...snip...
To my mind this whole debate is trying to reinvent the wheel. The
mapping of this political terrain has been done to a certain extent by
the non-statist socialist thinkers of about three generations ago. After
1917 it became a backwater of political thinking. It was too messy and
provisional and did not offer the certaintities of the state and
scientific planning.It was believed to be quaint and slightly barmy. I
believe the post-war state was an honest attempt to create a better
society that succeeded partially in some areas. The state centralising
dynamic was a real mistake, especially the belief that planning would
solve all problems. The third way is obviously a way of trying to
re-express the ideas of non-statist socialism, but nobody dare use the
s-word, not if you are to be taken seriously by New Labour.
The motivation behind the 'co-op and chapel' society of the Pennine
industrial towns was in essence third way. So is the voluntarism in the
internal structures of some trade unions. In this area of the map we
will find models to experiment with and update to include concepts such
as sustainability, and save ourselves a lot of time. Labour will not be
in power forever and we need to get on with it!
David Wild
National Chair
Unison, Environment Agency
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