In Memory of Ted Grant 1913 – 2006
One year ago today the Marxist theoretician Ted Grant died after more than seventy years of political activity. His death marked the end of an era, but not the end of the struggle for the ideas he always defended.
Theory
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From July to September: Revolution and Counter revolution
This instalment, in a series of articles published by Socialist Appeal over the year that marks the 90th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, looks at the tumultuous events of the July days in Petrograd. What attitude Lenin and Trotsky took towards the movement of the workers in the capital is a valuable lesson in the tactical flexibility of the Bolsheviks. The impotence of the Kornilov reaction that followed demonstrates the irresistable power the working class wields when it is united.
The Crime of Partition – part 2
After World War II the British imperialists were in a hurry to leave
India. The Partition of British India in 1947, which created the two
independent states of India and Pakistan, was followed by one of the
cruellest and bloodiest migrations and ethnic cleansings in history.
70 years since Guernica
On April 26th 1937 General Franco commissioned from the German High
Command, against Republican Spain, the aerial bombardment of the small
and defenceless Basque town of Guernica,
visiting a hell on earth in the form of bombs weighing up to 1000lbs
across the town of 10, 000 people. Two months later, seventy years
ago, Pablo Picasso unveiled Guernica. Despite his enormous prestige the
establishment rarely tell us that Picasso was a man of the left.
The June days
In his article (The significance of Lenin’s April Theses
1917 ) Darrall Cozens explained how Lenin rearmed the Bolshevik Party
in 1917. Continuing our series on the Russian Revolution, he tells how the
revolutionaries developed from being a small group when the
February Revolution broke
out, to become the main alternative to the new
establishment by June of that year.
How the West was Stolen: Western Movies and the Western Myth
How the West Was Stolen, by Hopalong Harry Whittaker, is a rip-roaring
polemic from an old gunslinger and former UCATT shop steward now living
south of the river, but hailing originally from Glasagae way. We hope
readers enjoy the gallop as he ranges from historical polemic to cinephile
opinionation.
The Crime of Partition – part 1
In order to understand the partition of the
sub-continent and the terrible conditions it had to face it is necessary to
identify the role of imperialism in India and cover certain historical ground. In the year of the 60th anniversary of India’s
independence here is first of a series of articles marking this event.
[Ted Grant Archive – Update] Against “National Defence”
As armaments were piled up in preparation for the Second World War Ted Grant explained that, "This war machine is for the defence of the trading interests and the colonial loot of British imperialism, for what is making for war is the intensified and sharpened struggle for markets between the different countries of the world."
The Significance of Lenin’s April Theses 1917
This month marks 90 years since Lenin returned to Russia from exile. He immediately embarked on the task of convincing not only the mass of workers, but also the Bolshevik leadership, that the tasks of the revolution were socialist, that what was needed was for power to pass to the hands of the Soviets.
[Ted Grant Archive – Update] Labour’s policy
At the end of the Second World War the Labour Party was elected into office, a clear rejection of Churchill and his anti-working class policies. But the statements of the Labour leaders revealed that they intended to continue with capitalism. The British ruling class understood they could use these leaders, discredit them and then bring back the Tories. Ted Grant warned the Labour leaders that this is what would happen.
The Passion of the Christ – Directed by Mel Gibson
Over the Easter period Channel 4 showed the film 'The Passion of the Christ' documenting the life of Jesus Christ. Here we re-publish the original review and critique of the film by Rob Sewell, which showed the revolutionary origins of Christianity.
[Ted Grant Archive – Update] Churchill’s Support Crumbling
Contrary to the official mythology about Churchill, by 1944 he was already losing support among the people of Britain. This article by Ted Grant, written at the time and based on local election results, shows that the workers were becoming radicalised. This was to be confirmed in a dramatic way just after the war when Labour won a landslide victory.