Rallying the left

The annual Marxism event has become a landmark on the left. The biggest event of its kind in Europe, it has been a rallying point for the whole left since the demise of the Communist University in the 1980s. But the organisers now face new challenges.

'The emerging anti-capitalist movement and the rise of the Socialist Alliance has dramatically altered the face of the left over the last two years,' says Marxism 2001 organiser John Rees. 'Our event has to change to meet these magnificent developments. We don't want to repeat the same formula when the world has moved on.'

The major figures of the rising anti-capitalist movement have found their way to Marxism in the last couple of years. Last year Marxism kicked off with an anti-capitalist rally addressed by Mark Thomas and Naomi Klein, among others. On the following day Susan George addressed a packed Logan Hall, outlining her strategy for tackling the World Trade Organisation. Susan George returns this year to spark a debate that is sure to run on through the protest in Genoa just a week after Marxism ends.

This year Marxism falls just a month after the general election. The fallout will be debated at Marxism. Last year Liz Davies told a 1,000-strong meeting that she needed to be reassured the revolutionary left would continue to take electoral work seriously. This year Liz will be speaking at Marxism as an ex Labour Party member who has given high profile support to the Socialist Alliance.

The success of the Socialist Alliance and the rise of the anti-capitalist movement has sparked a debate about whether the revolutionary left should regroup in order to maximise its impact. A large forum on the regroupment of the revolutionary left, with Alain Krivine, a French member of the European Parliament, will address the questions posed by the success of the Socialist Alliance in winning support away from New Labour.

The debate about how effective the Leninist method of organising is has been central to the movement for generations. It is as current in the left of the labour movement as it is amongst anti-capitalists. The question of Leninism in the 21st century will be the subject of a major forum involving some very influential figures from the European left--Slavoj Zizek and Daniel Bensa•d, along with John Rees.

At Marxism 2000 we introduced the idea of having educational seminars and this year we are going to develop this element. Members of the SWP, authors and theorists will introduce a series of self contained courses which run for three consecutive sessions, enabling comrades to develop their understanding of revolutionary theory. So, for example, Lindsey German will introduce a course on women that will incorporate historical materialism and women's oppression, the debates about women in the 19th century, and the reasons for the decline of the modern women's movement. Another course, led by Chris Harman, will look at alienation and surplus value, capitalism's crises, and capitalism today. Other similar educational courses will focus on national liberation struggles and Marxist philosophy.

It's not just the content of the Marxism week that is changing. So too is the way the event is built. 'We need the event to become the property of those who attend it,' says John Rees. 'We want it to be built by the publicity flowing down through all the veins and arteries of the new movement. We've got online booking and a special e-mail calling card that can be forwarded round the individual and organisational e-mail networks of the new movement.'

The general election will dominate the activity of many socialists up until 7 June, so we can't wait until then to build the event. In previous years there have been a series of brochures advertising Marxism. This year we are moving straight to producing the timetable, which is the best way of showing people the range of exciting speakers and subjects on offer at Marxism. Marxism 2001 can play a pivotal role in developing a new, big and effective left wing in Britain.