Ideological Commentary |

George Walford: Ideological Symbols

October 16, 2012

When a series of items of intentional behaviour all tend towards, say, economic collectivism, this justifies, and may even compel, the inference that the people in question are identified with economic collectivism (or more briefly, that they are economic collectivists). When the inference has been drawn the ideological feature (in this case economic collectivism) can… read more »

Harold Walsby: Either Black or White

October 12, 2012

Like the rest of their pseudo-scientific tribe, that four-legged combination of two S.P.G.B.-ers writing under the name of “Philoren” (in your correspondence, Feb 11) avowedly repudiate the “long term view of social evolution” and, along with it, the whole historical labour and working-class movement. (A movement, by the way, in which the I.L.P. has played… read more »

Ellis Hillman: A Word of History

October 12, 2012

Readers may be interested to know that Harold Walsby’s arrival in the pages of The Socialist Leader was no accident. I had been having a number of discussions with George Stone, the Editor, about ways and means of widening the appeal and circulation of the journal, and he asked me to approach new and stimulating… read more »

George Walford: The End of Work (10)

November 6, 2012

The series IC was running under this head has not been abandoned, only squeezed out by other things. The main point to be developed is the absence of any natural, inborn or inherent need of work. There are people, lots of them, who feel this need, but it has been acquired in the course of… read more »

George Walford: Announcements

October 9, 2012

HAS UTOPIA A FUTURE? Conference at Conway Hall, Sunday 12 July, 11 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Speakers and papers will include: Rod Hackney, President of the R.I.B.A. on “Community Architecture.” Christopher Hampton on “Blake and the New Jerusalem.” Steve Coleman on “Utopia and Impossibility.” Michael Raptis on “Socialism and Utopia.” Ellis Hillman on “Subterranean Utopias.”… read more »

George Walford: Editorial Notes (28)

October 7, 2012

CORRECTION IC25 included a brief note correcting certain ideas put forward in Ideologies and their Functions. On page seven of this present issue these corrections are set out more fully. MOZAMBIQUE In Mozambique they starve while Europe wonders what to do with mountains of “surplus” food. But disgust is a gut-reaction that helps nobody; before… read more »

George Walford: New Readers Start Here (28)

October 7, 2012

Revision of June 1987. Ideological Commentary is devoted to the development and exposition of systematic ideology, a theory originated and largely developed by the late Harold Walsby. We do not claim final or exhaustive understanding of it; the formulation that looked like the ultimate last month needs alteration now, and the partial account given here… read more »

George Walford: On Cutting a Throat to Cure a Headache

October 4, 2012

We have had a good deal (and expect to have more) to say about the lack of evidence to the Party’s claims for what it likes to call ‘socialism;’ its statements about capitalism we have largely accepted. We do not propose now to say they are without foundation, only that they are so one-sided as… read more »

George Walford: Class War

September 29, 2012

In the Socialist Standard for March 1987 there appears a full-page article entitled “Are Socialists for War?” It is written as a dialogue between an (anarcho-)socialist. ‘A’ and a mild patriot ‘Q,’ and it puts what the Party likes to call its case against war. In A’s words: Wars are not about freedom and democracy…. read more »

George Walford: Back to Russia

September 29, 2012

In IC26 there appeared a piece entitled “Principle Number One.” It quoted a Party speaker on Russia saying the power of the Russian rulers is politically based and Principle No. 1 as saying modern society is based upon ownership by the capitalistS. The speaker quoted has now sent the following reply: According to Mr. Walford,… read more »