From an interesting review of Duncan Thompson's "Pessimism of the Intellect? A History of New Left Review" by British SWP'er Ian Birchall:
“Democratic centralism” is much maligned. Yet it has some merits compared to what was described as the “-common‑law variety of democratic centralism” as practised by NLR. NLR was produced by a small team—for years numbering no more than seven or eight—accountable to nobody. The dominating figure was undoubtedly Anderson, described here as “overbearing”. He is without question a man of enormous erudition, but one who often uses his knowledge to intimidate his readers rather than enlighten them. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Anderson was also the paymaster—his private income bailed out NLR in its financial crisis in 1962. There is no indication that Anderson actually threatened to take his bat home if his editorial will was denied, but it must have been a factor in the minds of those concerned.
Anderson is a somewhat reclusive individual (as one who has been active on the left for over 45 years, I have seen Anderson in the flesh just once). In this he contrasts sharply with his closest ally, Blackburn. Whatever criticisms one might make of Blackburn, he has been an activist. At the height of the student movement of the late 1960s, he put his head on the line and lost his job at the London School of Economics. In the early 1980s, when NLR helped to launch a “Socialist Society”, it was Blackburn who was the entrepreneurial driving force. Anderson made only a token appearance at the founding conference.
full: http://www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=347&issue=115
