The New Socialist Group’s annual convention took place in Toronto from August 22 to 24. Members from all branches - Toronto, Vancouver, Guelph and Sudbury – and one member-at-large – spent three intense days engaged in discussion as part of the NSG’s highest decision-making body. Unlike previous conventions this one was smaller and more internally oriented.

Working in the context of a downturn in the global justice movement in North America and the uncertain state of resistance to on-going war and occupation, political discussion at the convention was spirited and insightful. When discussion turned to the organization itself, and particularly crucial questions relating to analyses of various definitions of socialism from below, the weekend was marked by heated debate. The NSG is a revolutionary pluralist organization premised on a vision of socialism marked by direct democracy, mobilization of oppressed peoples, and a rejection of authoritarianism and bureaucracy, but inevitably, questions and disagreements arise, resulting in wide-ranging and useful discussion. The 2003 Convention was no exception.

A proposal to adopt a ‘transitional politics’ approach to movement building resulted in several in-depth responses on key questions of revolutionary socialist organizing in non-revolutionary times, and the nature of ‘transitional,’ ‘transformative’ and ‘radicalizing’ politics. An initial document called for adopting a strategic orientation for socialist activism based on engagement in movements at the level of “politics that go beyond the most immediate demands people raise and the struggles of the present moment, but which are not explicitly socialist.” Subsequent submissions disagreed with this political direction on the basis that it would move the NSG away from explicitly anti-capitalist politics and revolutionary pluralism, and signal a retreat to a critical Trotskyism that could exclude other perspectives on anti-capitalist organizing. This debate carried on at convention, and while no formal vote resulted, we began a crucial and on-going discussion of the praxis informing our activist work.

Similarly, a proposal to amend the NSG’s ‘Our Politics’ statement by amending the section on socialist revolution and mass organizations of workers’ democracy to call for the “participation and political leadership of organizations of revolutionary workers and the oppressed,” rather than the current “leadership of parties of revolutionary workers and the oppressed.” This motion resulted in a varied discussion encompassing historical and political conceptions of the ‘party’ as well as responses grounded in pragmatic questions about the NSG’s ability to incorporate activists from varied revolutionary traditions, based on the notion that the term organization is more inclusive than the term party as it is commonly understood. Again, there was no formal decision made at convention, as numerous members indicated a desire to learn more about the issues raised by the discussion, a project to be taken up by branches during the coming year.

Perhaps the most contentious item on the convention agenda this year was the NSG’s political association with Gauche Socialiste in Québec. After much debate, the NSG voted to maintain our association with GS and our mandate to organize only in ‘English Canada’, but further resolved to engage in political debate, discussion, and action with other political forces in Québec in order to deepen our understanding and commitment to joint struggle with revolutionary movements in Québec.

Caucuses were particularly active during convention. A revitalized Women’s Caucus brought forth a number of motions, calling for an increase in the feminist content and analysis of New Socialist magazine, payment of child-care expenses for writers, and an improved conflict resolution process for the NSG, among other issues. As a result of the work of the Queer Caucus, NSG branches resolved to hold a forum or public meeting and produce a collection of readings on feminism, queer liberation and socialism from below. Concerns arising from the People of Colour Caucus resulted in a commitment to further strengthening the NSG’s commitment to anti-oppression politics in general, and within this magazine in particular.