Report:
The March 1978 Annual General Conference of the African Students Union (UK) marked the second anniversary of the mass anticimperialist union of African stud+ ents. Of the many issues discussed at the Conference, "three issues of importance are taken up in this report. (fuller details of the resolutions discussed and passed are available by writing to the ASU Secretary at the address given below) Soviet & Cuban intervention This discussion arose out of a report submitted by a majority in the outgoing executive. This dacument advanced an analysis of the African continent in the last year which made the continent the battlefield for the struggles between the 'two Superpowers! - the USA and USSR. It denounces the Soviet Union as 'social inperialist' which it describes as the most cunning, insidious and dangerous enemy of the African people'.. The proponents of these arguments fervently den-, ounce the support given by the Soviet Union to reactionary regimes in Africa, Yet ironically these same people have been totally silent on the similar support given by China to similarly reactionary regimes - for instance to the Mobutu regime in Zaire. Similarly in the Ogaden, the failure of the standard bearers of 'socialism' to offer support or a political perspective can only strengthen the reactionary ideology of 'Greater Somalia'. In the midst of this tragedy - for no other word adequately describes the sit . uation - it is left to the still tiny forces of revolutionary socialism in Africa to keep alive the principles of proletarian internationalism. RICHARD CARVER ASU conference The proponents of the document came well prepared to the Conference; they circulated a leaflet (4 pages long) in which they attempted to express their reasons for why the Soviet Union was the 'main enemy', why it woe 'imperi-lint'. The themes explored in the latter document will be the subject of an inticle to appear in a future number of the journal. Iwo ma jor reasons for this resnonse by African students lie behind the virulent attack ngainst the Soviet Union - : positive and a negative reason. Positively, on the one hand, the response is that only the peoples of Africa can golve their own problems themselves. There can be no doubt at all that this is a fundamentally correct position. The toilers and oppressed of Africa can and will find their own liberation through their own struggles. They cannot enancipete themselves without depending on their own potentials and strengths. Africa will be liberated by the oppressed of Africa for the uppressed of Africa, not by anyone else. Anyone who advances any argument contrary to this position can only do so on the basis of paternalism, which is so commonly experienced by Africans from liberal white bourgeois ideologues. Build the African Students Union There is also a basic disgust, and correctly so, for the manoeuvrings of the Soviet Union in its relations with African despots and regimes. Such manoeuvres derive not from the interests of the oppressed and their struggles in Africa, even less so from the interests of the Soviet working class: they derive from the specific needs of the Soviet bureaucracy . which long ago (following the death of Lenin)appropriated political power from the hands of the Soviet workers - in their diplomatio manoeuvres of detente with imperialism. And what is the object behind these manoeuvres? - the defence of the policy of building 'socialism in one country' - all their policies end internationel relations are subservient to this need. The struggles of the oppressed throughout the world become secondary to the utopian dream of building socialism in the USSR, and equally important, cecondery to allowing the bureaucratic alete leadership maintaining its political domination in the Soviet Union. The behaviour of the Chinese leadership has not, however, been objectively (no matter what rationalisations they may give for their international relations) that much different - and not only on the African scene. Was not China one of the first to recognise the military junta in Chile following the destruction of the Allende goverrment? But why, we must ask, do the proponents of the thesis of 'gocial imperialien' not also call China 'social imperialist'? It is good that they understand that China is not so - but they are inconsistent to say the least! Yet when it comes to Cuba they are content to call that 'social imperialist' because of its close relationship with the USSR. One can only presume that their deafering silence on the role of China in Africa 1s because they have decided to adopt the political positions of the Chinese leadership. Their loyalty to this workers state is touching, but somewhat romantic! Neither China, nor UNSR, nor Cube are imperialist! : 25 It is clear that the proponents of the 'social imperialist' thesis differ with Lenin on the nature of imperialism. We refer readers to the article by Erich 'Is the USSR an imperialist country?, Far1: in AiS Vol.1 Io. 2 for a detailed critiaue of the thesis. Let us here make one point: the African countries remain todry in the. grip of imperialism as they have for the last hundred years: the lesson to be drawn since the 'independence' of these countries is clearly that one gennot legislate imperialism out of a country: one cannot simply demand that it goes. Surely the lessons of the Chinese and Vietnamese revolutions tell us something?...that without a thoroughgoing socialist revolution imperialism remains to stay and dominate the country. Iet, I will ask the comrades one question: how was it that Egypt, without any mass mobilisation or any cocialist revolution, was able tro yeers ago to get rid of the USSR from that country...likewise, end more recently, Somalia..? If they are imperialist, and moreover 'the most cunning, insidious and dangerous enemy of the African people' as well, presumably the other inperialists should be eanier to get rid of? The executive report, however, was only accepted by the Conference by a small majority, with 40% voting against. It war felt that the ASU should organise seminars in which this discussion could take place further. It is hoped that such a seminar will take place, and that it vill allow a broader debate to take place than is likely in the conference to be organised this year by IKEZI. The latter promise a conference that "will be firmly in the hands of those organisations thet have a clear cut anti-imperialist, antisocial imperialist and anti-hegemonic position". (Bulletin on the Conference on Social Imperialism in Africa, Nol, larch 1978)... in other words, only those who agree should attend! Women & the ASU The conference agreed to the need for lan independent organisation of African women The 'Organd women of African descent'. anisation of African Nomen and Homen of African Descent' (OVAAD) is now in the proces: of being formed by women in the 26 This move marks an historical Union. step forward in the struggle of women to fight their own oppression and to fight against all forms of sexism among African students. Of particular importance was the fact that the women won the right to form an autonomous organisation of women, and at the same time remaining part of the anti-imperialist unity of African students. The subject of womens oppression in Africa has been one that has only rarely been taken up in a serious manner. It is hoped that the formation of OWAAD will open up new horizons in this arena of struggle. Soweto 3) The final point of major importance was the resolution unanimously approved on the question of Soweto, We reprint this resolution in full: Regolution on Soweto This Conference acknowledges the historic and heroic role of the students of Soweto who went into struggle against the racist state of South Africa in June 1976: With their own blood and their bare hands they faced alone one of the most powerful and ruthless regimes in the modern world. By their action they put a stop to the ciuel deceit of 'detente' in Southern Africa, and opened up a new period of struggle against the apartheid regime. June 1976 deserves to go down in the history of Africa as a memorable date. We pledge ourselves to ensure that the Soweto students will never again have to fight alone. We will do everything poss- Ible to guarantee that in their present and future struggles they have behind them the whole of Africa, and the support of all those who oppose racism and imper ialism around the world. The African Studente Union Conference therefore appeals for a mass commenor ation of the second anniversary of Soneto in June this year. At a time when Britiah imperialism is frantically manoeuvring to prevent the destruction of the white racist regime in Zimbabwe, it is essential that a demonstration of mass support for the liberation struggle in Southern Africa should tale place in London. Conference calls upon all organisations concerned with the struggle in southern Africa, all organisations of the student, labour and socialist movement, and ail groups opposed to racist and imperialist oppression to support this appeal. It mandates the Executive of ASU to convene a meeting of such organisations supporting this appeal at the earliest possible date, with a view to forming a united mobilising committee, and ensuring the broadest possible support for the commemoration of the Soweto anniversary and the cause of freedom in Southern Africa.' In spite of the rapid growth of the ASU, there is still a need to continue to struggle to build a truly representative union of anti-imperialist African students. we urge our readers who are not already members to join inmediately. We urge those who are already members to attempt to build local branches of the Union. As is apparent from the above discussions, many different viewpoints amongst antiimperialist students exist - each have the right to struggle for and voice their views so long as they accept the basic constitution of the Union. You are not bound to agree with the positions of any grouping within the Union - be it in a majority or minority, If you disagree with the views or activities of the Union, join it to change them. If you agree join it to keep it so! FOI more details write to: African Students Union (UK) 1, Cambridge Terrace, Iondon N.W. 1.