Reply To: Status of World Socialist Party (US)
Hi Alan
Yes exploring the possibility of closer collaboration with the SPC is definitely on my checklist of things to do in relation to this project. At the moment I am still at the stage of ascertaining the whereabouts of the members and their potential contribution to a revitalised WSPUS. I am also engaging in discussion with some ex members to see if they might be interesting in re-joining given the new circumstances.
We have to remember that there has been very little in the way of internal communication within WSPUS because of the breakdown of the central administration. The degree of connectivity has been very low and comrades dont know what is happening elsewhere in the country. They feel isolated and this leads to demoralisation and apathy. Key to a potentially resurgent WSPUS is restructuring the Party organisation to facilitate much closer collaboration and communication over vast distances. Video conferencing, resurrection of the internal party forum (I believe there is a little used google based forum which may need to be changed) and, most particularly, implementation of a buddy system (what has happened to the SPGB’s decision to adopt this) will be amongst the various measures that will need to be adopted, in my view.
It cannot be emphasised enough that isolation is the great killer of socialist activity. This applies to the WSPUS as much as it does to any of the other parties of the WSM. Everything we do has to be designed to overcome the isolation that goes with having small memberships. Only then do you stand a chance of breaking the vicious circle that keeps us small as a movement.
It is absolutely clear that for the WSPUS to start growing again it is going to need significant support from the SPGB. In particular, its is going to need significant financing of a comprehensive advertising campaign in various selected journals in the US. But for that to happen what we first need to put in place is a network of local contacts and distribution centres. In other words, the basic infrastructure to convert responses to an advertising campaign into real contacts and potential members.
Its early days yet but I have identified several possible hubs of activity – in Vegas, Chicago and one or two other places. One of the new members in Vegas has talked about the possibility of acquiring office space. If this is possible this could turn out to be very useful indeed. Other distribution centres could be set up elsewhere.
At any rate, the picture that is emerging is by no means as bleak as I thought it might be when I began this project. There is hope and there is enthusiasm. Given current political developments in the US and the huge surge of interest in “socialism” – albeit Bernie Sanders’ type of milk-and-water welfare capitalism – the potential for growth in the US is obvious . We would be foolish not to seize the opportunity with both hands now