History | The Communist

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.

Hammer and sickle the communist featured image

18 July 2002

Britain’s Summer of Discontent – An Earthquake in the British Labour Movement

Phil Mitchinson British workers' movement

What a decisive answer to all the cynics who had written off the labour
movement in Britain. In scenes reminiscent of the late 1970s, scenes we
were told would never be repeated in Blair's New Britain, more than a
million local authority workers took strike action yesterday, the first
national public sector stoppage in 20 years. The action by members of
UNISON, the T&GWU and the GMB was described in the London Evening
Standard as "the biggest strike in Britain since the 1926 General
Strike".

19 April 2002

National Government, Invergordon and the ILP

Miles Todd British workers' movement

The British working class has a history of swinging from industrial action to political action. This is as true today as it was in the 1930s. This article looks at the great struggles of 1929-31, when the polical leaders of the workers’ parties failed to respond to the tasks required of them, leading to the defeat of the workers and the return to power of the Tories.

Long_live_the_third_communist_international

15 June 1943

The Rise and Fall of the Communist International

Ted Grant Soviet Union, Stalinism

Founded after the Russian Revolution, the Third Communist International was a mighty force in the fight for world revolution. But under Stalin, it was transformed into a tool of the Soviet bureaucracy, and then abandoned altogether in 1943.