THE Socialist Workers Party is the largest revolutionary organisation in Western Europe or North America. Of its 3,600 members, 33.5 per cent are members of manual unions, 34 per cent of white collar unions and 14 per cent are students. A quarter of its members are women. paper, Socialist Worker, has a paid circulation of 13,000, wociaist keview sels 4.501 contes. and the quarterly Socialism has a print order of 3,000 LubIcs, The national conference of the SWP was held in mid-November. Whereas the last two conferences had essentially rubber-stamped the line of the leadership, the 1979 conference was preceded by a sharp and lively internal discussion on three issues: the character of the period; LemnSn the movements; and inner-party democracy.
In passing it should be noted that the political debates were unfortunatelv not reflected in the pages of Socialist Worker. It seems pointless to conceal the richness of the discussion from a wider audience which could benefit. Far from being a sign of 'softness' or 'iberalsm'. such a move would demonstrate the and strength of the organisation.
The ultimate logic of differences could be seen in the bland ICOVII of the oillcoc appeared in Socialist Worker. On this front, at least, even the Communist Party is much more open in admitting ana aedalng amerences mn puduc.
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