Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century
 
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The Importance of Colin Barker

Mike Haynes offers a tribute to revolutionary socialist thinker and organiser Colin Barker

Obituary: Colin Barker

Ian Birchall remembers the life of revolutionary socialist Colin Barker.

Colin Barker (1939-2019)

We are extremely sad to announce the death of our comrade and friend, Colin Barker. Today we republish the first section of an interview with Colin, where he reflected on his experiences in the International Socialists (IS) in the 1960s.

revolutionary reflections | Value, force, many states and other problems: part 3

In the third and final part of his essay on violence and capitalist social relations, Colin Barker insists that capitalist states cannot be theorised without recognising their multiplicity.

revolutionary reflections | Value, force, many states and other problems: part 2

In the second part of his essay on how violence and coercion are written into the core of capitalist social relations, Colin Barker explores how states modify the law of value.

revolutionary reflections | Value, force, many states and other problems: part 1

The first part of Colin Barker’s essay looking at how violence and coercion are written into the core of capitalist social relations

revolutionary reflections | Notes on Capital and the State: part 3

In the concluding part of our serialisation of his 1978 essay on the state in capitalist society, Colin Barker considers the theory of the Permanent Arms Economy.

revolutionary reflections | Notes on Capital and the State: part 2

In the second of a three part series Colin Barker continues his investigation into the relationship between capital and the state.

revolutionary reflections | Notes on Capital and the State: part 1

The relationship between the state and capital is a major problem in Marxist theory. In the first of a three part series Colin Barker investigates how Marxists have addressed this question.

‘It was like a rocket: a fantastic display’: Reflections on May ’68

In a speech to Manchester rs21, Colin Barker reflects on the “madness of May ‘68”, when, for a brief moment, everything seemed possible.

Social Reproduction Theory: going beyond Marx’s Capital

Colin Barker of Manchester rs21 spoke on ‘Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping Class, Recentering Oppression’ at the recent Historical Materialism conference in London.

revolutionary reflections | ‘The movement as a whole’ – Waves and Crisis of The Social Movement

Colin Barker provides a framework for revolutionaries to think about their engagement in the politics of social movements.

IS in the 60s: two thousand workers with bricks: the Roberts-Arundel strike

Colin Barker recalls a key event for Manchester IS, an engineering strike six miles away in Stockport.

IS in the 60s: linking up with Manchester workers and fighting racism

Colin Barker recalls how IS grew in 1960s Manchester – making links with engineers and building workers, and campaigning against racist police violence.

IS in the 60s: Building a revolutionary group from the ground up

Colin Barker describes how IS grew from tiny beginnings at Oxford University, and what drew people to the group.

The idea of revolution in the 21st century

Video of Neil Davidson and Colin Barker speaking on The Idea of Revolution in the 21st Century.

The secret of its weakness: racism and the working class movement in Britain

Colin Barker reviews Satnam Virdee’s book Racism, Class and the Racialized Outsider, which is an important contribution to the debates around race and class.

The elephant is political

“Anti-politics” has become a phrase widely used to describe the state of politics today. Here, Colin Barker examines what ‘politics’ meant for Marx and what it means for revolutionaries today.

Hundreds march against fracking in Eccles

Colin Barker, Ewa Barker, and Anne Saxon report from Sunday’s rally and look at the damage that fracking can do.

Jane McAlevey 1964-2024

Ian Allinson pays tribute to and assesses the work of Jane McAlevey, the US-based organiser and author who popularised many organising concepts and techniques, and who inspired and trained thousands of activists

rs21 – the first ten years

For the tenth anniversary of the launch of rs21, Jonny Jones reflects on a decade of activity, our ups and downs, challenges and achievements, and considers our hopes for the future.

the cover of David Camfield's book 'Future on Fire', with a lowlit forest at sunset in the background.

Review | Future on Fire: mass movements in the climate crisis

What movement do we need? Taisie Tsikas reviews David Camfield’s new book on climate tactics.

The actuality of the revolution: exploitation and oppressions

In this extract from Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age, Neil Davidson suggests ways to draw struggles against oppression and exploitation together.

Lenin reading a book

Revolutionary Reads – What books got us through 2021?

We asked rs21 members what they’ve been reading in 2021, whether new works of revolutionary theory, fiction, or old classics. These were some of the examples our members had. James B – Psychoanalysis and Revolution (2021) Pyschoanalysis and Revolution argues for the relevancy of psychoanalysis as a tool for those of us involved in liberatory […]

Cover image of Revolutionary Rehearsals

Extracts from Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age

On the possibility of socialist revolution and the tragedy of the Egyptian revolution.

Arise: Power, Strategy and Union Resurgence by Jane Holgate is available from Pluto Press from 20 August 2021.

How can unions rebuild power?

Ian Allinson reviews Jane Holgate’s new book, Arise! Power, Strategy and Union Resurgence, an exploration of why unions have failed to revitalise themselves.

Colombian police officers. Keywords: Colombia police violence

Review | Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age

Andy N reviews Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age, a new collection discussing political upheavals since 1989. He finds a wide ranging and insightful work, which will deepen both the theory and practice of the modern left. Colin Barker, Gareth Dale, and Neil Davidson, Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age (Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2021) 410 […]

A photo of ships in Istanbul taken in 1854

Review | A Brief History of Commercial Capitalism

Nick Evans reviews a new book that calls for a radical rethinking of the history of capitalism.

Ende Geleande march in November 2019.

Revolutionary Reflections | Moving towards an ecological Leninism

The urgency of the climate crisis has led some on the left to turn towards ‘ecological Leninism’ – but we need greater clarity on what this means.

An image of Ian Birchall, by Colin Fancy. Keywords: Ian Birchall Algeria France Marxism socialism IS International Socialists

Unearthing hidden histories: an interview with Ian Birchall

An interview with socialist historian Ian Birchall. Ian’s work has has involved researching and reevaluating lesser-known revolutionaries and activists from the Global South.