Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century
 
Revolutionary
Socialism in the
21st Century
BY THEME:
Revolutionary strategy Education, healthcare, housing, transport Borders, migration and race Anti-fascism and the far right Imperialism and international politics Climate and environment Feminism and LGBTQ liberation Work, unions and strikes Electoral Politics in Britain Culture

Municipal politics and the revolutionary left

Danny Schultz reviews Paint Your Town Red, by Matthew Brown and Rhian E Jones, finding an interesting discussion of the possibilities of radical local politics.

Russian imperialism under Putin

The invasion of Ukraine can be understood only with reference to the imperialist competition that dominates the world system.

Inclusion and equality matter: Why are they missing from our approach to Covid?

Zero Covid Scotland activist Hannah Hassan outlines the many ways in which Covid policies discriminate against people with disabilities and intensifies existing inequalities.

Stop the war! No to Nato!

Opposition to the war doesn’t mean siding with the West’s rulers.

Illustration of Alain Krivine (1941-2022) by Manus McGrogan

‘He never gave up the fight’ – remembering Alain Krivine

Alain Krivine (1941-2022) was a life long revolutionary socialist known for his activism since the May 1968 student revolt and general strike in France. Manus McGrogan, who interviewed him, recounts Krivine’s life and activism.

Photo of protest outside Stoke Newington police station on 18 March after revalations that Child Q was strip-searched in her school in Hackney

Cops out of schools!

rs21 members report on the protests in London and Manchester after the revelation that Child Q was strip searched in her school.

Protesters in Dover against the mass sacking of P&O ferry workers

Seize the ships!

Ferry workers need mass support as they fight back against a vicious mass sacking

Protest in London on 6 March 2022. Placard reads 'Putin is murder, liar, gangster.' Ukraine flag in background. Photo by Steve Eason.

How the West made Putin

Anindya Bhattacharyya charts a recent history of links between Putin and key figures in the Western ruling class.

Imperialism is a world system - photo of earth with colour filters

Russia’s invasion and world imperialism

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows that we have to understand imperialism as a world system.

Rally of striking NEU members with the Girls Day School Trust (GDST) in Parliament square in February 2022.

Historic independent schools pension strike at the crossroads

Striking NEU members at 23 schools in the Girls’ Day School Trust will decide this week whether to accept a deal or return to the pickets, Luigi Brindisi reports.

Painting of the swiss peasant wars. Right, the cover art for 'A People's Green New Deal' by Max Ajl.

Moving past the graveyard of Green New Deals

Gus Woody reviews ‘A People’s Green New Deal’ by Max Ajl

NATO: the West’s war machine

rs21 member Andy Gammon argues that solidarity with Ukrainians means calling for an end to NATO.

Ukrainian soldiers train with javelin missile systems in Donbas. These are arms supplied to Ukraine by NATO.

On the invasion of Ukraine

A statement from the rs21 Steering Group on the inter-imperialist war currently being waged in Ukraine.

Image shows around 10-15 people at the front of a crowd raising their fists and holding up a purple cloth banner reading 'Cut Energy Bills'

Cost of living crisis – strike, mobilise, occupy!

After the first wave of protests, we must continue the fightback against the companies and institutions that have caused the crisis.

The Cost of Living Crisis

Map of protests, information about the cost of living crisis, and political commentary.

Photo shows a view of Croydon High School, one of the schools in the Girls Day School Trust (GDST) where NEU members have balloted in favour of strike action over pensions. Large bold text overlaid which says 'STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE'

Huge vote to strike for teachers’ pensions in the private sector

Teachers at 23 private schools in the Girls Day School Trust have voted massively in favour of strike action. NEU and rs21 member Luigi Brindisi reports.

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.

Image shows a red-filtered photo of a laundrette, empty except for one woman in the background.

The double shift: talking childcare and gender in the pandemic

As many nations re-enter lockdown, Kate Bradley interviews two rs21 members on their experiences with childcare, work and gender during Covid lockdowns.

Image shows the cover of ABOLITION.FEMINSM.NOW by Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, and Beth E. Richie, plus background images of protestors.

Reimagining the relationship between care and power

Abu Leila reviews Abolition. Feminism. Now. in the context of radical politics in Britain.

Photo of protestors in the London demonstration as part of the Kill the bill day of action on 15 January 2022. Banners include Stop the War, the Revolutionary Communist Group, Extinction Rebellion, migrants welcome, and homemade placards.

Today’s #KilltheBill protests show that the fight against increased police powers will continue

Protests on the eve of the final House of Lords vote on the Police Crime and Sentencing bill are not a last-ditch effort but a warmup for the fight to come, writes Charlotte Powell.

Photo shows burning hobs on a gas stove, as gas prices are set to rise dramatically in 2022.

The cost-of-living crisis

With high inflation and a sharp rise in energy prices on the way, Ian Allinson argues that the cost-of-living crisis will shape British politics over the coming months.

Capitalism, debt and feminism

Kate Bradley reviews A Feminist Reading of Debt, finding an insightful account of the relationship between debt, gender, and capitalism, as well as examples of how to fight back against debt.

Photo shows placard reading 'shame on kellogs for using scabs' with a stencil of a rat

The Kellogg’s deal: not so grrrreat!

Joe Allen assesses the recent settlement of the eleven-week Kellogg’s strike in the US.

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 […]

The Downing Street parties

rs21’s Graham Checkley argues that the fallout from the parties scandal is an opportunity for the left to turn up the pressure outside parliamentary politics. 

Omicron – circuit breaker now!

Johnson and Javid must stop prevaricating and introduce an urgent set of measures to dramatically reduce contacts. Every day of delay in introducing a circuit breaker to cut transmission is magnifying the crisis ahead of us.

Photo shows a view of Croydon High School, one of the schools in the Girls Day School Trust (GDST) which is currently balloting for strike action over pensions.

Private sector teachers fight back against fire & rehire

Over a thousand NEU members have voted to strike in an indicative ballot over an attack on pensions in 23 private schools.

Photo of Birkbeck UCU members picket line during December 2021 UCU strikes.

The Difference is Striking in Higher Education

Thousands of UCU members took three days of strike action last week in a resumption of long-standing disputes with employers. Nick Cimini reports on what the other higher education trade unions are doing.

Photo shows protestors rallying round a speaker outside NHS england and Elephant and Castle underground station at the demonstration on 4 December 2021, called by transgender action block.

A huge step forward for trans protest in Britain

rs21’s Charlotte Powell reports on a demonstration outside NHS England and explains why it is a hugely important moment in the struggle for trans liberation in Britain.

Image shows april 1974 issue of rank and file paper 'the Building Worker'. Headline reads 'CRISIS THREATENS NEW LAYOFFS', second headline reads 'MAKE LABOUR FREE THE JAILED PICKETS. Tell Wilson Do not let our brothers rot in prison.'

What is the rank and file strategy?

Transcript of a talk that a Unite rep and rs21 member gave on the rank and file strategy as part of a Notes from Below panel at The World Transformed in Brighton.