Adam Booth looks at the ideas and concepts introduced in chapters 12-15 of Das Kapital, where Marx explains how the capitalists use machinery, organisation, and planning in order to reduce their costs and boost their profits.
370 years ago this weekend, the Putney Debates of 1647 took place: meetings of elected representatives from the Army ranks, chaired by Oliver Cromwell himself, which discussed the future direction of England. The demands put forward by the Levellers were revolutionary. To commemorate this anniversary, we republish here an extract from a longer series on the English Revolution by David Brandon.
Amidst all of the Brexit chaos and Tory disarray, the Office for Budget Responsibility has sent a shockwave through British political and business circles with its latest economic forecasts – and, in particular, its sobering analysis about the persistent problem of low productivity in the UK. Josh Holroyd looks at the interminable problems facing British capitalism and its Tory representatives.
Young Marx is a new comedic play at the Bridge Theatre, set in Soho London, revolving around Karl Marx’s struggle to provide for his family, and fend off spies, creditors, political enemies, and the police, all whilst completing his economic magnum opus, Das Kapital. We publish here a review by members of the Marxist Student Federation, who recently attended one of the first performances.
Over the last 15 years, 30,000 men, women and children have lost their lives drowning while attempting to reach European shores. And each year the number of victims is rising. This is the equivalent of a silent, unilateral war against hundreds of thousands of unarmed people – a war waged by capitalism and imperialism against innocent migrants and refugees.
Last weekend, from 19-23 October, over 300 Marxists from across Europe, gathered in London for the October Revolution festival – an inspiring commemoration of the centenary of the Russian Revolution. The revolutionary energy and enthusiasm seen at the festival is the most fitting celebration of the 1917 October Revolution – for Marxists, the greatest event in human history.
450,000 marched in Barcelona on Saturday 21st October, demanding freedom for the two Jordis (held without bail on sedition charges) and rejecting the implemention of Article 155, announced by the Spanish President, Rajoy. As Jorge Martin reports, the measures being proposed by the Spanish government amount to a coup against democracy in Catalonia.
Capitalism is in its deepest crisis in its history. It is an economic, social and political crisis, which is now expressing itself in political turmoil and growing class struggle across the globe. While the ruling class attempts to bury Marxism, it has in fact never been so relevant as it is today. In this updated article, Alan Woods explains the essence of Marxism and its role today.
In part three from our “Capital in a Day” series, Natasha Sorrell – a teacher in Sheffield – discusses where profits come from within capitalism: the unpaid labour of the working class.
When Theresa May was anointed as prime minister, she was heralded by the capitalist press as being a “safe pair of hands”. The new Tory leader stated that she and her party would provide “strong and stable” leadership. But now the whole government is in a shambles and May has been described as “a dead woman walking”. Rob Sewell looks at the political crisis facing the Tories and their leader.
The last week has seen a number of protests taking place in the fight against low pay: from a TUC demonstration against the public sector pay cap, to the continuing struggle of the Picturehouse cinema workers in their demand for a London living wage. We provide here a series of reports from Socialist Appeal supporters on the various struggles taking place in the fight for decent pay.
With Britain heading for a Brexit over a cliff, there is a deep anxiety amongst the ruling class about where things are heading. The economic outlook is bleak, and the chancellor will undoubtedly leave the bill at the feet of the working class in the form of further austerity and attacks. Labour needs to fight for a socialist alternative.