another step forward for the Algerian Revolution. For three ‘days, 1,134 registered delegates, democratically elected by the workers in some 450 enterprises, discussed the problems they face.
The gathering was held in the Majestic theater in the Bab El Oued district, once a hotbed of reaction and a center of the French terrorist OAS ’ [organisation de ltarmée Secrate], “The revolutionary change that has occurred in Algeria was well symbolized by the banners to be read in such a-place, hailing management of industry by the producers themselves as a "revolutionary conquest of the workers.
Delegates spoke with the preatest freedom, expressing often sharp criticisms as they made suggestions for the improvement of the institution of self-management, .
A certain lack of co-ordination was observable between the work of the congress and that of the commissions which drew up the reso lutions. Such rough edges were*almost inevitable in light of. the lack of long experience in the operation. of socialist democracy, — This general gathering of workers nonetheless proved to be a particu~ larly valuable school for the education of revolutionary militants and-cadres, - te
The most important points of the resolutions that were adopted were as follows:
_ @ Regroupment and consolidation of the self-managed enterprises,
-® Constitution of a credit institution for the socialist sec tor,
® Extension and strengthening of the: state. supervisory. body on a regional and local scale, controlled by the workers,
@ Establishment of national and regional councils of "animation" for planning in the socialist sector.
@ Absolute priority for the socialist sector in government Paying.
@ “Liquidation ‘of the outmoded administrative ‘procedures inheri-~ ted from the colonial epoch,
@ Absolute priority for the socialist sector in all the markets
. Bow
as against private industry, provided that the prices of goods produced by this sector are not more than twenty per cent higher,
e Protection of the socialist enterprises against competition from local or foreign private enterprise,
® Within the context of full application of the March. 1963 decrees, the problem concerning what to do with the "surplus" does not arise, since the decrees took into consideration the contribution of socialist enterprises to the General investment effort of the Country «#
e The same ‘decrees state that the surplus, after certain specified deductions, are at the disposal of the General Assembly of the Workers [one of the self-management bodies].
e The congress recommended that distributions of the surplus should in no case be more than a worker's wages for a month,
One. of the “most ‘interesting contributions was the closing address made by Bachir Boumaza, the Minister .of Economy, Here are some of the highlights of his remarks:
"When future generations write the history of socialism in our country, they will take as the point of departure the promulgation. of the decrees of March 1963. |
"In many countries, too many workers have seen the fruits of. their victory seized by others. By creating a vast sector of social property, the decrees became the line of demarcation, enabling us to clearly distinguish the genuine partisans of socialism from those for whom socialism was a tactic and a maneuver to achieve their own aims,
"In face of the speculators and the vultures of all kinds, following Independence, the government posed the principle: socialism means land to those who work it; it means factories to the workers,
"The only realistic way to solve the problem of productivity and of profitability, so long as a market economy remains and. ade~ quate planning measures have not been taken, is to utilize the principle of materially interesting the workers and thus mobilizing their enthusiasm,".
Boumaza declared that the self-managed sector must become a model, capable of crystallizing forces on an economic and politisal
- *For discussion of this problem see World Outlook, February 21 and March 27, Also see related discussion in E. Germain's "The. Law of - Value in Relation to Self-management and Investment in the Economy of the Workers State" in World Outlook, December 27 and Ja enuary Oe
level in the struggle for the advancement of the socialist revolution,
"But it is our duty to reinforce the solidarity between the workers in the private and self-managed sectors. That is why it is necessary to envisage a congress of workers in the private sector who, through their struggles and their sacrifices, are also preparing the conditions for a socialist society. tw ,
“Analyzing the demand put forward et the congress for creation of a body to handle credits for the socialist sector, Boumaza touched on the problem of socialist planning of the economy,
"Foced with the necessity of obtaining investments, the management committees would like to pool their funds to create a financial body. But it is not by piecing together rags that a good overcoat is made, To give the workers means to work it is necessary to take money: from the pockets of you know whom! It is not a bank for the socialist sector that can do this, but a state organism, controlled by the workers. ;
- "The: financial problems will be resolved by a décree fixing the obligations of the Central Bank and the Algerian Treasury of Development.
UPlanning will determine the goals of production, of financing, of marketing, The plan will be carried out by bodies managed by the workers, Planning is the only socialist method for. ‘promoting economic development, "
This perspective, outlined by Boumaza, of planned organization of the Algerian economy, poses the problem of political power. and the character of the state inasmuch as only a proletarian power and a workers state can achieve socialist planning in. Algeria,
If Algeria now has a ‘tworkers and peasants noyernment"* which is pressing in the direction of socialism, almost all the state struc tures remain neocolonialist, favoring bureaucratism, and the imper~ ialist pressure is heavy. A qualitative change in the state structures still remains to be accomplished, The government is preparing a house~cleaning operation against the saboteurs and speculators, but this involves individuals and not the transformation of struotures.
These problems are, in reality, ‘directly linked to the congress of the FLN LFront de Libération National] which has been scheduled to open April 16. One of the main problems to be considered at this congress is the transformation. of the FLN into a revolutionary~ socialist party.
Revolutionary Marxists: can only hope that this complex problem
will be posed with the necessary clarity and that. the congress will mark the beginning of the correct solution.