A Brainstorm on alternative propaganda methods
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Brainstorming is a group or individual creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its member(s). Wikipedia
Feel free to make silly and outrageous suggestions. After all some of our opponents think our case is outrageous (And so they should, because it is!)
Nothing I say in this thread is a criticism of the hard work comrades have carried out in the past/present. Although our case will stand the test of time it doesn’t mean our propaganda methods will, and some members on other threads have expressed their concern.
So to kick off:
With the negative connotations that the word ‘propaganda’ carries perhaps we need to use an alternative?
The GB in SPGB definitely needs kicking into touch. Changing our name does not change our case.
There's this from another Party forum: a political cafe in Clapham High Streethttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/spopen/message/15181I think the people behind the one in question are a breakaway from the SWP who seem to be investigating new approaches too (the breakaway not the SWP).Then there's "Socialists in the Pub" along the lines of these:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeptics_in_the_Pub
You got the GB sentiment spot on OGW.Never could understand why a self professed internationalist socialist party used GB in the first place or have kept it for so long?I seem to recall hearing about that when I joined, the way I heard it, a lot of members objected to ditching the GB part as they thought that would lead to a loss of legacies. How short sighted? I think the GB bit has had a negative effect on the party image, it makes me cringe when I say it.If the party got shot of the GB bit I would rejoin tomorrow.Having never been to head office, I don't know the layout, size etc. But is ALB suggesting converting some of head office into a socialist cafe? If so it is a dynamite idea.DJP mentioned short films for the net, YouTube being the ideal place.1) Viral e-mails (not sure if that is the right term, the ones that you pass around) with humour and a message. The right wing seem to use this a lot, peddling their racist bullshit.2) Festivals of all types are big these days, Glastonbury has a political field called Left Field, I think. It would cost a bit I imagine for a stall, but it could help improve the image and profile of the party. And whoever the lucky volunteers were, would have a great time as well.3) I know some members, I recall back when I was in the party, think that elections are ineffective, but in my experience they were a great way to focus branch activity. As well as potentialy gaining a decent amount exposure.4) I am hoping to set up a small scale printing workshop, T-shirts, posters, artwork etc. If I get it set up (uncertain if we are moving house or not, will know next year) I would be willing to print shirts and posters etc for the party at cost price.I'll keep on thinking.
SocialistPunk wrote:DJP mentioned short films for the net, YouTube being the ideal place.I believe one member who is very experienced in film making offered to hold training sessions at HO. I know one had been scheduled in the past but i was unable to make it so I'm not sure if it went ahead. But this is definitely an area we need to press on with. It doesn't have to be spectacular, we could just start off making visuals to go along with the many many audio files we have and then uploading them to youtube.
SocialistPunk wrote:1) Viral e-mails (not sure if that is the right term, the ones that you pass around) with humour and a message. The right wing seem to use this a lot, peddling their racist bullshit.I'd be against this, I don't think I've ever received one but generally I would have thought they are either ignored or filtered as spam. The cost would also have to be taken into account. Companies who send spam e-mails actually buy lists of e-mail addresses and frankly I'd oppose giving money to scum bags who make their living off of collecting information on people and selling it to the highest bidder.
Hi Ed,When I mentioned viral e-mails, I don't mean getting a company involved to do spam e-mails etc.I mean we put together a humorous message about a topical issue. We start by sending it to party members, who in turn send it to one or two (or more)of their friends etc. If people like them they may pass them on, it's that simple.My uncle used to send me right wing ones, jibes at imigrants, little known "facts" etc. Whether he was fully aware of their origins and purpose, I will never know. I never passed them on, but some do.
SocialistPunk wrote:You got the GB sentiment spot on OGW.Never could understand why a self professed internationalist socialist party used GB in the first place or have kept it for so long?I seem to recall hearing about that when I joined, the way I heard it, a lot of members objected to ditching the GB part as they thought that would lead to a loss of legacies. How short sighted? I think the GB bit has had a negative effect on the party image, it makes me cringe when I say it.If the party got shot of the GB bit I would rejoin tomorrow.Ah (or should that be aagh?) the Party name! Actually, a majority of the Party has taken this on board for the reasons you give (nationalist connotations) and we have largely ditched the GB. Since 1988 we use the shortened version of our name "The Socialist Party" on all our leaflets, on the front of Head Office, in our press advertisements and when we contest elections, relegating the full name for historical, legal and international contexts (which, the internet being international, is the reason we use it on this site, I suppose).Another reason for doing this was to try to claim the name "The Socialist Party", to run alongside "The Labour Party", "The Conservative Party", "The Communist Party", etc. Unfortunately, the Militant Tendency made the same analysis and changed their name to "Socialist Party", despite the fact that we'd been using this ourselves since 1904.At the time some members opposed to the bitter end this change in the name by which we wanted to be called, the bitter end being their expulsion for refusing not to use "The Socialist Party of Great Britain". Seems silly, I know but feelings run high on things like this. In fact, in my view, this was the worse thing that has ever happened to the Party in its existence.So, I'm sure you'll understand members' reluctance to re-open the matter, not even to gain another member. It's playing with dynamite, but I suppose this is allowed in a brainstorming.
SocialistPunk wrote:Festivals of all types are big these days, Glastonbury has a political field called Left Field, I think. It would cost a bit I imagine for a stall, but it could help improve the image and profile of the party. And whoever the lucky volunteers were, would have a great time as well.Actually, we did used to go to Glastonbury.
SocialistPunk wrote:I know some members, I recall back when I was in the party, think that elections are ineffective, but in my experience they were a great way to focus branch activity. As well as potentialy gaining a decent amount exposure.I agree with that. In fact, apart from London, the only branch that has done this consistently is the North East.
SocialistPunk wrote:I am hoping to set up a small scale printing workshop, T-shirts, posters, artwork etc. If I get it set up (uncertain if we are moving house or not, will know next year) I would be willing to print shirts and posters etc for the party at cost price.Thanks, but you should liaise with Comrade Veronica Clanchy of Poole who likes to sell these sort of things but has to get them done commercially. She does mugs, balloons and umbrellas as well.
ALB wrote:SocialistPunk wrote:You got the GB sentiment spot on OGW.Never could understand why a self professed internationalist socialist party used GB in the first place or have kept it for so long?Ah (or should that be aagh?) the Party name! Actually, a majority of the Party has taken this on board for the reasons you give (nationalist connotations) and we have largely ditched the GB. Since 1988 we use the shortened version of our name "The Socialist Party" on all our leaflets, on the front of Head Office, in our press advertisements and when we contest elections, relegating the full name for historical, legal and international contexts (which, the internet being international, is the reason we use it on this site, I suppose).In fact, in my view, this was the worse thing that has ever happened to the Party in its existence.So, I'm sure you'll understand members' reluctance to re-open the matter, not even to gain another member. It's playing with dynamite, but I suppose this is allowed in a brainstorming.
It was a specious argument back in 1988 and remains so. Only a complete and utter numpty or someone engaging in obstructive or disputatious reasoning could possibly fail to realise that the GB in the party's name was a geographical description rather than an indication of any nationalist connotation after having taken a moment to find out a little about us.Far from assisting our cause this tampering with the party's name, by which it had been known since 1904, has resulted in some confusion with that other lot (socialist party aka ex-Militant).But it's really all a red herring; a clutching at superficial straws. The party's name or how we address fellow-workers are not what's holding us back. One has to look a lot, lot deeper as to why the working class remains wedded to capitalism. Answer that and we're on a roll. But although the party might be numerically small (or smaller than it was in the halcyon days) the influence of socialist ideas has never been greater. That's obviously not entirely due to the party's meagre efforts but neither should its contribution to the process be under-estimated. And this despite the concerted efforts of all those false purveyors of socialism, whether of the eastern bloc or homegrown variety.Now here's a thought for the day. Why is it, for example, that the SPGB to this day remains one of a small handful of genuine socialist parties throughout the entire world and why, overwhelmingly, those parties exist in english-speaking areas?
gnome wrote:Now here's a thought for the day. Why is it, for example, that the SPGB to this day remains one of a small handful of genuine socialist parties throughout the entire world and why, overwhelmingly, those parties exist in english-speaking areas?Perhaps because our case was "made in Great Britain"?More likely, though, that unlike most other countries the English-speaking countries have had a history of stable parliamentary government that has never been suspended (as it has in all other European countries except Sweden and Switzerland); which has made our case for using elections and parliament more credible. Note that "our political cousins" the SLP of America also envisage using the ballot box. Whatever the reason, nearly all of those we could regard as Socialists in other European countries are anti-parliamentary.
At the risk of being accused of ‘technological determinism’ I believe that our ‘fate’ is linked to the internet and digital technology. Prior to the development of the internet, the technology of the public meeting and printing press failed to bring about a significant growth in the socialist movement. Maybe because technology had not developed sufficiently for a global socialist movement. (Dare I suggest the SPGB was a little before its time?)If we continue we are in danger of appearing a part of history and not a part of the future. Workers coming across the socialist party for the first time should see a dynamic movement not a ‘Monument’. They should see ‘the future’. If a revolutionary movement is to grow and appear to be moving with the times then I believe there is no better place than on a World Socialist Forum. I think the forum should be discussing, amongst other things, the basics of our case. The forum should be advertised as you would advertise a meeting.Here is a crazy suggestion.‘Open Public discussion to be held on the World Socialist Forum (insert link) on Tuesday 7pm etc etc All Welcome. Meeting will be opened by ?????? followed by discussion. Contributions welcome. Advertise on twitter, Facebook etc.Probably can’t be done, Just throwing about ideas.
What a good idea OGW, hope someone comes up with a form where this could work.YFS Steve.Over to the site movers and shakers!
I like the idea of an advertised online meeting. Another idea would be to combine the two. You have a live meeting video streamed on the internet and allow questions to be submitted via the internet as well as from those present in the room.
As for the "Great Britain" , it well may have to be debated once again if Scotland gets a yes vote for independence (although personally i doubt it will). Edinburgh and Glasgow branches will have to consider hat to call themselves when standing in elections. Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Party of Scotland are already taken. Repeatedly the suggestion of calling ourself the World Socialist Party is raised. I note that the small New Zealand group have now opted for this. http://www.worldsocialism.org/nz/auckland/hist.htm I can understand why some a reluctant to change, such as members in the SPC who cling to the history of it. The WSPUS was originally the WORKERS party but faced a similar challenge as we do of another political party hijacking thatname. The now WSP of IRELAND which included Northern Ireland members I think found that in their local politics the GB was a handicap. We have registered with the electoral commission a variety of titles for our party. Adam can refresh us of those, perhaps
We are registered with the Electoral Commission under our full name of "The Socialist Party of Great Britain". We are also registered to use the following as well should we so choose:The Socialist Party (GB)World Socialist Party (UK)World Socialist Party (EU)World Socialist MovementSo far we have only used "The Socialist Party (GB)" on the ballot paper
ALB wrote:We are registered with the Electoral Commission under our full name of "The Socialist Party of Great Britain". We are also registered to use the following as well should we so choose:The Socialist Party (GB)World Socialist Party (UK)World Socialist Party (EU)World Socialist MovementSo far we have only used "The Socialist Party (GB)" on the ballot paperJust remembered. We have also registered:SPGB
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