The French Revolution of May 1968
50 years ago, the workers and students of France shook society. Alan Woods looks at the revolutionary events of May 68.
History
Marxists must study the history of the class struggle, so that we can apply the lessons in the struggle for communism today. Here, you can find our most recent historical articles. For theoretical articles, click here.
You can also visit our education hub to find a selection of articles, books, talks and reading guides.
John Maclean: Speech from the dock
John Maclean was an outstanding communist agitator – as demonstrated by the defence he gave at his trial a century ago.
1931-1935: How the Labour Party moved left
We republish here an important article from 1976, in which Rob Jones looks back and examines the lessons from the Labour Party’s history. With the prospect of a Corbyn government on the horizon, those lessons remain valid today.
Labour and Clause 4 – 100 years on
Today, 27th February, marks the 100th anniversary of the adoption of a socialist constitution by the Labour Party. Steve Brown looks at Clause 4, its history, and the ongoing struggle to create a genuinely socialist Labour Party.
The entitled aristocracy – abolish this feudal relic!
Steve Jones reviews “Entitled: a critical history of the British aristocracy”, a new book about the English upper class. The monarchy and lords are reactionary and undemocratic institutions. It is time they were swept into the dustbin of history.
The Tet Offensive: the turning point in the Vietnam War
On the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, we republish here Alan Woods’ analysis of the Vietnam War, which highlights the significance of the Tet Offensive in bringing about the defeat of US imperialism.
For a new ‘New Unionism’
The labour movement in Britain today, Ben Gliniecki writes, can learn important lessons from the ‘New Unionism’ movement in the 1880s, which set out to organise the ‘unorganisable’ through militant action and radical demands.
The Vietnam War: eye-opening documentary shows full horror of imperialism
The Vietnam War – a 17-hour documentary recently broadcast on the BBC – may well be the best such film yet produced on this still-controversial subject. Steve Jones reviews this incredible new documentary and the graphic account it provides of one of imperialism’s most brutal wars.
“We shall now proceed to construct the socialist order!”
The first few months following the 1917 October Revolution in Russia were a frantic period for the new Soviet government of workers and peasants. Lenin and the Bolsheviks spent much of this time issuing decrees and appeals, designed to put their programme into effect and further win over the hearts and minds of the masses. James Kilby looks at the opening months of Soviet power.
Remembering the Pentonville Five – 45 years on
On Friday 1st December, dozens of trade union activists gathered in the East Ham Working Men’s Club to commemorate the 45th anniversary of that famous labour movement victory, the Pentonville Five. Ben Gliniecki reports on the contributions made, including by speakers such as Len McCluskey, and the lessons of this historic struggle for today.
Once Again: In Defence of Lenin – a reply to Orlando Figes
Continuing our series of articles and videos celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, answers the myths and distortions put forward by bourgeois academic and historian Orlando Figes in his recently re-released book, A People’s Tragedy.
The significance of the Russian Revolution – 100 years on
We continue our week of articles and videos celebrating the centenary anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution with this video talk by Alan Woods.