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Letters Dear Comrade, As a regular reader, I must write to you about Harriet Gill's article on child abuse (MIR 40 Summer 1989). For Harriet Gill the immediate question is why child abuse occurs and how it can be prevented. I agree, child abuse cannot be separated from capitalism, it is one of its products. As a symptom of the capitalist disease, the relationship between capitalism and child abuse is central to any Marx- The debate between the Tories, Higgs and Bell, interesting as it is, was conducted behind the walls of bourgeois professionalism. While we may feel that Higgs has been victimised, we must also point out that there are many working-class victims of bureaucratic professionalism. The complete state abuse of the workingclass through Tory cuts and bureaucratisation of the NHS and the social services is used to keep the working-classes in the dark The unaccountability which this breeds, keeping protessionalism doctor from patient, social workers from client, is no accident. It is part of the working practices used by capitalism. The autonomy of the professional is difficult for the individual to challenge. It is therefore essential that we call for the democratisation of services. While we argue for more training, we should condemn the training which excludes working people, both in the way that training perceives problems such as child abuse, and job applications. Harriet Gill points out that we should demand more resources, training and democratisation with elected and accountable administrators. But we should also call for training for unemployed workers at union rates, aimed at the prevention of child abuse not just containment. We need a labour movement inquiry into these events. The problem of abuse is greater than the Tories admit. Current estimates say it has doubled since 1983 and even bourgeois commentators admit the connection between unemployment and child abuse. This exposes the hypocrisy of capitalism. We must expose their crocodile tears and say only socialism can solve the problems of child abuse.
Stephen Booton Islington, London World peace Militant arcan ice:
¡ International Restew Dear Comrade, Congratulations on the new look MIR. It has made a big impact and created a lot of discussion. The new layout is a great improvement although it is a pity that the number of pages have been reduced. I liked the article on fusion although the explanation was sometimes hard to follow, unless you have a scientific training. The comments on the rivalry between the scientists really showed the lack of neutrality in science. Is the journal too book oriented? It seems many of the articles were based on books, many of which may be too expensive or not worth reading or both. I cheered the reply to that hypocrite Stuart Bell on the Cleveland Child Abuse cases, but the article does not answer the question it i.e. What causes child poses, abuse?
Alan Woods' piece on the French revolution was enjoyable and useful but perhaps it fell between two stools: it was not an introduction to the French revolution as it only covered half of it, although that was the only the first part, I know. On the other hand it was not a debate on the different views and analysis of the revolution. I hope these comments are not seen as super critical. They are intended to boost your efforts to | Have you a improve this vital journal Bill Hopwood Dear Comrade As a non-Militant supporter but within your journal's pages. The clearing of the Rushdie ground 40 Summer 198) revealed Mie need for socialist policies in the Labour Party, not vote-grasping confusion.
I look forward to further issues and, if possible, a more regular MIR. When compared to other 'socialist' journals, the MIR is relevant and most important, up to the minute.
Stuart Cooper Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire Dear Comrade, I was disappointed with your discussion of the politics of pop (MIR Book Reviews, Summer 1989 No 40). Ken Smith focussed far too much on Red Wedge and YURC without looking at the background to these campaigns which lies not in the 1980s but in the 1970s.
'Rock Against Racism' and other similar movements raised the whole question of political pop in the context of a right-wing Labour government. It produced political pop music from the mostly commercial, such as the Clash, to the overtly committed like the Redskins. Times are much harder now but individuals like Elvis Costello have survived.
Surely the point which Ken Smith tries to make but doesn't is that for a really political pop, involvement with the official structures of the Labour Party is best avoided? Or if taken on, control must be from below. After all, Neil Kinnock was a supporter of RAR and unlike Red Wedge its slogan was for 'Militant Entertainment'!
Keith Flett Tottenham, London comment about this issue of the MIR?
Let's hear from you.
MIR •47
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China (from page 30).
utions. They have begun to recentralise, imposing price controls to curb inflation. There are already signs, however, that this will slow down economic growth, which will also bring serious problems.
Growth in the first half of 1989 fell to 11% compared with 17% last year, and is still slowing. Inflation is about 30%. Both the state deficit and the trade deficit is growing, while the drop in tourist income and the witholding of loans by western banks will undermine China's ability to service its $40bn foreign debt. Switching the emphasis back to the state industries, subsidies for which already absorb about a third of state revenues, will not overcome the problems of technical backwardness and inefficiency under bureaucratic management. Cuts in state spending, the credit squeeze, and consequent cuts in living standards, moreover, may well undermine the prosperity of the rural sector, the locomotive of growth under Deng.
Neither wing of the bureaucracy has
out of the impasse of bonapartist rule, which is squandering the gains of the planned economy. For a period, Deng and his cohorts will follow a line of recentralisation, tightened bureaucratic control and repression. New contraditions will appear, once again forcing the leadership to lurch in the opposite direction at a later stage.
The working class, the students and other sections involved in the movement have suffered a brutal defeat and face a period of repression. But the experience of these mighty events, the first act of the political revolution, cannot be wiped out. The advanced workers and youth will be drawing far-reaching conclusions, striving to find the genuine ideas and programme of Marxism.
The processes within society will prepare the ground for new, even more momentous struggles in the future. Inevitably, the unfolding of China's political revolution will be inter-linked with the unfolding revolutionary processes in Eastern Europe and throughout the capitalist lands. Once again the proletariat of China will shake the world.
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[page 50]
In this issue..
Northern Ireland: Twenty years since the troops went in
Clare Short
MP debates
with Peter
Hadden
Eastern Europe: Poland under Solidarity?