For the first time we held the Seminar in the Camp of the Falcons (Socialist youth organisation) in Döbriach (Carinthia). 80 participants from eight (out of nine) Austrian provinces and five countries came to the Lake Millstatt. Unfortunately a number of comrades who registered could not make it to the seminar because of illness or work obligations. But this did not weaken the good mood. There were many reasons for the good mood, but in particular one: the quality of the political debates was especially high this year. The report also includes an open letter SYRIZA and their chairman Alexis Tsipras, which was passed by the participants of the seminar.
After the plenary discussion about the perspectives for the global class struggle, which was introduced by Jorge Martín of the IMT, we passed an “Open letter” to Alexis Tsipras, the chairman of the Greek SYRIZA. Following this plenary session the discussions continued in the workshops, where specific political topics were dealt with (History of the class struggle in China and Is China a new imperialist power? a revolutionary perspective for Greece, the impact of the crisis on individuals – how the system makes us ill, the role of Germany in Europe). On the second day we were devoted to the discussion around a revolutionary program. What would a transitional program for Greece look like? What answers to the crisis are put forward by Keynesianism and how what do the Marxists answer? Last but not least we discussed questions of methods, like the challenges of revolutionary work inside factories and companies, and the role of a revolutionary organisation.
Not only were the lead-offs of very good quality this year, but also the contributions to the debate. It is obvious that the crisis and the global revolutionary process pose a number of new questions, and in order to answer them we need to sharpen and concretise our theory. On the basis of a common political perspective it is necessary to develop a correct strategy, a correct program, correct slogans and methods of struggle. Obviously the discussion centred on the developments in Greece. But everybody was conscious that this is only the first stage in a revolutionary process that will capture the whole of Europe.
