Socialist Unity Party (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Unity Party was one of the better-known communist
parties in New Zealand
. It had a certain amount of influence in the trade union movement, but never won seats in Parliament.
The Socialist Unity Party was founded in 1966 as a splinter group of the Communist Party
. The Communist Party had been bitterly divided by the Sino-Soviet Split
, a dispute between the Soviet Union
under Nikita Khrushchev
and China
under Mao Zedong
. The party eventually decided to take China's side. Shortly afterwards, a number of the more prominent supporters of the Soviet position, such as Ken Douglas
, George Jackson and Bill Andersen
, established the Socialist Unity Party. The Socialist Unity Party retained ideological and political links to the Soviet Union for most of its existence.
The Socialist Unity Party's association with the Soviet government drew considerable criticism from mainstream politicians. In 1980, the Soviet ambassador
to New Zealand, Vesevelod Sofinsky, was expelled after allegedly giving $10,000 to a member of the Socialist Unity Party. In 1987, another Soviet diplomat, Sergei Budnik, was ordered to leave the country by Prime Minister
David Lange
for his alleged involvement with the party.
At the same time, the Socialist Unity Party was strongly condemned by other communist groups, which accused it of not following "true" communism and of collaborating with capitalists. The Socialist Unity Party, unlike some of the more radical groups, participated in New Zealand elections
, and was not wholly antagonistic to mainstream parties — it was prepared, for example, to occasionally support the Labour Party
as "the lesser of two evils". The Socialist Unity Party's most well known leader, Ken Douglas
, was also criticised by hardliners for the comparatively moderate position he took within the trade union movement.
The Socialist Unity Party has now dissolved, although the Socialist Party of Aotearoa, which split from the Socialist Unity Party in 1990, remains in existence.
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
parties in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It had a certain amount of influence in the trade union movement, but never won seats in Parliament.
The Socialist Unity Party was founded in 1966 as a splinter group of the Communist Party
Communist Party of New Zealand
The Communist Party of New Zealand was a Communist political party in New Zealand from the 1920s to the early 1990s. It never achieved significant political success, and no longer exists as an independent group, although the Socialist Worker organisation is considered organisationally continuous...
. The Communist Party had been bitterly divided by the Sino-Soviet Split
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
, a dispute between the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
under Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
under Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. The party eventually decided to take China's side. Shortly afterwards, a number of the more prominent supporters of the Soviet position, such as Ken Douglas
Ken Douglas
Ken Douglas, ONZ is New Zealand's best known contemporary trade union leader.As President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions until 1999 Douglas led the union movement in New Zealand for over fifteen years. His union career started in the Driver's Union...
, George Jackson and Bill Andersen
Bill Andersen
Bill Andersen was a New Zealand communist and trade union leader. He was one of the participants in the 1951 Waterfront Lockout and the president of the Northern Drivers' Union and later the National Distribution Union....
, established the Socialist Unity Party. The Socialist Unity Party retained ideological and political links to the Soviet Union for most of its existence.
The Socialist Unity Party's association with the Soviet government drew considerable criticism from mainstream politicians. In 1980, the Soviet ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to New Zealand, Vesevelod Sofinsky, was expelled after allegedly giving $10,000 to a member of the Socialist Unity Party. In 1987, another Soviet diplomat, Sergei Budnik, was ordered to leave the country by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
David Lange
David Lange
David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
for his alleged involvement with the party.
At the same time, the Socialist Unity Party was strongly condemned by other communist groups, which accused it of not following "true" communism and of collaborating with capitalists. The Socialist Unity Party, unlike some of the more radical groups, participated in New Zealand elections
New Zealand elections
Members of New Zealand's House of Representatives, commonly called "Parliament", normally gain their parliamentary seats through nationwide general elections, or in by-elections. General elections normally occur at least every three years in New Zealand, and operate using the Mixed Member...
, and was not wholly antagonistic to mainstream parties — it was prepared, for example, to occasionally support the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
as "the lesser of two evils". The Socialist Unity Party's most well known leader, Ken Douglas
Ken Douglas
Ken Douglas, ONZ is New Zealand's best known contemporary trade union leader.As President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions until 1999 Douglas led the union movement in New Zealand for over fifteen years. His union career started in the Driver's Union...
, was also criticised by hardliners for the comparatively moderate position he took within the trade union movement.
The Socialist Unity Party has now dissolved, although the Socialist Party of Aotearoa, which split from the Socialist Unity Party in 1990, remains in existence.