Mike Foster
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The exclusive publication for this year's summer school is taking shape. It's a collection of especially-commissioned and illustrated articles on the 'new perspectives on socialism' theme. Copies are free to all attendees.
Here are details of Bill Martin's session 'Gaming the Revolution':The format of this event is a game to look at different possible scenarios and simulate a possible revolutionary situation. Players will compete for points (and prizes), as they try to get to Socialism. Participants will be split into teams representing branches with different priorities, and asked to make a series of decisions that could alter the fate of all humanity.
Here are some details of Steve Clayton's talk:Imagine a Boot Stamping on a Human Face, or Givin' it Str8 on da St8: Socialism and the State in the 21st CenturyThis presentation will look at the 19th Century Marxist and Anarchist definitions of the State, and their relevance today, the rise and fall of state capitalism in the 20th Century, the changing role of the State, the Working Class and the Capitalist State, the State in the era of Neo-Liberalism, and the rise of the Super Surveillance State. What effect have these changes had on the likelihood of revolution?
Good idea! I'll see what I can come up with. Either way, more details of the sessions will be publicised in the next few weeks.
Summer school's sessions have now all been confirmed, and here they are… Friday evening: As A Marxist, Frankly, I’m Skeptical – a talk by Simon Wigley Saturday morning: The X Factor: Revolutionary Political Consciousness – a talk by Brian Gardner Saturday afternoon: The Argument Clinic: Logical Fallacies and Cognitive Biases. How thinking about thinking can help give new perspectives to old arguments – a workshop with Darren Poynton Saturday afternoon: Revolutionary Action – a talk by Johnny Mercer Saturday evening: Gaming the Revolution – a game run by Bill Martin Sunday morning: Imagine a Boot Stamping on a Human Face, or Givin’ it Str8 on da St8: Socialism and the State in the 21st Century – a talk by Steve ClaytonMore details about the sessions (and other things going on) will be announced soon. In the meantime, please feel free to start the discussion on any of the topics.
Regarding the suggestions for a special conference on our future strategy, Summer School will cover some of this ground. There will be talks and discussions re-examining basic socialist principles, to suggest where we could place our emphasis in upcoming campaigns. At the moment, there isn't a specific session planned on our approach to elections, but I'm sure the subject will come up!More details can be found here:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/summer-school-perspectives-socialism
Only a week to go! If you've already made a booking, you should have received further details already. Please let me know if you haven't. If you still want to make a booking, there's still just about time!
Spaces for the SPGB summer school are filling up fast! If you want to come along and haven't yet made a booking, please do so in the next day or two to avoid disappointment. More details can be found here:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/summer-school-2014-birmingham
Attendees at the event will also be able to get another exclusive publication – a pamphlet titled 'Hatari! Africa, War and HIV' by Steve Clayton, on top of the (100 pages+) War Films book and the premiere of the new SPGB pamphlet on the First World War.
A report from Oxford, including a few words from Claudia:http://www.cherwell.org/news/oxford/2014/05/25/european-election-results-for-oxford-announced
I think that we should be grateful to the CCS for their efforts, which have surely contributed to our relatively favourable result in Oxford. On the issue of clause 7, the CCS is not a party, it's a discussion group, and therefore even less deserving of hostility.
Here are a few words from Jonny of the Communist Corresponding Society, who has kindly been helping to promote the SPGB in Oxford. "Ah, it's great fun doing stalls for SPGB. Obviously, I often advocate communism in CCS meetings and articles, and in conversations with friends and colleagues, but I rarely have the opportunity to call out "Abolish money! Vote socialist!" at random passersby in the street. We noticed that there was relatively little interest from punters when we were just saying things like "Vote socialist" or "support the socialist party", but once we started talking about the abolition of money, the wages system, capitalism, and making all goods free, we got quite a lot of reaction, some of it positive, some of it argumentative, some of it amused.We particularly enjoyed proclaiming "If you agree that money should be abolished, support your local Socialist Party candidates in the European Elections; otherwise, do not!""The Communist Corresponding Society is a discussion group which runs always-interesting meetings in Oxford. The format and approach is very similar to SPGB meetings, with an opening talk by a speaker and then discussion with the audience. Their meetings are definitely worth going along to.
Preparations for Summer School are going well. As well as the talks, discussions and socialising, there are a few extras in the pipeline. Everyone coming along will receive an exclusive publication which looks at how wars have been represented on film, and the exhibition on the SPGB during the Second World War is also taking shape. There are still places available, so please make a booking for the highlight of the SPGB calendar!On robbo203's point, you're welcome to come along and raise those issues yourself! I've also heard that the apparent decline in violence can partly be attibutable to lead no longer being used in petrol and paint, with the implication that lead fumes have a violence-inducing effect on the brain.
Preparations for Summer School are well underway, and more details will be revealed soon.At the event, there will be a small exhibition of the Party's response to the Second World War (hopefully alongside the display about the Party's response to the First World War, which I've nicked the idea from!). If anyone has any material which could be included in this, such as details of any Party conscientious objectors, reports on public meetings at the time etc., then please let me know. Many thanks!
