Common Cause

Common cause? With whom? Just about the majority of Single Issue Activists around the globe. Think about it; poverty is a Socialist issue; food security is a Socialist issue; dis-armament (whether nuclear or conventional) and weapons proliferation are Socialist issues; racism, sexism, sexuality, religion and religious intolerance are Socialist issues; freedom of expression, persecution, injustice, unlawful detention, state murder, war and neglect are all Socialist issues; access to education, skills training, the arts and sciences are Socialist issues; the global environment and our place within it is a Socialist issue; the right of the Blue Whale or even the Camberwell Beauty butterfly to live and thrive is a Socialist issue.

As members or supporters of the Socialist Party we are, with our companion parties around the world, part of a movement that has stood on the side of liberty, equality and fraternity for more than 100 years. Can you think of a single issue in our party's history where it has stood in silence or on the “wrong” side of any issue? From my relatively new and unlearned position I can't. Yet who outside of our movement knows this?

Overcoming the mindset of workers conditioned by years of elite propaganda coupled with the appalling examples of so-called “socialist” models of the last nearly 100 years has proved a challenge to say the least. Minds remain closed, and yet when we scratch beneath the surface of many people from every type of background and persuasion we consistently find sympathy and common cause with our position as socialists. The propaganda says “Yeah, but . . .!”, whilst their hearts and minds applaud the decency, humanity and common sense of our position.

So, why aren't these people socialists? I contend that it's because they've never heard of us, that they know nothing about us and the principled political philosophy we believe in, and herein lies our challenge. Raising and maintaining a “profile” in this capitalist world costs the very thing the party lacks – money! Without some philanthropic Bill and Melinda Gates having a “Road to Damascus” moment with the realisation that single issues only address the effects and not the cause of the disease and socialism being the real answer, are we stymied? Perhaps not.

By making common cause with many of these single issue campaigns and movements, by showing support, by clearly demonstrating that we are not there to hijack their agenda, by promoting our position, in many cases held for decades, on “their” issues we can surely open the minds of activists to the bigger picture. By challenging in a non-challenging way we can show that the reason “poverty is not history” after years of campaigning, for example, is not because activists have not raised enough money but because the system has evolved to service capital and not the needs of people.

Activity can often be confused with effectiveness, especially after years of working to little avail to change a given situation. Socialists are no different; for some the spark dies along with their hopes and enthusiasm and they fade away, for others their activities become administrative in
nature, oiling a clanking machine rather than sourcing new cogs and gear-wheels. When you're up to your arse in crocodiles, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that the original objective is to drain the swamp! New blood! Making socialists! Making common cause with people – this is where it's at! Effectiveness is doing the right things enough. We don't compromise our core beliefs by making common cause with individuals, is making common cause with single issue organisations where that single issue is in concord with our principles any different? I ask this in the spirit of debate, looking for ideas, searching for ways to take socialism
into the mainstream and ultimately to bring about a society built on the principles we hold dear.

Many of these single issue causes have the support of some of the most socially/politically active members of society. They care! Really care for the world of which they are part, they are passionate and they work to bring about change for the better. They believe that they can't change the global system but that they can reform some small part of it. Socialists believe that changing the global system is not only possible, it is essential for every facet of life on this planet.

Our task is to open up our vision to this group of activists, to demonstrate that their (limited)
goals are a part of our overall goal. To make common cause. As individual members of the party we can do this, but what about the party itself?
Should it not be linking via websites and forums, where with help from some of our experienced colleagues, and using tightly targeted subjects or themes that will resonate with these socially aware, often young, activists we can clearly demonstrate that the Socialist Party is their natural political home? That what individual, single issues have failed to achieve in any meaningful way, Socialism, with the active participation and understanding of ordinary, caring and compassionate human beings can bring about. A Common Cause for the Commonweal.

Alan Fenn in Turkey.