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4 September 2001

The origins of women’s oppression

While middle class feminists regard the oppression of women as an
inherent biological trait of men, Marxism explains that the root of
women’s oppression lies not in biology, but in social conditions.
Marxism sees the liberation of working class women as a part of the
struggle for the liberation of the working class as a whole. While
feminists set women against men, the socialist movement attempts to
forge solidarity between male and female workers in a common struggle
against capitalist exploitation.

18 July 2001

Marxism versus feminism – The class struggle and the emancipation of women

Alan Woods Women

For Marxists, the root cause of all forms of oppression consists in the division of
society into classes. For many feminists, on the other hand, the oppression of
women is rooted in the nature of men. It is not a social but a biological
phenomenon. This is an entirely static, unscientific and undialectical
conception of the human race. It is an unhistorical vision of the human
condition, from which profoundly pessimistic conclusions must flow. For if we
accept that there is something inherent in men which causes them to
oppress women, it is difficult to see how the present situation will ever be
remedied. The conclusion must be that the oppression of women by men
has always existed and therefore, presumably, will always exist.

15 June 2001

Rail privatisation in Britain – a warning

Mick Brooks Archives

There have been a lot of disasters on the railways in Britain. But the
real disaster has been rail privatisation itself. There was a lot of rhetoric from the Tories
about the ‘dynamism and efficiency’ private capitalism would bring, but experience has
shown that the only people to benefit from rail privatisation have been the profiteers, not
the general public that has to use the railways. So what is the alternative?

15 June 2001

Oldham mobilises against the fascists: Socialist policies needed to fight racism

Bryan Beckingham and Alan Creear Britain

The events in Oldham have hit the national headlines. Similar explosions of racial conflict have taken place in other towns in Britain. This has brought the BNP and the danger from far-right groups back into the spotlight. Bryan Beckingham, Secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers, and Alan Creear in Oldham describe the background to these developments.

12 June 2001

After the British General Election: Where is Labour going?

Alan Woods Archives

Editorial note: The following is a full version of the shorter article we
published on 8 June on the British election.

Labour has won the elections with a majority of 167 seats at Westminster,
only
slightly down on last time when they won a landslide majority of
179 seats. On the face of it, it is an outstanding triumph for Tony
Blair. But these results do not adequately express the contradictory
nature of the mood in British society. The mood of the masses is
sceptical. The working class is disappointed and frustrated with
New Labour. Despite Labour’s landslide victory, the underlying
mood is extremely volatile.

31 May 2001

The British General Election and the perspectives for the Labour Party

Alan Woods Archives

On 7th June, the people of Britain will go to the polls to elect the next government. According
to all the polls Labour is set to gain a hefty majority over the Conservatives. The polls
show that Labour is now leading the Tories by a massive 28 points. Yet the election
campaign has been as dead as a Dodo, and the great majority show little interest and less
enthusiasm for either New Labour or the Tories. The general election turnout is likely to be
low – some have even predicted the lowest for over 100 years. The reason for this alleged
"voter apathy" is not hard to find.

30 March 2001

Where is Britain going? – British perspectives and tasks 2001

Socialist Appeal Editorial Board Britain

This statement by the Editorial Board of the
Socialist Appeal
analyses the situation in Britain today. It looks at Britain within the
context
of world economic and political developments and
analyses how these affect the British trade union movement, the
Labour Party, the youth and outlines the
perspectives for the coming period and poses the tasks of Marxists
today.

13 March 2001

Foot and mouth – a disease of the profit system

Mick Brooks Britain

Over the past weeks the news has been dominated by the story of
yet another crisis in farming. The rapid
spreading of the food and mouth epidemic in Britain is a direct
consequence of capitalist farming
methods.

13 September 2000

The Petrol Strike Brings Britain to a Standstill – Militancy Pays

Phil Mitchinson Archives

In a matter of days a magnificent and largely spontaneous
movement of
truck drivers, farmers and cabbies has brought large parts of the
country
to a virtual standstill. This movement represents the biggest
national
unofficial strike action seen in Britain for decades. The ruling class
are
quaking in their boots.

14 July 2000

Horror of Britain’s immigration controls

Heiko Khoo Britain, Migration

The horrific deaths of 58 Chinese migrants
found in Dover, revealed to the world the
monstrous effects of Britain’s immigration regime. By making it
virtually impossible for refugees and
migrants to enter this country legally, many thousands every year
seek to come here illegally. Jack Straw
was quick to place the blame on Chinese smuggling gangs called
the Snake Head. Thinking people can
see through this.

5 May 2000

London and local elections – Bad day for New Labour

Steve Jones Archives

A first look at the electoral disaster for the Labour Party in the
council elections and
Ken Livingstone’s victory in the London Mayoral contest.

We need each other mutual aid direct action

4 May 2000

Marxism and direct action

Phil Mitchinson Anarchism, Strategy and tactics

Phil Mitchinson explores the ideas of “direct action” associated with the groups that are often at the centre of organising recent anti-capitalist protests.

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