http://www.principiadialectica.co.uk/blog/index.php/6
A Stalinist Bookshop in the Heart of London?
The people who run the Socialist Workers’ Party bookshop called ‘Bookmarks’ in Central London are into censorship - and it stinks. We publish a magazine that any socialist or anti-capitalist would be interested in reading but the stiff bosses in Bloomsbury decided to censor it instead. Indeed, Issue No 2 is one of the few journals in the English language carrying articles by the German group Krisis, as well as the eminent and widely respected American Marx scholar Moishe Postone. Bookmarks refuse to stock the magazine and wouldn’t give us a reason. Principia Dialectica don’t allow a platform for fascists or racists: perhaps it’s because we encourage debate about some old Left-wing shibboleths, especially those to do with ‘class struggle’ - so dear to those unable to come to terms with the grim reality of 2006. This is too serious an issue simply for it to be a case of us here at Principia feeling ‘put out.’ The draconian management at Bookmarks are letting down anyone seriously engaged in an attempt to make sense of our world today. You may not agree with all the ideas contained in Principia Dialectica, but by remaining ignorant of the debates and issues we raise, anti-capitalists of all types will find it harder to win arguments in the wider world - a world that has moved on considerably since Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto. For the bug-eyed management at Bookmarks perhaps it is still as simple as ‘the workers versus the bosses.’ It’s a real shame though, because Bookmarks in the old days used to be a thriving socialist bookshop in the heart of North London, a real hub of debate and discussion, with a vast array of exciting literature, always full up with people. It’s hardly surprising that it’s usually empty now most days, and is only kept on the life support system by the party faithful, compliant enough to dig deep week after week to pay the bills.
We gave the SWP one last chance to wise up: A member of the Central Committee who used to be known for her independence of mind and spirit failed to respond. Sadly, she too has been lost to the party mince machine. Luckily, the comrades can sneak off to those bookshops in London that aren’t scared of challenging ideas…
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