Occupied by the Arts

Progressive people are delighted by the blossoming of the Occupy…phenomenon.  Many of us are not quite sure where it all came from so quickly and heaven knows where it is all going on to, but one thing is for sure, it has given some energy to the Left.

And for certain, that is what the Left need.  After 30 years of Thatcherite hegemony and the rightward drift of Social Democratic and Labour parties, the Left has looked tired and defeated.  This has of course meant that the Neo-Cons and Neo-Liberals have been able to eat away at the progressive gains made for ordinary people over the past five decades. 

The most recent crisis in Capitalism, far from causing the retreat of Thatcherism, has been used to accelerate its key objective – the further erosion of the state.  With little parliamentary representation, progressive political parties have been struggling to stem the tide, whatever about being able to initiate the kind of social and economic policy that we need in the 21^st century.

I am coming to the conclusion that the role of the political party as a vanguard is in question.  I have had this debate with good comrades from several progressive parties and I understand the role that formal party structures can and do play in parliaments, assemblies and in terms of being able to organise and populate campaigns and protests.

But it is only when campaigns broaden out that we see a real impact.   Sectarianism on the Left plays a part in alienating parties from each other and with non-aligned individuals from party structures.  Whatever it may be that causes people to feel excluded or want to be excluded from this aspect of the body politic, the fact remains.

Of course, conservative and reactionary forces want us to be cynical about politics so that we don’t play a part and this has added to the sense of detachment felt by the majority.

It is only when campaigns and issues are dealt with in a wider sense do we see progress.  During the late 1950’ and throughout the 1960’s we had a revolution in music and the arts.   That this coincided with the first generation of working class people coming through the University system and an empowered Trade Union movement meant we had a potent mix calling for change.  The influence of all of this permeated society and crucially the education sector – particularly higher education.  It took reactionary forces a decade or so to counter this and the proceeding 30 years or so to row back on many of the gains made.  The failure of the left in that period warrants further analysis – but not in this article!

Whether political parties are welcome or not at the occupied venues needs to be worked out.  Personally, I believe that the parties need to be involved as they bring experience and stamina. They also have access to the media, especially during elections and could do much to highlight the occupations and add gravitas.   But I do agree that any hijacking – or perceived high jacking – would be counter-productive.  Therefore any involvement would have to be unobtrusive on the ground and without the usual jockeying for position with banners and posters that can turn a decent event into a farce.   In fact party posters should continue to be banned.

This should be an education for the party activists and hierarchies as well.  What use is there in having a self-serving party?  Loose the party ego, so to speak.  The broad objectives are the same.  Broad Left or Broad Progressive is probably the best way forward if we want to avoid division and alienation anyway.

And what is needed, in my opinion, is inclusivity.  When artists, film-makers, musicians and other performers feel that they can join in – on the same non-takeover basis of course – then we could see something truly interesting developing.  The creative arts have a far wider reaching and encompassing appeal than party politics.  I may bemoan that as someone who has spent half of life involved in party activism of one sort or another, but my experience has informed my view here.

These Occupations do have a wide appeal and the creative community can feel able to participate without fear of being branded.  I hope that the occupiers can see that and encourage musicians, film-makers and all artists into the fold.

If this is truly a concerted effort to defeat the barbarity of untrammelled capitalism, then it has to be as revolutionary as the 60’s.  The arts have a lead role to play.