Constitution
Our aims
We aim to build A World to Win into an effective membership organisation that can inspire and give leadership to the rising movement against the consequences of global capitalism: growing inequality, poverty and starvation, ecological meltdown, war and authoritarian rule. Our priority is to win support for the strategic aim of a transfer of political and economic power away from the ruling elites and classes into the hands of the majority.
The state remains the lynchpin of the social system of capitalism. It provides the essential ideological, political, social, legal, educational and military frameworks without which society in general and capitalism in particular cannot function. Therefore, the state - who controls it, the way it is organised and in whose interests it operates - is our main political focus.
A World to Win does not believe that it is possible to reform or regulate global capitalism, a system that has brought humanity to crisis point. While we support all protest actions, we reject strategies that base themselves on changing the minds of those in power. Neither do we think that the existing political structures can be modified and moulded to fit the needs and will of the majority.
At present the state is capitalist in its nature and functions. Without new, democratic forms of political power, it is inconceivable that we could reorganise the economy along collective, self-management lines, put an end to war and tackle the ecological crisis. Without a comprehensive regime change we cannot breathe new life into past democratic achievements and make the right to vote mean something again. Our aim, therefore, is to bring out the nature of the state at every opportunity and to build support for a transformation of political and economic power by the working majority in society.
The organisation
We build A World to Win along the lines that parallels the kind of society we advocate, making democratic use of the technologies developed under capitalism. We base ourselves on a group structure (see below for guidelines) reflecting priorities and interests decided by all members. A World to Win will attempt to prevent bureaucratic inertia and tendencies by creating a networked, non-hierarchical, interactive organisation making use of ICT to facilitate and encourage discussion and decisions. AWTW emphasises the importance of theoretical training and education as a guide to action.
Members join one or more groups and these, along with the co-ordinating group, will operate under the principles of:
- Responsibility and shared commitment
- Openness, with the right of each member to express a point of view
- Transparency, with all discussions and decisions available to all
- Devolved power, with groups using their own initiative
- Participation on equal terms, with minority viewpoints guaranteed a hearing
- Inclusivity, with groups involving all members and other groups
- Accountability, both to group members and the co-ordinating group
- Flexibility, working with other organisations and experts
- Access, giving all members equal rights and opportunities in decision making
- Development, in both policy and campaigns as well as training and education
- Objectivity, combating subjectivism and egoism
- Internationalism, acknowledging in practice our struggle is world-wide in its scope.
Our vision
We are convinced that the grounds for a new society based on co-operation and mutuality, self-management and democratic ownership are present within globalised capitalist society. They are the positive achievements of humanity to date and represent the potential gateway, the transition to another future. These social, economic, technological and political conditions are outlined in the book A World to Win, which provides the foundations for our principles and theories.
A World to Win advocates an alternative economic system based on co-operation and co-ownership, in place of private, shareholder ownership, with the objective of satisfying need and not profit. Such a system of production will:
- ensure that the majority have access to the benefits currently only available to the few
- use the abundance of products to alleviate poverty and need world-wide
- allow humanity to protect the planet's eco-systems
- release the potential of automation, reducing working hours substantially
- overcome alienation of people from their work and from
- society as a whole allow and enable people to fulfil their potential and aspirations
- make health and well-being the single dominant social objective.
We advocate an alternative, democratic political, legal and administrative system in place of the institutions of the present authoritarian, surveillance state. A new democratic state will be transitional, with a commitment to increasing self-organisation and control of day-to-day affairs by ordinary people. Meanwhile, a new democratic state will:
- make equality of all the basic foundation stone of society
- guarantee freedom of expression and organisation without fear of coercion or state interference
- allow people to live their own lives, while respecting the rights and needs of others
- recognise and respect the rights of minority communities
- guarantee the right to asylum on equal status to those already resident
- guarantee employment for those who can work and average pay for those who cannot
- provide for dignity in older age through pensions at average income and free care
- put an end to military conflicts and the export of arms
- provide unconditional technological and financial support for developing countries
- build foreign relations on internationalism, transparency and respect.
Rights and responsibilities of members
Rights
Membership of A World to Win ensures that every member will:
- be part of a challenging organisation that is truly democratic, working with like-minded people aiming to change the world
- have the chance to learn leadership skills and techniques of creative thinking as a guide to action
- get the opportunity to participate actively in the decision-making process
- be provided with training in, for example, skills such as organising, campaigning, writing, presenting, web design, publishing, public speaking, fundraising
- be able to contribute to the work of the groups on subjects they care about
- form and sustain active and useful external links to further the work of their groups
- have opportunities to comment on the work of other groups
- have the means to put forward minority views for discussion throughout the organisation
- get to vote on proposals, policies and leadership positions
- participate fully in deciding the direction of AWTW.
Responsibilities
In so far as they are able, all members will be expected to:
- participate fully and take a lead in developing the work of one or more groups
- help campaign for, recruit and integrate new members
- commit to learning/self development
- carry out agreed tasks to agreed timetables
- participate in regular group meetings, normally in person unless geographical distance makes this too difficult
- keep in regular communication using appropriately secure technologies
- commit to carrying out decisions taken by a majority
- take part in campaigns to expand the organisation and participate in raising funds
- pay an agreed regular subscription to help fund the organisation's work and campaigns.
Membership will cease if a member, without good reason, fails to pay subscriptions for a period of more than 3 months, or is no longer taking part in regular group meetings.
Group Protocols
- A democratic, interactive organisational network of Groups shall be developed to research and analyse areas of interest, within the context of global capitalism, to develop policies and campaigns for the AWTW to follow
- Members shall belong to a Group of their choice. Groups can be set up in agreement with the Co-ordinating Group and shall comprise a minimum of 3 members. The role of the Co-ordinating Group in this respect is only to avoid duplication of work
- Groups should meet at least bi-monthly and those who cannot attend shall contribute by other means. Groups can form a geographical branch structure if its members are in agreement
- Each Group shall have a rotating Chair and a Convenor, who is responsible for convening the Group and co-ordinating its work. They will represent the Group on the Co-ordinating Group. Group members shall elect both posts for six-month periods, with a right of instant recall by Group members by a simple majority vote
- Each Group shall propose a programme of research/ analysis and policy/ campaign development, as agreed by its members, informing and liaising with the Co-ordinating Group on its proposals in order to avoid duplication of effort. Groups can be requested to look at specific issues by either the Co-ordinating Group or the AWTW Conference
- Groups shall submit policy/ campaign proposals through the Co-ordinating Group for wider debate with AWTW membership (by both electronic & traditional media). The acceptance of Group proposals by AWTW members (by agreed voting procedures) shall be co-ordinated by the Co-ordinating Group
- The Co-ordinating Group shall circulate any minority positions (on Group proposal) to all AWTW members if requested by Group members
- Group members shall undertake campaigns, make contact with outside organisations through co-ordination with the Co-ordinating Group
- Groups are accountable to the AWTW conference and the Co-ordinating Group for meeting agreed work programmes
- Core Groups include: Trade union Group; Climate Change/ Environmental Group; Arts & Culture Group; Education & Training Group; International Group, Communications Group and the Co-ordinating Group
- Members of the AWTW shall have the right to propose the formation of a new Group to the Co-ordinating Group.
Co-ordinating Group
The Co-ordinating Group is made up by the Chairs and Convenors of each group and the Secretariat and will meet at least monthly. All members of the AWTW have the right to attend meetings of the Co-ordinating Group. The agenda and any documents shall be made available in advance. The Co-ordinating Group is accountable to the AWTW membership.
The Co-ordinating Group will:
- formulate the strategy for the development of the organisation, including education & training
- co-ordinate research, proposals, campaign, policies and action across the Groups
- take forward the work of the Groups across the whole organisation
- deal with membership issues within the AWTW
- communicate the AWTW policies, campaigns, proposals externally
- ensure that all Groups are in agreement with the principles of the AWTW through their proposals, decisions, campaigns etc
- co-ordinate the involvement of membership across all Groups in campaigns
- disseminate documents, reports and proposals (including campaign proposals) of the Groups to the AWTW
- communicate approved policies to all Groups
- respond to new issues through consultation with Groups
- put forward proposals to Groups to work on
- assess the need for new Groups on a regular basis
- work closely with the secretariat on day-to-day communication issues.
Every three months the Group will circulate to the Groups a report of its activities and planned action. All the actions, decisions, input of the Group will be discussed and assessed at the annual conference.
The Secretariat
Elected by AWTW conference, the secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. It is accountable to the Co-ordinating Group for its work. The secretariat is made up of: chair, secretary, treasurer, communications editor.