With the awards season upon us in Hollywood, climaxing with the Oscars on 2nd March, Guy Howie of the UCLU Marxists reviews the front-runner for film of the year: “12 Years a Slave”, a harrowing depiction of slavery in the Southern states of America, based upon the true story of Solomon Northup, an educated free man who finds himself thrust into a brutal life of exploitation.
There can be little doubt about the extent to which the ruling class and their political front men the Tories manipulate figures to suit their political and economic priorities. Steve Brown, an employability worker from Ashington, highlights the latest Tory shenanigans, in which the unemployment statistics have been fiddled, with real devastating effects for ordinary people.
The dramatic events in Ukraine have led to the fall of Yanukovych. But in reality this is not the end of the drama but only the possible end of its second act. Power has fallen into the hands of the opposition like an overripe apple falling from a tree. The question is: what will they do with it?
Under the Tory-led Coalition in Britain, the poor are crushed and slandered. This has raised concerns and protests from the Church’s top clergy. These deep concerns are simply a warning to the ruling class of the dangerous path they are treading by ruthlessly pursuing austerity.
For the last two weeks there has been a violent campaign of rioting on the part of a small number of opposition supporters in Venezuela. They have blockaded streets and avenues in an attempt to force the removal of President Maduro. What is the meaning of these actions and how should they be confronted?
We publish here an open letter from Ross Walker of the Edinburgh Marxists, who appeals to those supporting a “Yes” vote – from a leftwing perspective – in the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence. The letter outlines the position of the Marxists, who call for a “No” vote to retain the unity of the working class across Britain in the struggle for international socialist revolution.
We publish here the fifth and final part of the International Marxist Tendency’s draft document on the perspectives for the world revolution. In this final section, the analysis focusses on the growing inequality in society and the radicalising effect this is having in society, particularly amongst the youth. This has revolutionary implications on a global scale.
It has often been stated that the correctness of Marxist theory – in its ability to predict the general course of development within the economy and society – demonstrates the superiority of foresight over astonishment. Never has this been better demonstrated than by the events of the current crisis, which has left the ruling class flailing blindly in search of an explanation or a solution.
Saturday 15th February 2014 will go down as a historical day for the student movement in the UK, as it saw around 70 student represenatives from 20 Marxist societies across the country, along with international visitors, meeting in London for the founding conference of the Marxist Student Federation. The conference was a great success, and marked an important step forward for the Marxist students in Britain.
Ordinary working people have faced an onslaught against their living standards over the past five years due to the crisis of capitalism. The leadership of the Labour Party should be offering concrete political proposals to combat this. Instead, however, the LP has spent the last four years concentrating on a reorganisation of the Party. Darrall Cozens examines the recent focus of the Labour leaders on organisational changes rather than political alternatives.
As the rain continues to fall and the storm winds continue to blow, in what has proved to be the wettest winter for decades, the Tories have continued to shout and bluster in the face of a crisis to which they can find no solution. Felix Lighter looks at the floods in Britain, which are exposing the hypocrisy of the Tory Coalition and the tensions in society.
We publish here a personal recollection of the Great Miners’ Strike of 1984-85 by Dave Platts, a construction worker from Rotherham and Socialist Appeal supporter, who was working at the Drax B power station 30 years ago at the time of the strike. Dave recalls the heroic struggle of the miners and the profound impact that it had on his political consciousness and on the lives of many others.