Socialist studies 102

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Socialist Studies

Corbyn, Momentum and Socialism An Old Conservative Question Chinese Capitalism in Crisis Book Review: The History Thieves Libya, War and Oil From Zero Hour Contracts to no Labour Contracts Socialism, Politics and Sectarianism The Working Class Movement Death and Destruction in Aleppo Obituaries: Doreen Davies and Olive D'Arcy

Socialist Studies No 102, Winter 2016

Corbyn, Momentum and Socialism There was an interview recently in the OBSERVER REV IEW magazine with a group of Momentum supporters (18th September 2016). Each person gave their reasons for entering into politics and supporting Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the Labour Party. Most were driven by the desire to improve society and to end poverty, inequality and austerity. They wanted something better than the social system in which they currently lived. However, none of them described themselves as a ‘socialist’. Nor did they see the necessity for capitalism to be replaced by socialism. They did not even mention capitalism by name and why it is the cause of the range of social problems they were so keen to eradicate. None questioned the political relevance or usefulness of “the leader”. Leaders and leadership appeared as somehow “natural” and “beyond question”.

Momentum and Entryism Momentum was founded in 2015 by the Labour activist Jon Lansman. According to their website, the Momentum group: …exists to build on the energy and enthusiasm from the Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader campaign to increase participatory democracy, solidarity, and grassroots power and help Labour become the transformative governing party of the 21st century. It also has other political objectives: …(to) encourage mass mobilisation for a more democratic, equal and decent society (Welcome to Momentum 25th October 2015). Although socialists have no interst in the internecine warfare found in capitalist politics, the conservative media and anti­Corbyn groups within the Labour party have tried to portray Momentum as an “entryist” organisation but without much success. Channel 4’s DISPATCHES (19th September 2016) attempted to smear Momentum as an “entryist” organisation but even some of Momentum’s own detractors considered the programme nothing more than crude propaganda. The fear in capitalist political circles, particularly from politicians and the media, is that if Corbyn becomes leader


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