BUILDING the revolutionary party in the 1980s was the theme running through ail of the : discussions at International Marxist Group's *ational conference held on 16-19 February in London. The point was horne by the large number of youth delegates and observers. Their enthusiasm about launching the youth Rèvolution in May towered over eyery other debate.
The political framework for all the debates was that the class struggle in Britain and the world is very definitely on the rise. Despite political setbacks under Labour, the decisive struggles are yet to.come. Possibilities The IMG's discussions therefore centred on capable of grasping the possibilities build a opened up by the deepest capitalism since the end of World War Twe.
The first session of conference dealt with what kind of a party needs to be built today. Many Marxists have enthe themselves to the economism of the labour movement maintained their purity at the expense of building a party rooted in the working class.
The IMG conference voted in favour of building a party. avoided this Hobson's revolutionary party in Britain must be proletarian in composition and take all aspocts of oppression exp loitation both at The large majority (78,3 per cent) in favour of taking special measures win solid manual working class becaus the that verall plan to buikd a revolutionary internationalist party would reduce the work ING workplace, but one that took politics IsSUeS "raised.
and campaigns into the neart of the British labour movement.
The IMG will fight to build a party that places at the forefront of its work issues where many British socialists.
weakest crialism, women's liberation and.
lack liberation, for exampie. The vote for the strategy document put forward in this session was 71.3 per cent in favour.
Tactics The second session of conference With the precise tactics the IMG should adopt over the comins period. Four different tactics documents were put for ward and conference discussion (for details see ints Chall cage, 24 January 1980).
theme discussion was the need to build the broadest possible united organisation adapted which choice. the abortion movement.
Everyone and and the this Tory government.
Crucial
was part of an - a plan that crucial Movement that militant trade consistent basis betrayals of the bureaucracy.
Delegates fought for at the present time.
organisation work possible.
Tendency and the CP. discussed in the month pre this action against the Tories in the steel strike, in campaigns; in the proaiso saw the vital importance of taking up the debates Jobs. in the Labour Party and encouraging Socialist Challenge supporters to turn those debates outwards to be part of a mass movement that can overthrow project • also identified in the unions as building a class struggle current, a new Minority would organise unionists on .to challenge the had different views about how this objective could be Tendency I stressed the necessity of building a national cross-sectoral those • trade the trade unions was key to defeating the Tories and opposed the idea sending a large of members into industrial and manual four grating of i comrades frome Delegates supported the outgoing Central Committee urged a turn away from fighting for regroupment on the far left; the IMG should instead concentrate attention on the Labour Party and 'getting a majority of members into industry':
grouping which won the greatest support among the delegates was Tendency 1 which argued for a three-pronged. approach 9. building — turning to the industrial and manual working class, building the revolutionary youth organisation, and fighting for far left regroupment particularly the revolutionary organisation in Britain the Socialist Workers Party.
Young women, encouraged by the of success of Revolution supporters in IMG mobilising young people against John Corrie's anti-abortion dominated the debate.
IMG members were asked to pull out all the stops to get youth to attend the May conference that will launch Revolution national organisation, all, its controlled by youth themselves. the Fourth SWP also fusion.
hardly comrades black people themscives, if ra to be confronted among Asian workers and Asian were noted as being among the militant and politicised sections of tu labour movement today.
document receive support of -95.5 per cent voi Solidarity • of solidarity delivered to the conferenot fr Dutch, French and Irish sect International an from its cothinkers in the An Pete Goodwin, of the British SNT spoke to the delegates. contribution made it clear that die SWP is reluctant to receive the INCi advances, and that their minds : have to be changed on the queste Pete Goodwin raised partic objections to the IMG's 'federa of tendencies'. But such an objection stands up when all who had orga themselves to fight for their partica IMG School