Strikes and demonstrations are a constant feature of resistance to capitalist society, but they often proceed in isolation from each other and fail to confront the system itself.

So what is needed to overthrow this cycle of booms, busts and wars orchestrated by a minority of business barons - an arrangement dominated by financial speculators and millionaire politicians who steal the wealth produced by the labour of others?

Britain's Road to Socialism (BRS) argues that two fundamental, interlocking elements are needed if state-monopoly capitalism is to be challenged successfully.

First, a coherent alternative economic and political strategy (AEPS) has to be developed that inspires and unites the organised working class and progressive movements.

Second, a popular, democratic anti-monopoly alliance of forces has to be built to pursue such a strategy - an alliance that is sustainable and unstoppable.Progress towards socialism will require the left and the labour movement to learn from the disparate industrial and community battles that take place, and work to unite a mass movement in which the organised working class would be the leading force.

The new BRS recognises that such an alliance must take account of the different conditions in Scotland and Wales, with their own distinctive legislatures, politics and policies.

However, as the majority of the capitalist monopolies are owned and controlled at the British level, and political power is predominantly exercised through the British state, it is essential to maintain and strengthen the unity in the labour and progressive movements built up across the three nations of Britain.

To be effective, the AEPS must have at its heart a left-wing programme (LWP) of policies that promotes the interests of the working class and the majority of ordinary people.

As the class struggle has three distinct but inter-related fronts - economic, political and cultural-ideological - the LWP addresses these areas.

The economic objective must be to protect and improve living standards for working people and their families based on full employment in a modern, productive, balanced and sustainable domestic economy.

The People's Charter for Change, the Charter for Women and the Charter for Youth all contain policies that set out the first steps in this process.

In doing so, they lay the basis for more advanced policies to be developed by a future left-wing government committed to curbing the City financial domination of the economy.

The LWP therefore proposes taking the financial sector and key industries into democratic ownership, imposing controls on the export of capital and ensuring that Britain can pursue its own foreign policy independent from the US and the European Union.

This, alongside establishing a progressive taxation system, would make it possible to fund the massive investment needed in public services, manufacturing and housing, and to develop an integrated, publicly-owned transport system and new and safer forms of energy production.

In order to expand democratic rights and popular participation in every form of struggle, the LWP proposes the repeal of all anti-democratic, racist and anti-trade union laws, abolition of the House of Lords, the renewal of local government and progress towards a federal republic including a parliamentary chamber for England.

The LWP also includes policies to promote the values of collectivism, co-operation, multiculturalism and solidarity, encouraging the development of a people's, democratic culture.

The media monopolies that promote racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism and the values of monopoly capitalism would be broken up in favour of wider participation.

The Morning Star - as the only daily paper of the labour movement and with an editorial policy based on Britain's Road to Socialism - will play an increasingly important role in the battle of ideas to inform, mobilise and inspire the popular and revolutionary movement.

The election of a left government based on a Labour, Socialist and Communist majority - backed by a popular democratic anti-monopoly alliance and committed to the LWP - would mark the opening stage of Britain's socialist revolution, but it will not be achieved without the working class fully engaging in the electoral struggle.

Whether such governments are won with or without electoral alliances or pacts is less important than the need for socialists and communists to approach electoral strategy with a combination of political principle and tactical flexibility.

Different levels of left co-operation, co-ordination and unity are possible in election periods, although the Communist Party's preference is to build strategic alliances based on mass campaigning in between elections rather than rely upon short-term tactical agreements.

Winning elections in England, Scotland and Wales will be necessary to ensure that such a LWP has the democratic endorsement of the people.

Popular support and participation will be vital when countering attempts by monopoly capitalism and its supporters - within and outside the state apparatus - to challenge and sabotage the left government and its policies.

The new edition of Britain's Road to Socialism can now be ordered from CPB, Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon CR0 1BD for £4 (including £1 postage).

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/109135