By André Parizeau
OVER 60 Communist and Workers' parties from all over the world, including the Communist Party of Canada (CPC), met in Athens on June 19-20 to exchange views and examine strategies concerning the fight against capitalist globalisation.
Similar conferences have been organised in recent years, under the auspices of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), or by other CPs. But this conference was of particular importance because of the serious international situation.
As one of the most influential parties in today's communist movement, the KKE has convened a number of multilateral meetings in Athens to discuss issues of common interest. This year's agenda continued a crucial debate from last year over whether to move towards greater forms of co-operation between Communist Parties, making the potential impact of the meeting more significant.
One of the most important conclusions of the conference, stressed by many speakers, was "the need for parties and movements to develop the broadest and best co-ordinated action possible" in order to confront the current and very dangerous situation "through a change in today's balance of power on the national, regional and international levels."
Aleka Paparigha, the KKE general secretary, set the tone by stating that the Communists' constant goal should be to reinforce the anti-imperialist, anti-monopoly and democratic features of the mass movement, so that it will effectively be able to fight the present system.
"We believe that the reinforcement of these features in the movement will constitute a substantial contribution to the people's struggles to confront new reactionary measures and wherever possible, to prevent new wars and interventions," she said, "and above all for this movement to become a power for overthrowing the present-day correlation of forces on the national, regional and international level."
Paparigha noted that "many parties have periodically expressed the need for the Communist Parties to retain their independence in these various movements and in the alliances that are being formed. A number of concerns have appeared which, in our view, are well grounded, regarding the degree to which efforts are made in these movements and alliances to diffuse the communist parties, causing them to lose their identity. From this viewpoint, we believe that the issue of the CPs retaining a distinctive presence is very important on the international level as well."
Many other parties later stressed similar views, pointing to the fact that imperialist forces are putting great efforts into trying to better co-ordinate their own strategies. This debate could only reinforce the pressures for a better, stronger and more co-ordinated Communist movement.
Among the most important - and delicate - matters discussed in Athens was the issue of co-operation between Communist and Workers' Parties on a world-wide scale. The Communist Party of Canada has put much importance on this matter in the recent period.
The prevalent opinion was not to rush things; most participants still considered it too early to create some form of a co-ordinating committee, as suggested by the CPC during the 2002 Athens conference. But some important steps were made, including a couple of very encouraging concrete measures.
The participants expressed concerns about the necessity to avoid repeating past errors made by the international Communist movement. But most also agreed on the need for much more co-operation to fight the new imperialist order.
Even while such discussions continue, many participants seemed to share a much stronger and broadly accepted understanding of what such co-operation should mean in today's world, how it should operate as well as the benefits of such a process.
The final press communiqué specifically states that the distinct presence, consultation and co?operation of Communist and Workers' Parties should help the process of developing "the co-ordination and joint action of broader democratic, anti-imperialist, anti-monopoly and patriotic forces as well as of the multiform movement against capitalist globalisation." Therefore, says the communiqué, it should not be viewed as contradictory to such a movement as some others may do.
A special call to reinforce and extend solidarity work for Cuba was one very concrete way to promote such co-operation. Other resolutions were also adopted on different issues.
On the other hand, it was noted that more discussion is also needed on critical questions such the transformation of capitalist society and the prospect for socialism under present conditions, and should not be brushed aside for the sake of more co-operation.
The participants expressed the need for such meetings to continue and increase in number, together with broader meetings on issues of interest on the regional and international level. Also noted was the idea to hold meetings of Communist and Workers' Parties in connection with large international events, in order to achieve a more collective elaboration of proposals and views.
One such opportunity will be in Mumbai, India, in 2004 during the next World Social Forum. Another possibility could be during the next Sao Paolo Forum. But many details will have to be worked out to make such projects a reality.
Meanwhile, the KKE has suggested that a preliminary meeting be scheduled to better prepare for the next Athens conference, and to help develop a more collective approach among the different parties. All parties which can attend will be invited to participate in these preliminary discussions convened by the KKE, and the results will be forwarded to all others.
The idea of a "Solidarity Fund" to be set up by Communist Parties - something that has already been in the air for a while - was brought to the table by the Greek delegates. It was agreed that more consultation should take place in order to clarify the aims and mechanisms for such a fund. All parties will be asked to consider this idea and how it could work.
We can see that there is much work to be handled over the next period. This will be an exciting period for the communist movement, don't you think?
(The author was the CPC delegate at the Athens Conference.)
(The following article is from the July 1-31/2003 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, Canada, V5L 3J1.)