Please join us for this FIRST SESSION of our two-part GUIDE TO SOCIALISM FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS. In this meeting we start at the very beginning and try to answer the question: WHAT IS SOCIALISM?

Although seemingly a very simple question, it is one that continues to divide even those who profess to be socialists.

What does the term mean to you? Is there, a distinction between socialism and, for example, communism, or social democracy, or democratic socialism, or indeed liberalism? And, crucially for all of us in the UK, is the Labour Party a socialist party?

But DOES IT REALLY MATTER how we define socialism providing we all subscribe to some basic understandings about the need for a fairer society and we all work towards this end? Indeed, is the question just too theoretical, and isn’t socialism best demonstrated through deeds rather than words?

Following a short introductory talk by local activist Paul Chynoweth we will grapple with these and other issues as we seek to clarify our individual understandings of what the term socialism means to each of us and, crucially, HOW HELPFUL THESE UNDERSTANDINGS MIGHT BE in actually bringing it about.

As always, the meeting will finish by 9.00 and discussions will then continue over a drink in the bar.

No prior knowledge is assumed for attendance at this meeting and everyone is encouraged to come and contribute their ideas. However, if anyone would like to do some reading in advance, the following pamphlet provides a useful starting point:

John Rees (2014) THE ABC OF SOCIALISM, Second Edition, Counterfire, ISBN: 978-1-907899-03-4.

https://bit.ly/ABCSocialism