Mexico: The most severe financial shock in 30 years

Written by Luis Enrique Barrios in Mexico City Monday, 19 October 2009

Mexico: The most severe financial shock in 30 yearsFor Mexico, the world economic crisis has provoked a severe fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of -10.3% in the second quarter alone - the worst on record since 1981. 36,000 companies have gone bankrupt and 735,000 workers have lost their jobs. Massive government spending cuts are further aggravating the situation.

 

The class struggle in the Roman Republic, part seven – The Gracchi (2)

Written by Alan Woods Friday, 16 October 2009

The class struggle in the Roman Republic, part seven – The Gracchi (2)Tiberius Gracchus was elected tribune in 133BC on a platform of distributing land to the urban poor and limiting the land that each individual could hold. This was hugely popular with the poor but – in spite of significant concessions to the wealthy landowners ‑ it provoked the anger of the patrician reactionaries who blocked his proposed reforms. This sharpened the class conflict, giving it a revolutionary character.

 

Mexico: Support electricity workers of the Luz y Fuerza del Centro

Written by In Defence of Marxism Friday, 16 October 2009

Mexico: Support electricity workers of the Luz y Fuerza del CentroThe Mexican government recently announced the sacking of 44,000 electricity workers at the Luz y Fuerza del Centro. We have been approached for solidarity activity. Please take this up on your workplace.

 

[Audio] A Socialist Answer to the Capitalist Crisis

Written by Mick Brooks Friday, 16 October 2009

[Audio] A Socialist Answer to the Capitalist CrisisThe economic crisis that has gripped the world has shown us that capitalism as a system is a dead-end. A year into the recession what is the alternative to capitalism? Hear Mick Brooks making the case for socialism at a recent meeting of the ULU Marxist Society in London.

 

In defence of theory — or Ignorance never yet helped anybody

Written by Alan Woods Thursday, 15 October 2009

In defence of theory — or Ignorance never yet helped anybodyIn 1846 Weitling complained that the “intellectuals” Marx and Engels wrote only about obscure matters of no interest to the workers. Marx angrily responded with the following words, “Ignorance never yet helped anybody.” Marx’s response is as valid today as it was then.

 

Book Inauguration of "Pakistan’s Other Story" in Rawalakot (Kashmir)

Written by Comrade Haris Thursday, 15 October 2009

Book Inauguration of "Pakistan’s Other Story" in Rawalakot (Kashmir)The book launch of “Pakistan’s Other Story - The 1968-69 revolution” was organized by the Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF), and was held in the Hill Top Hotel in Rawalakot on 5th October 2009.

 

IWSN speaking tour in Austria

Written by Iranian Workers’ Solidarity Network Thursday, 15 October 2009

IWSN speaking tour in AustriaThe Marxist tendency in Austria invited a speaker from the Iranian Workers’ Solidarity Network (IWSN) to give a series of talks on the recent events in Iran. Here we provide a report and pictures of this tour.

 

Trotsky and the Spanish Revolution

Written by Pierre Broué Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Trotsky and the Spanish RevolutionThis article was written as an introduction to a Spanish language edition of Trotsky’s writings on the Spanish Revolution. This English translation was published in 1967. Broué outlines the main lessons that Trotsky drew from the experience of the Spanish revolution, lessons that need to be taken on board today.

 

First issue of ‘The Communist’, the new Moroccan Marxist paper

Written by In Defence of Marxism Wednesday, 14 October 2009

First issue of ‘The Communist’, the new Moroccan Marxist paperSupporters of the International Marxist Tendency in Morocco have just published the first edition of their paper, The Communist. Here we provide a brief explanation of the contents and also make it available online for any reader who wishes to download it.

 

[Audio] The Chinese Revolution of 1949

Written by Alan Woods Wednesday, 14 October 2009

[Audio] The Chinese Revolution of 1949For Marxists the Chinese Revolution was the second greatest event in human history, second only to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Millions of human beings, who had hitherto been the beasts of burden of imperialism, threw off the humiliating yoke of imperialism and capitalism, and entered the stage of world history. The Marxists wholeheartedly supported the revolution, but they also warned that because the working class did not play the leading role, what would emerge would be a bureaucratically deformed workers’ state.

 

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El Salvador: La burguesía se opone a los cambios - Debemos enfrentarles con la movilización en las calles

Written by Juan Barrera Santiago Friday, 20 November 2009

Para cualquier trabajador está más que claro que ARENA dejó el país es una situación sumamente lamentable llena de grandes y profundos problemas que no tienen una sencilla solución, no siempre se es lo suficientemente consiente de la magnitud del problema. El país está en ruinas, esto no es un adjetivo exagerado sino la más clara realidad.

 

El Salvador: A 20 años de la ofensiva general de 1989 - Debemos completar las tareas revolucionarias pendientes

Written by Ricardo Ayala Friday, 20 November 2009

La gran ofensiva guerrillera "hasta el tope" del 11 de Noviembre de 1989 fue la más grande acción militar del FMLN durante la guerra civil, concentró el 70% de sus fuerzas militares en la capital y sus alrededores. Aun se siente el miedo y el odio de clase cuando la burguesía y sus representantes se refieren a ella, dando la imagen de una acción asesina por parte del frente y ocultando cuál fue el actuar de ellos contra los barrios obreros. Unos meses antes pensaron que el FMLN estaba acabado y su derrota vendría en poco tiempo, les duele en el alma haberse equivocado y haberse visto obligados a ceder en una serie de aspectos para llegar a los acuerdos de paz de enero de 1992.

 

Alan Woods: Oligarquía apátrida interna es la Quinta Columna que apoyaría una guerra contra Venezuela

Written by Venezolana de Televisión Thursday, 19 November 2009

Alan Woods: Oligarquía apátrida interna es la Quinta Columna que apoyaría una guerra contra VenezuelaEl escritor británico dijo que EEUU busca atacar a Venezuela desde Colombia / Consideró que los oligarcas no han sido tocados totalmente en sus intereses, y es parte de las tareas pendientes de la Revolución / Considera correcta la posición del Presidente Chávez de preparar a la población para la defensa de la soberanía

 

Alan Woods: “No se puede hacer una revolución a medias”

Written by Ciudad CCS Thursday, 19 November 2009

Alan Woods: “No se puede hacer una revolución a medias”"Alan Woods es uno de los pensadores marxistas de mayor reconocimiento en el mundo. Es un firme defensor de la Revolución Bolivariana. En esta entrevista le propusimos abordar una serie de aspectos político-teóricos con el fin de que sirvan de disparadores de un debate que contribuya a profundizar el proceso revolucionario." Entrevista publicada en Ciudad CCS, el diario gratuito de la Alcaldía de Caracas.

 

Venezuela: Gobernador Adán Chávez participó en foro sobre crisis del capitalismo

Written by In Defence of Marxism Thursday, 19 November 2009

Venezuela: Gobernador Adán Chávez participó en foro sobre crisis del capitalismoPGB/JS._ El gobernador del estado Barinas, Adán Chávez asistió al foro sobre “la crisis mundial del capitalismo y las acciones del imperio contra la revolución bolivariana”, dictado por el escritor británico Alan Woods, quien se encuentra de visita por segunda ocasión en la entidad llanera.

 

“Las universidades están ardiendo”. Grandes movilizaciones estudiantiles en Austria

Written by Gernot Trausmuth (Viena) Wednesday, 18 November 2009

“Las universidades están ardiendo”. Grandes movilizaciones estudiantiles en AustriaLa crisis del capitalismo está sacudiendo cada rincón del mundo. Ahora Austria, considerado en el pasado como el país de la paz social y el "diálogo", ha sido golpeado por una inmensa protesta estudiantil que está atrayendo un apoyo cada vez más amplio entre los trabajadores, que también están mostrando signos de radicalización.

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