International Socialist Group (Scotland)
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The International Socialist Group was a
revolutionary socialist Revolutionary socialism is a political philosophy, doctrine, and tradition within socialism that stresses the idea that a social revolution is necessary to bring about structural changes in society. More specifically, it is the view that revoluti ...
organisation based in Scotland which was formed in April 2011 by former members of the Socialist Workers Party.Socialist Unit
"Letter of resignation by 39 SWP members in Scotland"
posted on SocialistUnity.com, 13 April 2011
The group produced a free monthly broadsheet and online blog, ''Communiqué''. The ISG participated in a number of campaigns, such as the Coalition of Resistance,
Stop the War Coalition The Stop the War Coalition (StWC), informally known simply as Stop the War, is a British group established on 21 September 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks, to campaign against what it believes are unjust wars. The Coalition has c ...
and the
Radical Independence Campaign The Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) is a grassroots organisation which advocates for Scotland to become a republic, independent of the United Kingdom. It was established in 2012 in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in ...
. In 2015 the ISG formally dissolved with its members participating in the Scottish Left Project, the organisational process which led to the
RISE Rise or RISE may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * '' Rise: The Vieneo Province'', an internet-based virtual world * Rise FM, a fictional radio station in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto 3'' * Rise Kujikawa, a vide ...
electoral alliance to contest the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary elections alongside
Scottish Socialist Party The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP; gd, Pàrtaidh Sòisealach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Socialist Pairtie) is a left-wing political party campaigning for the establishment of an independent socialist Scotland. The party was founded in 1998. It c ...
, individuals from the
Radical Independence Campaign The Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) is a grassroots organisation which advocates for Scotland to become a republic, independent of the United Kingdom. It was established in 2012 in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in ...
and other activists and trade unionists. Notable figures within the ISG included Jonathon Shafi, co-founder of the Radical Independence Campaign, and Cat Boyd.


History

In April 2011, 39 members of the Socialist Workers Party in Scotland, including Central Committee member
Chris Bambery Chris Bambery is a Scottish political activist, socialist, author, journalist, and TV presenter and producer, most recently with the Islam Channel where he hosts their current affairs programme ''The Report''. Prior to the 2017 UK General Elect ...
, the majority of the elected Scottish leadership, and the circulation officer for
Socialist Worker ''Socialist Worker'' is the name of several far-left newspapers currently or formerly associated with the International Socialist Tendency (IST). It is a weekly newspaper published by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in the United Kingdom since ...
, resigned from the SWP, stating that the party had no credible strategy to fight the government's cuts agenda. Members of the International Socialist Group argued that a realignment of the Scottish left with other progressive forces was possible. The ISG set itself the challenge of demonstrating successful cooperation with such forces which they believed was not possible or credible within the SWP which they left. The resignations were followed by the formation of a new Marxist organisation called the International Socialist Group. It was predominantly based in Glasgow at first, but later expanded into Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen. In 2012, the ISG opened its National Office in Glasgow City Centre. The ISG was a key organisation in the creation of the
Radical Independence Campaign The Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) is a grassroots organisation which advocates for Scotland to become a republic, independent of the United Kingdom. It was established in 2012 in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in ...
, which was established at its founding conference in 2012. In the run up to the
Scottish independence referendum A referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014. The referendum question was, "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" or "No". The "No" side wo ...
in 2014 the ISG through its involvement in RIC advocated a progressive and left-wing perspective on supporting Scottish independence. The ISG championed close cooperation and unity with other organisations and individuals perceived as being on the left of Scottish and international politics in its approach to RIC and the independence referendum. Despite the referendum returning a 'No' vote, the ISG argued that the unity of purpose and action which was practiced during the referendum campaign demonstrated that the Scottish left could effectively work together in a new electoral organisation for the upcoming Scottish parliamentary elections. To this end, the ISG helped set up the Scottish Left Project to bring together like-minded groups and individuals to discuss a new electoral approach which culminated in the creation of RISE - Scotland's Left Alliance in 2015. Later that year the ISG formally dissolved to allow its members to fully participate in the new left-wing alliance - meeting the objective of building and participating in a new Scottish left organisation that the ISG set itself four years previously at its founding.


Theory

The ISG focussed on left-wing unity and renewal in its written output. Articles have discussed the progressive potential of
Scottish independence Scottish independence ( gd, Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba; sco, Scots unthirldom) is the idea of Scotland as a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom, and refers to the political movement that is campaigning to bring it about. S ...
and its implications for the rest of the UK. They have also criticised 'Left British Nationalism'. Other issues discussed include the need for a realistic appraisal of the trade union movement and its relationship to the rising level of social movements, the rightward shift of
Scottish Labour Scottish Labour ( gd, Pàrtaidh Làbarach na h-Alba, sco, Scots Labour Pairty; officially the Scottish Labour Party) is a social democratic political party in Scotland. It is an autonomous section of the UK Labour Party. From their peak of ...
, and the need for new formats for left unity.


Practice

The ISG took part in the Coalition of Resistance, which campaigned against austerity and organised numerous demonstrations and actions including a women's march against cuts, the "We Are All Hana Shalabi" campaign which has organised demonstrations and occupations over Palestinian hunger strikes and Israeli
assaults An assault is the act of committing physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in crim ...
on the Gaza Strip, and the Radical Independence Campaign to campaign for Scottish independence on a progressive platform.


Publications

Along with various books and pamphlets, the ISG published a free monthly colour broadsheet, ''Communiqué'', with a Scottish editorial focus. The ISG's position on Scottish independence, outlined in ''Britain Must Break: The Internationalist Case for Independence'' by James Foley, received positive reviews from the Scottish left. * ''Women on the Left'' (2013) * ''Britain Must Break: The Internationalist Case for Independence'' (2012)


References

{{UK far left Socialism in Scotland Politics of Scotland Political parties established in 2011 Defunct Trotskyist organisations in the United Kingdom 2011 establishments in Scotland 2015 disestablishments in Scotland