The discipline that is imposed on the worker through the capitalist system — through wage labour, through the division of labour and the development of manufacturing — is the very same discipline that the workers turn against the bosses through organisation into trade unions and political parties of labour.  Therefore what effect does the theory and practice of Anarchism have in the attempts by the workers to forge fighting organisations? In a recent meeting of Socialist Appeal supporters in London, Alan Woods answers this question, focusing on the clashes between Marx and Bakunin in the First International, on the role of the Anarchists in the Spanish Civil War, Democratic Centralism and the question of leadership, the class nature of Anarchism, and the use of the internet as a means of organising a revolutionary movement.

An avalanche of books has recently been published to discredit Lenin, Trotsky and the Russian Revolution. First and foremost of these writers is Professor Robert Service. The aim of his latest book on Trotsky is to prove that Bolshevism leads to Stalinism and totalitarianism. In a lead off given to a recent Socialist Appeal Day School in London Alan Woods sets the record straight and explains the huge gulf that divided genuine Bolshevism from the monster of Stalinism that was built on the physical destruction of the Bolshevik party.

The Middle East is often associated with terrorist attacks, suicide bombings and Al-Qaeda. At the same time we also think about the war in Iraq and the ruthless occupation of Gaza. But on the other hand we can also see the awakening of the mass struggle in this region. The most advanced expression of it being the movement in Iran, which has shaken the theocratic regime to the core and upset the plans of imperialism.

Christianity has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern world and continues to hold considerable influence over many people's lives and even many countries' governments. Understanding the roots of such a phenomenon, dating back 2000 years, provides great practical significance when it comes to understanding the development of religion and society in general.

The Honduran coup government used heavy repressive tactics on election day as the resistance vowed to continue to fight for a new constitution and the people's rights. We publish here a video report by The Real News for the interest of our readers.

Jorge Martín, international secretary of Hands Off Venezuela, addressed a recent meeting of the ULU Marxist Society in London on the topic of the Latin American Revolution. The meeting took place in the midst of mobilisations in Mexico, a coup in Honduras and the extraordinary congress of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. For Marxists the unfolding revolution in Latin America is a great source of inspiration and lessons.