Todayhumanity is able to send satelites into outer space. We communicate on a globalscale with out hinderance at speeds never before thought possible. Theproduction of goods and services has never been as extensive as now. More thenever we have the material conditions to ensure everyone a life in dignity.Still, our world of today is characterised by wide and increasing injustices. Ahandful of multinational companies and their international institutions ofsupport (such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation and theInternational Monetary Fund) control economic and political life, whilst themajority of the world population is disenfranchised. The nationstate has becomea simple subservant for international capital. The constant struggle over theworld’s resources leads to wars, oppression and the exploitation of people andlands. The basis for life itself is threatened by the meaningless exhaustion ofnature.
Themajority of the population of Norway is economically privileged compared toworkers of other countries. But even if Norway has been protected from theworst elements of global capitalism, we see today an increased developmenttowards brutalisation of society. Private economic interests assisted by rightwing political parties, campaign for the deconstruction of the welfare state.This has dramatic implications. Democracy is sidelined as more political andeconomic decisions are being taken behind the closed doors of privatecompanies. Decisions of common interest are being taken by institutions lackingany democratic control. The social consequences are dramatic: An ever moredemanding working life and a society where only the most adaptable succeed.
Some peopleportray development of society as if it was following simple natural laws, assomething that can not be changed by people. Others seek simple solutions anduse immigrants and minorities as scapegoats for their problems. As socialistswe see racism as a diversion: As a consequence normal people are dividedwhilst problems persist. What ispossible to do about problems such as exhastion of nature, imperialism, war andinjust distribution of priviledges and burdens - in Norway and on a globallevel?
BfS seesthese problems as resulting from and economic and political system that servesonly a minority of people. This system – capitalism – makes it impossible toface the challenges humanity is facing. Capitalism is in the process of playingout its historical – and once progressive role. Through conscious collectiveaction, however, this system can bereplaced in favour of a better and more just system.
Our visionis a society fundamentally differing from the capitalist – a society wherehuman needs gets priority over economic profits. We struggle for a democraticlyfounded socialism built upon principles of freedom of speech and organisation,pluralism and where society is in control of the economy. Such an politicalalternative presupposes support from the broad masses.
However, noready-made instruction exists telling us exactly how a socialist Norway shouldbe organised. As any society it will also be subject to constant development.Still, we can establish some central goals for our socialist alternative.
We wish toexpand democracy so that it also encompasses economic life. This means that thepower of making decisions is placed in the hands of normal people and theirdemocratic, political institutions. Our response to globalisation of capital isstrengthening democracy on all levels – locally as well as globally. Exactlyhow such changes we cannot foresee, not least because they will be based ondemocratic decision making prosesses. One possible agent to achieve these goalswould be for society to take over private businesses influencing greatly on thefunctioning of society.
Socialismmeans fighting against all supression on basis of class, gender, sexualorientation, etnical, religious or cultural affiliation. This battle is anissue for all of society and can not be reduced into an individual problem. Inmodern Norway, for instance, women still achieve lower wages for an equivalentamount of work. Socialism implies equality of opportunities.
We believein taking the Declaration of Human Rights seriously. This means that the basicrights of life, as put down in The International Covenant on Economic, Socialand Cultural Rights, are to be followed. This includes the right of a place tolive, to work and the right to acceptable food. However, promoting human rightsas a whole also implies taking The International Covenant of Civil andPolitical Rights seriously, for example the right of opinion and expression,the right of conscience and religion, and the right of convocation andorganisation.
Socialismis a premise for creating an society in ecological balance, characterised by anew relationship between human and nature. In a socialist society better livingconditions are not assured through constant economic growth, but through justdistribution. The right to clean water, air and safe food is guaranteed allhuman beings. Food safety and care for the enviroment is promoted throughdesentralised production. Public transport, recycling of materials andenviromentally friendly production will be of highest priority. Theenviromental problems we are witnessing today cannot be solved without aradical change in the organisation of society.
Socialismmeans an active peace policy. The constant demand produced by capitalism forexpansion, access to new resources and new markets is promoting war and crisis.Breaking away from this system make possible real and lasting peace. Our goalis to shift away resources from military spending, better used for promotingthe good of peace and for developing human needs and society. The changes weare promoting precipitates international cooperation and concious politicaldirection, and the dissolving of the imperialist blocs of power.
Socialismalso implies a new relation to the world surrounding us. Under globalcapitalism 40.000 humans die of malnutrition and hunger every day. Ouralternative to exploitation and imposing economic and political control overdeveloping countries, consists in living and comprehensive solidarity. Wepromote desolving institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF, todaydemanding the dismantlement of social welfare and laws to protect the economyof poor countries. We defend the right of developing countries of economiccompensation for the after effects of colonial oppression. We support theattempts of creating unity between poor and underdeveloped countries. A new international order is necessary to defendpeace and create sustainable development.
Previousattempts to realise the socialist vision has brought many experiences – forgood and bad. We aim to create open debate over these issues, wanting todraw lessons. We decline attempts tosimplify history by portraying the experiments of socialism as one-sidedlynegative, or by glorifying these. We continue to build upon the best ofsocialist traditions, combining these with own experiences and innovationwithin the spheres of science and culture. Socialist organisation is somethingwe have seen elements of both within the social democractic state of our owncountry and during socialist revolutions in other places of the world. Finally,we want to repeat our initial claim - despite all injustices of the world: Anotherworld is possible!