The Way Forward
8 Jan 2006
Comrades:
Happy New Year to you all
The time has come to count heads, so that this discussion list can be put at the service of the newly established International Republican Socialist Network. We're proud to be able to say that we have already attracted members in three different countries and we will be seeking to expand both within those countries and to other nations as well. Those who choose not to be part of the new organization will be retained on the Seven Stars newslist, but will be removed from this list. Those who choose to join the new organization can begin to use this list for internal discussion.
There has been some confusion about the purpose of the new organization and its relationship to other republican socialist organizations and I want to clear that up now.
The International Republican Socialist Network was established as a propaganda organization to support the traditional, revolutionary orientation of the republican socialist tendency internationally, with the primary focus of increasing class consciousness within the working class in general and to promote republican socialist praxis in those nations where a national liberation struggle is combined with a stage of development that puts socialism on the immediate agenda. Several struggles have been identified as meeting these circumstances, including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Man, Brittany, the Basque lands, and Puerto Rico.
The political program supported by the International Republican Socialist Network is drawn chiefly from the writings and example of James Connolly, as well as the programs of a number of republican socialist groups, especially the Irish Republican Socialist Movement in the period extending from its formation until the Irish National Liberation Army cease-fire of August 1998, and to some extent continuing within the IRSM until 2004.
Another central objective of the International Republican Socialist Network is to help facilitate communication between republican socialist groups and individuals, both within a given country and between groups of various countries. In struggles where there are multiple groups subscribing to a republican socialist orientation, the International Republican Socialist Network will strive to maintain relations with all such organizations and where possible to encourage cooperation amongst these groups. In struggles that have been identified as appropriate to the application of a republican socialist praxis, but where no specifically republican socialist organization exists, we will attempt to identify kindred activists within that struggle and support the establishment of an independent republican socialist movement. We are not in competition with any other republican socialist organization, but are prepared to support all such organizations to the best of our ability, will providing critique of any such organization that is seen to retreat from a revolutionary republican socialist orientation.
As a result of the foregoing orientation on the part of the International Republican Socialist Network, we welcome members of other republican socialist groupings to join the International Republican Socialist Network as well, but we will not refrain from critique of any republican socialist organization if it veers down the path of reformism. Due to our origins, relations are presently strained with the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America, though they are improving with the Irish Republican Socialist Movement in Ireland. Despite that being true, we have no objection to cross membership with the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America or the Irish Republican Socialist Party, though we will not allow cross members to use their membership in the International Republican Socialist Network to facilitate the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of No rth America carrying out its slander of our organization or its members. We have no objection to political debate, but we will not allow ourselves to be unjustly attacked and vilified.
Beyond efforts to raise class-consciousness among working people, promote a revolutionary republican socialist strategy in those struggles we have identified as likely to benefit from this approach, and facilitating networking amongst republican socialist activists, the efforts of the International Republican Socialist Network can be grouped into three major categories, including:
1. Propaganda
This is planned to include the twice-annual publication of the Connolly Forum, a journal intended to promote awareness of and support for the analysis of James Connolly and to apply this to contemporary circumstances; the quarterly publication of Workers Republic, a periodical of republican socialist news and analysis; the creation of a Web site for the same purpose; and participation in various struggles, including the anti-war movement, industrial struggles and labor actions in the workplace, and the struggles against sexism, racism, national chauvinism, heterosexism where we will put forward a republican socialist analysis.
2. Prisoner Support
This will include contributing to the material and morale support of current and former prisoners of war and political prisoners of the struggles in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Man, Brittany, the Basque lands, and Puerto Rico. This has already included a $300 gift to Teach na Failte, packages of ten books each sent to Irish National Liberation Army prisoners of war for the 2005 holidays, and the sending of New Year's greetings to Irish, Basque, Breton, and Puerto Rican prisoners of war.
3. Preservation of the Republican Socialist Historical Legacy
This included our participation in the commemoration of James Connolly and his participation in the Industrial Workers of the World in Albany, New York last May and an associated wreath laying at the Connolly statue in Troy, New York. It will now be heavily focused on building a campaign to purchase the house in which James Connolly once lived in Troy, New York for the purpose of establishing a James Connolly Republican Socialist Museum, a portion of which we hope will be used to house at least a portion of the amazing collection of political memorabilia amassed by John O Brien.
Members in the International Republican Socialist Network are asked to pay dues of $15.00 per month, at least half of which will be used in direct support of republican socialist prisoners of war, with the remainder used to subsidize the costs of propaganda efforts. Members will also be expected to identify as comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network in their public political activism and to help in building the Alliance and supporting its objectives. We are seeking to building the International Republican Socialist Network as an egalitarian and decentralized entity, united by a shared belief in the political analysis of revolutionary republican socialism, but the San Francisco chapter will initially serve as an administrative center. While that is necessitated by practical considerations, we seek to have all members provide support for the efforts of other comrades in neighboring areas, initiate political action independently as appropriate, and participate to the extent possible in promoting the shared objectives of the International Republican Socialist Network.
With this clarification having been made as to the objectives of the International Republican Socialist Network, we would ask that each of you let us know your decision by the end of January 2006.
This is the Way Forward
return to top
Comrades:
Happy New Year to you all
The time has come to count heads, so that this discussion list can be put at the service of the newly established International Republican Socialist Network. We're proud to be able to say that we have already attracted members in three different countries and we will be seeking to expand both within those countries and to other nations as well. Those who choose not to be part of the new organization will be retained on the Seven Stars newslist, but will be removed from this list. Those who choose to join the new organization can begin to use this list for internal discussion.
There has been some confusion about the purpose of the new organization and its relationship to other republican socialist organizations and I want to clear that up now.
The International Republican Socialist Network was established as a propaganda organization to support the traditional, revolutionary orientation of the republican socialist tendency internationally, with the primary focus of increasing class consciousness within the working class in general and to promote republican socialist praxis in those nations where a national liberation struggle is combined with a stage of development that puts socialism on the immediate agenda. Several struggles have been identified as meeting these circumstances, including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Man, Brittany, the Basque lands, and Puerto Rico.
The political program supported by the International Republican Socialist Network is drawn chiefly from the writings and example of James Connolly, as well as the programs of a number of republican socialist groups, especially the Irish Republican Socialist Movement in the period extending from its formation until the Irish National Liberation Army cease-fire of August 1998, and to some extent continuing within the IRSM until 2004.
Another central objective of the International Republican Socialist Network is to help facilitate communication between republican socialist groups and individuals, both within a given country and between groups of various countries. In struggles where there are multiple groups subscribing to a republican socialist orientation, the International Republican Socialist Network will strive to maintain relations with all such organizations and where possible to encourage cooperation amongst these groups. In struggles that have been identified as appropriate to the application of a republican socialist praxis, but where no specifically republican socialist organization exists, we will attempt to identify kindred activists within that struggle and support the establishment of an independent republican socialist movement. We are not in competition with any other republican socialist organization, but are prepared to support all such organizations to the best of our ability, will providing critique of any such organization that is seen to retreat from a revolutionary republican socialist orientation.
As a result of the foregoing orientation on the part of the International Republican Socialist Network, we welcome members of other republican socialist groupings to join the International Republican Socialist Network as well, but we will not refrain from critique of any republican socialist organization if it veers down the path of reformism. Due to our origins, relations are presently strained with the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America, though they are improving with the Irish Republican Socialist Movement in Ireland. Despite that being true, we have no objection to cross membership with the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America or the Irish Republican Socialist Party, though we will not allow cross members to use their membership in the International Republican Socialist Network to facilitate the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of No rth America carrying out its slander of our organization or its members. We have no objection to political debate, but we will not allow ourselves to be unjustly attacked and vilified.
Beyond efforts to raise class-consciousness among working people, promote a revolutionary republican socialist strategy in those struggles we have identified as likely to benefit from this approach, and facilitating networking amongst republican socialist activists, the efforts of the International Republican Socialist Network can be grouped into three major categories, including:
1. Propaganda
This is planned to include the twice-annual publication of the Connolly Forum, a journal intended to promote awareness of and support for the analysis of James Connolly and to apply this to contemporary circumstances; the quarterly publication of Workers Republic, a periodical of republican socialist news and analysis; the creation of a Web site for the same purpose; and participation in various struggles, including the anti-war movement, industrial struggles and labor actions in the workplace, and the struggles against sexism, racism, national chauvinism, heterosexism where we will put forward a republican socialist analysis.
2. Prisoner Support
This will include contributing to the material and morale support of current and former prisoners of war and political prisoners of the struggles in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Man, Brittany, the Basque lands, and Puerto Rico. This has already included a $300 gift to Teach na Failte, packages of ten books each sent to Irish National Liberation Army prisoners of war for the 2005 holidays, and the sending of New Year's greetings to Irish, Basque, Breton, and Puerto Rican prisoners of war.
3. Preservation of the Republican Socialist Historical Legacy
This included our participation in the commemoration of James Connolly and his participation in the Industrial Workers of the World in Albany, New York last May and an associated wreath laying at the Connolly statue in Troy, New York. It will now be heavily focused on building a campaign to purchase the house in which James Connolly once lived in Troy, New York for the purpose of establishing a James Connolly Republican Socialist Museum, a portion of which we hope will be used to house at least a portion of the amazing collection of political memorabilia amassed by John O Brien.
Members in the International Republican Socialist Network are asked to pay dues of $15.00 per month, at least half of which will be used in direct support of republican socialist prisoners of war, with the remainder used to subsidize the costs of propaganda efforts. Members will also be expected to identify as comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network in their public political activism and to help in building the Alliance and supporting its objectives. We are seeking to building the International Republican Socialist Network as an egalitarian and decentralized entity, united by a shared belief in the political analysis of revolutionary republican socialism, but the San Francisco chapter will initially serve as an administrative center. While that is necessitated by practical considerations, we seek to have all members provide support for the efforts of other comrades in neighboring areas, initiate political action independently as appropriate, and participate to the extent possible in promoting the shared objectives of the International Republican Socialist Network.
With this clarification having been made as to the objectives of the International Republican Socialist Network, we would ask that each of you let us know your decision by the end of January 2006.
This is the Way Forward
return to top