WrEN the Socialist launched Socialist Review in April 1978, it embarked on an extremely ambitious project. The aim popular socialist magazine wide ranging news coverage with coverage Workers Party was to fill a gap for a combining sociclist Woons.
of all the issues facing socialists.
Politics, the editors argued, shouldn't be defined by our rulers, but seen in its broadest sense embracing music, theatre, films, television and sport, struggle against women's oppression as well as the igni Ior nigher wages .
In some ways, it was a similar goal to that which Socialist Challenge mazazine format of Socialist Review, when backed by the weekly Socialist Worker, gives more scope for extensive debate and discussion.
It was a big challenge. In 1978, after four years of a Labour government which attacked the working class, it was obvious that neither the Labour lefts nor connauust ray challenge to the right wing. Yet, the far left had shrunk.
The economism and sectarianism which had led to hostility between the far left and the women's prevented the left demise ot the 'new lett' on a European scale or of facing up to the tasKs fragmenting at the first opportunity The massive growth of the Anti Nazi League, cononn culture anna propaganda, successes of Socialist Challenge and Socialist Unity, forced the SWP to review its own reputation.
Socialist Worker tried new formulae and ideas. Arnt: We discate oureves from the sertarin. ment: dissociate ourselves from the tone. We think the left needs more open and fraternal discussion and less point scoring.
Of course, Socialist Review suffered many of the problems associated with Socialist Challenge. How can the magazine be opened by 'intellectuals' without closing it to worker militants repelled by the language
How is it possible to produce a magazine that is clearly identified with a political party and ideology yet is a lively forum for debate between people with widely differing viewpoints?
A fine balance has to be struck to interest the first-time reader. ana a dne samne ume co rase tne cutural and political understanding of the committed By the end of its first year, Socialist Review could La healthy balarice sheet. With a paid sale of 4,000 (which is still rising), its list of Trom ne len was moress ve — TO sull lOcuClu Sheila Rowbotham A large numbér of topics been tackled from the traditional which way for the left' type, to examination of 'scientific objectivity'.
A regular leature lookea at popurar wnlers trom culialy t pointes oin eerene waf cove d, per. Feminism, Chena. theatre and the items 'behind the facts' and extensive book reviews were always topical, steering clear of an attraction simply to 'left type' books.
the articles provoked letters' — always the sign of a vital publication.
Minor criticisms could be made. The articles on
sport and TV which were in Socialist Worker never' made mto soco kewew bur mne man ober was that debates that were to become important in like that over black liberation and mome over me awl ard tac unca rolt. or cvc!
over electoral work and Socialist Unity — were not reflected in the pages of the review.
Some big issues of politics that have stimulated controversies elsewhere have been absent. Explaining invasion of Kampuchea, , the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the character of the revolution in Nicaragua, should be as much a subject of debate as the theatre or cinema There is a danger of making too much of a separaane dIscussIon • WricC lcWs is analysed and culture is discussed.
Socialist Review has always tried to encourage an active relationship with its readers, and new features have been added. An 'industrial discussion' section has been put in which has reflected the debate inside the SWP. An article on trades councils provoked responses from new writers just when it ooked like the letters page was drying up 'The new 'movement' section has already review ed the International Marxist uroup in conrerence and it will hopefully be able to analyse developments inside the left in a way that the magazine wasn't able
to do when big discussions were taking place in th SAnew brenna secuon aas been accec nal aa laid out clearly all the arguments against import controls, arming militants for the big debates in the Hopefully, these new developments will be able to build on the strengths of Socialist Review. It wouk be disannointing if the ovenness and breadth of ar proach were to give way to the immediate tasks of the
anti-Tory struggle, as important though that is. soctaust keview avrect oy post costs sup an asu (incl. p&p). A 12-issue sub is f6 inland. From: Socialist Review, PO Box 82, London E2