Socialist Voice Review
July 2024
As usual, the July issue of Socialist Voice contains its share of bluster alongside a number of interesting pieces.
The dangerous framing of a Putin Puppet provides an overview of the role the mass media played in attacking Clare Daly and Mick Wallace for the entire periods of their membership of the European Parliament. While Dave Gibney’s analysis confines itself to the role of the media, it is an excellent read. HERE
However, there is no complementary piece on the treacherous and decisive role played by People Before Profit, Brid Smith and to a lesser degree, whatever the intent, Brendan Ogle in ensuring that Clare Daly lost her seat.
Diversion ahead
It’s mostly downhill from here. Eoghan O’Neill treats us to another iteration of the Transformative Strategy. Like the original Transformer toy that could present itself in many different forms, so it is with the now Electoral Transformative Strategy. This strategy did not amount to much when it first surfaced and it is no better in its new form either.
Whatever about the strategy itself – vote Sinn Féin – the ego behind the notion is enormous. It is delusional in the extreme that the CPI still thinks that it has some Marx-given right to present themselves as superior. For instance, (referring to the CPI) “It is up to the most conscious members of the class to lay out the transformative demands. These stretch the envelope of working-class demands, because they are shaped by the most class-conscious section of the working class, bringing into clearer focus the conflict that exists within class relations. They are born and are developed from the reformist demands of the people but are then shaped by applying Marxist-Leninist theory to form transformative and revolutionary demands.”
“We Irish communists…… By strongly endorsing Sinn Féin in the General Election, we will maximise the potential for divisions within the Irish ruling class as they would no doubt fumble and stumble all around if they were to gain a sizeable number of seats in Dáil Éireann. This would allow a broader left movement time and space to be focused on building and deepening organic links between those groupings and individuals who envision a more radical Ireland, while also pushing the membership of Sinn Féin as far to the left as they would be willing to go.”
No doubt, Sinn Féin will convene a special Ard Fheis to consider the implications.
Another diversion ahead
The planet is burning, the US and the European Union are playing chicken with Russia, China and many other countries, Palestinians are still being slaughtered, wars are being waged, capitalism is squaring up to itself, the right is increasing across Europe, while here in Ireland accessibility to health services and housing is going down the tubes, a major confrontation on immigration and asylum seeking is looming but, never fear, it’s all in hand with quite a different transformative strategy ………. “the LGBT committee of CPI’s Dublin branch………” That should sort it. Another distraction from class politics is just what we need right now.
Slogans in vogue again
Sajeev Kumar ends his piece on Dictatorship and Democracy with: “There is no democracy without socialism and no socialism without democracy.” Neither the CPI or Socialist Voice is in any position to lecture anyone on democracy – a Party that ignores its own rules and defies its own Constitution to satisfy particular expediencies debases both concepts. That’s a long way from what Rosa Luxemburg had in mind.
Then, Jimmy Doran treats us to “We have nothing to lose but our chains.” An odd slogan for Doran to put forward considering his particular role in helping to enslave the CPI in a set of chains it has not been able to cast off for more than three years. See When it all goes wrong – Guerrilla Communists
It all amounts to an incredible lack of self-awareness coupled with an enduring inability to rationally assess its actual standing in Irish politics.
Julian who?
A Letter to the Editor from Roger Cole, Chair of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance on the release of Julian Assange is the only mention of Assange in the entire July issue. Indeed, it is the only mention of Assange in Socialist Voice since late 2022.
Cole’s letter ends: Sadly, the Irish Government remained silent on the plight of Julian Assange and missed the chance to be on the right side of this important geopolitical issue………”
Oops!