For A Unitied General Election Campaign

There is nothing to lose, and perhaps a great deal to be gained for the anti-capitalist movement to put forward candidates in elections.

Specifically, to form an anti-capitalist alliance or federation that will challenge in most parliamentary seats in the next general election (probably next June).

It would be an anti-capitalista alliance of federation of Greens, anarchists, socialists, and independents under one banner: The Anti-Capitalist Alliance/Federation or some other name. I don't think that it should challenge good left MPs.

So we might have Green ACF, or Socialist Party ACF, or London Anarchist ACF, together under a national sort of party, put together for the next election.

Why not? AT the very least the journey together of campaigning would create new relationships and bonds for further extra-parliamentary work. Even for those who think parliamentary elections are a side-show and complete waist of time there would be many positives.

We have a duty to follow all roads to change the system and yes, save the planet, and I believe the challenge in a national election with its high profile would help enormously. But this means parties and individuals have to drop their selfishness for a while, and reap many benefits for the whole movement, no matter what the outcome of the elections themselves.

It´s the journey that counts.

Harold Hamlet

Comments

Hide the following 19 comments

For a united waste of time and resources

15.09.2009 08:54

A) By participating in the sideshow you validate it as a political arena. It is not.
B) It would be a tremendous waste of resources asit costs to participate in elections and to produce propaganda. Why should we waste our money in this way? I for one would rather piss it up down the boozer as that would at least have a desireable outcome.
C) It would mean putting godknows how many people hours into fundraising to raise deposits for each of the candidates, for campaign publicity and for actually pushing the candidates. This is time that could be better spent trying to actually build confidence, consciousness and confidence in our class rather than trying to put ourselves forward as 'specialists in social change' any more than us activistoids do already.

This is before we even get into the proper arguments against participating in a game where the rules, the board, the pieces and the other players are all set up to ensure that you fail.

Miserablist

As popular as gallstones

15.09.2009 10:52

What would be the point? Recent attempts have ended in dismal failure. For example:-

In the 2009 European elections the Socialist Labour Party got 1.1% or 173,115 votes. The BNP got more than five times more votes. The Scottish Socialist Party got a mere 10 404 votes.

In the 2008 London mayoral election Lindsey German (SWP) only managed 16,796 first preference votes or 0.68% for the Left List. If you disregard the English Democrat candidate who dropped out, she came second to last.

No wonder the SWP and most of the left have abandoned electoral politics for the moment rather than be exposed to humiliation at the polls.

Let's face it, their candidates are about as popular as gallstones.

You make good points Miserablist, but ...

15.09.2009 11:21

It is a political arena: one in which the majority of our class are looking into, and where all the important issues to us can be raised. Our class needs to be pulled directly into the movemnet, and this could be a way to do it.

It is heavy on resources, people and money, but I think a lot can be gained, and it is a huge opportunity to speak directly to our class, at the doors, and in meetings.

This would be a major benefit. As well, it could be an opportunity to further build the confidence and scope of the movement and draw in more people, even a different sort of person, to this large network of a movement.

Lastly, treat it as a one off, and use it as a different and new way to build. These times we are going through, I feel, ARE a one off.

Ed

15.09.2009 11:44

It´s not only the result that counts, but in an united campaign perhaps a much better return of votes could be achieved.

A 5% result would send shockwaves through the mainstream, and might force parties into coalitions which would reveal what a complete bunch of useless expletives they are. Perhaps even 1 or 2 MP´s might get elected ( a bit far fetched maybe), but ...

... It would help to build a united movement.

A ONE OFF UNITED PUSH. It would also give many activists to get out there and do something different, to climate camps and other very worthy activities.

A hard task but one I feel would bear much fruity alround.

Come on give a chance, and get all the activists and supporters into an arena in which our class will be looking into for 1 month of the year.

At the end of it all there could be a big party outside parliament, after all the hard work, and who knows what could happen.

Why not? For a very simple reason.

15.09.2009 11:45

We can't do this becauase we are unable to unite about anything -- we consider the petty ideological differences between our miniscule factions to be much more imporatant than the tings which we supposedly have in common. When we see these calls to unite it almost always means "unite behind OUR (particular) banner".

This failing is probably more important than the other objections people have been raising (claiming a united left would fail). It is WHY the support at the polls is so puny, the results in terms of effort negligible. "The people" aren't stupid. They know better that its a waste of time to choose between factions that spend all their time arguing over which end of the egg to start at (*)

So yes -- trying to run a united political campaign silly unitl AFTER we have managed to unite in general, at least enough to be willing to give each other mutual support while perhaps still disagreeing about some things, being willing to put those things off till afterwards. We need to be able to do this even if choosing to proceed by other means than electoral. But for those who suggest that electoral politics is totally irrelevant please note something. If you DO have the means and numbers to proceed "otherwise" then you automatically can make a decent showing at the polls. And if you DON'T have thos enumbers, then you don't have amandate to "proceed otherwise".

* -- The reference is to Swift, who was making fun of events in Russia where the EXTERNAL signs of the doctrinal differences were trivial but actually the serious matter of whether the Russian Orthodox Chirch would be independent from Byzantium (the Greek Orthodox Church).

MDN

It needs to be done

15.09.2009 12:43

Ok so despite the good points which have been made against this idea, a lot of which I agree with, I believe that we do need an Anti-Capitalist, Working Class Party in this country.

I've read people saying that time would be better spent trying to build concsiousness and confidence within a class and that you disagree with the concept of standing in elections, thats fine, but most people within the working class consider elections to be a legitimate part of society, if everyone thought like you then revolution would be much more realistic. The point is Labour have completely abandoned the working class and theres not an alternative trying to represent working class people. I'm not saying that this is THE way forward, I'm saying its A way forward, to build support and to reach more people and to at least offer an alternative to the people who have been abandoned and screwed over by the mainstream parties.

It has also been rightly pointed out that some of the small parties that have tried to stand for elections recently have failed quite miserably and thats also true. However I do not think it was because there is not potential for support, rather that these parties did not tap into this potential, or in the case of the Socialist Labour Party even pursuing the wrong policies- the SLP wanted to re-open coal mines....

Finally, I agree that it would be difficult because we can never seem to unite around anything but the more we factionalise the further from having a chance to make a change we will get and there has to be a time that we forget what are often frankly pathetic differences and start uniting against capitalism.

DJB

Common sense and futility

15.09.2009 15:04

Why did the Socialist Workers' Party get so few votes? I can see two possible answers:

1. The supporters of the party do not bother voting.
2. There are no supporters of the party.

Yes, I believe in voting. Sorry if that offends your ideals. Democracy is only a sideshow when the electorate does not bother to engage with the system. How long has is taken you to work out that if you don't like the choices, then stand yourself? And if you don't get public support, perhaps you don't deserve the responsibility?

Call it "Vote of No Confidence" Party

15.09.2009 17:47

Obviously, elections are a waste of time; however creating a party around a complete revamp of the (non existent) UK consititution, would pose some tough questions and make people think a bit. Plus those who usually spoil their votes would someone to vote for!

Kid

CNWP

15.09.2009 19:18

I'm guessing the CNWP is a no-go on this front, then...?

LOL!

15.09.2009 19:33

"There is nothing to lose, and perhaps a great deal to be gained for the anti-capitalist movement to put forward candidates in elections."

Fuck off!!!

Harry Hill

Harry Hill

16.09.2009 04:45

There are doing a similar thing in France, and "gaining alot".

another comment

16.09.2009 22:40

To be honest, there is a history of anarchists deciding to contest elections on electoral platforms. I know little about this, but generally it didn't end in success. On the other hand, I know pretty well the ideologically riven 'left' of the UK - dominated by anarchists of various persuasion and Trotskyists - which is characterised by in-fighting, suspicion, disagreement, and hostility rather than co-operation. Some of this is warrented, some of it is unavoidable due to the ways that they organise....

but on the other hand.... yes.... in France and Germany to some extent the 'Left blocs' are doing pretty well.....

and for sure, capitalism is doing very very well in the UK where there is absolutely no opposition to neoliberalism at all.

Maybe the thing to do is to vote Green in elections (who are hardly anti-capitalist I know, but have policies more amenable to building a social revolution and a more equal society - and any way, if voting achieves nothing then why not?), and be an anarchist in your other actions?

Ex UK

Sorry HH but...

17.09.2009 04:08

"It is a political arena: one in which the majority of our class are looking into, and where all the important issues to us can be raised. Our class needs to be pulled directly into the movemnet, and this could be a way to do it."

How could standing for parliament help raise consciousness in the class? People are sick and tired of politicians and a move from the direct actionist side of things towards parliamentary politics will simply alienate us still further (if that's possible) from our class. No one trusts politicians so why should we seek to label ourselves as such?

"It is heavy on resources, people and money, but I think a lot can be gained, and it is a huge opportunity to speak directly to our class, at the doors, and in meetings."

You don't need to be standing as an election candidate to be able to chap doors and call public meetings. I thought that was fairly standard fair? People are more likely to be receptive to ideas if they're not being asked to vote for some twat.

"This would be a major benefit. As well, it could be an opportunity to further build the confidence and scope of the movement and draw in more people, even a different sort of person, to this large network of a movement."

As I said above we don't need to waste time and effort to be active in our communities. We don't need a large national 'push' for our politics to be relevant to our communities. If you want to chap doors and engage with the wider class then set up a residents group or some such thing. Campaign and build strength in your community. Don't waste time and resources on a side show that can only put us into an even worse pigeon hole in peoples minds.

"Lastly, treat it as a one off, and use it as a different and new way to build. These times we are going through, I feel, ARE a one off."

I would rather treat it as a never off. Representational democracy is a sham and to participate in it only perpetuates it. These times are not a one off. Capital evolves in waves of boom and bust. This is simply one of those waves. It will restructure itself and the labour markets and continue business as usual.

miserablist

I feel like I have lost the argument on this one ...

17.09.2009 13:22

But I still say give a go: just this once, with less enthusiam.

It would be a geat opportunity to knock doors, and tell the people you´ve had enough of capitalism and just want a revolution. Tell them directly what your politics is, and that you dont believe in elections to this type of parliament, but it´s one of the few ways of getting in contact with a mass number of people to try to build an alternative.

Would that come across as bonkers, or would some people say: I am with you when and how does it or we start building for a revolution.

And the knock on effects of a campaig (pun unintended).

Have an Alternative National Election and use the Media

17.09.2009 13:46

OK. If the Unions wont come in with money, and people, an national election campaign of real lefts in a new party is a bit of a non-starter.

The alternative is to have your own elections on the same day. Campaign, and tell the people you´ll be outside the polling booths asking for there vote for an alternative candidate, or list of candidates, or some form of participatory democratic structure of your own design.

This could be part of a national mobilisation to produce a parallel participatory democratic structure. It´s only a first thought, but I think there is something good in this idea.

Die Linke party wins German votes by standing out from crowd

18.09.2009 06:57

See guardian
Die Linke party wins German votes by standing out from crowd

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/17/german-elections-die-linke-party

Some Quotes from the above Guardian Article

18.09.2009 07:03

... "His anti-capitalist, pro-social justice Die Linke is striking a chord with an increasingly disenfranchised electorate, espousing causes – such as inequality, reunification issues and, crucially, the war in Afghanistan – that are finding a receptive audience in both east and west." ...

...

""The promises [of the mainstream parties] to us about the blossoming landscapes which would follow after unification are mere speech bubbles," said 68-year old Erika Seebach, the MRSA sufferer, in Erfurt. "While some might accuse Die Linke of populism, they get things on to the agenda that really matter.""

"Polls gives the party about 14%, but after huge gains recently made in key regional elections at the end of August, where it won 21% in the western state of Saarland, Die Linke is being seen as the party that could shake up the political landscape in the 27 September vote. " ...

See

18.09.2009 07:06

"It would be a geat opportunity to knock doors, and tell the people you´ve had enough of capitalism and just want a revolution. Tell them directly what your politics is, and that you dont believe in elections to this type of parliament, but it´s one of the few ways of getting in contact with a mass number of people to try to build an alternative."

See you're talking about something else all together here, if I understand you right. You are talking about an anti-election campaign which is a different kettle of fish all together. I do think that the media farce that is a general election can be used as a propaganda opportunity. A chance to explain to people why representative democracy is a sham, to talk about different ways that the issues they are concerned about can be dealt with without appeal, or reliance upon, those in power.
Vote nobody campaigns have a bit of history amongst anarchist groups. The South Wales Anarchists had a bit of fun with the Welsh Senned elections a few years ago, issuing decrees dressed up as V and celebrating that 50 odd percent of the population didn't vote. Not sure how much they achieved with it but it's still a good idea to build upon. I'm pretty sure there was quite a succesful vote nobody campaign in Easton, Bristol, back in the late 90's/early 00's that saw, when less than 50% voted, the local MP/Councillor type flee their home in fear of angry locals booting them out.

I'm not discounting reacting to a general election as a propaganda opportunity. I am discounting the idea of participating and trying to get votes in what is essentially an anti-democratic sham.