On ICL’s Reorientation

Workers Vanguard,

As a longtime reader of Workers Vanguard, I was initially baffled and hostile to the ICL’s reorientation. What did you mean by liberalism? Weren’t you always fighting against it? Were you about to liquidate into the rapidly evaporating reformist swamp? Were you turning your back on your principles and history of struggle, junking Spartacism in all but name?

I sided with the Internationalist Group and Bolshevik Tendency in the debates, but remained unconvinced for a long time as to who had the best understanding of reality and what way forward, crucially on the biggest issues facing any self-described leftist. How to best oppose US imperialism as it spreads carnage in Ukraine, genocide in Palestine, and misery at home and across the globe? How to convince other leftists to break from empty moralism, sectarianism and adventurism? How to move the working class with Marxism?

Over time, I became convinced that your reorientation was correct and overdue. I’m impressed by the concreteness of your analysis and calls for action, the non-sectarian, comradely approach to other leftists, clearly spelling out differences with suggestions for common work. I applaud your approach to the working class and oppressed, challenging different prejudices, driving a class wedge in your modest defense work and campaigns. I love the latest issue of Spartacist, the relaunch of Women & Revolution, your international press, YouTube videos and SpartTalk. I could offer my two cents on a number of issues, but more concretely, I want to resubscribe to Workers Vanguard, and donate to your press and the Partisan Defense Committee.