Socialism 2018: a weekend of discussion and debate on socialist ideas to change the world

The Rally for Socialism 2017, photo Mary Finch (Click to enlarge)

10-11 November, central London. These are some of the issues we want to grapple with at Socialism 2018:

Austerity

is destroying lives, driving down our living conditions while the rich get richer. The Tories aim to continue it forever.

Can we get rid of the Tory government? Can councils actually set a no-cuts budget? Do they have any power to resist?

Trump

is hated - but how can he be stopped? What will be the consequences of Trump's America First policy? Will we go from trade war to military war? Will he cause a new world economic crisis?

Corbyn

was raised to the Labour leadership by people hungry for an end to austerity. And yet every step he takes is blocked by the right wing in the Labour Party. Can the Labour Party be transformed into a party of the working class?

Racism

must be countered whenever it emerges. But how? What kind of organisation is the Football Lads Alliance? How can they be stopped? Why did Malcolm X come to the conclusion that you can't have capitalism without racism?

Brexit

has split the Tories down the middle. Does the EU single market act as an obstacle to implementing socialist policies? Is a socialist Brexit possible? What will Brexit mean for Northern Ireland? Can the EU ever act in workers' interests?

Marxism

says that philosophers have interpreted the world - but the point is to change it! 200 years after the birth of Karl Marx does Marxism still help us in the fight for socialism?

Trade unions

have over six million members but what can they do to defend workers in the gig economy, zero-hour contract workers in retail and hospitality, refugees? What is their role in Austerity Britain? Is there a crisis of leadership?

Women

are rising up across the world against sexism. But how can liberation from oppression be won? How does the fight for trans rights connect? Can we build a movement to fight for all?

20% off tickets now socialism2018.net

Keynote speakers will include

Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party general secretary and former editor of Militant
Hannah Sell, Socalist Party deputy general secretary and author of Socialism in the 21st Century
Kshama Sawant, Socialist councillor in Seattle in the US, a leader in the first victory for a $15 an hour minimum wage, now fighting to tax Amazon
...as well as trade union leaders, anti-cuts campaigners and more

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.