LINKS: International journal of socialist renewal
No 8, July-October, 1997
Published by New Course Publications
144 pp., $6.50
Review by Adam Maclean
Now in its eighth issue, the Marxist journal Links has emerged as a sounding board for a broad range of views. This should not be surprising given the range of political traditions being drawn upon. In this issue, youll encounter an analysis of Maoism in the Philippines, Stalinism and social democracy in Italy, and there are book reviews which defend Leninist forms of struggle.
Links, an initiative of the Democratic Socialist Party, attempts to draw together different left-wing parties and tendencies. Since the collapse of the bureaucratic "socialist" states, Links aims to break one of Stalinisms more lingering legacies — a splintered international left.
Presented in this issue is a debate within the Party of Communist Refoundation, Italys fourth-largest party — it has 150,000 members and received 3.2 million votes in the April, 1996 general elections — around the party's critical support of the Prodi government. The debate centres around how to prevent the re-election of corrupt and neo-liberal parties like Forza Italia and the emergence of the nationalist Northern League.
"New" models of "modernisation" are being foisted upon the developing world, especially in the newly industrialised countries of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Chow Wei Cheng, in "Lessons of the East-Asian NICs", debunks the notion that NIC-type development is desirable for the Third World. Cheng argues that equal and just development can only occur if the people are in control of economic decision-making, as well as having choices about their levels of education and training. Unless more democratic forms of government and popular decision-making are won by the majority, development will not be possible.
Within the member countries of the largest trading blocs — Europe, North America and South-East Asia — a great paradox is at play. As their economies are geared toward the needs of international finance (and greater profits), domestic political and economic strategy within nations develops a more nationalistic and xenophobic character.
Third World conditions already exist within the United States. Sections of the US economy rely heavily upon Latin and Central American workers for their profitability. To enforce this, these workers are classified as special residents who cannot legally work or receive social assistance, and can be thrown into prison or deported at any time. These laws affect between 3 and 5 million people.
David Bacon examines the movement against the US immigration laws in "For an Immigration Policy Based on Human Rights". What has been the role of the main union confederation, the AFL-CIO, and the churches? What effects has NAFTA has on US immigration? Most importantly, how have people been fighting these attacks and what successes have they had?
Links has many contributors keen to share experiences and engage in debate. For example, the South African Communist Party, a partner in the ANC government, is brought under the microscope by SACP Johannesburg district chairperson Dale McKinley. He identifies a rightward shift in the partys leadership and criticises its accommodation to the needs of South African big business instead of "meeting the material and social needs of the majority".
Links is an invaluable companion for Green Left readers. This issue provides a thorough insight into the forces struggling against inequality and oppression today. It is also a handy reference point if you are seeking further analysis of left parties and movements.