[Marxism] "Is France on the verge of a new May/June '68?": A critique by Diana Johnstone

[Louis Proyect]

David Thorstad wrote:
> When the following item was posted a week ago on Marxmail
> 
> http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2009/06/france-party-npa-european
> 
> my impression was that the article was nothing (or little) more than a 
> puff piece for the "New Anticapitalist Party" and its "star" Olivier 
> Besancenot. But, not being that informed about the fine points of French 
> politics, I wrote to Diana Johnstone to ask that she analyze/critique/ 
> react to the posted article. She agreed that I could post her comments 
> here (and elsewhere). Diana was a participant in May '68 (unlike the 
> much younger author of the puff piece for the NPA). She is also an 
> incisive and rationalist observer of French and European politics, not 
> associated with any political tendency. Her views merit serious attention.
> Here is an introductory portion of her detailed critique of the article. 
> If anyone wishes to read the entire critique, please contact me off-list 
> and I will send it.
> David
> 

Unless I am mistaken, Diane has no experience with the problems of 
building a revolutionary party and is not who I would go to for an 
analysis. Yugoslavia, of course, is another question altogether.