Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
Encyclopedia
The Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International (WIRFI) is an Trotskyist international organisation. It is based in the United Kingdom
and consists of a remnant of the Workers Revolutionary Party.
The organisation was founded in 1990 to regroup the international supporters of the Workers Revolutionary Party (Workers Press) WRP(WP), following the split of some of their supporters to join the International Workers League (Fourth International). Led by Cliff Slaughter
and Dot Gibson, it initially had support in the Workers Revolutionary Party (Namibia) and a South African section which renamed itself WIRFI and took 5,481 votes in the South African general election, 1994
, as well as Michel Varga
's Group of Opposition and Continuity of the Fourth International.
The majority of the South African section left the international in 1996 and renamed itself the Workers International Vanguard League
.http://prome.snu.ac.kr/~skkim/data/article/files/nash01.html
Following the WRP(WP)'s dissolution and reconstitution as the Movement for Socialism (Britain)
, Gibson and Bob Archer led the remainder of the international in splitting from Slaughter.
The organisation retains its British section and may still claim the support of the WRP of Namibia and remnants of the South African group. Otherwise it seems moribund and last published its newspaper, Workers International News, in 2002.
In Britain, the group's supporters were active in the Socialist Alliance
and then the Democracy Platform
of that grouping. By 2004 they had also become involved with the Liverpool based Campaign for a Mass Workers Party and its offshoot, the United Socialist Party
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and consists of a remnant of the Workers Revolutionary Party.
The organisation was founded in 1990 to regroup the international supporters of the Workers Revolutionary Party (Workers Press) WRP(WP), following the split of some of their supporters to join the International Workers League (Fourth International). Led by Cliff Slaughter
Cliff Slaughter
-Life:During the Second World War, Cliff Slaughter worked in a coal mine as one of the Bevin Boys. While there, he was injured when kicked by a pit pony.He later became a lecturer and writer on sociology and Marxism...
and Dot Gibson, it initially had support in the Workers Revolutionary Party (Namibia) and a South African section which renamed itself WIRFI and took 5,481 votes in the South African general election, 1994
South African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
, as well as Michel Varga
Michel Varga
Michel Varga, born Balazs Nagy, was a Hungarian Trotskyist activist.Varga was active in the DISZ, student organisation of the Hungarian Working People's Party, within which he was regarded as an intellectual. He was part of a group which in 1954 founded the Petofi discussion group, in opposition...
's Group of Opposition and Continuity of the Fourth International.
The majority of the South African section left the international in 1996 and renamed itself the Workers International Vanguard League
Workers International Vanguard League
The Workers International Vanguard League is a Trotskyist organisation in South Africa. It publishes Workers International News.The group's lie in the underground Trotskyist Revolutionaries group, founded in 1985...
.http://prome.snu.ac.kr/~skkim/data/article/files/nash01.html
Following the WRP(WP)'s dissolution and reconstitution as the Movement for Socialism (Britain)
Movement for Socialism (Britain)
The Movement for Socialism is a socialist group in the United Kingdom, led by Cliff Slaughter. It originated as one half of the major split in the Workers Revolutionary Party of 1985, following allegations about Gerry Healy's sexual activities...
, Gibson and Bob Archer led the remainder of the international in splitting from Slaughter.
The organisation retains its British section and may still claim the support of the WRP of Namibia and remnants of the South African group. Otherwise it seems moribund and last published its newspaper, Workers International News, in 2002.
In Britain, the group's supporters were active in the Socialist Alliance
Socialist Alliance (England)
The Socialist Alliance was a left-wing electoral alliance in England between 1992 and 2005.In late 2005, a small group reformed with the name "Socialist Alliance", with a mutual affiliation with the larger Alliance for Green Socialism.-Origins:...
and then the Democracy Platform
Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform
The Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform was a faction of the Socialist Alliance , a left-wing political group of England and Wales which existed between 1999 and 2005....
of that grouping. By 2004 they had also become involved with the Liverpool based Campaign for a Mass Workers Party and its offshoot, the United Socialist Party
United Socialist Party (UK)
The United Socialist Party is a British political organisation based in Liverpool. It was formed by a number of former Liverpool Dockers who had been active in the strike of the 1990s...
.
External links
- Workers International
- John Sullivan "Will the real WRP please stand up?" in As Soon As This Pub Closes