Memoirs of a revolution: Portugal 1974
On the 25th April 1974, against every expectation, a revolution broke out in Portugal. On the 40th Anniversary, Brian Parkin recalls what it was like for a young British engineering worker, arriving in the midst of a city in the process of revolution, where momentarily everything seemed possible. Lisbon. An imperial city. A city as […]
The evolution of the Scottish independence question
Historian and socialist activist Neil Davidson’s responds to questions about his article ‘Yes: a non-nationalist argument for Scottish independence’ about how his position on Scottish independence has developed.
The politics of depression: Mark Fisher on mental health and class confidence
Anindya Bhattacharyya spoke to Mark Fisher about the politics of mental health, magical voluntarism and the ideology of neoliberalism.
Taking control of the future of the city
What are cities? How do they work? Ruth Lorimer asks basic questions that outline a fresh Marxist approach to grasping what neoliberal capitalism is doing to our urban spaces. Strands running through urban space Cities are inspiring and exciting places to be – but campaigns about housing, public space and gentrification are often not. Why is this? We […]
Who was Blair Peach?
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the killing of Blair Peach by the police. David Renton looks back at Blair Peach’s life as a poet, trade unionist and committed antifascist. Blair Peach was a 33 year old teacher killed on a demonstration on 23 April 1979 at Southall against the National Front. He is one […]
‘The act of refusal’ – Some thoughts on revolution
Advertising has tried to appropriate the idea of ‘revolution’, yet it can’t help but ring hollow whenever it does. Luke E looks at what revolution actually means, and how we build for it on a day-to-day basis. It can be easy to feel crowded by claims of revolution. Whether it’s some “revolutionary” new form of toilet cleaner. Or […]
rs21 political weekend: Revolutionary organisation and the working class
Charlie Hore writes: Just over 80 people made it to the final session of the rs21 political weekend, a session that was as much about demonstrating the breadth of the weekend as an attempt to sum it up. Ian Birchall began by with a CLR James quote new to most of us: ‘Lenin – not […]
rs21 Political Weekend: Social Movements and United Fronts Today
Rebecca Short writes: Colin Barker and Sølvi Goard’s workshop on Social Movements and United Fronts Today tackled arguments that are key for anyone organising on the left. As the room started to fill, a video was played from perhaps one of the most exciting struggles in the past year, that in in Bosnia Herzegovina, etching […]
rs21 Political Weekend: How do we organise to change the world?
At the rs21 political weekend, one session followed the format of the BBC’s Question Time. Panellists addressed the role of the revolutionary organisation and international politics.
rs21 Political Weekend: What is revolutionary leadership?
Caliban’s Revenge discusses a session at the rs21 political weekend on the question of the role of ‘leadership’.
Racism, austerity and revolution: rs21 north London meeting
Watch the rs21 meeting in Tottenham featuring Estelle (rs21), Bianca (Left Unity), Jennifer (Justice for Mark Duggan) and Bat (rs21), including discussions and summary.
The upturn/downturn debate: an introduction
Ian A summarises a debate on the development of capitalism since 1968, and how this has impacted the working class and its struggles, in a attempt to address the question of what revolutionaries should do.
Ukraine: four points in response to Chris Nineham
Acknowledging Russia’s imperialism has consequences for our understanding of national liberation movements.
Profit: A numbers game, but shit don’t add up somehow
By learning about surplus value, or profit, we see how capitalism exploits and appropriates, allowing the rich to get richer and the poor to become immiserated.
What does it mean to be a revolutionary socialist in the 21st century?
Amy Gilligan and Jonas Liston introduce and reply to a discussion on “What does it mean to be a revolutionary socialist in the 21st century?” for Manchester rs21 on 15 March 2014.
Shit Does Not Just Happen: an introduction to historical materialism
The materialist conception of history can be used to understand recent events and shows us how ordinary people, the exploited and the oppressed, can make history.
Joel Geier on Zinoviev v Lenin
Joel Geier from Chicago, in a piece originally written for the ISO, argues that the distortions inflicted upon the Bolsheviks by Zinoviev fatally weakened the party prior to Stalin’s coup de grace.
What do we mean by… uneven and combined development?
Neil Davidson continues an rs21 series on the fundamentals of our political tradition by looking at uneven and combined development.
What might constitute a Marxist philosophical canon?
Selective readings of Marxist theory that favour “guides to action” can lead to a skewed and unhelpful understanding of Marxist ideas
What do we mean by… class?
Terry Wrigley takes a look at the Marxist concept of class, in the first of an rs21 series on the fundamentals of our political tradition.
Kent International Socialists produce solidarity bulletin
Kent International Socialists write: Kent International Socialists formed after many members in the Kent district of the SWP left the organisation. However, we quickly realised we had a responsibility to try and keep our networks together as revolutionaries, given the rise of UKIP and the NF in Thanet, as well as engaging in anti-austerity activity […]
Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century launch statement
We are committed to revolutionary change – the self-emancipation of the working class, liberating the whole of humanity.
The three whales of Bolshevism
The militant slogans of the Bolsheviks after 1905 were colloquially known as the “three whales of Bolshevism”. Roderick Cobley puts forward his suggestions for 2013.