About 40 Marxists from central Canada and the eastern United States attended the recently completed Eastern Canada Marxist School, held over a snowy February weekend in downtown Montreal. The school was a fantastic success, helping to deepen our understanding of a tumultuous world, as well as forging closer links between the Marxist forces in the eastern part of North America, who can often feel quite isolated given the great distances between them.
For the first time, the school attracted some comrades from the US, including from Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Their presence energized the school, showing that Marxist ideas are having a resonance in the most important capitalist country on the planet.
The Saturday morning commenced with Camilo Cahis leading off on World Perspectives. Camilo began his discussion with reading some of the perspectives that the Marxists had outlined back in 2006, predicting that we were entering the most turbulent period in human history. Given the events of the past couple of years and the deepest capitalist crisis in at least 80 years, these perspectives have certainly been vindicated. With derision, Camilo pointed out how reformists, academics, and sectarians alike continuously claimed that the working classes in the industrialized world would never move against the ruling class. However, how could these people explain their pessimism in the face of mass protests and general strikes across Western Europe this past year? Even in Britain, which is supposed to have one of the most conservative working classes, we have witnessed the magnificent movement of the British students. On the other hand, the Marxists have incredible optimism in the ability of the working class (under the correct leadership) to free themselves from the tyranny of capitalism.
After the lunch break, Alex Grant led off on the beginnings of the Arab Revolution. To begin his lead-off, Alex asked all of the comrades to rise for a moment of silence in order to commemorate all of the fallen revolutionaries, including Mohammed Bouazizi, the young Tunisian student who had immolated himself and had sparked off the revolutionary movement of the Arab masses. Alex explained how it was only the Marxists who were not caught surprised by the events sweeping the Arab world. The Marxists understood the contradictions underlying Arab society, and that these would come to the fore at a certain point. Even after the fall of Ben Ali and the Tunisian regime, the cynicism of the ruling class and the reformists continued to be seen as these people predicted that the events in Tunisia would never be repeated in Egypt!
The first day ended with a lead-off prepared by Tom Trottier of the Workers’ International League (WIL) from the United States. Tom talked about the origins of labour parties and the role they play in the workers’ movement. This discussion was of particular importance given that a large number of the comrades present were from the US and Quebec, two regions where workers don’t have a labour party of their own. Tom outlined the historical circumstances that led to the US working class not having their own party, and the recent developments in the US that have seen different union elements finally separating themselves from the bosses’ Democratic Party. In a few parts of the US, labour elements have begun to contest elections themselves with promising results. The WIL has helped to initiate the Campaign for a Mass Party of Labor (CMPL) that has opened the door for the US Marxists to come into closer contact with the best elements in the US labour movement. There was a lively discussion after Tom’s presentation, with many comrades talking about their experiences in intervening in the NDP and Quebec solidaire.
On Sunday morning, Joel Bergman began the day with a discussion on the national question. Given the presence of the Quebec Marxists, the national question is of paramount importance. Joel explained that Marxists should not view the national question simply as an obstacle to the unity of the working class; it can also help to develop the revolutionary consciousness of the masses. But, at all times, Marxists should take a class analysis of movements for self-determination. Marxists stand for the right to self-determination, but we view it from the perspective of the class struggle. We stand for a voluntary union against a common oppressor. Joel stated that what we want is a voluntary union of a socialist Canada, a socialist United States, and a socialist Quebec. This stands in opposition to the position held by almost every left sect who have capitulated over to bourgeois nationalism. Joel finished on how Marxists have to be very sensitive on the national question and understand the real roots that drive people to demand self-determination.
The final session of the school was a more informal discussion between comrades about their experiences in building the Marxist forces in North America. There are some very real challenges that the comrades face including massive distances between themselves. However, as shown by the number of comrades who braved bitterly cold temperatures and snowstorms to make it to Montreal, Marxism has begun to make important gains in the past few years. One of the comrades commented on how the Marxists gathered at the school had youth and energy, something that is lacking in almost all other left groups, including the major parties like the NDP and QS. Marxist ideas are beginning to resonate with young people and it is our job to go out and find them.
The last item of business for the school was a spirited singing of the Internationale. The school helped to connect the Marxists of eastern North America with one another and gave everyone a greater sense of comradeship — especially important given the sense of isolation that they can often feel in the work. The comrades all eagerly looked forward to returning to their cities to continue the fight in building the revolutionary forces of North America.
