Socialism and the long struggle for Irish freedom

Written by Phil Mitchinson Friday, 26 February 2010

We are publishing here a speech given by Phil Mitchinson at the 2005 International Marxist school in Barcelona. Dealing with the history of the centuries old struggle for freedom in Ireland, and the part played in that history by republicanism and socialism, as well as the political developments that have led to the current impasse. Phil, who died tragically in 2006 at the age of 38 would have celebrated his 42nd Birthday on 25th February. His commitment to the revolutionary ideas of Marxism and his boundless optimism were an inspiration to the lucky few who knew him well. Phil needs no monument, his ideas and his spirit are testament enough. Phil was instrumental in the pioneering work that made this website possible and for that we are eternally grateful. We will finish what he started.

 

Ireland: One hand tied behind their back

Written by Séamus Loughlin Friday, 26 February 2010

Ireland: One hand tied behind their backWhile many active trade unionists across the country will be pleased to hear that IMPACT and SIPTU among others are planning to escalate the wave of partial actions across the public sector, and that they will be pushing for escalation at the ICTU meeting on March 8th; at the same time they will be acutely aware of the need to demonstrate to their members that the action is having an affect on the government. We welcome Jack O’Connor’s remarks that workers need to be prepared to escalate the action, but we also recognise that the responsibility for coordinating the action and providing a national focus to the campaign lies firmly in the hands of the ICTU leaders.

 

Major strike wave in Burma

Written by Jonas Ryberg Friday, 26 February 2010

An important strike wave erupted recently in the Burmese textile industry. The workers have been resisting the brutal response of the military regime.

 

[Audio] Cuban revolution 51 years later - where is it going?

Written by Jorge Martín Friday, 26 February 2010

[Audio] Cuban revolution 51 years later - where is it going?The Cuban Revolution is one of the great events of human history. The small island was completely dominated by US imperialism until the revolution of 1959 shattered the Batista dictatorship and introduced a nationalised planned economy in the years following the revolution. Since then impressive achievements in health care and education have been met with loud shouts of "dictatorship" from the bourgeois press. What was the background to the revolution and why did it develop in the way that it did? Where is Cuba going today?

 

Greece: February 24 massive general strike – workers’ movement back in action!

Written by Marxistsiki Foni Editorial Board Thursday, 25 February 2010

Greece: February 24 massive general strike – workers’ movement back in action!Yesterday Greece was shaken by a massive 24 hour general strike. In some sectors there was a total walk out, and in industry as a whole 70% of the workers came out. This is the answer of the Greek working class to the government’s severe austerity measures. The task now is to build on this and keep up the pressure to get the whole package withdrawn.

 

Greece: We are not sacrificing our lives to pay interest to the lenders!

Written by Marxistiki Foni Editorial Board Thursday, 25 February 2010

We provide here the text of a leaflet published for the build up to yesterday’s 24-hour general strike in Greece and distributed on the rallies.

 

Marx versus Bakunin - Part Three

Written by Alan Woods Thursday, 25 February 2010

Marx versus Bakunin - Part ThreeAfter the defeat of the Paris Commune different ultra-left and opportunist tendencies emerged within the First International, who intrigued against the General Council and attempted to use the name of the International for their own ends. This was finally resolved with the expulsion of these elements with strict powers established for the General Council and clear rules on how the International was to be run.

 

From the Resolutions of the Hague Congress of the IWA, September 2-7, 1872

Written by Karl Marx Thursday, 25 February 2010

Here we provide excerpts from the Rules voted at the 1872 congress of the First International which established the powers of the General Council, which sections would be recognized and which not, i.e. expelled. There was a special section on the expulsion of Bakunin and his organization because "the secret Alliance was established with rules entirely opposed to those of the International."

 

Declaration of the General Council concerning the Universal Federalist Council

Written by Karl Marx Thursday, 25 February 2010

In 1872 a grouping made up of various organisations, claiming to be part of the First International and even declaring an alternative “General Council”, had to be denounced by the General Council publicly to clarify matters.

 

Turkey: 50,000 in Ankara to support Tekel workers as the country moves towards general strike

Written by “The Hook” Thursday, 25 February 2010

Turkey: 50,000 in Ankara to support Tekel workers as the country moves towards general strikeLast Saturday about 50,000 people gathered in Ankara to show their support and solidarity with the Tekel workers. Meanwhile the four confederations of trade unions gathered on Monday and decided to declare an indefinite general strike for 26 May 2010.

 

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Audio

The Latin American Revolution By Jorge Martín[Download] [More Audio]

Mèxico: SME - Solo la unidad y la movilización echarán a calderón, liberarán a nuestros presos y frenarán la represión

Written by Tendencia Marxista Militante, Rosario Ibarra, CC SME Friday, 19 March 2010

SME: Solo la unidad y la movilización echarán a calderón, liberarán a nuestros presos y frenarán la represiónDesde hace meces el gobierno represor del fecal y todo su equipo que le rodea esperaba este momento, cualquier síntoma de desgaste que demostrara el movimiento sería el inicio de una campaña de represión y dispersión contra el SME. Hoy 18 de marzo han sido desalojados 3 plantones de forma violenta, sin ningún tipo de empacho, causando heridos, golpeados y detenidos.

 

Peru: Los Quenuales en Pie de Lucha contra la Glencore

Written by César Zelada Friday, 19 March 2010
 

Por la Quinta Internacional

Written by Corriente Marxista Internacional Thursday, 18 March 2010

El llamamiento del presidente Chávez a organizar una nueva internacional revolucionaria, la Quinta Internacional, ha provocado discusión apasionada en las filas del movimiento obrero en América Latina y en todo el mundo. Los marxistas no podemos mantenernos indiferentes ante esta cuestión. ¿Qué actitud debemos tomar?

 

México: Lecciones de la huelga política del 16 de marzo

Written by Comité de Redacción Militante México Thursday, 18 March 2010

México: Lecciones de la huelga política del 16 de marzoA las primeras horas del día, miles de personas se concentraban en diferentes puntos de la ciudad realizando mítines y bloqueos, era el inicio de un buen día donde todas las organizaciones que se sumaban al paro movilizan sus bases para apoyar al SME e incorporar demandas propias, una de las zonas más activas fue la del oriente, donde organizaciones vecinales, las bases del SME, taxistas, diableros y trabajadores independientes participan en los bloqueos.

 

Venezuela: Fortalecer el PSUV, reimpulsarlo con el marxismo

Written by Corriente Marxista Internacional Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Venezuela: Fortalecer el PSUV, reimpulsarlo con el marxismoÉste documento fue presentado por delegados, voceros, comisionados, militantes de base, sindicalistas, trabajadores y campesinos, militantes del PSUV como una propuesta de discusión al congreso y distribuido a todos los delegados.

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

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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