This Is What You Get When You Pursue Class-Collaborative Politics

[kinetikos]

Both sides in this dispute have this problem. The one that has the biggest problem, the one that doesn't even pretend not to do this, is, fittingly, the one that is the biggest squirming, decepetive, and opportunitistic!

Surprise! Whaddya know?

[kinetikos]

From: "Bilal Elamine"
To: "Alex Callincos"
Subject: Left Turn link on IST site
Date: 02 September 2003 22:34


Dear Alex,

After a discussion that followed our recent national meeting, Left Turn members have come to a decision that we want the group to be removed from the IST affiliate list.

There are many reasons for this. Most important is that Left Turn has moved in practice and theory quite far from the IST, it's only confusing for our members and periphery, not to metion IST members and organizations, to claim that we are part of the tendency. Also, many members felt that if we intend to be a truly non-pratisan, multi-tendency organization, we should not be listed as an IST affiliate.

I hope this can be done without a protracted discussion in respect to Left Turn. Please also notify other member organizations to remove us as well.

Thanks, Bilal (on behalf of Left Turn)


_________________________________________________________________________




Dear Bilal,

Thanks for your message, which has come as a big shock to us all. I'm afraid that we can't let such a bolt from the blue to pass without some discussion.

Given the support the SWP and the rest of the IST, as well as our sympathizers, gave you when you were expelled from the ISO, I think that we are entitled to more that the brusque announcement that you have sent us.

It is particularly surprising to us given that the discussions that Chris Harman and I had with you in the spring were perfectly amicable, and gave no hint of so brutal a break. I think that we - and the rest of the IST - are owed a serious explanation.

It is a strange moment to be breaking with the IST. We have never been more involved in the global movement against capitalism and war, as the SWP's role in the Stop the War Coalition shows. As a tendency, we are preparing for the European Social Forum in Paris in November and the World Social Forum in Bombay next January 20

It is true that the right wing of the movement - most notably some leaders of ATTAC in France - have been denouncing the revolutionary left recently. But these attacks reflect fear of the way in which the movement is simultaneously growing and radicalizing.

We - like other sections of the radical left in Europe - are an organic part of the movement. It would be a tragedy for all concerned, but particularly for the comrades of Left Turn, if you were to isolate yourselves from the very rich experiences in which we are participating.

I write in the hope that, in the course of formulating a serious explanation for your decision, you will come to see what a big mistake you are making and reconsider.

With best wishes,
Alex


_________________________________________________________________________

From: "Bilal Elamine"
To: "Martin Smith"; "Alex Callincos"
Subject: Re: Left Turn / IST

Date: 08 September 2003 19:38

Alex,

We are debating a response to your letter. However, we still insist that you remove us from the affiliate list--again we are not members of the IST (so should not be placed there by your own rules), second this was the democratic wish of Left Turn members (you don't do yourselves any favors with the membership if you simply refuse a formal request).

I hope that you will carry out our request soon. I'm not sure anyone will be in the mood to have a discussion if this is not done.

Bilal


_________________________________________________________________________

From: "sasha wright"
Subject: Left Turn/IST
Date: 14 September 2003 05:20

Alex and Martin,

The decision to have ourselves no longer listed as an affiliate of the IST was reached via consensus and is an internal matter. Hence, we don't feel it needs discussion as it rests as our decision.

However, to alleviate your concerns, this does not qualify as a denuciation of the IST or a refusal to ever associate or work with the IST. This decision is based on pragmatic reflection of our group as a non-partisan forum for discussion and interaction between activist/anti-capitalists/etc.--it would be contrary to our nature to be affiliated with ANY particular tendency, not the IST specifically.

Additionally, this move is not based on our personal relationships with IST members but the political direction of Left Turn which we see as diverging from the role of IST groups within in the anti-capitalist movement in several ways. Most significantly, the majority of Left Turn members do not see building the revolutionary party as the project of our organization. As this is one of the fundamental points of unity between IST organizations, as stated above the list of international affiliates, we feel it would be deceptive and misleading to activists we work with locally and IST members internationally to be affiliated. We hope that you respect the democratic desicion of Left Turn members and remove us as an affiliate. (Though our webmaster would appreciate it if you placed a link under your general links section). If you fail to do so within the next week we will post an announcement about our desicion on our website and send it to our contacts and move on. Any further political discussions can only take place as unaffiliated organizations within the anti-capitalist movement.

Best wishes,
Sasha (SF) and Legba (DC), on behalf of Left Turn members.


_________________________________________________________________________

From: "Alex Callinicos"
To: "sasha wright"
Subject: LEFT TURN/IST
Date: 15 September 2003 21:32


Dear Sasha and Legba,

We have, as requested but with great regret, taken you off the list of sister organizations on the SWP and IST web-sites. I don't really see, however, what we have done to deserve the kind of tone that both your message and Bilal's reply to my earlier one takes. We have not been temporizing or refusing your request. There was never any question of our not acceding to the wishes of the members of Left Turn. Any slight delay in our responding to Bilal's messages was a consequence of the fact that I was away on vacation till Friday and that Martin Smith has been at the Trade Union Congress. The implied ultimatum towards the end of your message was wholly uncalled for.

As to the reasons you give for your decision, the disagreements over what role Left Turn should play in the movement are of relatively long standing, as is the ambiguity of the network's relationship to the IS Tendency. You have not explained why this situation needs to be resolved through such a sudden and brutal break. The debate that you have tried to cut off so precipitately will nevertheless continue.

I shall circulate our correspondence to the rest of the IST for them to take appropriate action of their own. We assume that, granted that, as Bilal affirms, Left Turn is a multi-tendency organization, supporters of the IST will be allowed to argue their views within it on the same basis that members of other currents already do. In any case we welcome dialogue and cooperation with all activists in the United States who seek - in order to build stronger and more effective movements against global capitalism and war - to develop an organized revolutionary socialist current within these movements.

With best wishes,
Alex Callinicos