Mixed opinion on Marx

The Warwick Socialist Students Society hosted a forum entitled ‘Capitalism in Crisis-was Marx right?’ on Monday 27th October. Fiona Pashazadeh, an active Socialist based in Coventry, led the meeting and set about challenging the principles of economic system which central banks are trying so desperately to save.

The majority of attendees at the forum were evidently left-leaning, but this was not simply a meeting of like-minded people with a common purpose. There was obvious scepticism by some individuals at the potential ability of socialism to provide competent economic management in a globalized economy and one speaker raised concerns about the dangerous potential for a political monopoly of the state. The meeting soon transformed into a productive debate on the nature of capitalism and the relative merits and weaknesses of socialism.

An issue which clearly concerned the majority of participants was the defection of working class voters from Labour to the far right, such as parties like the BNP. Pashazadeh insisted that the socialists were gaining credibility on the streets with workers but acknowledged that it was not being reflected electorally compared to other parties. Whilst sales of Das Capital are up a “media blackout” of socialism reportedly prevents any policy developments being publicized.

So what are the policies of the Socialist party? Pashazadeh outlined concrete proposals including “real” nationalisation (i.e permanent), opening the books of major companies, a windfall tax on energy companies as a prelude to eventual takeover and the guarantee of no privatization of public services. The eventual goal outlined at the talk was a “democratically planned economy.”

Socialists across the country, according to Pashazadeh, are developing the idea of a Workers Party which would bring together groups on the left in a united movement. This idea has apparently been met with enthusiasm from some individuals in trade unions at the national and executive level. One point discussed was the possible need for a euphemised party name with various individuals raising fears of socialism being considered by the public as a “dirty word.”

The Socialists Students Society is a branch of an international students’ organisation who campaign and raise awareness.