American Pabloism?

The Socialist Union was a left-wing group led by Bert Cochran, active during the Eisenhower years when the Cold War was at its hottest. The group was the result of a split within the Trotskyist movement. In 1953, the U.S. Socialist Workers Party broke their fraternal ties with the Fourth International, accusing its post-Trotsky leadership around Michel Pablo of “revisionism” and “liquidationism”. Cochran's group within the SWP were closer to Pablo, and were expelled in 1954. The American Socialist Union was formed shortly thereafter. Its magazine “The American Socialist” wasn't explicitly Trotskyist (not even "Pabloite" Trotskyist). It's hard to tell whether this was a tactic, seriously intended or perhaps a little bit of both. Since the Socialist Union eventually dissolved into the broader left, I suppose they really did develop in a more independent-minded direction.(One of the last issues of their magazine actually criticize Trotsky.)

This issue of “The American Socialist” contains articles on the Black civil rights struggle, the arms race, an extended article on “the mixed economy” of the British Labour government, a relatively positive appraisal of Argentine Peronism, a review of one of Paul Sweezy's books, and an article on anthropology. There is also a short piece on Pal Maleter, the hero of the Hungarian uprising against in the Soviets in 1956.

Some issues of this magazine look like an intellectual “literary supplement”, but this one is more traditionally “political”, although with very little rhetoric and sloganeering. If more sectarian-crackpot leftists is more “your thang”, you might find this boring!

It could be of interest that all issues of “The American Socialist” are available on the web.