When the Socialist Party Was a Factor in US Politics: Lessons in Party Building

Written by Tom Trottier Tuesday, 09 February 2010

When the Socialist Party Was a Factor in US Politics: Lessons in Party Building In this article, the conditions for socialist revolution to develop are analyzed. The experiences of the Socialist Party of America and other left groups are analyzed as well, for those that are interested in building a Marxist leadership need to learn from past left and labor movements to avoid making the same mistakes past socialists have made.

 

Corporate Media: A Ruling Class Tool

Written by Antonio Bâlmer Monday, 08 February 2010

Corporate Media: A Ruling Class ToolIn the society in which we currently find ourselves, class society, a small minority of the population holds ownership and control over industry, banks and all major means for producing wealth. Because we, the workers, do not get to enjoy this wealth, although we create it, our lives are reduced to working for wages that disappear when we pay the bills. How does the ruling class keep us putting up with such a lifestyle? One way is the fact that the ruling class’s ideology permeates contemporary culture and dominates the media.

 

Canada accuses Venezuela of stifling democracy while Parliament remains prorogued

Written by Camilo Cahis Monday, 08 February 2010

Canada accuses Venezuela of stifling democracy while Parliament remains prorogued. Photo by Jared PrudyPeter Kent, a Canadian minister, recently expressed concerns over the supposed “shrinking democratic space” in Venezuela. He was referring to measures against several TV stations. On one of these, Noel Álavarez, president of the bosses’ union FEDECAMARAS, called for another “military solution” to the political situation in Venezuela. How would Kent like it if a Canadian boss suggested Canada’s military intervene to remove his government?

 

Morocco: Victory! The ‘Jebha Three’ have been released!

Written by Communist League of Action (CLA) - Morocco Monday, 08 February 2010

Morocco: Victory! The ‘Jebha Three’ have been released!After several weeks of solid protest, the state authorities released the three youth activists of Jebha from prison last week. This is a huge victory for the struggle against the lack of water supplies, power cuts and other problems affecting the village. We want to thank all our readers who sent solidarity messages.

 

Iran: Alireza Saghafi arrested by intelligence officers

Written by Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network Saturday, 06 February 2010

Iran Haft Tapeh public relations officer arrestedAs part of the widespread arrests of activists in Iran during the past few days Alireza Saghafi was arrested on Monday, February 1, 2010. He is a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association and a labour rights activist who was arrested on May Day 2009 in Tehran’s Laleh Park.

 

Debate on Nationalising the Mines in South Africa

Written by David van Wyk Saturday, 06 February 2010

A storm erupted in policy circles in South Africa after Julius Malema the leader of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) boldly proclaimed the need for the mining industry in South Africa to be nationalized. The demand was predicated on fulfilling the vision of the Freedom Charter, which was adopted at Kliptown in 1955 as the ‘manifesto’ of the liberation struggle. According to the Charter “The wealth of the country shall be shared among all who live in it!” (Note: the full ANC YL document on nationalisation of the mines can be read here in a PDF version)

 

South Africa - ANC YL perspective on nationalisation of the mines

Written by ANC YL Saturday, 06 February 2010

We provide here a link to this important document produced by the ANC Youth League on the question of the nationalisation of the mines. The ANC YL document is inspired in the bold call of the Freedom Charter that "the mineral wealth beneath the soil, monopoly industries and banks should be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole." This document has created a heated polemic within the workers' movement in South Africa and with the capitalist class. We publish it here for the information of our readers. This should be read in conjunction with David van Wyk's article on the same issue.

 

Stop the conspiracies against Iranian Militants!

Written by Babak Kasrayi Friday, 05 February 2010

In order to harass left activists, members of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran-Hekmatist, the Iranian regime’s “courts” have declared 12 members of this party as common criminals. Scandalously, INTERPOL has accepted this verdict as valid and has put these left activists on its “wanted list”.

 

USA: What Does the Massachusetts Election Mean?

Written by Tom Trottier and John Peterson Friday, 05 February 2010

USA: What Does the Massachusetts Election Mean?This article takes note of the effects of the recession on workers in the USA (high unemployment, low wages, threats of losing homes, etc.) and how Obama is continuing Bush's program of spending billions of dollars bailing out Wall Street. The union leadership told workers that voting the Democrats into Congress and the White House would change things, but where is this change? As the Workers International League explained, voting for the "lesser evil" in a system dominated by two corporate parties would bring about an immediate "evil." People then get tired after no real change and end up bringing the "greater evil" back into power. This is precisely what happened in Massachusetts.

 

USA: New Leadership Elected for NYC Transit Workers

Written by Tom Trottier in the U.S. Friday, 05 February 2010

USA: New Leadership Elected for NYC Transit WorkersAn opposition group recently won the election and will become the new leadership of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100. Even though the election was held last June, the ballots were not counted until December! This was one of the many tactics used by the incumbent Toussaint leadership, which was seeking to install its handpicked successors.

 

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Morocco: Free the three detainees from Jebha (Chefchaouen)!

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El “acuerdo de Copenhague” – nada más que palabrería

Written by Adam Booth Tuesday, 09 February 2010

El “acuerdo de Copenhague” – nada más que palabreríaEl sábado, después de dos semanas de negociaciones, la Cumbre Climática en Copenhague terminó con un completo fracaso. El resultado de las negociaciones, un documento conocido como el “Acuerdo de Copenhague”, es simplemente una colección de declaraciones huecas y vacuas, y no contiene ninguna referencia a un acuerdo jurídicamente obligatorio.

 

Venezuela: La expropiación de los bancos, el Congreso del PSUV y la reactivación del movimiento de los trabajadores

Written by Patrick Larsen Monday, 08 February 2010

Venezuela: La expropiación de los bancos, el Congreso del PSUV y la reactivación del movimiento de los trabajadoresRecientemente hemos visto muchos acontecimientos importantes que están ocurriendo en Venezuela, como la devaluación del bolívar o las nacionalizaciones en el sector bancario, que deben ser analizados cuidadosamente. El movimiento de fábricas ocupadas ha logrado importantes avances el año pasado, pero todavía se enfrenta a la lucha contra el sabotaje de los gerentes contrarrevolucionarios y los trabajadores siguen luchando por la nacionalización bajo control obrero. Con el fin de defender las conquistas ya realizadas, la revolución tiene que poner la nacionalización de las palancas principales de la economía en el orden del día. Sólo esto puede destruir el capitalismo y proporcionar las condiciones necesarias para una economía socialista planificada.

 

México: Nuevo documento sobre la lucha del SME

Written by Militante - México Monday, 08 February 2010

Adquiere el nuevo documento que la Tendencia Marxista Militante sobre la lucha del SME

 

Marcha del 29 de enero: Por la unidad obrera y campesina

Written by Rubén Rivera Monday, 08 February 2010

La movilización de este 29 de enero de 2010 constituye una prueba más de la determinación combativa de los trabajadores electricistas en la lucha por la defensa de su fuente de trabajo. Al mismo tiempo ha mostrado el enorme potencial que tiene la lucha unificada de trabajadores del campo y la ciudad. Uno de los elementos que más llamaron la atención fue sin duda la participación de decenas de miles de campesinos y la plana mayor de la Confederación Nacional Campesina, la CNC aún afiliada al PRI pero cada vez más y más implicada en luchas reivindicativas.

 

Francia: lanzamiento de la Red “Fortalecer el PCF, restablecer el marxismo”

Written by La Riposte Monday, 08 February 2010

Francia: lanzamiento de la Red “Fortalecer el PCF, restablecer el marxismo”120 militantes y simpatizantes del Partido Comunista Francés asistieron a la reunión fundadora de la red “fortalecer el PCF, restablecer el marxismo” celebrada el pasado sábado 30 de enero en Paris. Al acto acudieron camaradas de unos quince departamentos de diversos puntos de la geografía francesa, en un excelente ambiente para el debate.

 

Venezuela: A un año de los asesinatos de los camaradas José Marcano de MMC Automotriz y Pedro Suárez de Macusa

Written by Militantes de la CMI Tuesday, 02 February 2010

Venezuela: A un año de los asesinatos de los camaradas José Marcano de MMC Automotriz y Pedro Suárez de MacusaHace un año fueron los asesinatos de los camaradas JOSÉ MARCANO DE MMC AUTOMOTRIZ y PEDRO SUÁREZ DE MACUSA a manos de la policía de Anzoátegui. Los camaradas de MMC Automotriz han luchado fuertemente contra la tercerización en MMC Automotriz, pidiendo que esta vil práctica cuartorrepublicana se acabe de una vez por todas.

Youth for International Socialism

1st US Edition of BolshevismNew from Wellred USA! The first US edition of Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution by Alan Woods. This monumental 500+ page study of the history of growth and development of Bolshevism demolishes the myths of both Stalinist and pro-capitalist historians of the Russian Revolution. Read More

pakistans-other-story-european-thumb.pngThe Pakistan Revolution of 1968-69 was one of the greatest revolutionary movements of the 20th century. It is rich in lessons and Lal Khan's book is an outstanding summing up of these lessons. It deserves most careful study by every revolutionary.Read More

The Crisis of Fundamentalism in Iran: Towards Socialist RevolutionA new book has come out recently, written by Maziar Razi of the Iranian Marxists' Revolutionary Tendency, with an Introduction by Alan Woods. It is a collection of articles on the crisis of the Iranian regime and the perspecti... Read More

International Marxist TendencyThe crisis capitalism has entered globally is having a deep impact on the real living conditions of billions of workers all over the world. With this comes a growing consciousness among ordinary working people and youth that something is seriously wrong with this system, that this cannot be the way human bei... Read More

Reformism or RevolutionThis book by Alan Woods is a polemic against a well-known (in Latin American terms) intellectual Heinz Dieterich. Dieterich claims to have invented a new "Socialism of the 21st Century" and much else into the bargain. He offers a great deal of advice to those involved in the Venezuelan Revolution dressed... Read More

Part of the intention of this article is to combat the kind of senseless anti-Americanism that one encounters all too frequently in left circles. Marxists are internationalists and do not take up a negative stance in relation to the people of any country. We stand for the unity of all working people against oppression and exploitation. What we oppose is not Americans, but American capitalism and American imperialism. The American people and above all the American working class have a great revolutionary tradition. On the basis of great h... Read More

Lenin, Trotsky and the Theory of the Permanent RevolutionWellred Publications is pleased to announce the publication of a new book on Trotsky's famous theory of the Permanent Revolution, written by John Roberts. This work critically analyses and compares Lenin and Trotsky's writings in relation to the theory of the Permanent Revolution and defends that theory against revi... Read More

Russia, from Revolution to Counter-RevolutionThis book, by Ted Grant and with a preface by Trotsky's grandson Esteban Volkov, covers the key developments in Russia since the Revolution right up to the present day. It traces the elimination of workers' democracy, the rise of Stalinism, the advances of planned economy and the eventual collapse of the bureaucratic sy... Read More

Germany, from Revolution to Counter-RevolutionIn 1918-33 revolution and counter-revolution followed hot on each others' heels. The barbarity of the Nazis is well documented. Less well known are the events that preceeded Hitler's rise to power. Rob Sewell gives a picture of the tumultous events - the 1918 revolution, the ... Read More

History of British Trotskyism, by Ted Grant This book by Ted Grant is a unique contribution to the history of British Trotskyism. It begins with the debate on Trotskyism in the British Communist Party in 1924 and ends with the break-up of the Revolutionary Communist Party in 1949 and the beginning of more than thir... Read More

Bolshevism, the Road to Revolution. By Alan WoodsThere have been many books and potted histories of Russia, either written from an anti-Bolshevik perspective, or its Stalinist mirror image, which paint a false account of the rise of Bolshevism. For them, Bolshevism is either an historical "accident" or "tragedy". Or it is portraye... Read More

Lenin and Trotsky, what they really stood for It is now more than thirty years since the publication of the first edition of this work. It was written as a reply to Monty Johnstone, who was a leading theoretician of the Communist Party of Great Britain. Johnstone had published a reappraisal of Leon Trots... Read More

The Iranian Revolution, a Marxist PerspectiveThis book represents an important contribution to our understanding of the Iranian revolution. This work will be particularly useful in the West where it is universally believed that the revolution of 1979 was a movement of Islamic fundamentalists led by the Ayatollah Khomeini to push Iran b... Read More

The History of PhilosophyThis text was originally written by Alan Woods as a part of the book Reason in Revolt: Marxist Philosophy and Modern Science, but eventually the book became too long and this part had to be left out. Therefore this history of philosophy is published here for the first time. With chapters on: Do we Need Philosophy?, The ... Read More

Kashmir's OrdealThe comrades in Pakistan were just about to publish a new book on Kashmir when the devastating earthquake hit a month ago. The comrades have been hard at work on their solidarity and relief operations. Given the current crisis in Kashmir, they have decided to go ahead with the publication of the book. Over the weeks we will pu... Read More

The Irish Republican movement has been struggling for a united Ireland for decades. Today it is no nearer this objective than when it was founded. Marxists understand that a united Ireland can only be achieved on a socialist basis. So long as capitalism dominates Ireland there will be division and strife. Therefore it is time to take stock of the past of the Republican movement and to draw a balance sheet. Only by such means can we build the revolutionary movement urgently needed to prevent a further descent into sectarian chaos and achie... Read More

In the Cause of Labour - A History of British Trade UnionismThere are many narrative histories of the struggles of British workers. However Rob Sewell’s book is different. The purpose of this history of British trade unionism is not only to recite the wrongs inflicted on working people, or simply to describe their heroic struggles. It is an attempt to draw out the lessons of the events that helped ... Read More

The Unbroken ThreadFor over 60 years, Ted Grant has been the foremost figure of Trotskyism in Britain and internationally. In the post-war period, the effects of world boom, the policies of right wing Labour Party reformism and the degeneracy of Stalinism combined to make a massive onslaught against the ideas of Marxism. While Grant's contemporaries ... Read More

Reason in Revolt: Marxist Philosophy and Modern ScienceThis book, by Ted Grant and Alan Woods published in 1995 coinciding with the centenary of Engels' death, defends the validity of the philosophical writings of Marx and Engels. It does this by showing that the scientific discoveries of the twentieth century confirm the very essence ... Read More