Preparing for Power 1986

50 p Preparing Power 1986 Revolutionary Communist Party summer school Friday 25 July to Friday 1 August University of London Union Malet Street, WC1

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Preparing for Power

REVOLUTIONARY

COMMUNIST PARTY

SUMMER SCHOOL

• A week of discussion and debate about the current state of the world and how to change it • Friday 25 July to Friday 1 August • University of London Union, Malet Street, London WC1

Preparing for Powert

INTRODUCTION

• The 800-plus people who attended Preparing for Power last year came with a mixture of motives. Some wanted to learn about Marxism, others were interested in particular issues such as Ireland or the trade unions, while some saw it as an opportunity to discuss politics with activists from all over Britain and abroad. If you fall into any of these categories, then get ready for Preparing for Power '86 • The quickening pace of events over the past year makes it ever more important to get a clear grasp of what is happening and to anticipate future trends. The Revolutionary Communist Party is committed to changing the world, starting in Britain. We organise to strengthen the position of workers who take action to defend their livelihoods. We initiate practical activity in solidarity with struggles against Western military aggression from Libya to South Africa to Nicaragua. We campaign in support of women, blacks, the Irish people - any movement which is fighting for its rights against the British establishment.

• To change the world requires the mobilisation of millions. But it also requires new ideas, clarity of purpose and an ability to challenge existing conventions and prejudices. Preparing for Power is a forum where rigorous exploration is combined with debate, informal discussion and the sharing of political experiences.

The weekend • On the first Friday night of Preparing for Power, and all day Saturday, we will be looking at the key issues of the moment. We will be looking particularly at the threat of war and how to resist it. We will be holding both large-scale rallies and smaller, more informal sessions.

Specialist courses • On Sunday 14 five-day specialist courses begin. These are intended to involve a group of regular participants in building up a thorough grasp of particular aspects of Marxism.

Workshops Throughout the week we will be having a variety of debates and discussions in late afternoon workshops.

a Preparing for Powert Evening • There will be plenty to choose from in the evenings. Series of discussions on the Soviet Union, art and culture, tactics and strategy and sexual politics will be running at the same time. There will also be bands, films and other entertainments.

Transport • Cheap coaches will be coming from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield, Bradford, Huddersfield, Pontefract, Nottingham, Coventry, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Brighton to arrive Friday evening.

Accommodation • Let us know it you need somewhere to stay - and bring a sleeping bag.

If you have a bed or floor space in the London area, let us know too, as all offers of accommodation are welcome.

Children welcome! • A professionally-run creche will be available throughout the week. Let us know numbers of children and their ages.

Location • The University of London Union is a couple of blocks east of Tottenham Court Road in central London. Nearest tubes are Goodge Street (Northern line) and Warren Street (Victoria line). It has a swimming pool, sauna, a gym, shop, cafe and a bar; it is also close to a number of cheap restaurants.

Thames boat trip • The scenic boat trip on the last day of Preparing for Power promises to be the highpoint of the week - food is included in the price of boarding.

Preparing for Power.

WELCOME

Preparing for Power is for everybody who wants to understand the Marxist view on everything from terrorism and revolution, to art and music. This year's Preparing for Power offers • a weekend focusing on the drive towards war and how to stop it • 14 specialist courses on Marxist theory - including courses from women and Atrica, to culture and ideology • more than 100 workshops and debates • Central London location • swimming pool, sports facilities, bar, music, creche and accommodation • cheap transport from all over Britain • guest speakers from Britain and abroad • Thames boat trip Introduction • page 1 Specialist courses • page 5 The weekend • page 10 The week • page 12 Recommended reading • page 17

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Preparing for Power

SIGNUP NOW!

• If you want to come to Preparing for Power, sign up now! Fill in the form below - make cheques payable to RCP Association and send to • Your Preparing for Power ticket and final timetable will be ready for you to pick up at the registration desk, which opens at 4pm on Friday • For all enquiries about Preparing for Power, contact Kerry Andrews on 01-729 0414, or write to her at BM RCP, London WC1N 3XX.

BM RCP, London WC1N 3XX. 25 July. Enquiries • I need transport • I need accommodation • I need creche facilities Name Address Telephone number Price Paid £19 waged £14 unwaged £10 waged: weekend only £7 unwaged: weekend only

Preparing for Power

SPECIALIST

OURSES

• Specialist courses will begin on Sunday and run through the week.

Courses 1 to 7 will take place in the morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm, and courses 8 to 14 will be held in the early afternoon from 2pm until 4pm. Each course includes five scheduled sessions, running from Sunday to Thursday, but may be extended to take in a final session on Friday. • You will get more out of the specialist courses if you do some reading in preparation - see page 17 for details of recommended books and articles. 1. Introduction to Marxism Convenor • Frank Richards • This is a beginners' guide to Marxism as an analytic tool and a weapon for action.

The course aims to show that Marxism is not an esoteric philosophy, but an outlook that is readily accessible to those who want to change the world.

Sessions on • Historical materialism • Scientific socialism • Class struggle and revolution 1 Ideology • The party 2. Marxism for non-beginners Convenor • Sabena Norton • This course aims to explore the materialist method in some depth, so bring your notes and plenty of paper. Those who are not familiar with Marx's Capital, Volume 1, may find the discussions heavy going.

Sessions on • What is dialectics? The logic of Capital Class relations Subject-object The laws of motion of Soviet society

•Preparing for Powert 3. Introduction to Marxist economics Convenor • Helen Simons Das Kapital. • Although this is an introductory course, those who have some familiarity with Marx's Capital will also find it useful. For newcomers to the subject, the course will provide an opportunity to raise questions and thrash out problems. For more Harvars experienced participants, it will attempt to work through more difficult problems.

Sessions on • Value • Exploitation Accumulation • Crisis The state, imperialism and war 4. Labourism and the left Convenor • Joan Phillips • This course will examine the influence of the politics of the Labour Party over the working class. It will survey the various attempts by the left to confront the problem of Labourism and put forward our approach to tackling it.

Sessions on • The roots of Labourism The left in the twenties Inside the whale Labour under Thatcher • Slaying the beast 5. Revolution in Africa Convenor • Charles Longford • This course will look at Western intervention in Africa and African resistance. The course will take in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa, with a special focus on the fight for freedom in South Africa.

Sessions on • The West goes in: Chad to Angola • Militarv dictators and socialist fathers • The apartheid system in crisis • The working class in South Africa • Can Zimbabwe's solution work in South Africa?

a Preparing for Powers 6. War and peace Convenor • James Wood • This course will outline the Marxist attitude towards violence, establish the connection between capitalism and war, explain the difference between conflicts among Western powers and struggles against Western domination, and examine conventional, nuclear and Star Wars weapon systems.

Sessions on • Violence: who is doing it to whom?

• Lenin on war: still relevant today?

The Second World War East-West rivalry The drive towards war and how to stop it 7. The working class today Convenor • Alan Harding • This course will examine the changing structure of the working class over the past decade. It will take up the debate about the new working class and confront the widely held view that technological change has undermined the revolutionary potential of the working class.

Sessions on Theories of the working class The transformation of the European working class since 1945 The working class in the newly industrialising countries Women in the workplace The working class in Japan 8. The roots of racism Convenor • Rob Knight • The aim of this course is to develop the Marxist theory of racism through discussing some of the practical issues facing anti-racists. We will be elaborating on the analysis presented in The Roots of Racism, the Workers Against Racism handbook. Sessions on • Marx on racism Racism in British politics Black politics in Britain Racism and fascism in France The communist tradition on racism

a Preparing for Powert 9. Women's liberation Convenor • Cathy Barrett • This course is about how to make a world in which women will be free. It will challenge conventional left and feminist views on the causes and solutions to the problems of women's oppression. It will aim to put the struggle for women's liberation on a firm foundation. Sessions on • The domestic work debate • Theories of patriarchy The moral offensive • Women in the Soviet Union Marxism and feminism 10. A guideto the Irish War Convenor • Mick Hume • The Anglo-Irish agreement has compounded the confusion about the issues at stake in the Irish War. This course is designed to cut through the confusion and provide a coherent alternative to the propaganda of the British establishment.

Sessions on • British imperialism and Irish nationalism Ulster Loyalists - what are they defending?

James Connolly and Easter 1916 The South - the second front Irish solidarity in Britain 11. Imperialism and crisis Convenor • Phil Murphy STOCK EXCE • An understanding of the crisis is essential for anybody who wants to change the world. This course aims to give participants an in-depth grasp of the Marxist theory of the tendencies towards collapse in the world economy. It is designed more for those with some experience of the subject and current controversies than for beginners.

Sessions on The evolution of Marx's crisis theory Counteracting tendencies - how they work Marx and the market Finance capital and credit • Explaining the recession

Preparing for Powert 12. Organising the revolution Convenor • Ann Burton • The role of the party is one of the most controversial questions on the left. For more than 100 years Marxists, social democrats, liberals and anarchists have debated the question of how to organise the struggle against capitalism. This course examines these controversies from the perspective of today.

Sessions on • The Bolshevik party and the Russian Revolution Rosa Luxemburg, the party and the German Revolution Anarchism in action - Spain • South Africa - how to organise against apartheid Building a party in Britain 13. Nationalism today Convenor • Keith Tompson • The national question has haunted the left since the turn of the century. Since the Second World War national liberation struggles have swept through the third world.

Are all forms of nationalism equally reactionary? What is the difference between British nationalism and Libyan nationalism?

Sessions on • What is nationalism? • India: the legacy of the Raj 'Tribalism' in Africa Stalinism and national liberation • USA versus Europe versus Japan 14. Culture and ideology Convenor • Mike Freeman • This course will take a Marxist look at everyday issues of culture and society. It will survey the controversies that surround these issues and put forward a communist alternative. Sessions on i Religion - still going after all these years Modernism and post-modernism Sex - is it all in the head?

Bourgeois culture in Britain Freedom and communism

Preparing for Powert

THE WEEKEND

Friday Registration desk open from 4pm to 10pm Bar open from 5.30pm to 11pm A choice of sessions, all start at 8pm • The Andy and Fergie show: Mick Hume takes a disloyal look at the royal family • Why British politics is so boring: Joan Phillips investigates the conspiracy to keep politics out of parliament • Why the RCP? An absolute beginners' guide by Frank Richards Saturday • Please note that registration and the Saturday morning session will take place at Camden Town Hall, not at the University of London Union • Camden Town Hall is not in camden I own, but at Judd Street NW1, just across Euston Road from King's Cross/St Pancras stations.

Morning: 9-10am late registrations 10.30am opening session • The West on the warpath: militarism abroad and at home - Mike Freeman, editor of the next step Saturday afternoon: back at the University of London Union Early afternoon: 2pm The drive towards war: a choice of workshops • The legacy of the Falklands Factor: militarism in British politics - Ann Burton • Star Wars: mvth and reality - James Wood • Target Libya - Alan Harding 1 Target Nicaragua - Keith Tompson | Eye-witness in South Africa - Jenny Graham Gorbachev and the West - Frank Richards • France: the rising right - Sabena Norton • The far right in Britain - Rob Knight Late afternoon: 4.30pm workshops • The myth of international terrorism - Kirk Williams • Internationalism in Britain - Fiona Foster of the Irish Freedom Movement, Alex Farrell of Workers Against Racism, Daniel Nassim the Hands Off Libya Committee • Women and the new morality - Cathy Barrett The Anglo-Irish agreement demystified - Mick Hume 1 The unions after Wapping - Mike Freeman • Lenin's imperialism: still the highest stage - Helen Simons The peace movement and war - Kate Marshall * • Fifteen years of capitalist crisis - Phil Murphy

a Preparing for Powert Saturday evening: 8pm Red Sails in the Sunset live band disco entertainment inthe bar Sunday Morning: 10.30am specialist courses 1. Introduction to Marxism • Historical materialism 2. Marxism for non-beginners • What is dialectics?

3. Introduction to Marxist economics • Value 4. Labourism and the left • The roots of Labourism 5. Revolution in Africa • The West goes in: Chad to Angola 6. War and peace • Violence: who is doing it to whom?

7. The working class today • Theories of the working class Early afternoon: 2pm more specialist courses 8. The roots of racism • Marx on racism 9. Women's liberation • The domestic work debate 10. Guide to the Irish Warm British imperialism and Irish nationalism a ho Boor any and the lasan Revolution 11. imperialism and crisis • The evolution of Marx's crisis theory 12. Organising the revolution • The Bolshevik Party and the Russian Revolution 13. Nationalism today • What is nationalism?

14. Culture and ideology • Religion - still going after all these years Late afternoon: 4.30pm full session • The road to power - Frank Richards Evening: 7.30pm workshops • The story of the RCP - Kate Marshall The English pub - Alan Harding British spies - Andy Clarkson Women and health - Jenny Graham Islam and revolution - John Johnson Natural disasters - Sheila Philips Zionism and anti-semitism - Russell Osborne

a Preparing for Powert

THEWEEK

Monday Morning: 10.30am specialist courses 1. Introduction to Marxism • Scientific socialism 2. Marxism for non-beginners • The logic of Capital 3. Introduction to Marxist economics • Exploitation 4. Labourism and the left • The left in the twenties 5. Revolution in Africa • Military dictators and socialist fathers 6. War and peace • Lenin on war: still relevant today?

The working class today • The transformation of the European working class since 1945 Early afternoon: 2pm more specialist courses 8. The roots of racism • Racism in British politics 9. Women's liberation • Theories of patriarchy 10. A guide to the Irish War • Ulster Loyalists - what are they defending?

11. Imperialism and crisis • Counteracting tendencies - how they work 12. Organising the revolution • Rosa Luxemburg, the party and the German Revolution 13. Nationalism today • India: the legacy of the Raj 14. Culture and ideology • Modernism and post-modernism Late afternoon: 4.30pm workshops British politics • Scottish nationalism • British arms industry • Military strategy in Ireland International • The history of Zionism • Famine in Africa • The French working class Current issues • Charity: a British institution Women and technology The Green parties Culture and science The evolution of the Darwin debate The detective story The sound of the city Evening: 7.30pm discussion and debate Round-table discussion on the nature of Soviet society What is sectarianism? - Adam Eastman Writing a revolutionary newspaper - Mike Freeman • Marxism and art - Sabena Norton • plus films 12

•Preparing for Powert Tuesday Morning: 10.30am specialist courses 1. Introduction to Marxism • Class struggle and revolution 2. Marxism for non-beginners • Class relations 3. Introduction to Marxist economics • Accumulation Labourism and the left • Inside the whale Revolution in Africa • The apartheid system in crisis 7. The working class today • The working class in the newly industrialising countries Early afternoon: 2pm more specialist courses 8. The roots of racism • Black politics in Britain 9. Women's liberation • The moral offensive 10. A guide to the Irish War • James Connolly and Easter 1916 11. Imperialism and crisis • Marx and the market 12. Organising the revolution • Anarchism in action - Spain 13. Nationalism today • 'Tribalism' in Africa 14. Culture and ideology • Sex - is it all in the head?

Late afternoon: 4.30pm workshops British politics • The left press • The emergence of British nationalism • The Irish question in nineteenth century Lancashire International • China today • The Palestinians Current issues • Organised crime • The capitalist citv • Productive and unproductive labour Culture and science • Satire • Einstein • Recent British films Evening: 7.30pm discussion and debate • Debate on the way forward for the working class • A Marxist analysis of the World Cup - Mick Hume and Alan Harding • The 'no platform' debate - Kirk Williams • The RCP and women's liberation - Kate Marshall • plus entertainment 13

Preparing for Power Wednesday Morning: 10.30am specialist courses 1. Introduction to Marxism • Ideology 2. Marxism for non-beginners • Subject-object 3. Introduction to Marxist economics • Crisis 4. Labourism and the left • Labour under Thatcher 5. Revolution in Africa • The working class in South Africa 6. War and peace • East-West rivalry 7. The working class today • Women in the workplace Early afternoon: 2pm more specialist courses 8. The roots of racism • Racism and fascism in France 9. Women's liberation • Women in the Soviet Union 10. A guide to the Irish War • The South - the second front 11. Imperialism and crisis • Finance capital and credit 12. Organising the revolution • South Africa - how to organise against apartheid 13. Nationalism today • Stalinism and national liberation 14. Culture and ideology • Bourgeois culture in Britain Late afternoon: 4.30pm workshops British politics • The politics of Militant • Why British fascism failed • The police • The rise of Neil Kinnock International • The Arab working class • Franco's Spain revisited • The Philippines after Marcos Current issues • Workers' defence against racist attacks • Is there a national psychology?

• Do animals have rights?

Culture and science • Marxism and art • Realism and modernism Evening: 7.30pm discussion and debate • Reformist demands and demands for reform - Helen Simons on drawing the line Round-table discussion on the prospects for a counter-culture • Stalinism - why does it survive? - Frank Richards The war record of the RCP - Rob Knight Travels in Ireland - Mick Hume • plus entertainment

Preparing for Power Thursday Morning: 10.30am specialist courses 1. Introduction to Marxism • The party 2 Marxism for non-beginners • The laws of motion of Soviet society 3. Introduction to Marxist economics • The state, imperialism and war 4. Labourism and the left • Slaying the beast Revolution in Africa • Can Zimbabwe's solution work in South Africa?

6. War and peace • The drive towards war and how to stop it 7. The working class today • The working class in Japan Early afternoon: 2pm more specialist courses 8. The roots of racism • The communist tradition on racism 9. Women's liberation • Marxism and feminism 10. A guide to the Irish War • Irish solidarity in Britain 11. Imperialism and crisis • Explaining the recession 12. Organising the revolution • Building a party in Britain 13. Nationalism today • USA versus Europe versus Japan 14. Culture and ideology • Freedom and communism Late afternoon: 4.30pm workshops British politics • The Labour left • Britain's decline: the establishment's explanations • The unions under Thatcher • Trotskyism in Britain International • The Popular Front in France after 50 years • Containment and revolt: blacks in Britain and America Current issues • Drugs, Aids and the new morality • Religion in British politics • The press Culture and science • Youth culture and revolution • Design since the war Evening: 7.30pm discussion and debate • Why I am a communist - a round-table discussion 1 The story of the British left - Mike Freeman The page three debate - Kate Marshall • How the RCP chooses its priorities - Ann Burton • plus entertainment 15

Preparing for Power Friday Morning: 10.30am specialist courses • extra sessions may be announcea during the week according to popular demand Afternoon: 2pm final full session Evening: 7.30pm Thames boat trip V music dancing food f6 all in

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PREPARING FOR POWER

25 JULY - 1 AUGUST

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNION

MALET ST, WC1

WOBURN PL

RUSSELL

SQUARE

BRITISH

MUSEUM

KINGS

CROSS+

BR *

CAMDEN TOWN HALL

Saturday morning registration and session

BERNARD

RUSSELL

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