There's a thoughtful document by Wrack published on Socialist Unity which explores the core tactical divide that also separated the approach of the Socialist Alliance affiliates here in Australia.
Wrack writes:
The reason for our failure to approach Respect in this way is primarily that we do not see Respect as the overarching strategic objective for the party in this period. Firstly, we treat it as a united front that can be turned on for elections and then forgotten about for the rest of the time. Secondly, although we carry out many united front operations we do not link them all back to Respect. We should constantly be trying to see how we can relate our work in DCH, STWC, UAF and our various industrial interventions to the question of building and recruiting to Respect. There is insufficient strategic thinking about how the work can dovetail towards building Respect. This reinforces the weakness of Respect at local and national level. Respect is seen as just another area of united front work, on a par with the others. It is not. It has to be much more than that. It has to be the most important area of work into which all other areas of work are brought together.
