The theoretical struggle is a key component of the class struggle. Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement. Capitalism is facing the deepest crisis in its history. The ruling class can offer no real way forward for the vast majority of people.
The In Defence of Marxism magazine – produced by the Revolutionary Communist International – is a tool and a weapon for revolutionary class fighters all over the world, offering serious Marxist analysis on theoretical questions and burning issues of the workers’ movement.
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In issue 47, we discuss a vital question for communists everywhere: how to fight for world revolution.
To answer this question, we turn our attention to the stormy years of 1917–1924, which saw wars, revolutions, and counter-revolutions across the globe.
Alan Woods’ editorial traces the lessons of the international communist movement from the times of Marx and Engels to today. This includes the revolutionary tradition of struggle against militarism, imperialism, and war, which we continue today.
The magazine also delves into how Lenin and the Bolsheviks successfully built the Third (Communist) International, following the degeneration and collapse of the opportunist Second International at the start of the First World War.
Here, Fred Weston explains the context in which this new international was formed, and the role that Lenin and Trotsky played in educating a new layer of communists for the tasks ahead of them.
Next up: Konstantin Korn and Emanuel Tomaselli look at the revolution which shook Austria towards the end of the First World War. This article outlines the general strike of January 1918, and how the Social-Democratic leaders betrayed the movement.
After this, we go back in time to the victory of the Bolsheviks in October 1917.
The imperialists of the world did their utmost to strangle the new workers’ state, from funding counter-revolutionary White armies, to directly committing their own troops.
In his article, leading US communist John Peterson uncovers the little-known history of the US imperialists’ intervention, and how the Bolsheviks responded on an internationalist class-basis to win the war
Following this, Nelson Wan and James Kilby examine El Lissitzky’s iconic Civil War poster Beat the Whites With the Red Wedge. This is perhaps the single most recognisable piece of artwork to emerge from the Russian Revolution, with its influence widespread even today.
Lenin always maintained that the ultimate victory of the Russian Revolution was linked to that of the world revolution. His internationalism was a direct continuation of that of Marx and Engels.
But in 1924, Stalin broke with this tradition by presenting his reactionary theory of ‘socialism in one country’.
So, in the final article of this issue, Niklas Albin Svensson explains why genuine Marxists are internationalists, why Stalin distorted Marxism, and how this would have disastrous consequences for decades to come.
Please note: We only deliver print editions of the magazine to UK residents. Non-UK residents should head to the In Defence of Marxism website.
