SOCIALIST Challenge has deservedly won itself a reputation among independents the most serious paper on the left today. Because of this reputation, it is all the more serious that your coverage of recent events in China, over the past several weeks, has descended to rank class collaborationism.
Class collaborationism is a harsh term. But how else characterise the slavish imitation of the bourgeois line on China.
Since the death of Mao, bourgeois press has praised the new spirit of 'openness" hailed the end of Mao's 'dictatorship' and the dawning of a 'Peking Spring'. And what do you have, by way of a proletarian line, to counterNothing. Only the same bourgeois bourgeois carch phrases: *democracy human rights'.
As Lenin frequently pointed out, talk of abstract democracy meaningless. Marxists alwavs ask the question: democracy for whom?
It is clear that, since 1976, moves have been made in China strengthen the privileges managerial and intellectual strata. It NORTH WEST WARRINGTON Socialist Challenge group meets regularly. Ring chester Socialist Challenge offices fo Man details. U01-230 2392 GREATER MANCHESTER Socialist 226 4287)
Socialist Mupporters sell the paster at Cost Side MOSS SIDE Socialist Centre, Saturday, 11-1. now meets fortnighty in goes group days. For details phone 061-136 2352 or write to Manchester SC Centre, c/o 14 PiccaCHy Zimbabwer Speaker Pete Evans (NW liaisor • Thur 22 Feb, 7.45pm, in Windsor Castle pub, Egan St.
NORTH EAST NEWCASTLE Socialist Challenge local supporters are acuver ir you want Socialist Challenge 8 February 1979 page 14 should be the case in China?
In failing Socialist aligned can the in China and of the right of the Irish people to selfguidance on the wisdom of wizards