The next of The Commune’s London reading group series on ‘communism from below’ is to take place on Monday 13th April. The subject of the discussion, taking place from 6:30pm at the Old Red Lion, near Angel tube, is “workers’ self-government vs. state socialism”.
We will be looking at the questions
- To what extent is it possible to use the existing state’s structures to force ‘socialist’ reforms?
- Should we refuse to make any demands on bourgeois governments?
- What arguments could be made for and against the slogan “nationalisation under workers’ control”?
- Does William Paul’s “industrial executive committee” reflect our idea of working-class power?
- How can self-managed workplaces relate to the needs of society as a whole?
- Does the idea of a “workers’ party” imply an elite counterposed to grassroots activism and workplace democracy, and does it really allow a broader programme of social revolution?
The suggested reading material is:
- William Paul – The State: Its Origins and Function, Chapter 11
- Marx – Critique of the Gotha Programme
- Hal Draper – The Two Souls of Socialism
All are welcome to come and take part in the discussion. Email uncaptiveminds@gmail.com for more info.
