Editorial

AFRICA IN STRUGGLE editorial At the beginning of the sixties, imperialisin managed to maintain its domination over Africa by stabilising neocolonial regimes. The formal political independence did not in any way challenge the capitalist structures of these regimes. Today a new period has opened up as a result of successful liberation struggles throughout the Third World. The success of the Vietnamese revolution proves again that the forces of colonialism and imperialism are not invincible. The Vietnamese workers and peasants defeated first the French and then the American imperialists in the face of the most formidable weapons of destruction at the disposal of their enemies. They acheived. their victory after thirty years of tenacious and bloody struggle. The successful liberation struggles in Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau dealt the first blow to imperialist strategy in Africa. The southern region of the continent remains the zone where decisive battles are taking place. The fall of Portuguese colonialism in this area and the unfolding of the socialist revolution in Angola poses new problems for the whole imperialist world. In Rhodesia Smith is fighting his last battle to preserve white supremacy; in South Africa black workers and students continue their struggle; Zambia, Ethiopia, Nigeria and many other African countries are also facing intense political and economic crises. Vorster's 'detente' is nothing but an imperialist manoeuvre to dissolve the liberation movements and to strengthen the South African state and the regimes of its neocolonial neighbours in preparation for the forthcoming struggles. Neocolonial Africa, tied to the imperialist world economy has been hit by inflation and recession. Poverty, starvation, mass unemployment and repression are the day to day realities in these countries. The nationalist regimes, despite in some cases socialist rhetoric, are unable and unwilling to break from capitalism. In all these countries, mass movements are emerging on to the political scene: witness the recent strikes and political unrest in Angola' Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya. Yet, the African revolutionary vanguard is still very weak. The revolutionary process in Africa has suffered not only from the objective barrier; centuries of imperialist donination and the lack of a strong urban proletariaț, but also from the degeneration of the Third Conmunist International. Stalinist betrayals have meant that for a whole historic period the African revolutionary vanguard has not been able to intervene effectively in the African class struggle; it has not been able to lead the mass movement in an anti-capitalist direction, and it has not been able to integrate itself within the traditions of the international working class movement. The vital problem facing African revolutionary marxists is to formulate a programme for the emancipation of the African workers and peasants on a national and continental scale. Only by developing and testing revolutionary theory and in the practise of constructing revolutionary parties can this be achieved. The Fourth International and especially its African comrades are addressing themselves to this historical responsibility. In addition to solidarising with and popularising African struggles in Britain the British Section of the Fourth International ( the International Marxist Group) is producing a thrice yearly publication "Africa in Stuggle' devored to the problems of the African Revolution. Ideological clarity is essential in the building of vanguard organisations. 'Africa in Struggle' will not content itself to be a mere spectator or reporter of African events; it will atempt to provide analysis within the framework of revolutionary marxism and aims to be a forum for all African socialist militants for discussion, debate and clarification. For us the three main issues which must be constantly kept to the fore by African militants are; These issues are dealt with throughout the articles in the journal and in more detail in our article The comrades producing 'Africa in Struggle' hold regular discussion groups: on themes of the Atrican Revolution and are engaged in solidarity work in Britain today. Those wishing to participate in our discussions and activities and those wishing to contribute to 'Africa in Struggle' should write to: NB Closing date for receipt of copy for inclusion in the next issue of 'Africa in Struggle' is 1. Socialist revolution or revolution by stages? 2. The necessity of a Leninist vanguard party for the seizure of power. 3. Proletarian Internationalism or petit-bourgeois Pan-Africanism? entitled 'Smash the Neocolonial State!'. LONDON NI. December Ist 1.975. THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN EUROPE PORTUGAL- ONE YEAR OF TURMOIL "AFRICA IN STRUGGLE' (ed); 97, CALEDONIAN ROAD, INTERNATIONAL A NEW ISSUE OF THE IMG'S THEORETICAL JOURNAL Mandel on WORKERS' SELF MANAGEMENT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE BRITISH RULING CLASS CHILE-THE COUP AND AFTER