An invitation

The Socialist Party's commitment is to the solution of working-class problems confronting mankind.  Our analysis of society is directed first towards a description of the way in which social problems arise and then to a programme of political action which would lead to their solution. Programmes of social reform leave the basic structure of capitalism intact. Therefore programmes of social reform cannot hope to solve social problems. 

The Socialist Party's opposition to reformism appears harsh, seemingly unsympathetic to worthy causes and which removes or organisation from the centre of important action. Neither charge is true. We do not doubt that there are much sincerity and indignation in reformist campaigns, but by itself, this is not enough. Of course, it is important to care but sincerity can be misdirected. The State has a technique for adapting the aspirations of reformists to its own purposes usually achieved by ensuring activists are "practical and pragmatic" and say that politics is the art of the possible. This justifies compromise and concessions, and the sacrifice of integrity of purpose and action. Capitalism generates reform in its own interests. Reform is part of the normal pattern of political administration, its function being to stabilise capitalism. Social reform is the political process through which capitalism continues its own economic development and since government and the state are the political expression of capitalist ownership, social reform will preserve that class interest. Reformism, inevitably then, involves an endorsement of capitalist productive relationships.

The surrender of principle is self-defeating. Whether it be through well-meaning ignorance or opportunism, one thing is certain, after over a century of campaigning for reforms, basic social problems remain unsolved. In formulating a political policy our starting point must always be economic reality. It is an undeniable fact that under capitalism mankind cannot control the productive process. We cannot set up productive objectives and then organise social resources to achieve those objectives. This is the price we pay for private ownership and the profit motive. The solution is to bring productive relationships into harmony with human needs. The means of producing wealth must be commonly owned, the earth's resources must be at the free disposal of the whole of mankind. In these relationships, freed from the economic barriers of capitalism, man can co-operate to simply produce the wealth that humanity needs. Socialism will not only achieve productive efficiency but will establish a pattern of relationships in which the dignity of humanity will be enhanced through equality and co-operation.

Socialism means democratic control of society in the human interest. This will be a society where the means of producing wealth and the whole of the earth's resources are held in common and at the free disposal of the whole human family. The object of socialism is fundamentally different to that of capitalism and provides for a completely different social organisation. Whereas under present world capitalism, the motive of production is to produce commodities for sale on the world's markets with a view to profit, so that privileged minorities in rival capitalist states can accumulate wealth, in a socialist society this will not be the case. Socialism will not produce commodities, but will simply produce useful things directly for human need, and there will be a shared interest between all members of the human family in that common object of production. If movements continue to support capitalism they must be responsible for all the ways in which capitalism develops. Because capitalism cannot be controlled in the human interest, we do not know all the ways in which it will develop. We are in the middle of a trade recession and we do not know what political effects it will have.

We invite fellow-workers to join us now in building a better world. We must build on their concern and indignation and broaden their horizons. They should not place their faith in governments; that is a sure recipe for disaster and disillusion. We come back to our first question, how do we control society in the human interest? We must not make pathetic appeals to governments to do something on our behalf. We must take the world into our own hands. Socialism will be a society of mankind for itself. The whole community will relate on equal terms about the means of production and the earth's resources and co-operate to produce goods, services, and amenities solely for use. This will be an association of men and women in conscious control of their own lives, living for themselves with the freedom to decide upon social projects and to organise resources to complete those projects. Socialism places people at the centre of social organisation. Equality, co-operation, and democratic participation will bring productive efficiency in response to human needs. But more than that, it will do so in circumstances in which the self-directed individual will live positively, integrating his own life with the development of the whole community.