Note: This piece was published before rs21 was established as an independent organisation in January 2014. rs21 was founded by a group of people who had been in the opposition within the SWP and who left in response to its persistent mishandling of rape and sexual harassment allegations against a leading member.
The revolutionary paper today
Ian Allinson •Ian A from Manchester has written a response to debates about the revolutionary press and the role of the internet in recent bulletins. Ian surveys Chris Harman’s writing on these questions, and makes several recommendations – including using the web as “the central organ” for the party’s message and regenerating a culture of local leaflet production.
The SWP has allowed itself to fall a long way behind in its efforts to communicate and organise. Instead of seizing on every opportunity to apply and develop Lenin’s politics in the light of technological change, we have clung on to the form of the revolutionary paper while our practice has changed to rob it of much of its political content.
If we are to build effectively, we need a decisive shift to correct our errors as quickly as possible. We cannot afford to fritter away opportunities to build by clinging to outdated methods which are clearly not working.
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