Economic Planning and Workers' Control

Abstract

"Increased influence and control by workers through their trade unions will be. . . the source from which planning will derive its authority, its knowledge and its power." This principle is the point of departure for the proposals in the report of the TUC-Labour Party Liaison Committee on 'Economic Planning and Industrial Democracy'. It goes to the heart of the central problem of socialist politics, the relationship between the state and the independent organisations of the working class in the struggle for socialism. The report, however, is a political rather than a theoretical document, the product of political debate and agreement rather than theoretical argument. It reflects, to some extent, varied standpoints. Consequently, there are a number of hesitations and inconsistencies, while some important issues are left unresolved. Nevertheless, the underlying drift and tendency of the report is clear.