Socialist Alternative (US)
Encyclopedia
Socialist Alternative is a Trotskyist organization in the United States
. It is the US section of Committee for a Workers' International
(CWI).
In Boston
, Massachusetts
, Socialist Alternative publishes a bimonthly newsletter called The Boston Organizer.
Socialist Alternative sees the global capitalist system as the root cause of economic crisis, poverty, discrimination, war, and environmental destruction. They argue that, as capitalism goes deeper into crisis, a new generation of workers and youth must join together to take the top 500 corporations into public ownership under democratic control to end the ruling elites' global competition for profits and power.
The group believes the dictatorships that existed in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe were perversions of what socialism is really about. They stand for democratic socialism where ordinary people will have control over our daily lives.
during the party's formation and early period. It was influential in the New York Metro Chapter of the party. Labor Militant members argued that the Labor Party should vigorously run candidates against Democrats
, whereas the national leadership of the Labor Party wanted to take a more cautious approach. Labor Militant accused the union bureaucracy of fraud in New York Metro Chapter elections to prevent the running of candidates against Democrats. The dispute ultimately resulted in the Labor Party national leadership closing the New York Metro Chapter, effectively expelling most Labor Militant supporters.
during the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 presidential elections
. Other Trotskyist organizations such as Socialist Action
, have criticized Socialist Alternative's support for Nader's campaign on the basis that Nader is not a socialist, that he has relatively right-wing
positions on immigration
, and claims that he is a bourgeois candidate. Socialist Alternative promotes a break from the two-party system, which it views as two parties of the capitalist class, making points that both party candidates supported the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street during the 2008 presidential elections.
and Iraq
wars. In 2004 Socialist Alternative members initiated Youth Against War and Racism (YAWR). YAWR works mainly in high schools, and has been at the forefront of counter-recruitment
activism in several cities. As a result of protests and sit-ins at school board meetings, YAWR and Socialist Alternative were able to pass some of the most restrictive policies in the country against military recruiters in Seattle and Minneapolis.
In 2006, and 2007 in several cities including Seattle, Minneapolis, and others, thousands of high school and college students walked out of class in protest of the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The anti-war movement shrunk in the election year of 2008, according to Socialist Alternative, because many anti-war organizations have strong ties to the Democratic Party, and do not want to put pressure on their own party during elections, though Democrats have failed to stop the war in Iraq and Afghanistan despite controlling congress from 2006 to 2008. Socialist Alternative and other socialist groups continue to organize marches and protest.
A grouping around Carlos Petroni
fused with Socialist Alternative in 1999 constituting the Class Struggle Faction, but then split in 2002 and formed the Left Party.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the US section of Committee for a Workers' International
Committee for a Workers' International
The Committee for a Workers' International is an international association of Trotskyist parties. Members include the Socialist Party of England and Wales, the Socialist Party , the Socialist Party the Democratic Socialist Movement in South Africa and Nigeria and groups using the name Socialist...
(CWI).
Publications
Socialist Alternative publishes a bimonthly newspaper called Justice.In Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Socialist Alternative publishes a bimonthly newsletter called The Boston Organizer.
Positions
According to Socialist Alternative's web site they believe the Republicans and Democrats are both parties of big business. They campaign to build an "independent, alternative party of workers and young people to fight for the interests of the millions, not the millionaires."Socialist Alternative sees the global capitalist system as the root cause of economic crisis, poverty, discrimination, war, and environmental destruction. They argue that, as capitalism goes deeper into crisis, a new generation of workers and youth must join together to take the top 500 corporations into public ownership under democratic control to end the ruling elites' global competition for profits and power.
The group believes the dictatorships that existed in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe were perversions of what socialism is really about. They stand for democratic socialism where ordinary people will have control over our daily lives.
Origins
Socialist Alternative was originally named Labor Militant (it shared this name with the CWI's England and Wales section). Labor Militant was founded in 1986. The name Socialist Alternative was adopted in the late 1990s.Labor Party
Labor Militant intervened in the Labor PartyLabor Party (United States)
The Labor Party is an American social democratic political party advocating workers' interests. Membership at one point reached about 5,000....
during the party's formation and early period. It was influential in the New York Metro Chapter of the party. Labor Militant members argued that the Labor Party should vigorously run candidates against Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, whereas the national leadership of the Labor Party wanted to take a more cautious approach. Labor Militant accused the union bureaucracy of fraud in New York Metro Chapter elections to prevent the running of candidates against Democrats. The dispute ultimately resulted in the Labor Party national leadership closing the New York Metro Chapter, effectively expelling most Labor Militant supporters.
Nader campaigns
Labor Militant/Socialist Alternative gave critical support to the candidacy of Ralph NaderRalph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
during the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 presidential elections
United States presidential election
Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President...
. Other Trotskyist organizations such as Socialist Action
Socialist Action (US)
Socialist Action is a Trotskyist political party in the United States. It publishes the monthly Socialist Action newspaper, has a youth affiliate called Youth for Socialist Action , and is associated with the Fourth International.-Origins:...
, have criticized Socialist Alternative's support for Nader's campaign on the basis that Nader is not a socialist, that he has relatively right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
positions on immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, and claims that he is a bourgeois candidate. Socialist Alternative promotes a break from the two-party system, which it views as two parties of the capitalist class, making points that both party candidates supported the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street during the 2008 presidential elections.
Boston City Council
In 2007, Matt Geary ran for City Council in Boston, Massachusetts as a Socialist Alternative candidate. He received 3,025 votes (2.41%) in a plurality-at-large election in which each voter could vote for up to four candidates.Antiwar activism
Socialist Alternative has been active in opposing the AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
wars. In 2004 Socialist Alternative members initiated Youth Against War and Racism (YAWR). YAWR works mainly in high schools, and has been at the forefront of counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment is a strategy often taken up to oppose war. Counter-recruitment is an attempt to prevent military recruiters from enlisting civilians into the military. There are several methods commonly utilized in a counter-recruitment campaign, ranging from the political speech to direct...
activism in several cities. As a result of protests and sit-ins at school board meetings, YAWR and Socialist Alternative were able to pass some of the most restrictive policies in the country against military recruiters in Seattle and Minneapolis.
In 2006, and 2007 in several cities including Seattle, Minneapolis, and others, thousands of high school and college students walked out of class in protest of the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The anti-war movement shrunk in the election year of 2008, according to Socialist Alternative, because many anti-war organizations have strong ties to the Democratic Party, and do not want to put pressure on their own party during elections, though Democrats have failed to stop the war in Iraq and Afghanistan despite controlling congress from 2006 to 2008. Socialist Alternative and other socialist groups continue to organize marches and protest.
Student Activities
With many states reporting budget deficits due to the recent recession, social programs including higher education funding will be cut back, making education difficult for some to obtain, impossible for others. Socialist Alternative groups have organized and intervened in recent student protest of tuition hikes and cuts to education programs.Expulsions/Splits
In 1996 five members were expelled who then formed Labor's Militant Voice.A grouping around Carlos Petroni
Carlos Petroni
Carlos Petroni is an Argentinian author and political activist.-Overview:Born, August 8, 1947 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Carlos Petroni was a leader of the Morenoist tendency of Latin American Trotskyism from 1973 to 1988 and was a close collaborator of the founder of this movement, Nahuel Moreno...
fused with Socialist Alternative in 1999 constituting the Class Struggle Faction, but then split in 2002 and formed the Left Party.