Letter to readers Dear Readers,

Let me start by thanking you for your support Political Affairs. Political Affairs was launched many decades ago as a theoretical journal with the intention of developing, debating, and disseminating socialist and communist ideas. As a print publication it has uniquely served this purpose for over 80 years.

But as we move into the 21st century in which new forms of communication and publishing trump printed material it is necessary to look to new information technologies for cost-effective, “treeless” publishing. That is why Political Affairs has made the decision to bring publication of its print edition to a close by the end of 2008. The decision was not taken lightly but with much discussion, both political and financial, and with input from you the reader.

All of our publishing beginning in January 2009 will take place online. We will present articles on Marxist thought and ideas, international issues, struggles for peace and democracy just as before. We will also offer a more interactive and extensive place for readers to comment on and discuss articles. You can or soon will be able to access and comment on our editors’ blog, listen to our weekly podcast, and participate in educationals and forums.

Political Affairs will be in the struggle to defeat end Republican rule and the ideas and culture of the ultra right; we will be in the fight for workers’ rights, peace, universal health care, democratic rights, and environmental justice.

With online publishing, we will be able reach tens of thousands of readers each month without the heavy cost in both money and labor time of publishing a print edition. This opportunity will give Political Affairs a circulation it has never had before. Rest assured that Political Affairs will keep its character: a popular and fighting magazine of ideas, culture, and politics.Only this will take place in the dynamic environment of online publishing.

If you renewed recently you may be owed a reimbursement. However we would like to suggest that your renewal of PA this year be extended to a full one-year subscription to our sister publication, the People's Weekly Word. If we do not hear from you to the contrary this is what we will do. Please feel free to write me at jwendland@politicalaffairs.

Sincerely, Joel Wendland Editor

Leter from South Africa Cde. Joel Wendland Editor: Political Affairs

Dear Cde. Wendland,

Thank you very much for your letter of 6 August 2008.

I would like to start by thanking you and the editorial collective of Political Affairs for years of insightful and inspiring reading. Whilst I will miss receiving the monthly envelopes containing the printed version, I am also happy that you will be extending the reach of progressive ideas and your engagement with US society through your online edition.

At the ANC's 52nd National Conference held in December 2007 we noted that: 'The ANC is faced with a major ideological offensive, largely driven by the opposition and fractions in the mainstream media, whose key objective is the promotion of market fundamentalism, control of the media and the images it creates of a new democratic dispensation in order to retain old apartheid economic and social relations. This offensive against our movement, in its content and form, is part of a global offensive against progressive values and ideas. The increasing concentration of ownership, control and content within the international media environment is reflected in the local industry and re-enforces this offensive.'

We also noted that, 'The apparent lack of skills within the media to analyse and explain the complex economic and social transformation through which South Africa is going is a both a challenge and a constraint. In the pursuit of capital accumulation owners of media houses do not readily invest in the development of journalism. Often they rely on syndicated reports, grouping editorial content, etc. Commercial interests are thus increasingly impacting negatively on editorial quality. These and other related factors constitute the real threat to media freedom, diversity and democracy.'

Wishing you all of the best with your online edition and hoping that it will contribute to addressing some of the challenges mentioned above.

Yours comradely, Andries Nel, MP Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party