We live in a time when change brings more disillusion than hope. To shift socialist ideas from the fringes of politics to centre stage we must be able to present it as a positive and practical alternative to the present capitalist system. We live in a world of change which includes the world of ideas. This means that the differences between socialist ideas and popular politics are neither static nor fixed in time. Sadly, not all developments have been progressive and sometimes moves backwards such as the resurgence of militant religion and nationalism. This need not be the whole story. Regardless of how divided the world may seem to-day, all people share common needs which can only be served, ultimately by cooperation. These needs arise from our human make-up, are expressed in the best ways to live, and are inescapable. They rise above national divisions or differences of race, culture and language. Throughout the world, all people share a common need to live in peace and material security and to be at friendly ease with their communities and with other peoples in other countries. Beneath all the conflict and the divisive politics that prevent people of all countries from coming together as a united humanity, there is the small voice which is always present which may lack systematic thought yet expresses a yearning for a better world. So when The Socialist Party proposes a world of cooperation organised solely for needs, in which all citizens will stand in equal relation with each other, this does echo the universal interests of all people. Socialist ideas may seem, on the present face of things, to be estranged from popular politics, they are in harmony with the real hopes of all people. It is when socialist ideas become the conscious political expression of these hopes that socialism will become an irresistible force for change.
The Socialist Party does not hold a monopoly on social concern but share the hopes and intentions of thousands in many organisations. Despite the fact that many thousands of people in such organisations as OXFAM are battling against worsening problems with their efforts bringing little success, the indignation they feel and their willingness to act as a signpost towards a better world. The Socialist Party would draw their attention to the need to alter the present economic and political framework which is so destructive to their efforts. We would urge upon charities and humanitarian NGOs that action to solve such problems, ie world hunger, must include social and political action to bring about a society where individuals and communities will be able to act more effectively. The action to solve problems and the work of creating the conditions in which they can be solved, cannot be separated; these go together.
A global socialist movement that is growing would not be "demanding", from a position of weakness, for governments take policies to deal with this or that problem. There would, of course, be demonstrations but only to demonstrate, from a position of gathering strength, a democratic movement with developing plans for a new society; projects that could be activated when the capture of political control has been accomplished. This would confirm the beginnings of socialist organisation within the heart of capitalism. The challenge of building a new world society is a daunting task and involves great change and a re-organisation of the way we live. When we speak of a "new world society", we should add the caveat that the use of the word "new" should be qualified because there would be nothing in socialist society that would be outside age-old human experience. In this sense very little would be new.
Socialism will depend on voluntary cooperation and there would be nothing new about this. Cooperation is a vital part of any society, even capitalism. It was through social cooperation that humanity emerged as modern mankind. Countless generations of early people could only survive in groups based on cooperation and in doing so we became a social, thinking, tool making species with increased powers of providing the means of life. In looking forward to a society organised through cooperation we do not imagine anything new, on the contrary, we recall age old relationships which have always been in harmony with our basic human make up. It is for this reason that every person is capable of cooperating with others to the benefit of all. Cooperation is not simply a moral choice, it is a relationship that enhances our lives and is in every person's material interest. In setting out the practical ways in which society could be organised through cooperation we are proposing that cooperation be brought back to the activity that matters most, that is, in the entire organisation of our lives. The need for cooperation is also a response to the growing contradictions that arise from the pace of technical development which the market system can never freely use for the benefit of people; the economic forces that drive technology forward prevent us from using it to solve problems. At our present stage of advanced technology we have a potential for abundance which is in contrast with the economics of scarcity on which the market system depends. As this gap between possible production and actual production widens, the capitalist system becomes more anachronistic, a straight jacket on our powers of action and historically redundant. The campaign for practical socialism will find growing support from these deepening failures of the capitalist system.
Now is a time for looking at the past, learning from its mistakes and for carrying the hopes of past activists forward in a more effective, sound way. The fact that the capitalist system is stronger and more extensive than ever is disappointing by it should also give fresh impetus to the work for socialism. We now have the advantage of global development in all spheres of life, enabling us to propose practical ways it could be organised. This has the prospect of creating a body of political ideas, based on socialist principles, presented in every-day language of description rather than being asserted as great abstract concepts of the the Socialist Party aims of common ownership, democratic control and production solely for use. Practical socialism translates them into what they could mean in the every day lives of people. This not only makes the meaning of socialism more readily understood, it projects life-styles with which people can identify, it gives individuals a view of their greater possibilities, seeing themselves not just in the role of wage-slave, but as constructive people in cooperation in a society organised solely for the well-being of all citizens.
The values of a socialist society centre upon freedom. Common ownership will mean the freedom to place production and resources at the disposal of the whole community; democratic control will mean freedom for every person to relate to others on equal terms when making social decisions; production solely for use will mean the freedom to use production directly for needs. Above all, its social relations will empower every person with the freedom to control their own lives, to decide on what skills to have and what part to play in the community's programmes of action. This is what is meant by self-determined individuality.
Socialism has to be clearly defined and systematically argued as a distinct political choice, it rises above the traditional political differences that have existed between radical, conservative and liberal views. The various creeds that divide people into separate parties can be seen as motivated by aims which have many things in common. To argue and organise for a world in which each person would be responsible for their own lives and by working in cooperation, for the lives of other citizens; a world where this is made possible by the use of all resources, solely and directly for the interests of communities, is not an objective that should runs counter to the basic hopes of anyone. Whilst a work on politics cannot avoid the use of political labels it is all too often the case that labels act as a barrier to communication. Look beyond unavoidable labels to simply consider its proposals, and its supportive arguments. A better world need not wait on future events. Even as individuals, one way of participating in a better world is to work for it. The more people that work for it the better the world shall be.
Adapted from the late Pieter Lawrence's work, 'Practical Socialism - Its Principles and Methods'.
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