New Pamphlet: The Socialist Party: its Principles and Policy (1934)

Party News from the November 1934 issue of the Socialist Standard 

Blogger's Note:

The text of this pamphlet is available on the SPGB's website.

Below is the Executive Committee's brief preface which appeared in the 1934 pamphlet.

 

S.P.G.B. Library No.12

The Socialist Party – Its Principles and Policy 1934

PREFACE

THE Socialist Party of Great Britain, together with its associated parties in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America, is sharply distinguished from other organisations claiming to be socialist by the care that it takes to ensure that none but socialists shall become members. At first sight it may be questioned by the onlooker  whether any such distinction exists. It may be said, for example, that there are many organisations the members of which are required to declare that they are socialists. Nevertheless, the difference is a real one, for the Socialist Party of Great Britain demands of its members something more than a formal declaration that they are socialists.  Applicants for membership are required to sign the Declaration of Principles printed on the inside cover of this pamphlet, and are expected to satisfy the branch before which their application comes that they understand and accept the principles in question.

The purpose of this care is not to retard the growth of the socialist movement, but to secure a firmly grounded and united membership. Effective socialist organisation cannot develop more quickly than the spread of socialist knowledge. To ignore this lesson, taught by the many failures in the history of the working class movement, is to invite the dissensions and desertions which always occur when a party based on a large but disunited membership has to face a crisis calling for firm decision.

In order, therefore, that the Socialist Party may be a fit instrument for the great task before us, we wish to provide applicants for membership with an explanation, as simple as possible, of our Declaration of Principles. That is the purpose of this pamphlet.

A pamphlet of this kind is bound to make somewhat difficult reading. for those who are not yet accustomed to a closely reasoned explanation of political and economic problems. Any reader who finds this to be his experience is urged not to be discouraged. The effort to understand the various clauses of our Declaration of Principles and to explore the lines of thought opened up in this pamphlet cannot fail to be of value, even if at first it presents a little difficulty. Readers are advised also to read our pamphlets “Socialism” and “The S.P.G.B. and Questions of the Day,” in which the treatment of different aspects of socialism is more general and will present less difficulty to the beginner.

Executive Committee, S.P.G.B.

August, 1934.