Conference reports
Theory
The year of Engels?
1995 saw the 100th anniversary of the death of
Friedrich Engels, the co-founder of Marxism, a leader and educator of the international workers' movement until his death, twelve years after his great friend Karl
Marx passed away:
Dozens of Marxist scholars came together in Paris from 17-20 October, to confirm the continuing validity of the theoretical contribution of Marx and Engels, and that, despite the recurring fashion for obituaries and autopsies of Marxism which have littered this century, dialectical materialism is still alive and well.
This particular event had two particular functions within the "return of the spectre of Marx". The first was to stress the fundamental contribution of Marx's alter ego, Friedrich Engels, to the development of their common theory, and to identify Engels' specific contribution to the theoretical body of classic Marxism.
contributed a number of original ideas, and made some very important corrections to
Marxist theory.
Maybe because of the division of labour between him and Marx, maybe because he outlived his companion, and witnessed years which were crucial for humanity in general, and the workers' movement in particular.
The letters Engels sent to his many, varied correspondents during the last years of his lite represent the first major detence, and illustration, ot a revolutionary and critical Marxism against dogmatic
"Marxism", and its deviant social democratic form, which seeks to adapt to the bourgeoisie.
The second role of this seminar demonstrated the modern-day relevance of Engels. His works include the major elements of a Marxist critique of the age of imperialism, and a sentiment, almost a prediction, of the degeneration which was to later affect this theory, and the movement which identified with it. It is without a doubt the collapse of the Stalinist lead seal which has provoked this return to the source of Marxism for the regeneration of our movement.
by Salah Jaber
Note
1. Seminars have also been held, or are planned, in Havana, Madrid, Mexico,
Milan, Wuppertal (Germany) and a range of cities in Africa and Asia. The Paris seminar, Friedrich Engels, savant et révolutionaire, was organised by Georges
Labica's research group at Université de Paris X-Nanterre.
in practice
European Forum of Left Feminists Organisations (Solidarity: allances and networking ),
Strategies towards the European Union and Other Interвко Фоти Артотеро Фешотріс rovernmental Bodies and their policies, and Women an
Two hundred Greek women and 60 participants from the
According to Sissy Vovou of the Greek organising
November, for the 10th annual conference of the
European Forum of Left Feminists. Participants movement, anti-racism, and immigrant rights, as
Spanish by our sister publication Inprecor para América Latina.
English and French absence of women from the current peace negotiations editions will soon be
The workshops were undoubtedly one of the strongest features of this conference. An ad hoc workshop, on minorities in Greece, was organised in order to meet the need for debate To order any of these editions, send that emerged during the conference. The other, planned £5/$10/60FF to your local IV agent, or workshops included the Balkans ("cross-roads of peoples, cross-roads of women"), Fortress Europe ("Deterring or write directly to P.E.C.I., at the same enforcing multi-culturalism among women?"), Women's address as International Viewpoint.
International Viewpoint December 1995 33 rest of Europe gathered in Athens from 3-5 included activists in the European women's
-undamentalısm committee, "the discussion was rich and interesting... It gives hope for the
Levelopment of the network at the European
The basis weakness of the conference was well as lett teminist academics. Greek participants included virtuallv all the Athens-based women's groups and associations, many former activists, and some who had not previously been involved in feminist activities. Women from Bosnia (Tuzla and Sarajevo), Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, FYR of centre, or a Parliament of Balkan Women').
Macedonia and from Cyprus also participated.
This inability to take decisions is obviously
The conference was open to men, and quite a few connected to the character of the Forum as a participated in some of the sessions.
loose communication network for feminist
The plenary session on theoretical issues, held collaboration. But there is nothing which on the first day, drew a large audience. Mary prevents participants from creating concrete
Leontsini and Antigoni Lymberaki's international initiatives following on from our presentation,
"Feminism and Difference", which discussions.
discussed the fragmentation of the social category "women" ion the "post-modern"
and presentations from the conference, and the eriod, provoked intense argument, so much so that the sharpest points of the discussion, should be subsequent discussion was dominated by the expression of published in book form in the coming months. We also hope to conflicting positions. This unfortunately left less space for publish a selection of materials in a future issue of International discussion of the — rather theoretical, but extremely rich — presentation on "Feminism of Equality, feminism of difference" by Bianca Beccali from Italy. Among other things, by Maria Karamessini and Sissy Vovou she showed how the feminist movement has, over the years, developed four distinct uses of the concept of "difference".
For more information contact either Jo Brew (101 rue des Deux Tours, 1030 Brussels,
The second morning opened with reports from the country
Belgium) or Jane Pillinger (16 Graham Av., Leeds, LS4 2LW, Britain). Annual membership in the Forum costs £10/500BEF/3600 DRA. Make cheques payable to "European Forum of representatives of the forum., discussion of our 1994 conference in Berlin, and of the 1995 UN Conference on Women, in
Beijing. Conference then discussed the reality, and perspectives, for women in this multi-ethnic and multi-cultural
Europe. Reports from tormented Bosnia and marginalised
Northern Ireland presented the reality of women's experience in the framework of war and national conflict, in two very
Internationalists' World Congress different parts of our continent.
The speakers from Sarajevo and Tuzla gave general political
The resolutions of the 14th World presentations, and requested the solidarity of the women present for the
Congress of the Fourth defence of the multi-ethnic and multi-
International, held in cultural character of Bosnia in this
June this year, have present, crucial phase of the peace negotiations.
been published in
Marie Malholland from Northern
Ireland described the real existing examples of networking among women from her country's two opposed communities, on the basis of their common problems. She denounced the
Ма фонитт лорт та так
Подолодго ки. Пойосенкі Бореїки
Viewpoint.
Left Feminists"
available.
the absence of decision-making, concerning the numerous proposals for networking, political solidarity, and development of initiatives directed towards the various institutions (including the idea of creating a As in previous years, the main introductions
ApreCor