The Struggle (political organisation)
Encyclopedia
The Struggle is a Trotskyist organisation in Pakistan
, affiliated to the International Marxist Tendency
(IMT). Its leader and best known theoretician is Lal Khan
, and it constitutes the largest section of the IMT. It is prominent among other leftist groups in Pakistan
for its strong democratic centralist
structure, larger membership, well-organized cadres and uncompromising attitude towards the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky. A popular magazine, also called The Struggle, is published fortnightly by the organisation, containing articles on Marxist theory, political analysis of current affairs, news regarding labour movement and organisational activities from all over the country.
(IMT), a worldwide Trotskyist international with sections in numerous countries. Like The Struggle, supporters of the IMT typically work within existing Labour, Socialist or Communist Parties in their respective countries. The Struggle is the largest section of the International Marxist Tendency by some considerable distance.
, Lenin and Trotsky and seeks to spread their ideas within the Pakistani labour movement. To do so, The Struggle forms a Marxist tendency
within the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP). While criticising what it sees as the bureaucracy of the PPP and its ties to the bourgeoisie and the feudal landowners, it campaigns for the return to the founding ideas of the party, namely the overthrow of capitalism and the transformation of Pakistan into a socialist society. It demands the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy under workers' control, the eradication of unemployment and free accessible education, among other demands.
(YFIS). The organisation also has deep roots in the People's Students Federation which is the official student wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP). Jammu Kashmir National Student Federation (JKNSF), the largest student federation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, is also affiliated with The Struggle.
. Manzoor lost his seat in the 2008 elections; the IMT claims that this may be due to electoral fraud. He subsequently took a job as mediator for labour disputes, which the leadership of The Struggle felt was incompatible with building a left opposition within the PPP and led to his expulsion from IMT.
This has allegedly led to a split, the size of which is disputed. The Communist Party of Great Britain claimed that half of the Pakistani Section of IMT went with Manzoor; however, this claim is largely unsubstantiated. The IMT, however, claimed that the total membership of the organisation remained about the same, and treated the issue as one of expulsion of a few members and not a split, which was further proved at 29th congress of the organisation.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, affiliated to the International Marxist Tendency
International Marxist Tendency
The International Marxist Tendency is an international socialist organisation based on the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky. The late Ted Grant was its chief theoretician and the person who built the organisation since its beginning. Currently, Alan Woods and Lal Khan are its best known...
(IMT). Its leader and best known theoretician is Lal Khan
Lal Khan
Lal Khan, M.D., is a political activist and Trotskyist political theorist. He is the leading figure and main theorist in the International Marxist Tendency, alongside Alan Woods. He is a doctor of Medicine, although he no longer practices this profession for the sake of his revolutionary activities...
, and it constitutes the largest section of the IMT. It is prominent among other leftist groups in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for its strong democratic centralist
Democratic centralism
Democratic centralism is the name given to the principles of internal organization used by Leninist political parties, and the term is sometimes used as a synonym for any Leninist policy inside a political party...
structure, larger membership, well-organized cadres and uncompromising attitude towards the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky. A popular magazine, also called The Struggle, is published fortnightly by the organisation, containing articles on Marxist theory, political analysis of current affairs, news regarding labour movement and organisational activities from all over the country.
International Marxist Tendency
The Struggle is the Pakistani section of the International Marxist TendencyInternational Marxist Tendency
The International Marxist Tendency is an international socialist organisation based on the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky. The late Ted Grant was its chief theoretician and the person who built the organisation since its beginning. Currently, Alan Woods and Lal Khan are its best known...
(IMT), a worldwide Trotskyist international with sections in numerous countries. Like The Struggle, supporters of the IMT typically work within existing Labour, Socialist or Communist Parties in their respective countries. The Struggle is the largest section of the International Marxist Tendency by some considerable distance.
Work within the Pakistan Peoples Party
The Struggle defends the legacy of Marx, EnglesEnglés
Englés was a Navarrese jongleur and troubadour of the mid 13th century. His lone tenso survives only in fragments and is chiefly of interest to historians for its commentary on court life in Pamplona under Theobald I....
, Lenin and Trotsky and seeks to spread their ideas within the Pakistani labour movement. To do so, The Struggle forms a Marxist tendency
Tendency
Tendency may refer to:In film:* Tendency film, a name given to the socially conscious, left-leaning films produced in Japan during the 1920s and 1930sIn finance:...
within the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
(PPP). While criticising what it sees as the bureaucracy of the PPP and its ties to the bourgeoisie and the feudal landowners, it campaigns for the return to the founding ideas of the party, namely the overthrow of capitalism and the transformation of Pakistan into a socialist society. It demands the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy under workers' control, the eradication of unemployment and free accessible education, among other demands.
Independent work
At the same time as participating in the PPP, The Struggle does independent work. It has been active in the worker's movement through the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC), while also being involved in the student movement with its fronts BNT (Berozgar Naujawan Tehreek) and Youth for International SocialismYouth for International Socialism
Youth for International Socialism is an international Marxist youth organization. They work along with the International Marxist Tendency....
(YFIS). The organisation also has deep roots in the People's Students Federation which is the official student wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
(PPP). Jammu Kashmir National Student Federation (JKNSF), the largest student federation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, is also affiliated with The Struggle.
Expulsion of Manzoor Ahmed
In 2002 one member of The Struggle, Manzoor Ahmed, ran as a candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party with a clear socialist program and was elected to the National AssembleyNational Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
. Manzoor lost his seat in the 2008 elections; the IMT claims that this may be due to electoral fraud. He subsequently took a job as mediator for labour disputes, which the leadership of The Struggle felt was incompatible with building a left opposition within the PPP and led to his expulsion from IMT.
This has allegedly led to a split, the size of which is disputed. The Communist Party of Great Britain claimed that half of the Pakistani Section of IMT went with Manzoor; however, this claim is largely unsubstantiated. The IMT, however, claimed that the total membership of the organisation remained about the same, and treated the issue as one of expulsion of a few members and not a split, which was further proved at 29th congress of the organisation.
Congresses
The Struggle holds its annual congress in the first months (usually March) of every year, with hundreds of delegates participating from the whole world. Important decisions (National and International perspectives, methodology, working tactics etc.) are taken on this event through democratic means. On March 20-21 2010, they had their 29th congress which was the largest up until that point, reporting 2183 delegates from all over Pakistan and world taking part. The congress of 2011 was reportedly even larger, with 2,615 delegates participating.See also
- MarxismMarxismMarxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
- TrotskyismTrotskyismTrotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
- International Marxist TendencyInternational Marxist TendencyThe International Marxist Tendency is an international socialist organisation based on the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky. The late Ted Grant was its chief theoretician and the person who built the organisation since its beginning. Currently, Alan Woods and Lal Khan are its best known...
- Ted GrantTed GrantEdward "Ted" Grant , 9 July 1913 in Germiston, South Africa – 20 July 2006 in London) was a South African Trotskyist who spent most of his adult life in Britain...
- Lal KhanLal KhanLal Khan, M.D., is a political activist and Trotskyist political theorist. He is the leading figure and main theorist in the International Marxist Tendency, alongside Alan Woods. He is a doctor of Medicine, although he no longer practices this profession for the sake of his revolutionary activities...
- Alan Woods