Building an economy for the people
An alternative economic and political strategy for 21st Century Britain
Edited by Jonathan White with contributions from: Mark Baimbridge; Brian Burkitt; Mary Davis; John Foster; Marjorie Mayo; Jonathan Michie; Seumas Milne; Andrew Murray; Roger Seifert; Prem Sikka; Jonathan White and Philip Whyman
FREE to Left Unity supporters at http://www.manifestopress.org.uk
This book challenges the consensus that has confined political economy to the options that the banks and big business will accept. Based on the policy agenda that Britain’s trade union and labour movement have begun to shape it analyses what is wrong with the British economy, arguing that the country’s productive base is too small, that the economy has become too financialised and that power has become concentrated on a narrow economic fraction based in the City.
It sets out policies to establish democratic and social control of the City, arguing that regulation is not enough. The book focuses on how immediate growth and longer-term re-industrialisation might be achieved, arguing that a socially owned banking sector can foster the creation of a new, sustainable, social housing sector, a new communications infrastructure and new green industries.
The book argues for an alternative economic strategy that breaks political dependence on the US, and diversifies economic relationships, fostering those with emerging BRICS economies and questioning anew our dependence on the European Union, whose ‘social model’ now seems a distant memory.
Critically the book tackles the problems that a progressive government would face and argues that an alternative economic strategy must be accompanied by measures to devolve political power and encourage the active participation of the people in exercising control over the actions of big business and finance in Britain.
It insists on the importance of a strategy that can boost spending power among the British people, begin to narrow the widening inequalities in British society and raise the standard of living and build a new, democratised public realm that insulates people from dependence on volatile financial markets.
Building an economy for the people
An alternative economic and political strategy for 21st Century Britain
Edited by Jonathan White.
Contributions from: Mark Baimbridge; Brian Burkitt; Mary Davis; John Foster; Marjorie Mayo; Jonathan Michie; Seumas Milne; Andrew Murray; Roger Seifert; Prem Sikka; Jonathan White and Philip Whyman
Paperback: £6.95 (+£1 p&p) ISBN 978-1-907464-08-9
8 comments
8 responses to “Building an economy for the people”
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A great book (or ,at only 69 closely argued pages – a long pamphlet) . The arguments, analysis and suggested strategies and policies contained in this booklet could well be fruitfully adopted wholesale by Left Unity for its Economic Strategy/policy. As a free download EVERY Left Unity supporter is well advised to secure a copy ASAP.
The strategy of the pamphlet is , quite rightly at this tactical point in the current capitalist crisis, an essentially “transitional” one, in that its very radical transformational objectives and policies are couched in terms of “radical reform” , not outright socialist revolution. And all the better for that. But make no mistake, the coherent radically transformational programme outlined in this booklet would require a direct confrontation with both domestic and international capitalism , such as to spark a confrontation between the working class and capitalism of an eventually revolutionary dimension.
Unfortunately the booklet doesn’t actually call for a new Left Party to drive this radical economic/political strategy – but given it’s correct analysis of New Labour’s now long time neoliberal ideology and practice, this is really the only tactical weakness/oversight of the argument presented.
Great booklet. Please read it !
The proposal for the creation of a sovereign wealth and pension fund which is described in the post on the Economy Commission board and linked to an attachment, would strengthen the proposals set out in this compelling pamphlet/booklet. It goes quite a lot further than the “reforming pension funds” policy proposed in the booklet but has the ssme underlying objective.
So why are we all going to Manchester then?
Seems policy has been made by the leadership for us.
Whilst I have a number of concerns, taken overall, this is a good document.
It has the right target in it’s sights: finance capital.
Although it could be read as reformist, if we ever get anywhere near close to be able to implement it, it will either drive us forward to a truly socialist society, or end up being abandoned & capitulation to finance capital.
Defeat would only usher in even more reactionary & barbaric forces.
I think this could form the basis of debate for a serious fight-back against the neo-liberal onslaught.
(Shame it wasn’t made available earlier)
The two main concerns I have with this pamphlet/book are:
1. Lacks a material basis for the rise of finance & financialisation & gives the impression that it’s poor regulation due to not winning the battle of ideas with the Thatcherites. Consequently, that capitalism & it’s crises can be resolved by better regulation. This can lead to class collaboration; that a fairer, reformed capitalism can work for all.
2. That it is green to build thousands more houses. There has already been huge ecological damage done by loss of habitat. You can’t destroy more habitat & claim putting solar panels on the roofs makes it green. There is a housing problem (as well as an ecological problem) but there isn’t overcrowding. Much better to take into public ownership all those second, third, fourth, fifth, etc., homes with no compensation. In effect abolish the landlords. This will be more popular & not ecologically damaging.
This is a really interesting pamphlet and well worth a read. Manifesto is a great little press (I think run by the Communist Party of Britain – the pamphlet sounds like them anyway).
It is a bit disingenuous for say “FREE to Left Unity supporters” as it is of course free to everyone and anyone.
A fantastic contribution to the debate about alternatives to austerity from the Communist Party of Britain here. They give what Lenin described as a ‘concrete analysis of a concrete situation’. This is an election manifesto which, unfortunately, is without a party to take it to the public. More of this please!
Impressed with this book/pamphlet, it doesn’t read like a tract nor does it offer vague conceptual tautologies. The analyses it offers read like they are based in reality as are the solutions it provides.
This isn’t going to sway those on the left who don’t believe in transitional demands. But I doubt that socialism is going to be built in one step, so surely this has got to be the starting point.
I’m no sectarian, I don’t care that they’re from the Communist Party of Britain. I’ve read some of the Manifesto Press books and CPB pamphlets before. They are usually very good.