 Despite a third term of Labour government prospects
for socialist change appear as remote as under
the blighted governments of Major and Thatcher.
The Labour Party is losing members and voters.
Disillusionment with party politics is growing.
All major political parties seem transfixed by
the quest to win ‘middle England’.
In an era where the brand, celebrity and the bland
dominate politics little wonder there is cynicism
and distrust. New Labour has compounded this sentiment
with a refusal to listen to millions opposed to
the Iraq war.
The far left have made little headway. Their brand
of politics is either trapped within a Leninist
abstentionist ghetto or a tainted by a failure
to escape a statist, top-down model of politics
and power.
But there are alternatives now. When Blair goes,
further new opportunities will open up to promote
a democratic socialist prospectus imbued with the
politics of liberty, equality and social solidarity.
Fifteen years after our New Maps for the Nineties-A
Third Road Reader, Chartist is publishing an insightful
collection of essays charting a new route for the
left. With contributions from several of our leading
correspondents Beyond Blair analyses the experience
of New Labour on politics, economics and social
justice. Based on this analysis contributors outline
the contours of a modernising socialist politics
based on extending democracy and social control
over public services, the British ‘establishment’ and
civil society. Radical reform does not have to
mean privatisation, sell-offs and a widening equality
gap between rich and poor. Social justice should
not mean incursions on civil liberties.
In a timely historical analysis Duncan Bowie traces
the lineage of libertarian socialism in Britain
while Martin Cook re-examines on New Maps prognosis
in the light of 21st century developments. Other
contributors include Don Flynn on Social Justice
and New Labour, with a scene setting piece on the
relevance of political economy; Frank Lee on Later
Capitalism; Anna Bluston on Identity Politics;
Mike Davis on democracy in public services.
Chris Wearmouth has edited the collection with
a snappy introduction.
Beyond Blair is an attractively produced 120 pages
priced at £5.
Orders over 3 copies pay only £4 per copy.
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