Links: International Journal of Socialist Renewal
Issue Number 5
Reviewed by Kath Gelber
Positive assessments of prospects for Cuba are sometimes hard to find, even in progressive publications. The US embargo, combined with the collapse of eastern Europe and Cuba's major trading partners, led many to predict the imminent demise of one of the most inspiring revolutionary struggles of our era. Dario Machado, director of the Centre for Socio-Political and Opinion Studies of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, provides a frank and inspirational overview of the situation in Cuba today in the latest issue of Links.
The article doesn't gloss over the real difficulties being faced by the Cuban people, but at the same time Machado reaffirms the irrationality of today's capitalism, and the will of the Cuban people to struggle for a better system. He stresses that "revolutionaries have to find solutions without falling back on schemas".
An article by Dan Connell, "Palestine: crisis in the national movement", explores the progress of the peace accords and the crossroads being faced by the Palestinian national movement. Many Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are worse off with the closure of borders to workers from the occupied territories.
Connell warns that the present agreement does not contain any commitment to Palestinian self-determination, and that there is no sign the Rabin government is preparing to dismantle the settlements. Connell sees the rebuilding of a united mass base as crucial in developing a nationalist movement capable of taking on the challenge presented by the current political stalemate. Until this challenge is met, the polarisation between the Palestine National Authority and Islamist groups will continue to grow.
Another article in this issue takes up a political discussion not yet featured in the pages of Links. "Queer theory and the politics of post-identity", by Robert Nowlan, presents a coherent and comprehensive challenge to the notion that "queer" identity will inherently provide a more progressive and radical challenge to sexual oppression than traditional gay and lesbian politics. The adoption of the term "queer" can be simply an updated version of identity politics, with the same limitations, he says.
The article — in stark contrast to much academic literature on "queer" — is accessible and easy to read. It's a measure of the breadth in content and appeal of Links that Nowlan has made this contribution to international political discussion in its pages.
From the United States, Links editorial board member Malik Miah discusses the campaign by the right to eliminate affirmative action in that country. Miah outlines the origins of affirmative action, situated firmly within the social upheaval and mass movement strength of the late 1960s. He reminds us that "the issue of race can't be avoided in today's world", and that the left must continue to defend civil rights laws and support the maintenance and extension of affirmative action programs.
A discussion in the FSLN regarding the political legacy of Sandinismo has been contributed by Alejandro Bendana, a Sandinista leader and former general secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bendana discusses the revolutionary tradition of Sandino, the rational basis for his ideas and the inspiration still provided by "Sandino's inexhaustible patriotic and revolutionary spring",from which rich political lessons can be drawn.
"The Indian Communist Movement", an interview with Vinod Mishra, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) provides an overview of that party's involvement in electoral politics, trade union work and mass organisations. The interview includes comments regarding the resurgence of fundamentalism in the garb of nationalism.
Blade Nzimande's "The character of the SACP" continues the coverage of discussion in the South African left,and Boris Kagarlitsky continues his commentary on Russian political developments with an article on "Russia's Communist Party and the radical left". Documents from the German Party of Democratic Socialism are reprinted, along with an article by PDS chairperson Lothar Bisky, "The first five years of the PDS".
Other articles deal with structural adjustment in Hungary and Britain's "New Labour" under the leadership of Tony Blair.
This issue of Links covers an enormous amount of territory — both politically and geographically. It's inspiring and informative, and not to be missed. (To subscribe, see page 23.)