Views from the Left

The Views From The Left lecture series is the first activity organized by a marxist institute which is in the process of being formed in Toronto. The speakers will provide critical radical perspectives on a number of topics of current importance. Their presentations will be followed by question/discussion periods.

At this point, the marxist centre does not yet exist in a physical location or a finished form. Consequently, in addition to their intrinsic value, the lectures are seen as a kick-off for the broader venture, conceived of as consisting of a number of different facets.

These will include the following: (a) a building, which can house the other activities and resources and act as a meeting place (b) seminars, discussion groups, and lecture series on various topics of interest (e.g. basic Marxism, History of the Canadian Labour Movement, the Third World, the role of education in capitalist society, liberation of women, etc.) (c) a library and reading room with books, pamphlets, and periodicals (d) resource people, who can share their knowledge and views with others, give help in finding research material, provide assistance with leaflets, etc. (e) sale of left materials (f) research on topics of importance from a left-wing perspective.

Clearly, all these things cannot be created instantaneously, out of the blue. However, it is apparent that the need for such a centre does exist in Toronto. If the response to the lecture series indicates that interest is there and that support – work, equipment, books, money, etc. is available, then it will be possible to proceed.

The importance of such a marxist institute to radicals of the left, whatever their personal political affiliation, should be obvious. The ideology of bourgeois society is powerfully pervasive: the left needs organized forms to challenge this hegemony. A centre can be one focus for doing this. It can also help to popularize marxism and provide a non-sectarian atmosphere where people interested in radical ideas can come to learn more about them.

The institute is conceived of as being rigorously independent of any political organization or tendency. Although its orientation will be marxist, and will not pretend to be anything else, it must nevertheless encourage the active participation of radicals of whatever affiliation. This will include many non-marxists who nonetheless have significant contributions to make to a critical analysis of capitalist society. The centre can also act as a forum in which discussion and debate can take place between various perspectives on the left in as non-sectarian an atmosphere as possible.

If it can accomplish all these things successfully it will have an important contribution to make to the political life of Toronto, one whose influence should soon be felt beyond the confines of the present left.

Help in any form in carrying out this project is not only invited but essential.
Contact: Tom 362-0571; Steve 925-9113.

The first lecture in the series was February 6, 1974