Examples of this, which 1 suspec Steve Skaith had in mind, would be the overestimation tionary situation in post-war Europe, the tacties of the Troeskyists in Haly cince 1968, even the mistakesmade by the IMG: The point is, herwever, that noteot ilod ons which understood corrected, lead to the rejection of revoluitionary Marxism, Trotskyism, as the best known and historically proven guide political action.
But the tortuous history of the Fourth International in Britain, and the lack of continuity of the IMG, Wieh prol mot eter witht hete.
SBtTM Trotskyists still have a lot to learn, CICI 'back ward' perhaps working CE OD class revolutionary movements and tradi tions, and that questions of tactics and organisation are also important, as well as having the programme? revoluover into all aspects of our work political the relase and ber working -class cadership, better it gets).
that most and asfects of our work.
Ross's article failed to do.
LEWIS EMERY (Bristol) cotrect 1974-8. Whyt — because the Leninist meihod embodied in the Transitiona. Programme isn'1 consistently carnea This can lead us, as Carl points out, to underestimate the political nature berween reformist and expressed occasionally ai a species of 'economic determinism' (the worse it geis the Allen Focusing the attention of the working class on "politios at the level of the state' is absolutely no guarantee ofavoiding these errors. To think this matter, is to confuse form with content. It's provide vital that we recognise precisely what it is we are defending when we defend the Transitional Programme, so that we can develop and apply il to al Tis comrade IN AN eroellent review, Paul Tickell (24 August) explains why and hos Jones's graphic works are 'sexist and voyeurist" strates how the work fails to provide a colerent critique of the iniages Temale sexuality that are its subject He shows how the sefusal to La context ETEETILC history in aescheticism") ubderpins that failure. He also sees some value In the "feeble" comment the work maker on tie connection berween commodity fetishismt and women as sex objccts:
For this Ann Bond (7 Septeniber) calls him "bberal' and says he side with "sexium" and "art for art's sake'! The Bash Stroet Kids (sante issue) say he accepts laestheticism" and, worse, that we should support feminists who tear the lithographs to shreds"
Trotsky, in 1924, defending Llk revalution on all froots, tentative chan these feminists in tbeir assault on the ICA, He too attacked "Eberal" laieez faire in the arts and asserted the need tpoisonous tendencies". But he was daunted by the difficulty of drawing The sest? -Can it be reconciled with when and by whem?' No such worrics trouble the cultural terrorists abroad in England in 1978. But mounting attacks (by the state or ochers) on poltical rights and freedons in hourgeois sociely is an even more perilous activity rhan it was in Bolshevik Russia.
Not obly may the same attacks be made on the working class (Tameside ban), but when they taike the ferm or the spontaneous militancy espoused by your correspondents they are sure to distract from and substitute for political (as opposed le physical)
strugale, In the face of the organised, phycical assault on the working clas.
that is fascism the position of ao platform* bos in some circumstances been legitimately raised. And this has heen used by many on the left as an cacuse to ignore the political struapie apalnst reformism and racism.
Should we exiend this taclie and, worse, the accompanying exism und the arts? No working class require side the pce HAMLETS Socialis!
tort- prely.
Ram, B0p (Süp alaimanla:
SOUTH WEST Camme" aras and Ihe Latcur Parly HACKNEY Sasatte Velenase are YORKSHIRE 12,362 cop Srer dan a heaagle s: 50 Hon 31 HwsagenIS equiyalent of foot-stamping froa Ann Bond They require what Paul Ticketl provides, critique of works of art. It is his revie's: struggle against sexim.
address is:
a historical materialist IRFAN CORE which takes forward the (London in Turkey if you are interested. .Our Entekci-Der. PK 324 Osmanbey, Istanbul, Turkey.
(Secretary, Emekci-Der]
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materialisen or can it pot? Has this question been decided? Where and