EDITORS: Bill Freund, Gerhard Mare, Mike Morris (University of Natal), Vishnu Padayachee (University of Durban-Westville) ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Stephen Gelb (University of Durban-Westville), Peter Hudson, Alan Mabin, Debbie Posel (University of the Witwatersrand), David Kaplan, Alan Hirsch, Dave Lewis (University of Cape Town), Colin Bundy, Robert Davies (University of the Western Cape), Marian Lacey (Rhodes), Gavin Williams (University of Oxford), Dan O'Meara (University of Quebec, Montreal), John Saul (York University). LAYOUT BY: Rob Evans PUBLICATION GUIDELINES: We ask contributors to submit two (2) typed copies, following the format (on such issues as references and notes) of articles in this issue of TRANSFORMATION. Whilst the journal will cater for work at any level of abstraction, or detail, a number of criteria will guide the editors in selection of material for inclusion. Articles should aim for academic rigour but also clarify the political implications of the issues discussed. We are concerned not to compete with other South African journals that may cover related ground but in different ways - this will govern our selection principles. All articles will be assessed anonymously by the referees. Contibutions should preferably not exceed the following lengths: Analytical articles: 7 000 words Debates and review articles: 3 000 words The views expressed in TRANSFORMATION do not necessarily reflect those of the editors. EDITORIAL AND CONTRIBUTIONS ADDRESS: TRANSFORMATION, C/O Economic History Department University of Natal King George V Ave 4001 Durban South Africa Subscriptions rates and address at the back of this issue. ISSN: 0258 - 7696 14 1991 TRANS FORM ATION CONTENTS Articles IS SOCIALISM ON THE AGENDA? A LETTER TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN LEFT Philosopher R O N A L D A R O N S O N , following his second visit to South Africa, contrasts the atmosphere in 1987 with the one prevailing in 199O.The euphoria of moral certainty has been replaced by doubt concerning the future and the socialist project. This entire issue is devoted to reconsideration of socialism, locally and internationally in fact. Aronson argues the importance of a redefined notion of socialist democracy as the central task. TO OUTWIT MODERNITY; INTELLECTUALS AND POLITICS IN TRANSITION 24 Modernity, a central concept in modern social thought, has enthralled us only to deceive. Arguing that its pursuit represents a pitfall that will be of growing importance in the wake of the political transformation of the past year, JOHAN MULLER A N D NICO CLOETE consider that the support role of past years for the liberation movetnent is no longer sufficient for intellectuals; the creation of fora for critical debateand democratic participation are now essential to a renewed project for general transformation. Report THE FUTURE OF SOCIALISM 42 A recent major conference in New York saw intellectuals from many countries consider the crisis in socialism and debate its future. MIKE M O R R I S was there and summarises and discusses some of the most salient contributions including detailed accounts of two SACP speakers, Joe Slow and the late Mzala. Debates THE SACP'S RESTRUCTURING OF COMMUNIST THEORY; A SHIFT TO THE RIGHT 66 ADAM HABIB takes the critique of Joe Slow made by Jordan in Transformation 11 further. He sees, following Mandel, perestroika andglasnost as half-baked and reformist and unable to get the socialist project back on the rails. THE COLLAPSE OF MOZAMBICAN SOCIALISM 82 In a talk assessing the the history of the 'red capital of Africa', DAN O'MEARA concentrates on a processual history of the stages through which the Mozambican revolution passed, in so doing rejecting as superficial or cijnical some of the dismissive analyses of Mozambique that have been made elsewhere on the Left in recent years. His contribution is paralleled by MOZAMBIQUE: THE FAILURE OF SOCIALISM 104 Briefly, J O H N SAUL also recapitulates the Mozambique story, focussing especially on the fateful political struggles within FRELIMO as he observed them.