fore anton JE mening a i REVIEWS Pages from Dewhurst's Tribune column MARXISM-LENINISM IN TODAY’S WORLD. Selected columns from the Canadian Tribune. By Alfred Dewhurst. Progress, 1986. Paper $5.95. Available at People’s Co-op Books. Alfred Dewhurst, a native son of British Columbia, wrote a regular column for the Canadian Tribune from 1975 to 1983, HOLD THE FORT Songs for Labour On The Line A oN STRIKE BE 1 By 7 AGAINST ROLLBACKS AND he a \ AVAILABLE SOON! A stereo chromium cassette release of songs from Aya, Jon Bartlett, Bim and Connie Kaldor, D.O.A., Special Guests: Tom Hawken, Lynn McGown and Michael Pratt, Bruce “Utah” Phillips, Stringband, Hilda and Phil Thomas, and Phil Vernon from Slim Evans Records and Tapes BOOKS ON ART | owGOROD NOVGOROD. Art Treasures & Architectural Monuments CLAUDE MONET. On Paintings in Soviet Museums PALEKH. Village of Artists under the title Marxism-Leninism in Today’s World. It was a popular column tht dealt with many vital issues affecting the lives of the Canadian people. What was different about those articles was that Alf analyzed events on the national and interna- tional scene from a revolutionary, Marxist- Leninist viewpoint. He was a worker who had acquired a rich education through his participation in the trade union movement and the class struggle — a’ worker-intel- lectual in the true sense of that term. He was a gifted communicator of ideas, as a writer and as a speaker. As reflected in his writings, Dewhurst was dedicated to the struggle for a socialist Canada and a staunch defender of real socialism in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. Those of us who were privileged to know him as the ideological director of the Communist Party of Canada remember him for his many contributions in the elaboration of party policies. Prior to assuming that post, he served the party in many capacities, after playing a prominent role in the trade union movement in British Columbia. It is very fitting that Progress Books of Toronto has recently published a represen- tative collection of his writings. The book should appeal both to old-timers in the labor and left-wing movements and to young people who are looking for the answers to the basic economic, political and ideological questions for our time. While Alf was a revolutionary optimist, he had his feet on solid ground. He was not Tsagolov one who always saw the socialist revolution just around the next corner, but he had a profound faith in the ultimate victory of socialism in Canada. For example, he wrote this in 1978: “The revolution maturing in Canada is called upon to resolve contradic- tions arising out of the social character of production and the private ownership of the means of production. This basic tasks decrees that it will be a socialist revolution.” It is very fitting that the last selection in the 162-page book explains how the pro- gram of the Communist Party of Canada envisages the establishment of socialism in our country. In this, and in many other columns, Alf elaborated on what real social- ism means and took issue with those Cana- dians, however well-meaning, who see reforms as an end in themselves, and not as steps towards a fundamental reorganization of society. A few examples from the table of con- tents should demonstrate both the wide scope of this book and Alf’s ability to deal with complicated questions effectively in the limited space normally given to a news- paper columnist: The Source of Economic Crisis; Democratic Control and Public Ownership; Socialist Democracy Versus Capitalist Democracy; Social Reform, Its Roots and Practice; The Source of Unem- ployment; Dangers of Nuclear War; Peace is Everyone’s Business; The Church in Cap- italist Society; Concession Bargaining — A Swindle. All this and much more is to be found in this book. Having recently returned to Canada after living in Europe for some five years, one of the big changes I noted was the vast expan- sion of pay-TV and the use of video tapes. Alf’s book, under the title Pay-TV, A Spe- cial Tool for Monopoly, helped me to understand how private corporations have been given the opportunity to take over the new technology in telecommunications which will soon control the production and marketing processing and the shaping of public entertainment, knowledge information resources. As Alf wrote in 1983: “It is this that gives pay-TV a special role as a tool for monopoly.” It is safe to say and — ny se that this development has been greatly © accelerated in the past three years. One of the things I liked about this book is the fact that while the author deals sharply with the evils of capitalism and is merciless in his exposure of political and ‘ideological leaders who to one degree or © another defend the status quo, he never ~ descends to personal abuse of individuals. Those of us who knew Alf well can testify i that this is consistent with his approach to © the enemies of social change. When he attacked the capitalist sytem and its defend- ers, he always did so from a principled posi- ~ tion, from deeply-held convictions and on the basis of a deep understanding of the science of social change. William Kashtan, general secretary of the Communist Party of Canada, who worked © with Alf in the central office of the Com- munist Party for 25 years, contributed an excellent foreword to the book. Be babies BOOKS ON PEACE AZZ RECORDS Bookstore THE NIGHT AFTER. Climatic and biological consequences of nuclear war STAR WARS. Delusions and Dangers $1.50 WAR IS THEIR BUSINESS. By Georgi 1391 Commercial Drive Vancouver, B.C. V5L 3X5 Telephone: 253-6442 Fh ’ ’ I — Jack Phillips