economists. The aim ser out in conference was to develop the critique of political economy within the socialist movement. From the start, the CSE was avowedly non-sectarian, drawing its membership from socialists o all parties and groups and of none. It was also international, bership outside Britain, and contacts with similar groups in other In the first few ycars, acarly all CSE members were "practising economists", lecturers and students in universities and colleges: most looked to CSE as a forum for progressing beyond radical or critical Cambridge, school of lett- economic Keynesianism, towards a Marxist critique of bourgeois economics and capitalist society. Not surprisingly, therefore, most of our work had a rather academic and introspective slant, and tended to be eclectic and politically rather confused, EMPHASIS From ahout 1972 the emphasis shifted, By then, CSE had about 250 memhers, with a growing Bumber bI noD economists An Internal Bulletin was launched in December 1971, and activities CSE to develop more practical, politically relevant work, but the real shift in emphasis was towards a chorough seudy of Marx's critique of political coonMarxiat tradition into field in omy, and the creation Britain. Old debates were revived, and new ones launched -on value theary, crisis, produc tive and unproductive labour, money, imperialism Many members took part in Capital developed Marine wong reading contacts Germany and Italy, In sddicion, the gehen of for bean ot change, with the formation working housing, worsen and otber topics.
By 1975, membership had grown 10 around 500, with a there of mind The minority of economists.
only circulating within CSE.
MEE MISTLIEE but CSE remained a rather shadowy the left at large, and administered rather amareurishly by a very small group of dedicared volunA growing number of mcmbers fel that we were geiting
TRIEDMAN:
PANNEROEK bogged down in the re-hashing of traditional debates aver Marx's critique of political coonomy: discussions were seen as 100 anora, and amica in scope This led to a decision to hold the STO COALLTENCE DO LAE SUE LOLOR labour process, covering both and to organise it on the basis of collective work over the pre ceding year. The result was a very successful conference of 250 or members in July 1976 Coventry.
Mared cole by cal prepared collectively by groups or working groups. topics covered included historical studses in the labour process in particular industries, analyses of the mator industry today. domestic labour lationalisation of capital labour, as well as more theorerical discussions. The 1976 conference niso decided to transform the Bulletin into a mal and Class, to be linked closely collective work going on m CSE.
COLLECTIVE Struggle, the State Restructuring of Capital, be culmination of a much mone developed process of collective work: in the yeur leading up to it, there was a prepatory dayschool on seane topic nearly every weekod local cse Broug aced. At a result of this wor and energin Cape na Ciars, membership around 1,200. CSE continues to be successfully non-sectarian and international; the administration is now more formally structured, MELLITE OF THERE OF SIXTALENT Suren Worken in Murder pher i Simple labor DEBATE involves more tions?
there is no in тагтож sese).
views an a comradely basis.
Interand otencial servicing role ti properly in analysing specitic with tbe both these areas, was LИ0 8 0006 series of titles in 1978 partici one has yet pome THECHEESE between "intellectuals' "workers', Obviously, state capital & class struggle FA workers' inquir late the motor industry 2: thearies of members, and manages, so Jar, to remain reasonably open, democratic and bon-eitist. But how is it likely to adopting the (SE's Tole he in relation to the First of all, CSE is not, and will not be, a polițical party:
sign of any disagreement with this view among CSE memhers, and secondly, in consequence of this, CSE provides an apen forum for Marxist debate. There is no artempe to suppress or avoid the taking of political positions, but since CSE Thindly, the list of CSE working groups shows thar it collective work now offers a vital the ACTIVITIES lovement at large, particular areas of state policy, particular firms an industries, etc. Related to this is potential develaped, involving doser links educational rale, as yet much les with tha The crisis of groups and adult eduation. it community the expansion of CSE's publishing activities play an important part. We plan club-hased Deyschools Siali cunamiss is increas a Conference of ingly a misnomer (altough noup with rs, not only berween differen 1S0DID.S and annot overcome the effects o the capicalist division of labour overnight, bur we must 00Bsciously light against it, witho anti-intellectual posture so common on the lett, whose main effect is to disarm theory to dogma, and undersanding to blind Caich.
In summary, through its collective work, its conferences. publications and other activities, the Conference of Socialist Economists is now opening out, and seeking to play an active part WE ENG SOcial moveme We do not claim to have all the answes. hat we belseve we ar asking the right questions, and discussing them in the right way If you want to take part in our work please join us Annual Conference is planned for July in Bradford.
provisional theme of Britist capitalism terence will consist almost enMost of these are organised ral, othere diecue pre-cire Birmingham ELICATION. Ideology of planning, retirement.
Administration propor is by a series of functional commities: and a smail secretarial, inked in Coordinatine Committee пeс8888гy rne runchonal comt mittees are: Editorial Committee Pamphiela: Membership; mation and Publichy; Annual Conteronce: Educalion. The sec O SEE HE IN BI LOS BOTTO 1o raceivo Capital and Class and the CSE Newsletler, to vote et the Business Meetings of the Annual Conference, and to stand Books and pamphlets CBE publisned two pamphlets in 1976 through Stage The Labour Process and Class les wantin song-homal Palloix, Bolgna and Trontl, gir Political Woman's domestic bour and Wome the stat reproduction since 1900g' Both thase Damphiat: est bie members al educa CSE (to members a pricesi Pampnieia Commise is nov ook club members titles tro her publishers at greatly duced prices.
CSE Newsletter vities. It also acts as an infor mation exchange balwoon mer pers, goes topons on commise meetinge and decisions, ete Local groupe These are organised around the common interests end acti vities of members, We hope to build up a system of servicing from the centre s, corole nodes! Pose Department rEct , cia Department of Econ omios, Birkbeck College 7-15 Street, London wi 1PA,
A though 1 hope that the SWP SOCIALIST CHALLENGE. 8 September, 1977, page 14 SWP seaking to bulld a unitied
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