Murray Dowson
Encyclopedia
Murray Dowson was a Canadian
Trotskyist politician
.
In the mid-1930s, Murray joined the Workers' Party of Canada while a student at York Memorial Collegiate. He later joined B. J. Field's League for a Revolutionary Workers Party before rejoining the Trotskyists. He took his brother, Ross Dowson
, to some Trotskyist meetings, after which Ross also decided to join. Several other members of the Dowson family were also recruited to Trotskyism.
The group was banned at the start of World War II
, and many of its established leaders left politics. With his brother, Murray maintained an underground newspaper, and this gave them the impetus to found the Revolutionary Workers Party (RWP). Murray became editor of its newspaper, Labour Challenge, then briefly co-editor of a Quebec
edition of the French
Trotskyist paper, La Verité
.
In 1953, there was a major split in the Fourth International
, to which the RWP was affiliated. In response to this, Murray theorised that World War III
was imminent, and that given the weakness of the RWP, it was necessary to immediately enter the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). Joining with his brother-in-law, Joe Rosenthal and some supporters, he split from the RWP. The following year, he attended the Fourth Congress of the Fourth International, but walked out. His tendency in the CCF soon disappeared, but he remained an active trade unionist. He eventually politically reconciled with his brother and was a regular speaker at forums held by the Socialist League
in the 1970s.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Trotskyist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
In the mid-1930s, Murray joined the Workers' Party of Canada while a student at York Memorial Collegiate. He later joined B. J. Field's League for a Revolutionary Workers Party before rejoining the Trotskyists. He took his brother, Ross Dowson
Ross Dowson
Ross Jewitt Dowson was a Canadian Trotskyist political figure.-Early life:Dowson joined the Trotskyist movement as a teenager during the Great Depression. The Canadian Trotskyist movement collapsed at the beginning of World War II as leaders such as Jack MacDonald, Maurice Spector and Earle Birney...
, to some Trotskyist meetings, after which Ross also decided to join. Several other members of the Dowson family were also recruited to Trotskyism.
The group was banned at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and many of its established leaders left politics. With his brother, Murray maintained an underground newspaper, and this gave them the impetus to found the Revolutionary Workers Party (RWP). Murray became editor of its newspaper, Labour Challenge, then briefly co-editor of a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
edition of the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Trotskyist paper, La Verité
La Vérité
La Vérité was the last album by Niagara. Niagara was one of the few French bands who had success and critical acclaim outside of France despite not singing in English, because of this they embarked on an international tour in 1991 which included many sold out concerts...
.
In 1953, there was a major split in the Fourth International
Fourth International
The Fourth International is the communist international organisation consisting of followers of Leon Trotsky , with the declared dedicated goal of helping the working class bring about socialism...
, to which the RWP was affiliated. In response to this, Murray theorised that World War III
World War III
World War III denotes a successor to World War II that would be on a global scale, with common speculation that it would be likely nuclear and devastating in nature....
was imminent, and that given the weakness of the RWP, it was necessary to immediately enter the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). Joining with his brother-in-law, Joe Rosenthal and some supporters, he split from the RWP. The following year, he attended the Fourth Congress of the Fourth International, but walked out. His tendency in the CCF soon disappeared, but he remained an active trade unionist. He eventually politically reconciled with his brother and was a regular speaker at forums held by the Socialist League
Socialist League (Canada)
The Socialist League was a Canadian Trotskyist group formed in 1974 by Ross Dowson and approximately twenty other former members of the League for Socialist Action after their faction was defeated at the 1973 LSA national convention. Dowson had previously been the leader of the LSA...
in the 1970s.