The Last Stand of the Levellers

Written by Dudley Edwards Tuesday, 27 October 2009

The Last Stand of the LevellersOn 17 May 1649, three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell’s orders in Burford churchyard, Oxfordshire, England. They were the leaders of 300 men who belonged to the movement known as the Levellers. They had decided to fight against Cromwell who they considered was betraying the ideals of what the “Civil War”, i.e. the English Revolution, had been about.

 

Bill Landles: 65 years a revolutionary

Written by Alan Woods Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Bill Landles: 65 years a revolutionaryYesterday was Bill Landles’ 85th birthday. He is an active supporter of the Socialist Appeal in Britain and the IMT. His activity goes right back to the days of the RCP during the Second World War, where he played a role in the apprentices’ strikes. He is a living link to those early pioneering days of our movement.

 

Ireland: IMPACT Ballot shows huge shift in favour of strike action; now’s the time to stop Fianna Fáil and the Greens in their tracks

Written by Séamus Loughlin Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Members of the trade union IMPACT have voted 86% to 14% for strike action on a 69% ballot. This marks a dramatic shift over the past 7 months. But that’s hardly a surprise given the imposition of the levy, the slash and burn budget and the threats of cuts and redundancies and the general economic chaos and political crisis that threatens public sector workers.

 

1929: From boom to bust to depression

Written by Mick Brooks Monday, 26 October 2009

1929: From boom to bust to depression On Thursday October 24th 1929 the great New York stock exchange panic began. 12,894,650 shares changed hands, many at fire sale prices. The following Black Tuesday October 29th Wall Street began its long meltdown. The Wall Street crash divides two eras: the jaunty ‘jazz age’ of the 1920s and the 1930s – the decade of depression.

 

Venezuela: PSUV congress to be held in November – Fight for a Socialist progamme that can complete the Revolution!

Written by Patrick Larsen Friday, 23 October 2009

Venezuela: PSUV congress to be held in November – Fight for a Socialist progamme that can complete the Revolution!The PSUV congress has now been called and the Marxists will fight shoulder to shoulder with the left-wing delegates for a genuine socialist programme in the struggle against bureaucracy and against the right-wing in the party.

 

The class struggle in the Roman Republic, part eight – The Gracchi (3)

Written by Alan Woods Friday, 23 October 2009

The class struggle in the Roman Republic, part eightThe rich senators, having killed Tiberius, found that that was not the end of the matter. Powerful class forces had been unleashed from below. Such was the strength of the movement that the senate was forced to accept at least a partial implementation of Tiberius’ reforms. But this was only a means of controlling the masses and eventually overturning those very same reforms. The destruction of the small free peasants and the concentration of land in the hands of the wealthy was an unstoppable process.

 

Mexico: Tactics and strategy in the struggle to defend the SME

Written by Ruben Rivera Thursday, 22 October 2009

Mexico: Tactics and strategy in the struggle to defend the SME. Photo by Frecuencias Populares.The struggle of Mexican workers in defense of the Mexican Electricians Union (SME) has become one where at stake is not just this single union, but the position of the entire Mexican labor movement. It poses questions that go well beyond the realms of the Electricians’ Union. Here Ruben Rivera explains what is required to fight back and push the whole movement forward.

 

Mexico: October 15, electrifying mobilization to defend Luz y Fuerza and the SME - General Strike Now!

Written by Rodrigo Cruz Thursday, 22 October 2009

Mexico: October 15, electrifying mobilization to defend Luz y Fuerza and the SME - General Strike Now! Photo by Frecuencias Populares.Up to half a million people turned out in Mexico City to demonstrate their support for the Mexican Electricians Union (SME) on October 15. In spite of all the government and media campaign, the workers were not intimidated. On the contrary, they came out with even greater force. This marks a major turning point in the situation in Mexico.

 

Britain: Postal workers take national action

Written by Socialist Appeal (UK) Thursday, 22 October 2009

UK Postal workers are out on a national two-day strike over management plans in effect to destroy the Royal Mail. Picket lines are being staged at sites up and down the country. The bosses, backed by Lord Mandelson, who is looking to hit back at the union over his failed attempt to privatise the mail, have refused to negioate.

 

Ireland: Social Partnership - How much flogging can one dead horse take?

Written by Fightback (Ireland) Editorial Board Thursday, 22 October 2009

It might have started out as a strategy, but the ICTU leadership’s profound belief that they can wrest some concessions out of Cowen and Lenihan would be better described as an illusion or perhaps a death wish. We’ve pointed out many times that in a slump social partnership is like the partnership between a cat and a mouse. But at least in Tom and Jerry the mouse was a master of tactics.

 

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Mexico: Fructífera Charla de Alan Woods en el SUTIEMS

Written by Militante - Mexico Friday, 06 November 2009
 

Honduras, ¿acuerdo o farsa?

Written by Jorge Martín Thursday, 05 November 2009

Honduras, ¿acuerdo o farsa?Se ha armado mucho ruido ante la supuesta “reinstauración de Zelaya”, ¿pero qué está sucediendo realmente? Ha habido todo tipo de maniobras e intrigas pero no se han dado pasos concretos para reinstalar a Zelaya como legítimo presidente. En los próximos días veremos cual es el contenido real de este “acuerdo”.

 

Iran: La Revolución vive

Written by Babak Kasrayi Thursday, 05 November 2009

Iran: La Revolución vive. Photo by .faramarz on flickr.El 18 de septiembre de 2009 hubo manifestaciones masivas en Irán que confirman que el movimiento contra el fraude electoral no está muerto. Este movimiento sacudió a la sociedad iraní y, aunque haya altibajos, continuará hasta que se derribe el denostado régimen actual. La cuestión clave para nosotros es el papel de la clase obrera y la necesidad de una verdadera dirección revolucionaria.

 

Austeridad en Gran Bretaña

Written by Rob Sewell Wednesday, 04 November 2009

Austeridad en Gran BretañaEl capitalismo, internacionalmente, parece salir de su peor crisis desde los años treinta. Existe un alivio palpable en las filas de la clase dominante pensando que han evitado el cataclismo financiero. Sin embargo, a pesar de todo lo que se habla sobre brotes verdes, existe una pesadumbre universal ante la situación actual.

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