A review of the SWP-US pamphlet "Spartacist League: The Making of an American Sect".
"Spartacist League: The Making of an American Sect" by Bob
Pearlman is a pamphlet published in August 1977 by the Socialist Workers Party
(SWP), at the time one of the largest left-wing organizations in the United
States. In 1976, they received almost 100,000 votes when running Peter Camejo
for president. (Camejo later left the SWP but has continued to run as a third
party candidate in various settings.) The SWP also played an important role in
the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War.
The Spartacist League, by contrast, is one of many small and insignificant left-wing groups, no doubt because of its purist, sectarian, super-revolutionary program. Larger left-wing groups usually pay no attention whatever to the Sparts, which may explain why Bob Pearlman's pamphlet is something of a classic. It's one of the few times a relatively large left-wing organization has written what amounts to an extended criticism of the Spartacist League.
In 1977, the Spartacists were still pretty "normal" as small sectarian groups go. A few years later, they rapidly developed into a crazy cult specializing in provocations, stunts and positively bizarre political positions (including support for Soviet leader Yuri Andropov and porn star Nina Hartley). By that time, few people gave a damn.
Pearlman's pamphlet was written during the (relatively speaking!) normal period of Spartacist existence. The Spartacists specialized in shadowing the SWP, constantly denouncing them as "traitors" on various campaign meetings up and down the country. I suppose the SWP-ers got tired after a while, and realized that they must write *something* about this awfully annoying lot. Pearlman, a defector from the Spartacist organization, came as something of a heaven-send.
Pearlman's pamphlet is divided into two sections, both previously published in Intercontinental Press (a now defunct SWP magazine). The first section deals with the Spartacist League's activities in Boston during the busing struggle there in 1974. The second is a more general criticism of Spartacist campaigns and activities, including their trade union caucuses. The second part is more interesting than the first. In a sense, Pearlman's analysis of the Spartacist League was vindicated a few years later, when the demoralized sect became increasingly more and more erratic and irrelevant. Ironically, the SWP itself embarked on a pretty strange course during the 1980's and 1990's (including support for North Korea), and eventually lost their erstwhile influence on the American left. I would be surprised if Mr. Pearlman is still a card-carrying member of this group.
But that, as they say, is another show.
I recommend this pamphlet to all left-watchers. It may still be available from an SWP branch near you...if you ask nicely and don't mention the Ashtar Command. Or North Korea. ;-)
The Spartacist League, by contrast, is one of many small and insignificant left-wing groups, no doubt because of its purist, sectarian, super-revolutionary program. Larger left-wing groups usually pay no attention whatever to the Sparts, which may explain why Bob Pearlman's pamphlet is something of a classic. It's one of the few times a relatively large left-wing organization has written what amounts to an extended criticism of the Spartacist League.
In 1977, the Spartacists were still pretty "normal" as small sectarian groups go. A few years later, they rapidly developed into a crazy cult specializing in provocations, stunts and positively bizarre political positions (including support for Soviet leader Yuri Andropov and porn star Nina Hartley). By that time, few people gave a damn.
Pearlman's pamphlet was written during the (relatively speaking!) normal period of Spartacist existence. The Spartacists specialized in shadowing the SWP, constantly denouncing them as "traitors" on various campaign meetings up and down the country. I suppose the SWP-ers got tired after a while, and realized that they must write *something* about this awfully annoying lot. Pearlman, a defector from the Spartacist organization, came as something of a heaven-send.
Pearlman's pamphlet is divided into two sections, both previously published in Intercontinental Press (a now defunct SWP magazine). The first section deals with the Spartacist League's activities in Boston during the busing struggle there in 1974. The second is a more general criticism of Spartacist campaigns and activities, including their trade union caucuses. The second part is more interesting than the first. In a sense, Pearlman's analysis of the Spartacist League was vindicated a few years later, when the demoralized sect became increasingly more and more erratic and irrelevant. Ironically, the SWP itself embarked on a pretty strange course during the 1980's and 1990's (including support for North Korea), and eventually lost their erstwhile influence on the American left. I would be surprised if Mr. Pearlman is still a card-carrying member of this group.
But that, as they say, is another show.
I recommend this pamphlet to all left-watchers. It may still be available from an SWP branch near you...if you ask nicely and don't mention the Ashtar Command. Or North Korea. ;-)
Rubriken och artikeln hänger inte riktigt ihop. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMinns Pearlmans kritik som vettig.