Theory

Marxist theory is our sharpest weapon in the class struggle. Here, you can find our most recent theoretical and historical articles. For news and analysis, click here.

You can also visit our education hub to find a selection of articles, books, talks and reading guides.

3 November 2009

Darwin’s Science vs ‘Intelligent Design’

John Pickard Philosophy and science

November marks
the 150^th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. This book revolutionised
thinking about the living world because for the first time it provided an
explanation for the evolution of species, something that was long suspected by
scientists. Darwin’s
simple idea – change by natural selection
– is arguably the single most important foundation-stone upon which all modern
biology is based. The Origin of Species was
a triumph of the materialist world outlook, even if Darwin himself didn’t quite
put it that way, and for that reason its publication was celebrated by Marx and
Engels.

Hammer and sickle the communist featured image

25 October 2009

Bill Landles: 65 years a revolutionary … and counting!

Alan Woods Marxism and Bolshevism

Comrade Bill Landles is 85 on October 26th. By
coincidence, in the old Russian calendar that is also
the date of Trotsky’s 130th birthday and the
anniversary of the Russian revolution. This is highly
appropriate because Bill has devoted the whole of his
thinking life to the cause of the October Revolution
and the ideas of Lenin and Trotsky.HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL!

6 October 2009

75th anniversary of the Asturian Commune

Ramon Samblas Revolutions

Yesterday (Monday 5th Oct) marked the
75th anniversary of the
Asturian Commune. The mining and industrial region of Asturias in Spain
witnessed one of the key revolutions of the 20th century. We want to
bring to the attention of our readers an article by Ramon Samblas
written in 2004 for the www.marxist.com website and Socialist Appeal.

3 September 2009

September 1939: Let Slip The Dogs Of War

Ted Grant World War II

September 3rd: 70 years ago today the United Kingdom declared war on fascist Germany, so marking the start of World War Two. In an article written at the time, Ted Grant summarised what was now in store for the masses of Europe and beyond: ‘Millions, tens of millions, will be killed in the insane
slaughter, whole cities and countries will be devastated,…
Famine and disease will sweep over all Europe. The flower of European
manhood will be exterminating one another. And for what?’ To mark this anniversary we are reproducing Ted’s article from 1939 in full.

24 August 2009

The Stalin-Hitler Pact

Ben Peck Stalinism, World War II

Seventy years ago this month, the world was shocked by the
Stalin-Hitler pact. Ben Peck looks back at what happened and explains
why such an incredible event could take place – and the price that was
paid.

20 August 2009

Leon Trotsky:1879-1940

Estevan Volkov Marxism and Bolshevism

Today marks the 69th anniversary of the assassination of Leon Trotsky. Murdered by the cowardly hands of Stalin’s henchman, Trotsky’s ideas remain as relevant today as ever. We mark this anniversary by reproducing a statement issued by Estevan Volkov, Trotsky’s grandson, ten years ago. In doing so we remember the final words from Trotsky’s testament: "Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression and violence and enjoy it to the full."

21 July 2009

The Living Thoughts of Karl Marx – a Nigerian point of view

Didi Cheeka in Lagos Marxism and Bolshevism

Marx has been declared dead so many
times, and yet he keeps coming back again and again, the reason being
that his ideas, his theories, are the only ones that can explain the
present crisis of capitalism. Here a Nigerian Marxist gives his views
on the relevance of Marx’s ideas today.

20 July 2009

Ted Grant (1913 – 2006)

Steve Jones Marxism and Bolshevism

Today is the third anniversary of the death of Ted Grant who died on July 20th 2006 aged 93. To mark this we are making available an article on Marxism from 1994.In September Wellred will be publishing the first volume of Ted Grant’s writings.

13 July 2009

1793, Rise and Fall of the Jacobins

Alan Woods Revolutions

Here is part two of Alan Wood’s article on the history of the French Revolution, first published in 1989 to mark the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille

6 May 2009

Thatcher: the real legacy

David Brandon British workers' movement

The following letter from a Socialist Appeal reader was published in The Times
letters page for May 5th as part of a series of responses to an article
on Thatcher’s legacy in a previous issue of the newspaper. We are
reproducing it here for those who missed it.

6 May 2009

The Limerick Soviet of 1919

Ewan Gibbs History, Ireland, Revolutions

In 1919, the workers of Limerick undertook a two-week long general strike, in which a strike committee or ‘soviet’ made steps to establish workers’ control. However, due to the betrayals of the reformist labour leaders and petty bourgeois nationalists, this inspiring episode proved to be short-lived.

6 May 2009

Thatcher: decline and fall

Terry McPartlan British workers' movement

In 1983 Labour lost the election by a landslide. This gave the right wing in the Party their opportunity to fight back. The New Labour cry that the 1983 Labour Manifesto was the “longest suicide note in history” is utter nonsense. If anything the manifesto was less radical than the 1974 manifesto. There was a huge amount of Tory luck in the 1983 general election, Thatcher had managed to pull off a military victory and the SDP traitors had divided the Labour vote.

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