In four weeks’ time, from 20-22 October, hundreds of Marxist activists from across Europe will gather for the October Revolution festival in London. This promises to be an amazing weekend of radical discussion on current events, theory, and history. Join the revolution! Book you ticket today!
We are excited to publish here the full schedule for the October Revolution festival, taking place in one month’s time, on 20-22 October. This promises to be an amazing weekend of radical discussion on current events, theory, and history.
In particular, we are delighted to welcome Leon Trotsky’s grandson, Esteban Volkov, who will be joining us via video link at the opening rally on Friday 20th October to discuss the significance of the Russian Revolution, 100 years after the Bolsheviks led the working class to power in 1917.
Esteban will also be introducing the new documentary by the International Marxist Tendency about the life and ideas of Trotsky, which will be premiered at the opening rally.
On the Saturday evening, we are also proud to be addressed by Steve Hedley, the Senior Assistant General Secretary of the RMT union, and Danielle Tiplady, a leading nurse activist, who will be discussing the Corbyn movement and the fight to kick out the Tories.
Alongside these inspiring rallies, we have a whole weekend of incredible talks and discussions on offer, with three parallel sessions taking place at any one time, offering a range of topics on philosophy, history, economics, politics, art, and much much more.
Check out the full schedule below (with links to recommended reading) and book you ticket now!
Join the revolution!
FRIDAY 20th OCTOBER – SUNDAY 22nd OCTOBER
Venue: Student Central (formerly ULU), Malet Street, London
E-mail contact@socialist.net to book your place now.
Tickets: £10 students and unwaged / £20 waged / £30 solidarity
Limited accommodation available – e-mail to reserve.
100 years ago, the masses in Russia – led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks – changed the course of history with the inspiring October Revolution. For the first time in history, the working class took power into its own hands and attempted to transform society in the interests of the vast majority.
Today, with the world in the midst of crises at all levels – economically, politically, and socially – there is once again a thirst for revolutionary ideas to make sense of the turbulent processes taking place and explain the way forward for society.
From the chaos of the Trump administration and the growing global military tensions between America, China, and Russia; to the radical political movements seen around Melenchon in France, Sanders in the USA, and Corbyn in Britain: it is clear that the status quo has failed and the system has broken. Now more than ever, therefore, there is a need for revolutionary change and a socialist alternative.
Join Socialist Appeal and the International Marxist Tendency this October for REVOLUTION – a three day festival celebrating the events of the 1917 Russian Revolution; learning the vital lessons from such revolutionary historical events; and discussing the relevance of Marxist ideas in understanding how we can fight for radical change today.
Full weekend schedule
All talks and events (apart from Saturday’s evening social) are in Student Central (formely ULU) on Malet Street. Nearest stations are Goodge Street; Euston Square; Warren Street; and Russell Square.
Friday 20th October (Upper Hall)
6pm – Registration
7pm – 9.30pm – Rally for the Russian Revolution – with guest speakers Esteban Volkov (Leon Trotsky’s grandson, via video link) and Alan Woods (author of Bolshevism: the Road to Revolution, and the premier of the new IMT documentary about the life and ideas of Trotsky.
Saturday 21st October
9.30am – Registration
10.30am – 12.30pm:
The Marxist critique of postmodernism – Daniel Morley (Upper Hall)
Terrorism: the madness of capitalism – Hamid Alizadeh (Room 3D)
How does capitalism work? Marx’s Capital 150 years on – Natasha Sorrell (Room 3C)
12.30pm – 1.30pm – Lunch
1.30pm – 3.15pm:
Fascism and the far-right – Marie Frederiksen (Upper Hall)
What is a revolution? – Ben Gliniecki (Room 3D)
History of the Troubles in Ireland – Gerry Ruddy (Room 3C)
3.15pm – 3.30pm – Break
3.30pm – 5.15pm:
Imperialism: then and now – Fred Weston (Upper Hall)
Red Clydeside: Scotland and socialism – Rachel Gibbs (Room 3D)
The rise and fall of neo-liberalism and globalisation – James Kilby (Room 3C)
5.15pm – 5.30pm – Break
5.30pm – 7pm – Corbyn to power on a socialist programme! – with guest speakers Steve Hedley (Senior Assistant General Secretary of the RMT), Danielle Tiplady (leading nurse activist), Rob Sewell (Editor of Socialist Appeal), Paul Holmes (Unison NEC, personal capacity), and Natasha Sorrell (Sheffield NUT, personal capacity)
7pm – 11pm – The revolutionary party! – social with drinks and music (Djam Lecture Theatre, room G2 SOAS main building)
Sunday 22nd October
9.30am – 10am – Registration
10am – 12 midday:
Russia: from revolution to counter-revolution – Andy Southwark (Upper Hall)
Marxism and the Labour Party – Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick (Room 3D)
The history of dialectical philosophy – Scott Shaw (Room 3C)
12 midday – 1pm – Lunch
1pm – 2.45pm:
UBI and automation: utopia or nightmare? – Adam Booth (Upper Hall)
Trotsky and the permanent revolution – Jorge Martin (Room 3D)
Art and revolution – Joe Attard (Room 3C)
2.45pm – 3pm – Break
3pm – 4.45pm:
Catalonia and the national question – Jorge Martin (Upper Hall)
The origins of class society – Josh Holroyd (Room 3D)
Idealism vs materialism: mind and matter – Ben Curry (Room 3C)
4.45pm – 5.30pm – Why we need a revolution – closing remarks by Alan Woods
Buy your ticket today!
