International Socialist Movement
Encyclopedia
The International Socialist Movement was a Trotskyist current inside the Scottish Socialist Party
from 2001 until March 2006. It came into existence as a change of name by Scottish Militant Labour
, the Scottish section of the Committee for a Workers' International
. In January 2002 it disaffiliated from the CWI after increasing clashes the CWI's leadership around Peter Taffe, although a significant minority based mainly in Dundee
stayed with the CWI and formed a pro-CWI platform in the SSP called the International Socialists
.
For a few years the ISM was effectively the leadership of the SSP. It developed strong relationships with other currents in the socialist movement, including the United Secretariat of the Fourth International. Members of the International Socialist Group
in Scotland joined the ISM.
The ISM dissolved in March 2006 stating that it had completed its mission. The reasons for doing so were rather complex. In practice it was having difficulty operating as a coherent political organisation. It had been badly divided internally in the context of a rather heated debate in the SSP around 50-50 representation for women in the run up to the 2003 Scottish election. These divisions became exacerbated by the resignation of Tommy Sheridan
as convenor and the election of the new convenor, which was a contest between two ISM members, Colin Fox
and Alan McCombes
. Some leading members of the SSP, particularly women, had left the ISM or never joined, while others remained nominally members but were not taking part in meetings (e.g. only one member of the SSP executive, Joanna Harvie, attended the ISM meeting which decided to dissolve) and it had become an organisation of SSP middle cadre e.g. branch organisers. However its journal, Frontline
, continues publication as an "Independent Marxist voice in the SSP".
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
from 2001 until March 2006. It came into existence as a change of name by Scottish Militant Labour
Scottish Militant Labour
Scottish Militant Labour was a minor political party operating in Scotland in the 1990s and was part of the Committee for a Workers' International...
, the Scottish section of the Committee for a Workers' International
Committee for a Workers' International
The Committee for a Workers' International is an international association of Trotskyist parties. Members include the Socialist Party of England and Wales, the Socialist Party , the Socialist Party the Democratic Socialist Movement in South Africa and Nigeria and groups using the name Socialist...
. In January 2002 it disaffiliated from the CWI after increasing clashes the CWI's leadership around Peter Taffe, although a significant minority based mainly in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
stayed with the CWI and formed a pro-CWI platform in the SSP called the International Socialists
International Socialists (Scotland)
The Socialist Party Scotland is the Scottish platform of the Committee for a Workers International in Solidarity . The group is descended from the Scottish Militant Labour which formed the Scottish Socialist Alliance in 1996 after a debate amongst CWI members in Scotland on what sort of...
.
For a few years the ISM was effectively the leadership of the SSP. It developed strong relationships with other currents in the socialist movement, including the United Secretariat of the Fourth International. Members of the International Socialist Group
International Socialist Group
The International Socialist Group was a Trotskyist organisation in Britain. It was the British section of the Fourth International until July 2009 when it dissolved into Socialist Resistance.- Origin :...
in Scotland joined the ISM.
The ISM dissolved in March 2006 stating that it had completed its mission. The reasons for doing so were rather complex. In practice it was having difficulty operating as a coherent political organisation. It had been badly divided internally in the context of a rather heated debate in the SSP around 50-50 representation for women in the run up to the 2003 Scottish election. These divisions became exacerbated by the resignation of Tommy Sheridan
Tommy Sheridan
Tommy Sheridan is a Scottish socialist politician. He has had various prominent roles within the socialist movement in Scotland and is currently one of two co-convenors of the left-wing Scottish political party Solidarity....
as convenor and the election of the new convenor, which was a contest between two ISM members, Colin Fox
Colin Fox
Colin Fox is the national spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party, and a former member for Lothian in the Scottish Parliament...
and Alan McCombes
Alan McCombes
Alan William McCombes has been a leading member of the Scottish Socialist Party for several years, and was the editor of the Scottish Socialist Voice.-Background:...
. Some leading members of the SSP, particularly women, had left the ISM or never joined, while others remained nominally members but were not taking part in meetings (e.g. only one member of the SSP executive, Joanna Harvie, attended the ISM meeting which decided to dissolve) and it had become an organisation of SSP middle cadre e.g. branch organisers. However its journal, Frontline
Frontline Journal
Frontline Journal is an independent Marxist journal produced in support of the Scottish Socialist Party. It aims to look at all aspects of politics, society and culture in Scotland and internationally....
, continues publication as an "Independent Marxist voice in the SSP".
External links
- Statement on the future of the ISM
- Frontline, former ISM journal, now independent