ago.
Every month in the pages of Social. ist Action, there are articles about the struggles waged by working peonle to liberate themselves from the injustices and exploitation we all face. Notably, we have covered the crucial struggles lanug place In nicaragua, ri salvador. Poland and Ireland.
Our desire to put the spotlight on these struggles is not simply that we find them 'interesting" or "exciting". intenalonal Issues are key because tney lead to a basic understanding of our society and the means through which we can change it.
DIVIDED The world is divided into different counties or nanon-states. own language, culture and law. But in te majonty or tnese countries, poverty, racism, sexism and unemployment form For those who do not yet identify themselves with a socialist tendency, the left can often appear to have dissolved into a plethora of splits. Misinterpreting events, left groups have invariably lost sight of the Marxist method as set out by Trotsky when, with others, he formed the Fourth International nearly 50 years Below, Mike Rodney explains the principles of internationalism.
the largest problems for the vast majority who have to struggle for the basic ne. cessities of life.
More specifically, the world is characterised for the most part by a system by which people have to supply profit to the bosses who make up a tiny minority of the population.
The differences which exist between working people in different countries are more than outstripped by these fundamental similarities which they all face.
Recognising this, Marx stated over 100 y vals da ll these inequalities, the capitalist sys that the system which creates Stem, is the first truly international socialist order.
INJUSTICE Like the great socialists who followed him, such as Lenin and Trotsky, Marx appreciated that, despite its internaTrotsky, like Lenin, Marx and Engels before him, fought for international perspective. tional nature, capitalism was responsible for war and the massive social injustices confronting millions of people. JUST SOCIETY ety.
place across tre worle To resolve these problems, the whole system has to be replaced by a more duvancea order, a soclanst order, wnich would enable working people to live in harmony, peace and freedom This involves a world-wide struggle by working people against the ruling rich.
This struggle goes on all the time, though its form, speed and intensity vary tom place to place. ror example while the workers in Britain or France struggle mainly around the issues of wages and working conditions, the people of El Salvador and Iran are rising up against their bosses and imperialist masters to kick them out.
No matter where these struggles take place nor what form they take, they are all part of the process wherein working people seek to create a just and free sociNo matter where they are, socialists and workers must express solidarity and support liberation struggles taking themselves. Failure to do this can be critical. If, for instance, workers in Britain fail to ahead.
APRIL 1981