build the SWP is like trying to fill the bath with the tap full on and the plug out. They have been playing this splits and fusions thing since they were founded (but without the fusions)<br />I would remind would remind Chris Bambery of what Tony Benn said when he left Parliament "I want to spend more time on politics"Eamonnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794053732880133361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556312.post-60669638272409748112011-04-11T15:46:53.657+00:002011-04-11T15:46:53.657+00:00To start with, this isn't really likely to roc...<a href="http://tinyurl.com/63rb2an" rel="nofollow">To start with</a>, this isn't really likely to rock the SWP.<br />Generally seen as a bit of a hard nut, though I saw him very relaxed a couple of times , so can attest he has a human side.<br /><br />I'm not entirely sure about the ethics of printing letters not intended for public consumption, though if this comes via Alex Snowdon'skidmarxhttp://www.hotoffthepressonline.com/prodimg/SARCASM.jpgnoreply@blogger.com