The theme of a recent debate among representatives of Left parties was did Ireland need a new one; here John Lowry gives his view.
The Workers’ Party is committed to building the space for socialist politics across Ireland, North and South, and furthering left cooperation. In opening up LookLeft to a wide range of voices, we have made what we consider to be an important contribution to this process, providing as it does a focal point for debate within the left, in an attractive and accessible format.
The organisation of LookLeft forum meetings, must notably that addressed by US sociologist Erik Olin Wright, offers another forum in which serious debate on the issues affecting the Left can take place.
Left cooperation is very important, especially given the extent to which politics north and south are dominated by the Right. There are many issues on which existing forces across the Left can agree and work together; we must ensure that we do so, whether it is opposition to austerity, abortion rights, or defending public services. We must also offer a clear and positive alternative. This must be done at every level, from the battle of ideas to electoral campaigns. One forum for left cooperation that springs to mind is the European elections in Northern Ireland, where we must strive to offer a clear left-wing alternative to the polluted politics of sectarianism, which remain the main impediment to socialist politics there.
Equally, there remain important battles about secularism and democracy in the Republic, illustrated all too clearly by the bailing out of speculators and bankers at the expense of the working class, or by the emasculation of local government.
The Left needs a serious discussion about what type of programme and policies can be used to build a more socially progressive society, and to place conversations about the democratic control of resources and the economy at the heart of political discussion.
The Portuguese Communist Party speaks about building an advanced democracy as a means to building towards a socialist society, and this is an idea that has obvious attractions in Ireland, north and south. The concept of an engaged citizenry offers one means to battle the increase in anti- political sentiment and the lunatic fringe, as embodied by the Direct Democracy Ireland and other groups. The battle for democratic control and for quality public services is one being fought across Europe, and the serious left must make itself the leading voice in these struggles here and abroad.
The left most also consider who it interacts with the trade union movement, which may have faults, but as a movement must be recognised as workers first and foremost bulwark against exploitation.
It is also vital that we consider the nature of society, North and South, in a serious and systematic way. Ireland has changed beyond recognition in the last few decades, and it is essential that we take this into account: one way of doing this would be to devote more resources to producing an up-to-date analysis of the class composition of society, the nature of employment in today’s world, and what this tells us about the material basis for building socialism. Once we have such information, the production of a clearer roadmap for progress in the short-, medium- and long-terms becomes easier.
We need to recognise properly where we are in order to better plan to get to where we want to go. In short, what is needed is the production of a clear vision for progress from the point at which we stand now, one that integrates a Marxist analysis of society with a positive programme for effecting change in how the economy is run, and in whose interests it is oriented. How can such an analysis be produced? This is an area where increased cooperation within the existing left could prove very effective.
The work being produced by think-tanks and academics about the economy is one potential source for producing a clearer message, and similar work on other policy areas could also have a similar effect. What Ireland needs, then, is more effective cooperation within the existing left across a range of areas to increase the left’s weight within public debate and to grow the space for left politics. Some progress has been made in this direction already, including by the Left Forum and the likes of LookLeft. The Workers’ Party looks forward to playing its part in this process.
