Trotskyist International Liaison Committee
Encyclopedia
The Trotskyist International Liaison Committee was the international organisation established by the Workers Socialist League in Britain (of which Alan Thornett
was its most well known member) and its international co-thinkers in Italy, Denmark, the USA and Turkey. It was founded in 1979.
Following the WSL's fusion with the International-Communist League in 1981, clear but informal factional lines developed in the WSL. Most of the parties in the TILC sympathised with the International Faction in the WSL. WSL delegates voted at the 1983 TILC group to prevent Chilean sympathisers from affiliating; the WSL then walked out after a resolution calling on Alan Thornett to fight Sean Matgamna
's "revisionism". The IF who sympathised with the TILC were then expelled from the WSL, and formed the Workers Internationalist League. However, this group soon split, and in 1984, the TILC was also disbanded. However, a group of former WIL members established the Revolutionary Internationalist League (RIL) in 1984. The majority of the TILC sections (Italy, US, UK, Denmark) regrouped as the International Trotskyist Committee (ITC).
Thornett and his co-thinkers were also later expelled from the WSL and established the Socialist Group
which later merged with the International Group
to form the International Socialist Group
as the British section of the reunified Fourth International
.
Its US affiliate was the Revolutionary Workers League which was established as a result of a schism in the Spartacist League
in 1976. It remained with the TILC through the time of the Falkland Islands War in 1982, but was gravitating to the Morenoist
faction of the Fourth International by the mid 1980s.
Alan Thornett
Alan Thornett is a British Trotskyist leader, and one of the officers of the left-wing Respect party.Alan Thornett began his career as a car worker in Cowley, Oxford in 1959. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain there in 1960 before being recruited with other shop stewards to Gerry...
was its most well known member) and its international co-thinkers in Italy, Denmark, the USA and Turkey. It was founded in 1979.
Following the WSL's fusion with the International-Communist League in 1981, clear but informal factional lines developed in the WSL. Most of the parties in the TILC sympathised with the International Faction in the WSL. WSL delegates voted at the 1983 TILC group to prevent Chilean sympathisers from affiliating; the WSL then walked out after a resolution calling on Alan Thornett to fight Sean Matgamna
Sean Matgamna
Sean Matgamna, also known as John O'Mahony is a Trotskyist theorist and activist. He was a founder of Workers' Fight in 1966 and is still a prominent member of the group, now called the Alliance for Workers' Liberty.- Early political experience :He joined the Young Communist League as a teenager...
's "revisionism". The IF who sympathised with the TILC were then expelled from the WSL, and formed the Workers Internationalist League. However, this group soon split, and in 1984, the TILC was also disbanded. However, a group of former WIL members established the Revolutionary Internationalist League (RIL) in 1984. The majority of the TILC sections (Italy, US, UK, Denmark) regrouped as the International Trotskyist Committee (ITC).
Thornett and his co-thinkers were also later expelled from the WSL and established the Socialist Group
Socialist Group
The Socialist Group is a primarily social-democratic political grouping in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The group comprises of 180 members from 45 states of the Council of Europe. The Group is chaired by Andreas Gross of Switzerland....
which later merged with the International Group
International Group
The International Group was the name taken by two groups of British supporters of the Fourth International.In both cases, the Group was formed as a public faction by members loyal to the International who felt that the then-current leadership of the British section of the Fourth International had...
to form 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 :...
as the British section of the reunified Fourth International
Reunified Fourth International
The Fourth International is a Trotskyist international. In 1963, the majorities of the two public factions of the Fourth International, the International Secretariat and the International Committee, reunited, electing a United Secretariat of the Fourth International...
.
Its US affiliate was the Revolutionary Workers League which was established as a result of a schism in the Spartacist League
Spartacist League
The Spartacus League was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during World War I. The League was named after Spartacus, leader of the largest slave rebellion of the Roman Republic...
in 1976. It remained with the TILC through the time of the Falkland Islands War in 1982, but was gravitating to the Morenoist
Nahuel Moreno
Nahuel Moreno was a Trotskyist leader from Argentina. Moreno was active in the Trotskyist movement from before World War II until his death....
faction of the Fourth International by the mid 1980s.