New Left Review

The July/August edition of NLR contains at least three important articles, Jon Halliday writes on "Japan - Asian Capitalism", attempting to distinguish the important historical and contemporary features of the country which is about to become the third industrial power in the world. This is a subject which ze worthy of much greater attention in socialist journals, An interview with Isaac Deutscher on the Arab-Israel war provides a useful clarification of the confusion which has hit the left on this issue. He also pays particular attention to the role of the Soviet Union in the crisis showing how the demands of 'peaceful co-existence' have once again led her rulers into the most contradictory position, Deutscher makes it plain that Soviet assurances must largely explain Arab unpreparedness for Israel's pre-emptive strike, Nicolas Krasso contributes an article on 'Trotsky's Marxism’, which is bound to raise considerable controversy, He attempts to show that the latter suffered, throughout his lifetime, from a constant tendency to overestimate the importance of the movement of social classes and to ignore political considerations, He goes on to examine Trotsky's attitude to the party, the industrialisation debates, the theory of permanent revolution etc. in the light of this analysis. It is to be hoped that this article will provoke further contributions, The Review also contains contributions in the 'Work' series from 2 railway employees, further discussion on students and the Dominican Republic and a note by Conor Cruis O'Brien on 'Encounter' magazine, Obtainable from NLR, 7, Carlisle Street, London, W.1. 5/-.