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From International Socialism, No.19, Winter 1964/5, p.28.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
A Faith to Fight For
Eric Deakins
Gollancz, 8s 6d.
‘Marxism is about economic forces: Socialism is about people.’ By his own cliché Deakins is no Marxist and not much of a socialist. His concern is largely with principles and ideals. The trouble with capitalism, it seems, derives from the principles of competition and private profit. We need to replace these by cooperation and service to the community. Before we can do this there are some obstacles to overcome. The opposition of vested interests is one. More important however are ‘the problems of emotionalism, narrow patriotism, selfishness, apathy and intolerance.’ Faced with these problems Deakins puts his faith into education and into support – almost critical – of the Labour Party.
Having shown himself to be a mixed-up elitist Deakins moves on to the traditional left-wing game of telling the Labour Party what to do. Here his sense of responsibility and his love for law and order come to the the fore, and all hints of extremism are lost in vagueness. For example: ‘Economic power is best made accountable when it is exercised by the community at national level in planning overall development of the economy, other control being devolved to a local level’; or, ‘reducing disparities in earned income to a reasonable level.’ Britain should give up her nuclear weapons but should remain in NATO – a purely defensive alliance – since the communists are enemies not just of capitalism but also of democracy. Chapters on education and, more particularly, on the underdeveloped world show an appalling ignorance of the problems involved or of their size. ‘A Faith to Fight For’ says the title. Anthony Greenwood in his foreword seems to agree. So, no doubt, would many of the responsible left. Few others will be inspired by this faith, even fewer by the book.
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Last updated on 4.9.2007