The role of Workers' Councils in Socialist Revolution (Birmingham)

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Debate at the Midlands Discussion Forum

To establish socialism workers who want it need to organise themselves democratically. As this will involve committees or councils composed of workers these could be called "workers' councils" even though those who have traditionally used this term have given it a narrower meaning. We in the Socialist Party have always held that workers should organise both politically (to win control of state power) and industrially (to keep production going) in the course of the socialist revolution. The difference with the advocates of "workers' councils" in the narrow sense is that they oppose workers organising to contest elections and win seats in parliament and local councils. We reject this dogmatic, anti-parliament position and this will be the subject of the debate. The issue will not be whether or not workers should organise outside parliament (that is agreed) but whether they should organise also to contest elections and send delegates to parliament.

Party representative: Adam Buick

http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/workers-councils-or-parliament-which-way-forward-socialism

http://www.freecommunism.org/the-role-of-workers-councils-in-socialist-revolution/