Stalinism and the Soviet Union
The Russian Revolution is the greatest event in world history for Marxists. Studying this, and understanding why it degenerated into Stalinism, is vital.
The Fundamentals of Marxism: suggested reading
This selection of writings is an excellent introduction to many of the fundamentals of Marxist theory. There are many other writings that could be added, but this selection provides a strong basis for those wishing to equip themselves with the necessary ideas for the daily work of fighting for socialism.
The fundamentals of Marxism – suggested reading
A selection of Marxist classics to help revolutionaries understand the world and intervene in the class struggle.
Art and Politics In Our Epoch
“Art can neither escape the crisis nor partition itself off. Art cannot save itself. It will rot away inevitably — as Grecian art rotted beneath the ruins of a culture founded on slavery — unless present-day society is able to rebuild itself. This task is essentially revolutionary in character. For these reasons the function of art in our epoch is determined by its relation to the revolution.” Leon Trotsky, 1938.
Art and the Class Struggle
We publish here the transcript of a speech by Alan Woods on the subject of the relationship between Art and the Class Struggle. The speech was given at a Marxist Summer School in Barcelona (Spain), in July 2001.
Marxism and the State – Part Three
Real living examples of revolution are the test of any theory. May 1968 was such a historical example. These events reveal that defeat of the working class has not come about by such a thing as the “strong state” but by the ineptitude of the reformist and Stalinist leaders who were not prepared to mobilise the full force of the working class.
Marxism and the State – Part Three
Real living examples of revolution are the test of any theory. May 1968 was such a historical example. These events reveal that defeat of the working class has not come about by such a thing as the “strong state” but by the ineptitude of the reformist and Stalinist leaders who were not prepared to mobilise the full force of the working class.
Review of 2008: Potatoes, Freddie Mac and the strange case of the disappearing cash
The economic and financial crisis has dominated the whole year. Speculation and uncertainty in the US led to the price of oil hitting
$100 a barrel by January 2nd, followed shortly after by the first stock
market crash of the year amid fears of a global recession caused by
last year’s crisis in the sub-prime mortgage market. The world has entered perhaps the most disturbed period in the whole of human history.
Glasgow says ‘No Pasaran’
Saturday 13th
December saw fascists once again attempt to organise in Glasgow’s city centre.
A few weeks ago it was the pleasantly named and completely ineffective ‘Racial
Volunteers Squad’ who were intimidated just by the sight of the number of left
wingers who were also handing out propaganda on Buchannan Street. However this Saturday saw those fine
defenders of white nationalism, the racist British National Party attempting to
distribute their paper, the aptly titled ‘Voice of Freedom’ to unwitting members
of the public.
Women and the vote
December 14th 2008 marks the 90th anniversary of a landmark election in
Britain. Following the end of World War I it was the first election in
which women were entitled to vote. The Representation of the People Act
which became law in February 1918 had granted the right to vote on a
restricted basis to women. Only women over 30 would be entitled to
vote. Voting rights for all women aged over 21 did not come until ten
years later, in 1928.
Alan Woods speaks at Leeds University
Last
week, Leeds University played host to In Defence of Marxism
editor Alan Woods, speaking on the subject of the Venezuelan
revolution and the impact of the recent regional and municipal
elections. Organised by the International Affairs Forum, whose
previous speakers include such well-known establishment figures as Hillary
Benn and Geoff Hoon, the meeting drew a large and lively crowd (over
50 were in attendance).
Damian Green affair – what are the issues?
The recent much
publicised arrest of Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green
has led to acres of newsprint
being used up by normally establishment papers in
defence of Mr Green and the tradition of whistleblowing.However are we not seeing double standards
here? When it is a right wing MP leaking stuff about immigration then it is all
OK, but when it is a trade unionist revealing management lies being perpetrated
in the public sector or in government then it is quite a different story.