Marxist Voice
Revolutionary Communist Party
Marxist Voice is the official podcast of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in Britain. Each week, we discuss Marxist theory, revolutionary history, and current events.
Head to our website for daily news and analysis, as well as links to join and support the party, and to subscribe to our various publications.
Preparing for RCP Congress 2025 | Communist Radio #12
Ideas form the basis of any revolutionary party and an understanding of the processes are key to how we orientate ourselves in the class struggle.In this episode of Communist Radio, Ben and Nelson talk through how the RCP is structured and what are the key questions to be discussed at the RCP Congress in 2025.🔗 Head to The Communist website for daily news and analysis✊ Join the Revolutionary Communist Party📰Subscribe to The Communist and In Defence Of Marxism💸 Donate
How to fight imperialism: Pacifism, direct action, and revolutionary tactics
War is neither a result of mistake or madness — as the military tactician, Clausewitz, explained it is “the continuation of politics by other means.” Today, war is fundamentally waged by the capitalists to defend their profits, markets, and spheres of influence. As long as capitalism exists, there will be no end to war. In this session, In this episode, Lotta Angantyr, Executive Committee member of the RCP, discusses how to fight imperialism.🔗Head to our website for daily news and analysis
University cuts: Prepare for battle! | Communist Radio #11
A storm is gathering on UK campuses, with cuts, course closures and redundancies set to be carried out at dozens of universities.In this episode of Communist Radio, Ben Gliniecki and Lubna Badi discuss why marketisation led to this crisis, and how students and workers can prepare for battle.🔗 Head to The Communist website for daily news and analysis✊ Join the Revolutionary Communist Party📰Subscribe to The Communist and In Defence Of Marxism💸 Donate to the RCP🌐 Read t
Labour in power: From 1924 to today
The Labour Party was one of the first mass parties of the trade unions and working class, formed in the heated struggles at the turn of the 20th Century. Enshrined in its early aims was the fight for common ownership of the means of production — the fight for socialism. With over a century passed since its first government, questions must be asked: Why has the Labour Party failed to achieve this goal? Did the its leadership ever really represent the interests of the working class? With the retur
Immigration: the communist position | Communist Radio #10
Establishment politicians from all of the main parties have been whipping up a culture war over the question of immigration, in order to divide and distract the working class.
In this episode of Communist Radio, Ben and Khaled sit down to outline how Marxists approach to the question of immigration from an internationalist class perspective.
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How Lenin built the Bolshevik Party
The Bolshevik party was the only party in history which was able to lead the working class in a successful socialist revolution. In this episode, leading RCP member Rob Sewell explains how Lenin built this force, and the lessons to guide us in the struggle for revolution today.
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Why is there a genocide in Gaza?
The genocide against the Palestinian people shows the real, brutal face of imperialism. While the maniacal Netanyahu regime has signed a ceasefire deal in Gaza, it continues its onslaught against the Palestinian people in the West Bank, with the backing of US and British imperialism. Why has this genocide taken place? And how can the Palestinians, alongside the oppressed masses of the region, achieve liberation?
In this session from Revolution Festival 2024, Khaled Malachi, Central Committee mem
Science, society, and revolution
Throughout history, mankind’s ability to develop knowledge and advance our understanding of nature has been shaped by material conditions and social forces. It is not simply individual geniuses that have helped science to take leaps forward, but revolutionary changes within society.
Today, far from fuelling scientific progress, the profit motive and capitalist competition have become an enormous barrier to human knowledge. Only socialist planning can free science from these chains.
In this episo
Fascism: What it is and how to fight it
Capitalism is in a global economic crisis. The working class everywhere are experiencing falling living standards, and have been for at least a decade. This inevitably has huge political and social effects.
There is a bitter anger brewing deep in society, and these are exploding to the surface in many ways, including in the far-right riots across Britain, and the rise of far-right parties across Europe.
The political polarization is reminiscent of the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s, wher
Bangladesh's unfinished revolution: The 1971 War of Liberation
Today, Bangladesh is glowing with the white heat of revolution. The masses have once more entered the arena of struggle. They are rediscovering a rich revolutionary tradition that goes back decades.
In reality, the tasks of this revolution are the unfinished tasks of an unfinished revolution, which began more than fifty years ago and culminated in the 1971 War of Independence against the domination of Pakistan.
Learning the lessons of that period is vital to not only understanding the present, b
Books Not Bombs! (Revolution Festival 2024 rally)
Schools are collapsing, universities are going bankrupt, and millions of students and children are living in poverty.
All the while, our politicians fork out billions on bombs, and university bosses rake in a fortune through their ties to the Israeli war machine.
We are living in an epoch of rising imperialist war, and we are expected to pay the price.
In this episode, Fiona Lali, leading RCP member, and Antonio Balmer, leading member of the Revolutionary Communists of America, discuss the stru
Lessons from the 2011 Arab Revolutions
13 years ago, without any organisation, programme, plan or preparation, the Arab masses, in the words of Marx, ‘stormed heaven’. In a matter of weeks they brought down regimes that decades of petitioning by NGO’s and academic do-gooders could not budge an inch. The colossal state-apparatus, employing hundreds of thousands of spies, police officers, and army personnel, could only watch as the masses took over the streets.
In the context of rising tensions across the Arab world, Lubna Badi, leadin
Why did the Assad regime fall?
The Syrian regime has collapsed. The resulting power vacuum is being filled by local militias and warlords, backed by various imperialist powers seeking to redivide the country and the region. The Syrian masses can only rely on their own strength.
In this episode, Hamid Alizadeh, member of the International Secretariat of the RCI, explores the reasons for the rapid collapse of the Assad regime, and what this means for the region.
🔗 Read more on the topic here: https://communist.red/assad-fall
Horror without end: Imperialism and world relations
The crisis of capitalism is resulting in is renewed tensions between the imperialist powers.
They are sharpening their knives to defend the profits, markets, and spheres of influence of their multinational corporations.
Defence spending is on the rise all over the world, while the masses everywhere suffer attacks on living standards to foot the war bill.
This is provoking social unrest and upheaval in one country after another.
In this opening session from Revolution Festival 2024, Alan Woods,
Crisis in the USA: The next chapter
This year’s US election was one of the most turbulent in history. It came amidst rising class contradictions and great instability on the world stage. Never before has American bourgeois democracy been so discredited, and never has it been confronted with so many challenges to its position as the world imperialist power. While neither candidate could solve the fundamental issues of the capitalist system, the victory of Donald Trump is already adding further instability to the US and world situat
Communist Radio #9: What does Trump mean for Britain?
This week on Communist Radio, Fiona Lali and Ben Gliniecki discuss the victory of Donald Trump in the US elections, and the deep ramifications a Trump presidency will have for Starmer's government and British capitalism as a whole.
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Communist Radio #8: Labour's budget won't solve the crisis
This week on Communist Radio, Fiona Lali and Nelson Wan discuss why Labour's recent budget won't be able to paper over the cracks, and why capitalism has been in crisis ever since the 2008 financial crash.
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Communist Radio #7: Kick imperialism off campus!
This week on Communist Radio, Fiona and Khaled discuss Fiona's 'Books Not Bombs' tour, the militarisation of universities in the UK, and some common questions that communists get asked about revolution and fighting imperialism.
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Communist Radio #6: Why we need revolutionary theory
This week on Communist Radio, Khaled Malachi and Georgina Ryan discuss the chaos of world capitalism, the US elections, the revolutionary movements that have taken place in recent months, and why we need Marxist ideas to guide the struggle for communism.
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Communist Radio #5: Climate and class struggle: The storm has just begun
With Hurricane Milton battering the United States, bringing carnage and suffering in its wake, the apocalyptic threat of climate catastrophe is at the forefront of people's minds.
In this week's episode, Ben Gliniecki and Tom Crozier discuss why capitalism is to blame, the impact the climate crisis will have on consciousness, and why only communism can save the planet.
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Communist Radio #4: Down with the warmongers!
In this week's episode of Communist Radio, Ben Gliniecki and Khaled Malachi sit down to discuss Israel's deadly attacks on Lebanon, Iran's retaliation, and the rank hypocrisy of western leaders like Keir Starmer.
As Ben and Khaled explain, revolutionary communists side fully with the oppressed against the oppressor.
In order to put an end to Israel's slaughter, workers and youth must fight the enemy at home – British imperialism and its lackeys in Westminster – with mass, revolutionary action.
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Communist Radio #3: Labour, Lebanon, and Lenin
In episode three of Communist Radio, Fiona Lali and Ben Gliniecki discuss the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the first hundred days of a Labour government; what is their role on the global stage and at home? And how do we build a successful organisation like Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
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Communist Radio #2: Books Not Bombs!
In episode two of Communist Radio, Ben Gliniecki and Fiona Lali sit down to discuss Israel’s terrorist attack on Lebanon, why polls reveal an increase in support for communism, as well as answering some common myths about Marxism.
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The role of British imperialism today
In this latest episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Gliniecki outlines the role of British imperialism today, and how communists can fight to overthrow it.
📚 Get your hands on Marxist classics like Lenin's 'Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/
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Communist Radio #1: The Communists are coming!
Welcome to Communist Radio, the brand new podcast series by the Revolutionary Communist Party.
Each episode, we will dissect the key political events of the week from a Marxist perspective, as well as how our Party is responding to them, by building a revolutionary alternative.
This week, Ben Gliniecki and Fiona Lali sit down to discuss the crisis in the Middle East, Starmer's anti-worker policies, the upcoming university freshers period, and the RCP's autumn growth campaign.
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How can communists fight for oppressed nations?
The national question is one of the most complex questions that Marxists must be able to answer, and has a renewed importance today, as the crisis of capitalism inflames national questions that were once considered fully resolved.
In this talk, Jack Tye Wilson outlines Lenin and the Bolsheviks' approach and how it developed, the colonial revolutions, and the national question today.
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Where is Britain going?
Little over a month after Starmer's landslide election victory, Britain has been thrown into turmoil, with far-right riots and attacks, as well as impressive counter mobilisations.
These events are a foretaste of the instability in store, as British capitalism sinks deeper into crisis.
In this episode, taken from the opening talk of the recent RCP summer camp, Adam Booth explains these events within the context of the global crisis of capitalism, and outlines the tasks of revolutionary communist
How to smash the far right – a communist perspective
⚠ Apologies for the poor audio quality. A piece of equipment malfunctioned. But since the analysis is so important we uploaded this anyway. Rest assured that we will have this fixed for the next episode.
In the past week, Britain has been shaken by a wave of far-right violence, with migrants, asylum-seekers and Muslim communities facing intimidation and violent attacks. These shocking events should be a wake-up call for the labour movement.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, we sit down with Fio
How can communists use elections?
Fiona Lali's election campaign shows that revolutionary ideas can connect with wide layers of people. In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Morley to discuss elections, parliaments, and broader questions around communist methods and tactics.
🔗 Read Daniel's article here: https://communist.red/communists-and-elections-parliament-positions-and-the-party/
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Why bourgeois democracy is a dictatorship of the rich
We’re told we live in a democracy, but whether we vote for Starmer or Sunak, we’re going to get pretty much the same thing. What’s democratic about that?
We’re told we have rights like freedom of speech and a free press, but the government is banning protests and the newspapers are all owned by billionaires. What’s the point of these “rights” if they don’t actually mean anything?
The fact is that the world is run by and for the rich. They decide everything and the rest of us don’t get a say. Tha
Why Capitalism can't escape the crisis
15 years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the economy is once again taking a turn for the worse. The past decade and a half has seen capitalism go from disaster to disaster. Instability and chaos are the new normal.
Whether it’s environmental crises, economic crises or political crisis, the world has lurched from one extraordinary event to another. But every measure the bourgeois take to solve one crisis only creates another.
The bourgeois economists have started calling this a “permacrisi
The German Revolution Of 1918
The events of the German revolution are some of the most tragic in the history of the world workers movement. One year after the Russian revolution, the German workers rose up, overthrew the Kaiser, and set up Soviets all over the country.
But unlike the Russian revolution, where the Bolshevik party had been founded 14 years in advance, the revolutionary party in Germany, the Spartacus league, was founded one month after the revolution began. As a result, they were caught unprepared, and the rev
What Is Stalinism?
The events of the Russian revolution were the greatest in all human history. For the first time, the exploited masses fought back and won. The revolution birthed the most progressive state the world had ever seen, with the Communist International — led by Lenin and Trotsky — becoming a beacon of internationalism, inspiring workers and poor everywhere.
And yet, within 10 years, the Soviet Union had degenerated into a bureaucratic and totalitarian regime. The Communist International went from a ha
Why revolutionary communist Fiona Lali is standing for election
Following her takedown of Suella Braverman, and with a surge of grassroots support, Fiona Lali is standing as a revolutionary communist candidate for Stratford and Bow in the upcoming general election. Vote for Fiona! Bring down the warmongers!
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Overthrow the war criminals! Build the Palestine movement!
Student encampments in support of Palestine have rapidly spread to universities across Britain.
This talk is from a meeting organised by the Revolutionary Communist Party which discussed how we aim to broaden, link together, and escalate this struggle.
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Are communists amoral?
Communists are often accused of being bloodthirsty and violent provocateurs, who would stop at nothing to achieve their malevolent aims. But our accusers are the same people responsible for the slaughters in Gaza, Sudan, the Congo and countless others.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ellen Morton will explain the difference between their morals, the morals of the bloody and barbarian capitalist system, and ours, the morals of the slaves in struggle to end slavery.
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Gove accuses RCP of antisemitism for opposing Tory war criminals
The RCP has been accused of antisemitism by Michael Gove in an attempt to cover up the crimes of British imperialism and its support of Israel’s genocide.
We sit down with Fiona Lali to discuss Gove's outrageous smear, the ICC request for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and what lies ahead for the Palestine encampments.
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Race And Class: Do We Need A 'Black Marxism'?
‘Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition’, by Cedric Robinson, has featured in countless anti-racist reading lists across schools and universities. The title suggests it will be a synthesis of Marxism and the Black struggle. In reality, it is an attempt to divide the two entirely.
What is the ‘Black Radical Tradition’, and how does the Marxist method apply to it? In this session, Fiona Lali will explore whether historical materialism can explain the development of racism, if the
Frantz Fanon's 'Wretched Of The Earth': A Marxist Critique
Fanon has been used by academics as a basis for a whole series of confused and reactionary ideas about “de-colonisation of the mind”. However, “Wretched of the Earth” is a book about revolutionary struggle against colonialism, arms in hand.
In the book, Fanon issues very sharp and prescient warnings about the treacherous role of the bourgeoisie after independence, but at the same time he argues that the only revolutionary classes in colonial countries are the peasantry and the lumpen-proletariat
The crimes Of British Imperialism
The history of the British Empire is littered with horrendous crimes. From the partitions of India and Ireland, to the suppression of the Mau Mau uprising, to the violent Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to its murderous role in the Easter Rising and Bloody Sunday; it is impossible to mention all the brutalities of British imperialism.
Many brave anti-imperialists have fought and died for the cause of expelling British imperialism from their countries. It is our duty to learn from this history.
Despit
Towards the RCP #8: Prepare for take-off!
With the founding congress only days away, we are joined by RCP national secretary Ben Gliniecki for the final episode of the series, to discuss the importance of this event, how the congress works, and what you can do to prepare for this historic weekend.
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What Is the International Marxist Tendency?
All across the world capitalism is in crisis. Climate change, imperialist war and the crushing poverty of the vast majority are exposing millions to the horror of the system and driving them towards revolutionary conclusions.
But to bind these class fighters together and channel their anger into the fight for communism, a world party is needed, one that can create, school and orientate a leadership ready to successfully carry through the world socialist revolution.
That is what we are building.
The Iranian Revolution of 1979
The Iranian Revolution was one of the most inspiring revolutionary episodes of the post-war period.
Without any pre-adopted plan, programme, or leadership, the Iranian masses swept away the Shah, and began to take charge of society for themselves through popular councils.
And yet, this power was not consolidated, leading to the decline and defeat of the revolution.
In this session, Hamid Alizadeh discusses this great historic drama, which holds a wealth of lessons for revolutionaries today — not
Towards the RCP #7: Building the Party on campus
With only two weeks to go until the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, and with students heading back to campuses for a final term of university, we sit down with Fiona Lali and Lubna Badi – members of the RCP's campaigns department – to discuss how RCP branches can recruit and organise around universities.
In this episode, we cover how the capitalist crisis is affecting young people, the tactics and methods we can use to build the Party on campus, as well as how students ca
Scottish nationalism in crisis
The powerful rise of the Scottish independence movement once struck fear into the British ruling class, threatening to break the United Kingdom and raise the rebellious spirit of the working class.
Nearly ten years since the referendum that unleashed opposition to Tory Britain, and raised the Scottish National Party to unprecedented support, the movement is at a crossroads.
The SNP leadership clique have proven themselves to be politically bankrupt, unable to retain their rosy reformist image a
Towards the RCP #6: What is the international?
With less than three weeks to go until the founding of the Revolutionary Communist Party, we sit down with Jorge Martín, a leading member of the soon-to-be Revolutionary Communist International which is also being founded this summer.
In this episode, we cover why the working class needs an international, the successes we've had in the recent period, as well as how the international works.
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[Spectre of Communism] Why we need a Communist International
In June, the International Marxist Tendency will take the monumental step of founding a new Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), to provide communist workers and youth around the world with a bold rallying point in the struggle to overthrow capitalism.
In doing so, the RCI will build on the immense revolutionary legacy left behind by the Third (Communist) International, founded by Lenin and the Bolsheviks as the world party of revolution.
🔗 Register now for the founding of the RCI: http
The limitations of direct action
The capitalist system is in a deep global crisis. Its decline has devastating consequences, not only in terms of social and economic conditions, but also the destruction of the planet.
This is shaking millions of people to political life and it has driven an increase in political activity of all kinds. In particular, some are drawn towards the methods of ‘direct action’ and ‘civil disobedience’.
In this talk, Joe Russell will examine the limits of ‘direct action’ groups like Just Stop Oil, XR
The limitations Of direct action
The capitalist system is in a deep global crisis. Its decline has devastating consequences, not only in terms of social and economic conditions, but also the destruction of the planet.
This is shaking millions of people to political life and it has driven an increase in political activity of all kinds. In particular, some are drawn towards the methods of ‘direct action’ and ‘civil disobedience’.
In this talk, Joe Russell will examine the limits of ‘direct action’ groups like Just Stop Oil, XR an
Towards the RCP #5: Why we need Marxist theory
As Lenin famously declared, "without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement." Defending the ideas of genuine Marxism is the bedrock of what we do here at the Revolutionary Communist Party.
With just a month to go until the founding congress of the RCP, Fiona Lali and Jack Tye Wilson discuss why Marxist theory is essential to building the Party, as well as how communists can go about educating themselves.
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Class struggle in the Roman republic
In the first complete Marxist history of the Roman Republic, Alan Woods’ recently launched book provides a gripping and accessible analysis of the titanic struggles that shaped the Roman world, and continue to resonate today.
Spanning more than a thousand years of development, the book delves into the fundamental processes which gave rise to the emergence of Rome as an imperial power, the crisis of the Late Republic and the rise of the Caesars. It also features additional material by the author
Women's oppression and the family
The oppression of women is one of the most reactionary elements of class society and Marxists have always stood on the frontlines in the fight against it. Yet one the most common prejudices against Marxism is that it views the struggle for women’s emancipation as secondary.
For example, Silvia Federici, who calls herself a Marxist-feminist, criticises Marxism and says Marx’s analysis of capitalism falls short andignores the sexual division of labour in capitalist accumulation. This could not be
Towards the RCP #4: How to finance the Party
With six weeks to go until the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Joe Russell and Jack Tye Wilson sit down to discuss the importance revolutionary finance, how to raise funds for the Party, and why a Bolshevik organisation requires material sacrifice.
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How Marx became a communist
141 years ago this week, Karl Marx died. His ideas laid the scientific foundation of the revolutionary communist movement, and would transform the course of world history.
Today, not only do these ideas continue to inspire millions, they also provide our sharpest theoretical weapons in the struggle to overthrow capitalism and bring the working class to power.
In this talk, Josh Holroyd – editor for In Defence of Marxism – explores the theories and events that inspired and shaped the young Kar
Towards the RCP #3: Will the RCP run in elections?
With deep anger at the establishment everywhere we turn, and a general election on the horizon, we respond to a question from a listener: will the Revolutionary Communist Party run in the elections?
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What should Communists do about the war In Ukraine?
[Recorded in November 2023]
With NATO staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat in Ukraine, the western imperialists' boastful jingoism has turned into its opposite.
While some on the so-called 'left' continue to call for support for Zelensky's gang – thereby betraying the interests of workers everywhere – the Communists have taken a principled, internationalist position since day one.
In this talk from last year's Revolution Festival, Hamid Alizadeh outlines the only way to fight imperi
In defence of the Enlightenment
In the age of the Enlightenment, the young, ascendant capitalist class began to stretch it's wings against the spiritual dictatorship of the church, and the feudal monarchies that they propped up.
Breaking the chains of obscurantist medieval dogma, bold thinkers and pioneers like Locke, Newton, Diderot and Rousseau fought for rationality and science and in so doing, theoretically cleared the ground for the great bourgeois revolutions.
Today, however, the capitalism is decrepit and dying and th
Towards the RCP #2: Building the communist press
In episode two of 'Towards the RCP', we discuss why we have launched 'The Communist' newspaper, how we can use it as a tool to build the Party, and how we can pave the way for a weekly Communist paper.
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Towards the RCP #1: How to build the Party
With only 10 weeks to go until the founding Congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, we are launching a new weekly podcast series dedicated to building the Party.
Each episode, we will cover the key political events of the week, and delve into a particular aspect of communist organising – from Marxist education, to revolutionary finance, to building a workplace cell.
This week, we cover why we are launching the RCP, what makes it different, and how to get started with recruiting new revo
The Great French Revolution
The Great French Revolution was one of the greatest events in human history. In just four years, the masses rose up and swept away the ancient regime that had stood for centuries, igniting revolutionary flames across Europe.
Yet these heroic efforts ultimately prepared the way for the rule of the capitalist class, and could only herald what was to come: the struggle of the working class for socialism.
Nevertheless, it is vital that all who are fighting for communism to carefully study these tita
Against 'progressive' patriotism
From La France Insoumise, to Podemos, to the ‘Communist’ Party of Britain, a number of figures and groups on the left believe that rallying around the national flag is the best way to attract the support of the working class.
This opportunism goes back a long way. Both the reformists and the Stalinists have tended to bend to the chauvinism of the ruling class, leading to the betrayal of workers and oppressed peoples.
As communists, we understand that the working class has no nation, and that res
Lenin Lives! — Commemorative Rally
John Reed, the author of Ten Days that Shook the World, once said that Lenin was the most loved and the most hated person alive. He was loved by tens of millions who wanted to change society, but hated by the ruling class and their apologists.
As the leader of the Russian Revolution, Lenin was a man who changed the world. A convinced Marxist, he created the Bolshevik Party, the most revolutionary party in history. Lenin translated the ideas of Marxism into reality.
One hundred years since his de
Capitalist China and its role in world relations
For communists, China has a special importance, as it is home to the largest working class in the world.
While the western capitalists denounce China as a totalitarian dictatorship, and the Stalinists praise it as a socialist motherland, Marxists must have a scientific understanding of the Chinese regime.
In this episode, Jorge Martín explains the real nature of China today; its place in the world capitalist system; as well as the crisis, inter-imperialist conflict, and class struggle headed its
Art and the Russian Revolution
The October Revolution was not just an act of economic and political emancipation for the downtrodden masses, it also represented artistic and creative emancipation.
Individual geniuses - such as Eisenstein, Meyerhold, Stanislavski, Tatlin, El Lizzitsky, and Shostakovich - rose to prominence and revolutionised their artforms.
But more remarkably, millions of ordinary people were given access to the world of art and culture, previously denied to them by the bourgeois class. A spiritual and cultur
The collapse of French imperialism in West Africa
The coup in Gabon in August was most recent in a series of setbacks for French imperialism. The Sahel region of West Africa, which France has historically treated as it's colonial back yard, is today known as the 'coup belt', and has seen military takeovers in Chad, Niger, Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
In this talk, Josh Holroyd will explain the causes of these seismic events, as well as the revolutionary way forward: the masses can't be duped by the cynical Chinese and Rus
The Soviet economy: how it worked and how it didn't
The Soviet Union stands out in history as the first time a workers' state began the task of planning the economy.
In this talk, Adam Booth uncovers the dynamics and laws of the Soviet economy, explaining the objective forces which propelled the policies of the Bolsheviks, and later the Stalinist bureaucrats.
Through understanding the Soviet economy, we can see the potential of economic planning today, as well as a glimpse of what a future communist society might look like.
🌐 Head to our website
The Palestinian struggle: Intifada 'til victory!
With a deafening chorus from the imperialist establishment in support of Israel's genocidal war, it's vital that communists have a clear understanding of the current conflict, and the role of our own ruling class.
In this episode, Khaled Malachi discusses the history of Israel and Palestine, and outlines a revolutionary way forward.
🌐 Head to our website for theory, news, and analysis: socialist.net/
📚 Get your copy of 'Israel-Palestine: A Revolutionary Way Forward': https://wellredbooks.co.uk
Alan Woods on 'why we are communists'
World capitalism continues to spiral. The crisis is affecting the consciousness of workers and youth all over the world. Many are increasingly turning to communism.
In this episode, taken from the opening rally of the recent Revolution Festival, Alan Woods discusses the crisis of capitalism, the bankruptcy of the reformist leaders, and why only the ideas of revolutionary communism can offer a way forward.
🌐 Head to our website for theory, news, and analysis: socialist.net/
✊ Join the campaig
Building the forces of communism In Britain
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Rob Sewell outlines the perspectives for British capitalism and the tasks of communists, as well as announcing our campaign to found the Revolutionary Communist Party in May 2024.
🌐 Head to our website for theory, news, and analysis: socialist.net/
✊ Join the campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: socialist.net/join
📰 Help us launch 'The Communist' newspaper by taking out a subscription: socialist.net/subscribe
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1917: The October Revolution
We are republishing Alan Wood's series on the Russian Revolution as a podcast, originally released to mark the centenary of the greatest event in human history.
In the final episode of the 1917 series, Alan Woods discusses the October Revolution, when the workers and peasants of Russia seized power.
Alan looks at the build up to the insurrection, which took place exactly 106 years ago on 7th November (25th October, old calendar), and explains the historic significance of the Bolshevik revolution
1917: The Kornilov Coup
We are republishing Alan Wood's series on the Russian Revolution as a podcast, originally released to mark the centenary of the greatest event in human history.
In part five, Alan Woods discusses the failed coup attempt by General Kornilov and the impact this had on the political consciousness of the masses.
Following the events of the "July Days" in 1917, the Bolsheviks were driven underground and the forces of reaction were emboldened. Nevertheless, the terrible conditions facing the workers,
1917: The July Days
We are republishing Alan Wood's series on the Russian Revolution as a podcast, originally released to mark the centenary of the greatest event in human history.
In part four, Alan discusses the counter-revolution that reared its head in the July Days. Terrified by the outbreak of mass, armed demonstrations with the slogan "All Power to the Soviets", the Provisional Government suppressed the leaders of the Revolution. The Bolshevik offices and printing press were shut down, with Lenin driven into
1917: The June Days
We are republishing Alan Wood's series on the Russian Revolution as a podcast, originally released to mark the centenary of the greatest event in human history.
In part three, Alan investigates the June Days. Lenin understood that despite the initial popularity of the Provisional Government, the bourgeois coalition would be unable and unwilling to meet the demands of the peasantry and proletariat of peace, land, and bread. As the temperature among the masses rose, the Bolsheviks; the only party
1917: Lenin's April Theses
We are republishing Alan Wood's series on the Russian Revolution as a podcast, originally released to mark the centenary of the greatest event in human history.
Alan continues into part two of this series by discussing Lenin's April Theses, in which he sought to theoretically rearm the Bolshevik leaders who were in danger of taking an opportunist route following the February revolution.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: socialist.net/
🎟 Get your ticket to t
What can communists do to free Palestine?
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Khaled Malachi outlines the situation in Israel-Palestine, the position that communists must take, and what we can do here in Britain to get organise international solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.
🎧 Listen to the latest episode of International Marxist Radio on the occupation of Gaza: https://www.marxist.com/podcast-israel-palestine-intifada-until-victory.htm
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: https://socialist.net/
1917: The February Revolution
We are republishing Alan Wood's series on the Russian Revolution as a podcast, originally released to mark the centenary of the greatest event in human history.
Alan continues into part 2 of this series by discussing Lenin's April Theses, in which he sought to theoretically rearm the Bolshevik leaders who were in danger of taking an opportunist route following the February revolution.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: socialist.net/
🎟 Get your ticket to thi
'March separately, strike together': The United Front tactic
The socialist revolution cannot win without first of all winning the masses. This is why the Communist International formulated the United Front tactic, which is summarised by the slogan: “March separately, but strike together!”
In this episode, Sarah Vedrovitch outlines the events which led to the adoption of this tactic, how it was applied by the Communists, and how it was distorted by the Stalinists.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: socialist.net/
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Socialism in one country: why Stalin abandoned Marxism
In a few short years, the Communist International went from being a beacon of internationalism and world revolution, to a tool for the narrow, national interests of the Soviet bureaucracy. How and why did this happen?
In this talk, Jack Tye Wilson provides a Marxist response to Stalin's "theory" of 'socialism in one country', and outlines the disastrous consequences of the Comintern's abandonment of internationalism.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: sociali
Lenin's struggle against ultra-leftism
In the third part of our podcast series on the lessons of the Communist International, Thomas Soud covers the ultra-left mistakes made by the young forces of communism, and how Lenin and the Comintern corrected this "infantile disorder".
📚 Get your copy of the Classics of Marxism vol.2, which contains Lenin's text 'Left-wing Communism: An infantile disorder': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/the-classics-of-marxism-volume-two/
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and anal
Socialism or barbarism: The German Revolution 1918-1923
In part two of our series on the lessons of the Communist International, Lubna Badi outlines the events of the German Revolution of 1918-1923 and draws out the lessons for communists today.
With power lying in their hands, the masses were able to topple the Kaiser and end Germany's involvement in WWI. And yet, without a well-established Communist leadership, the socialist revolution ultimately failed.
The consequences of that failure would be most brutally felt over a decade later with the rise
From Marx to Trotsky: The history of the Communist International
To kick off our six-part series on the lessons of the Communist International, Fiona Lali outlines the rich history of Marxist internationalism, stretching from Marx and Engels' efforts to build the First International, through to Trotsky's Fourth International.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: https://socialist.net/
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
📰 Subscribe to the Socialist Appeal n
Strikes and industrial militancy in the 1970s
As the working class flexes its muscles on the industrial front today, many have drawn comparisons with the class struggle of the 1970s - a decade which saw workers topple governments, occupy factories, and raise the question of socialism.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Gliniecki draws the lessons from the successes and failures of this decade of struggle.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: https://socialist.net/
✊ Join the fight for revolution with th
Italy in the 1920s: From factory occupations to fascism
In 1920s Italy, all of the objective conditions were ripe for socialist revolution, and yet this period saw the triumph of Mussolini's fascists. In this talk, Fred Weston discusses why the workers' movement failed, and how its defeat paved the way for the victory of fascism.
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: https://socialist.net/
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
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Art, culture, and revolution
Under capitalism, an ocean of talent is left untapped: creativity is crushed by the profit motive; and culture sector workers endure exploitation and oppression. In this talk, Joe Attard will discuss the links between art, culture, and revolution.
📚 Grab a copy of our pamphlet "Marxism and art": https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/marxism-and-art/
🔗 Explore this topic and many others over on our education hub: https://socialist.net/art
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, a
Are you a communist? Then get organised.
The Marxists in Britain have launched a communist recruitment drive, aimed towards revolutionary workers and youth who want to get organised in the fight to overthrow capitalism.
In this episode, we are joined by Ben Gliniecki, the national secretary of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) in Britain, to discuss why you should get organised, and what being a member of the IMT looks like.
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://socialist.net/join
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Is Marxism a science? The poverty of Popper
Karl Popper dedicated his life to dressing up very commonplace arguments against socialism with philosophical and political critiques.
The most famous one was to claim that Marxism is not scientific, since it does not satisfy his ‘falsifiability criterion’. Marx’s insights, therefore, did not make any serious advance from the utopian socialists that preceded him.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Khaled Malachi defends the scientific status of Marxism, and reveals the faults in Popper’s one-side
Israel-Palestine: a revolutionary way forward
15 May marks 75 since the 'Nakba', a campaign of terror against Palestinians, led by Zionist paramilitaries as part of the proclamation of Israel in 1948.
This resulted in over 700,000 Palestinians being expelled from their land. And it paved the way for the chaos that has engulfed Israel-Palestine ever since.
Today, Palestinians continue to suffer under the iron heel of the Israeli imperialist state.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Khaled Malachi outlines the history of the Israel-Palestine
The monarchy: a weapon of the ruling class
With the coronation of Charles III around the corner, many workers and youth are responding with apathy and revulsion at this royal circus. But is the British monarchy just a feudal relic, or does it play a more important role for the ruling class?
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Jack Tye Wilson discusses the real role that the monarchy plays, as a reserve weapon that can and will be deployed to defend capitalism against the growing class struggle.
📚 Leon Trotsky discusses the role of the mon
Creeping mysticism: The philosophical crisis in modern science
The crisis of capitalism is not just an economic and political crisis. It is a crisis of culture, of art, and of science. Mysticism and idealism are increasingly being reflected in the sciences.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Curry puts forward a defence of materialism: against idealist interpretations of quantum mechanics, mystical theories of consciousness, Big Bang creationism, and many other examples of the garbage that passes today as ‘science’.
🔗 Read more about Marxism and science
The menace of inflation: Where it comes from and how to fight it
Over the last year, a spectre that was thought by many to be dead-and-buried has returned with a vengeance: the spectre of inflation.
Across the world, prices continue to soar. And yet, whilst the capitalists profit from scarcity and shortages, the ruling class scandalously blames workers and their pay demands for causing a ‘wage-price spiral’.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Adam Booth explains the real causes behind inflation, and presents a revolutionary alternative to this menace and mad
Demagogues and dictators: What is Bonapartism?
From Xi Jinping to Putin, to Stalin and Hitler, strong-man leaders who rule with an iron hand appear throughout history. In this talk, Ben Gliniecki explains the Marxist concept of Bonapartism.
🔗 Leon Trotsky elucidates the concept of Bonapartism in his biography of Stalin. Get your copy from Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/stalin/
🌐 Check out Socialist Appeal's website for theory, news, and analysis: https://socialist.net/
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the Internation
Why Marxists oppose NATO
NATO was founded in 1949, not as an instrument of peace, but as a weapon of the Western imperialists to fight the Cold War. It has remained a weapon of Western imperialism ever since.
In this session, Lotta Angantyr will explain the real role and history of NATO and why Marxists are irreconcilably opposed to NATO, as part of our struggle against imperialism and for genuine proletarian internationalism.
🌐 Check out the 'imperialism and war' section of our education hub over on Socialist Appeal's
Could America go communist?
Class struggle is back on the agenda in the USA. Workers at Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, and elsewhere are beginning to organise and unionise. Workers and youth are becoming increasingly radicalised - looking way beyond the Democrats and left-wingers such as Bernie Sanders, and are instead openly identifying as ‘communist’.
These developments have important implications for the perspectives for world revolution. A mass movement of the working class in America, the biggest imperialist power on the p
Storming heaven: The Paris Commune
On 18 March 1871, the masses of Paris rose up and established the first ever workers' state, known as the Paris Commune. In this talk, Josh Holroyd covers these brief but heroic events, and draws out the lessons for revolutionaries today.
We apologise for the low audio quality. This was due to a technical error.
📚 Order a copy of Marx's classic text on the Paris Commune 'The Civil War in France' from Wellred Books Britain: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/pre-order-women-family-and-the-russia
Women, the family, and the Russian Revolution
The Russian revolution made colossal steps in the fight for women's liberation, far greater than any other movement - today or in history. In this talk, Natasha Sorrell discusses how the Bolsheviks approached the women's question, the gains that were won in the Revolution, and the conditions that led to their reversal.
📚 Pre-order our latest book 'Women, Family and the Russian Revolution' from Wellred Britain https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/pre-order-women-family-and-the-russian-revolution/
Sovereignty and independence: The national question in Ukraine
We are often told that the war in Ukraine is being fought in defence of democracy and national self-determination. In this talk, Jorge Martin details the real reasons for the war, and the complex history of the national question in Ukraine.
🌐 Read our latest article on the situation in Ukraine over on marxist.com: https://www.marxist.com/ukraine-s-bloody-anniversary.htm
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
📰 Subscribe to the So
Profits vs peace: War and imperialism
Amidst the carnage of the First World War, Lenin characterised capitalism as “horror without end”. Today, the grim truth of that statement can be seen in the proliferation of brutal conflicts around the world from the industrial slaughter of civilians in Yemen, to the intensification of the proxy war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine.
In this talk from last year’s Revolution Festival, Josh Holroyd discusses the nature of capitalism today, how it necessarily leads to imperialist domination and c
The 1925-27 Chinese Revolution and the role of Stalinism
From 1925 to 1927, the young Chinese working class waged a revolutionary struggle against the decaying order of the warlords and imperialists. Tragically, the errors of the Stalinist Comintern led to the crushing of this revolution.
In this talk, Daniel Morley outlines the key lessons of these events, and draws out the need for class independence and a socialist programme.
🔗 Learn more about the Chinese Revolution in this article by Daniel Morley: https://www.marxist.com/90-years-of-the-chinese
Ireland: Republicanism and Revolution (Book launch)
Within the Irish Republican movement, there have always been two tendencies: one which sees the struggle for Irish liberation as solely a nationalist question, and another which correctly sees it as a class question. In this talk from the book launch of 'Ireland: Republicanism and Revolution', Ben Curry uncovers the revolutionary lessons of Ireland's struggle for liberation.
📚 Get your copy of the book: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/ireland-republicanism-revolution/
✊ Join the fight for re
The 1930s Great Depression: Could it happen again?
The Great Depression was the most severe crisis of the capitalist system in the 20th century. In the years following the Wall Street Crash, industrial production in the West collapsed, and world trade dried up.
The impact of the depression on the working class and poor was severe. Millions across the world faced unemployment, destitution, and hunger.
After the initial shock of the crisis passed, workers became increasingly radicalised around the world. The USA saw a wave of industrial militancy
Marxism vs black nationalism
With racism rife under capitalism, and following the explosive Black Lives Matter movement, the question of how to fight for black liberation is more pressing than ever. In this talk, Fiona Lali will discuss which is the way forward; Marxism, or black nationalism.
🌐 You can learn more about the Marxist view of fighting racism and oppression at: https://www.socialist.net/racism.htm
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
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Solidarity with the struggle in Peru!
In response to the coup in Peru against President Castillo, and the heavy repression of the mass movement by the Boluarte regime, the Marxist Student Federation held a joint meeting to discuss these turbulent events, and explain why only a revolutionary struggle against capitalism can secure the interests of the Peruvian workers and peasants.
🌐 Read the latest on the situation in Peru on the In Defence of Marxism' website: https://www.marxist.com/peru.htm
✊ Join the fight for revolution with t
Is this the end of globalisation?
After decades of proudly poclaiming the era of globalisation, today we see trade wars instead of free trade, and misery instead of prosperity. In this talk, Niklas Albin Svensson discusses the reasons behind the collapse of free trade, what it would mean for the world economy and what attitude we should take towards it.
🔗 Read Niklas' article on this subject: https://www.socialist.net/is-this-the-end-of-globalisation.htm
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: h
[International Marxist Radio] 2023: for a revolutionary new year!
⚠️ This episode is a cross post from International Marxist Radio. To stay up to date with future episodes, head to https://www.socialist.net/imt-radio-new-podcast-coming-soon.htm ⚠️
The International Marxist Tendency (IMT) is pleased to announce the launch of its new podcast, International Marxist Radio (IMR). The first episode of this new series features presenter Joe Attard speaking to In Defence of Marxism (IDOM) editor-in-chief Alan Woods.
They discuss perspectives for the world situation g
Was the USSR communist?
The Russian Revolution was the greatest event in history, with the working class and poor taking power into their own hands for the first time. In this talk, Keelan Kellegher will discuss the Stalinist degeneration of the USSR that led to its demise.
📚 You can learn more about the Soviet Union in Ted Grant's book 'Russia: From Revolution to Counter-Revolution' available from Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/russia-from-revolution-to-counter-revolution/
✊ Join the fight for re
'The sigh of an oppressed creature': Marxism and religion
Marx referred to religion as the sigh of the oppressed, the sentiment of a heartless world, the soul of soulless conditions. In this talk, Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick discusses the Marxist view of religion, and its social foundations in class society.
🎧 Check out the International Marxist Tendency's new podcast, 'International Marxist Radio': https://www.marxist.com/new-imt-podcast-international-marxist-radio-coming-in-2023.htm
📚 You can learn more about the Marxist view of religion in Alan Wood
Revolution and civil war in Ireland
One hundred years ago, the streets of Dublin were turned into a warzone. These were the opening salvoes of Ireland’s brief but bloody civil war. In this talk, Shaun Morris discusses these events, and the continuing struggle for a socialist united Ireland today.
📚 Check out Alan Woods' latest book 'Ireland: Republicanism and Revolution': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/ireland-republicanism-revolution/
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socia
Mass protests: Where is China going?
The past week has seen the largest wave of protests in China for over 30 years, as discontent over harsh lockdown measures, bureaucratic mismanagement and corruption, and the deep crisis of Chinese capitalism has boiled over onto the streets.
In this talk, Daniel Morley outlines the Marxist perspective for the class struggle in China, and why workers and youth must take the revolutionary road.
🔗 Read our material on China here: https://www.marxist.com/china.htm
📚 Check out Wellred Books' pamph
Cryptocurrency, NFTs, and speculative bubbles: The casino of capitalism
Unable to find profit in productive investment, capitalists are seeking easy money in speculative orgies of fictitious capital. In this podcast, Nelson Wan discusses this ludicrous casino of capitalism.
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
📰 Subscribe to the Socialist Appeal newspaper: https://www.socialist.net/subscribe
💸 Support the fight for socialism by helping the International Marxist Tendency buy its own permanent office
War and revolution: a world on the brink
Across the world, industrial struggle, political instability, and growing radicalism are gathering momentum. In this podcast, Alan Woods analyses the world situation, and outlines a Marxist perspective for revolutionary struggle.
✊ Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
📰 Subscribe to the Socialist Appeal newspaper: https://www.socialist.net/subscribe
💸 Support the fight for socialism by helping the International Marxist Tendency b
Mass Movement In Iran: What way forward?
The Iranian masses are in the midst of a monumental struggle against the regime, sparked by the murder of Mahsa Amini by state forces. In this episode of Marxist Voice, Esaias Yavari will discuss what route the movement must take in order to succeed.
Head to In Defence of Marxism for regular news and analysis: https://www.marxist.com
Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
Subscribe to the Socialist Appeal newspaper: https://www.socia
The migrant crisis and the struggle for open borders
By drumming up xenophobia and nationalism, the ruling class uses the migrant crisis to blame anyone but themselves for falling living standards at home. In this talk from the recent Revolution Festival, Manon Powrie discusses the real causes of the refugee crisis and the socialist struggle for open borders.
Join the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.socialist.net/join
Subscribe to the Socialist Appeal newspaper: https://www.socialist.net/subscribe
Support
Preparing for power: Perspectives for the British revolution
As the attacks of the ruling class intensify, tens of thousands of workers in Britain are moving into action. But what is the way forward? In this talk given at the recent Revolution Festival, Rob Sewell discusses the Marxist perspectives for the British revolution.
Read the report from our recent Revolution Festival: https://www.socialist.net/revolution-festival-2022.htm
Get involved in the fight for revolution with the International Marxist Tendency: https://www.marxist.com/join
Support the f
Why we are communists
More and more young people are turning towards the ideas of communism and revolution. The Marxists have been connecting with this mood across the world. But what is communism?
In this talk given at the UCL Marxist Society, Josh Holroyd explains why capitalism is in crisis, why we need revolutionary class struggle to overthrow it, and why we need Marxist ideas to guide the struggle for communism.
Join the Marxists today: https://www.socialist.net/join
Come along to next weekend's Revolution Festi
Mass protest in Iran: what way forward?
The Iranian masses are in the midst of a monumental struggle against the theocratic regime, sparked by the murder of a young Kurdish woman.
n this podcast recorded by Fightback (Canadian section of the International Marxist Tendency), Hamid Alizadeh talks about the mass movement in Iran, what's necessary for it to win, and what we can learn from it internationally.
Get your tickets for Revolution Festival 2022, for which we have just announced an extra session the lessons of the movement in Iran
What next for the war in Ukraine?
After months of stalemate, a new stage has opened up in the Ukraine war, with Russian forces being put to rout in the Kharkiv Oblast.
In this episode of Marxist Voice(recorded a few days before Putin’s announcement of a partial mobilisation), Hamid Alizadeh and Jorge Martin, members of the marxist.com editorial board, discuss the main developments in the Ukraine war, and where the conflict is going.
Read our latest analysis on the conflict: https://www.marxist.com/russia-putin-declares-partial-m
The national question | What did Lenin really stand for?
The national question is one of the most complex questions that Marxists must grapple with. In this talk from the recent Marxist Student Federation summer school, Shaun Morris - editor of Revolution Scotland - explains how Marxists approach this question, drawing on Marx’s writings on Ireland, and Lenin’s writings on the subject.
Read more on the national question over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/the-national-question.htm
Get your tickets for this year's Revolution Festival -
Marxism and the state | What did Lenin really stand for?
Far from being a neutral force standing above society, Marxists understand that the state is a tool for the suppression of one class by another. In this talk from the recent Marxist Student Federation summer school, Fiona Lali discusses the origins of the state, and refutes the views of the reformists and anarchists on this question.
🔗 Want to learn more about the Marxist view of the state? Head to our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/the-state.htm
📚 Get a copy of Lenin's classic text
Imperialism and war | What did Lenin really stand for?
To understand the current conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere, it is necessary to understand why war is inherent to capitalism. In this talk from the recent Marxist Student Federation summer school, Daniel Morley outlines what imperialism is, how it emerged, and how revolutionaries must approach inter-imperialist conflicts.
🔗 Learn more about war and imperialism over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/marxism-and-war.htm
📚 Get your copy of Lenin's classic text 'Imperialism: The Hig
Lenin and the Bolsheviks | What did Lenin really stand for?
The history of the Bolsheviks - particularly the life and ideas of Vladimir Lenin - contains essential lessons to guide us in the struggle for revolution today.
In this talk from the recent Marxist Student Federation summer school, Rob Sewell - editor of Socialist Appeal - explains why we need to build a revolutionary leadership on the model of the Bolsheviks.
🔗 Find out more about the lessons of Bolshevism over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/organisation-and-tactics.htm
📚 Get
Boris Johnson's resignation and the crisis in Britain
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Adam Booth - editor of socialist.net - offers a Marxist perspective on the crisis within the ranks of the Tory party, and the explosive events that lie ahead for British capitalism.
This podcast was originally published by Fightback Radio, the podcast of the Canadian section of the IMT. Check out their podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ApBZg3nM172AEb4LmxnFw
And check out their website here: https://www.marxist.ca
For more Marxist news and analysis on
USA: Abortion rights under attack
In this podcast episode, Laura Brown and Joel Bergman discuss the reasons and impact of the repeal of Roe v. Wade and provide a Marxist perspective on how to fight back against this egregious attack on abortion rights.
Originally published by Fightback, the Canadian section of the IMT (https://www.marxist.ca)and Socialist Revolution, the US section of the IMT (https://socialistrevolution.org).
🔗 Read more: https://www.socialist.net/usa-roe-v-wade-overturned-prepare-for-battle.htm
🎟️ Get your t
How can Palestine be free?
What are the historical causes of the conflict in Israel and Palestine? What is the role of British and US imperialism?
In this talk, Fracesco Merli discusses the way forward for the Palestinian struggle against oppression and for national liberation, and how it connects with the revolutionary movement against capitalism on a world scale.
🔗 Stay up to date with situation in Israel-Palestine: https://www.marxist.com/israel-and-palestine/
🎟️ Get your ticket to the International Marxist Universit
Materialism of the Enlightenment
Marxists have a great deal to learn from the tremendous insights of the materialist thinkers of the Enlightenment, one of the most revolutionary periods in human history.
In this talk, Ben Curry explores the road to genuine knowledge that was paved by these giants, drawing out the lessons we must apply to the movement today.
🔗 Brush up on your Marxist philosophy over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/science-and-dialectical-materialism.htm
📚 Get your hands on a copy of Alan Woods
Revolution in Latin America
Latin America is a region in turmoil. Before the pandemic even struck, there were a series of powerful revolutionary uprisings. In this talk, Jorge Martin will discuss the events that have challenged the capitalist system, making a balance sheet of the experiences and shortcomings of the "progressive governments" of a decade ago.
🌎 Read our analysis of events in Latin America on In Defence of Marxism: http://www.marxist.com/americas.htm
📚 Pick up a copy of Jorge's book 'Permanent Revolution in
Culture wars and the fight against racism
The events surrounding the upsurge in the Black Lives Matter movement forced the issue of racism to the front of people's minds. In this episode of Marxist Voice, Fiona Lali explains why we must link the fight against racism with the fight against capitalism, to bring an end to the racist divisions of bourgeois society.
🔗 Read more about the Marxist view on how to fight racism over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/racism.htm
📚 Get yourself a copy of our pamphlet 'A Marxist Intro
The state, the police, and capitalism
The capitalist state, that is in essence the police, army, courts, and prisons, is a weapon of the ruling class used against the rest of us. In this episode of Marxist Voice, Olivia Ruadh will explore how the state developed, how it is maintained, and how to fight against it.
🔗 Read more about the Marxist analysis of the state over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/the-state.htm
📚 Pick up a copy of Lenin's classic 'The State and Revolution' from Wellred Books UK: https://wellredb
How to build a revolutionary party
In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Gliniecki answers the vital question of how we can build revolutionary leadership today, drawing from many examples of previous attempts to do so, most notably the example of the Bolshevik party - the only party to ever lead the working class to power.
🔗 Read more about revolutionary strategy and the lessons of Bolshevism over on our education hub: http://www.socialist.net/organisation-and-tactics.htm
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Violence against women: How do we end it?
As the crisis of capitalism deepens across the world, women are facing a sharp increase in harassment and violence. In Britain, the brutal murder of Sarah Everard sparked widespread anger and dismay at the treatment of women.
But how do we solve this crisis of women's safety? For Marxists, the first step in fighting for the true liberation of women is to understand the root cause of this oppression, which is to be found in class society.
📚 Read more about the fight for women's liberation over o
Marxism and ethics: Their morals and ours
Opponents of Marxism often accuse it of being indifferent to the sanctity of the individual. But do capitalism and its apologists really respect the individual any more than Marxism does? In this talk, Ellen Morton explores the real role of morality in class society.
🔗 Learn more about Marxist philosophy over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/education
🎫 Get your tickets for the International Marxist University: https://www.socialist.net/imu
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Marxism and ethics: Their morals and ours
Opponents of Marxism often accuse it of being indifferent to the sanctity of the individual. But do capitalism and its apologists really respect the individual any more than Marxism does? In this talk, Ellen Morton explores the real role of morality in class society.🔗 Learn more about Marxist philosophy over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/education🎫 Get your tickets for the International Marxist University: https://www.socialist.net/imu✊ Get involved with Socialist Appeal toda
The fall of Afghanistan: 20 years of imperialist meddling
To understand the fall of Afghanistan to Taliban rule which took place last year, we must understand the history of the 1978 Saur Revolution and why it threatened US imperialism. In this episode, Jorge Martin discusses the decades of imperialist meddling and how we can put an end to it.
🔗 Read more: https://www.marxist.com/afghanistan.htm
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Introduction to Marxist philosophy
Every political movement bases itself, consciously or unconsciously, on some sort of philosophy or world outlook. In this talk, Nat Arkwright introduces the basic tenets of dialectical materialism - the philosophy of Marxism - and discusses why it is that we need a revolutionary philosophy.
🔗 Learn more about the revolutionary philosophy of Marxism over on our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/science-and-dialectical-materialism.htm
📚 Order your copy of Alan Woods' latest book 'The Hist
French Elections: Neither Macron, nor Le Pen!
With days to go until the second round of the French presidential elections, we chat to Joe Attard - writer and activist with the IMT - to discuss the significance of the last round, whether the left should back Macron, and what lies in store for the class struggle in France.
🌐 Visit the site of the IMT's French section 'Révolution': https://www.marxiste.org
🚩 Visit In Defence of Marxism for regular theory, news and analysis: https://www.marxist.com
✊ Get involved with the International Marxis
Social explosion in Sri Lanka
Spurred on by the crisis of capitalism, and the brutal Rajapaksa regime, a spontaneous mass movement has erupted in Sri Lanka, demanding the wholesale removal of the president and the entire parliament.
In the latest episode of Marxist Voice, we sit down with Ben Curry - writer and activist for In Defence of Marxism - to discuss what lies ahead for the #GotaGoHome movement.
🌏 Read the latest on the events in Sri Lanka over on marxist.com: https://www.marxist.com/sri-lanka.htm
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Joe Biden: Myths and reality
The intensifying crisis of US capitalism has caused the myth of Joe Biden to unravel, exposing him as a hapless stooge of an ailing system. In this talk, Joe Attard explores the harsh reality of Biden's presidency.
📚 Read more in Joe's article 'The myth of Joe Biden: 8 lies debunked': https://www.marxist.com/the-myth-of-joe-biden-8-lies-debunked.htm
🌎 Check out the website of the US section of the International Marxist Tendency for regular news and analysis of events in the US: https://www.sre
Women's struggle in history | Women's liberation: The Marxist position
For the final instalment of our series on women's liberation, Lubna and Natasha, a Socialist Appeal and NEU activist, discuss the role that women have played in the class struggle throughout history, focussing particularly on the Russian Revolution, where the Bolsheviks were at the forefront of the fight for women's liberation.
📚 Use the code 'ROSA1871' to get free delivery on Wellred Books' latest title 'The Revolutionary Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg': https://wellredbooks.net/rosa.html
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The origins of women's oppression | Women's liberation: The Marxist position
Join us for part two of our podcast series 'Women's liberation: The Marxist position' where we are republishing a talk by Laurie on the origins of women's oppression.
An historical materialist understanding of oppression is crucial. Contrary to the beliefs of those who think that the oppression of women is somehow biological or innate, Marxists understand that women's oppression has not existed forever. Rather, it arose with the rise of class society, and it can be done away with through revolut
NATO, Russia, and the conflict in Ukraine
It has now been two weeks since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Since then, the hypocritical Western imperialists and their lackeys in the media have been pouring forth endless denunciations of Russia's actions.
In this episode of Marxist Voice, we are joined by Jorge Martin (writer and activist for the International Marxist Tendency) to set the record straight on why this conflict is happening, who is responsible for this mess, and how Marxists and socialists should respond to this situation
How to fight for women's liberation | Women's liberation: The Marxist position
To mark International Working Women's Day, we are publishing a three-part series on Marxism and the fight for women's liberation.
This week, we are joined by Fiona Lali, who will discuss the different ways that women are oppressed and exploited in capitalist society, and why only a Marxist, class-based approach can guide the struggle for women's liberation - not the ideas of bourgeois feminism.
📚 Read more on Marxism and oppression: https://www.socialist.net/identity-oppression-liberation-marxi
Will there be a Third World War?
With the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the question of whether another world war will break out is on people's lips. In this republished talk from 2017, Ben Gliniecki answers this question, and draws out the Marxist approach to wars and imperialism.
📚 Read the article on the same topic: https://www.socialist.net/will-there-be-a-third-world-war-article.htm
🌍 Keep up to date with the events as they unfold in Ukraine: http://www.marxist.com/ukraine-russia-conflict.htm
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Marxism vs anarchism
While anarchism understands power in an idealist, abstract way, Marxism looks for a material understanding of where it comes from and how it is maintained, based on a concrete study of history.
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2021, Andrea Patanè discusses the differences between anarchism and Marxism, and how we can fight against our common enemy: capitalism and the bourgeois state.
🔗 Learn more about Marxism and anarchism using our education hub: https://www.socialist.net/anarchism.htm
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Marxism vs postmodernism
In the latest episode of Marxist Voice, Yola Kipcak combats the ideas of postmodernism, which reject the notion of objective truth or lawfulness in the world. These ideas are at odds with Marxism, which has a rational, materialist approach.
🔗 Want to learn more? Check out the recent article 'Marxism vs Postmodernism', which was published in the In Defence of Marxism theoretical magazine: https://www.socialist.net/marxism-versus-postmodernism.htm
📰 Subscribe to the IDOM magazine here: https://w
Dialectics: From Hegel To Marx
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was one of the greatest minds that humanity has ever known. His development of the dialectic, placed on a materialist basis by Marx, provides key insights into the logic of all change, development and transformation in nature, society and the human mind.
Want to learn more about the history of philosophy, including how Marx developed Hegel's dialectical approach to reality? Get yourself a copy of Alan Woods' most recent book 'The History of Philosophy: A Marxist Per
The Monarchy: Tourist attraction or reactionary relic?
The slew of scandals emanating from Buckingham Palace - most recently the sexual abuse allegations levelled against Prince Andrew - are eating away at the public's opinion of the Monarchy.
In this talk, Andy Southwark discusses the real role of the Monarchy as an important reserve power of the ruling class, maintained as a counter-revolutionary weapon to be deployed in the fight against socialism.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/socialistappeal
Marxism vs libertarianism: The Economic Calculation Problem
One of capitalism's oldest myths is that of the efficiency of the so-called 'free-market' and its superiority to a socialist planned economy. Defending economic planning, this talk responds to the libertarian ideas of the Austrian School of economics, whose 'theories' amount to vitriolic support of the unrestricted rule of capital at the expense of the needs of society.
Want to learn more? Adam's article on Marxism vs libertarianism is available in the latest issue of In Defence of Marxism, the
The life and ideas of Lenin
In this talk, Rob Sewell discusses the life and ideas of Lenin, and how we can follow in his footsteps.
Lenin's understanding of the Marxist method allowed him to navigate the twists and turns on the road to revolution. Anyone seriously committed to fighting for socialism must learn from his life and ideas.
Read more about Lenin's formative years in the article 'The Young Lenin' in the latest issue of In Defence of Marxism, available from https://www.socialist.net/subscribe
Get involved with So
The Revolutionary Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg (Book Launch)
On the 103rd anniversary of the death of the revolutionary martyr, Rosa Luxemburg, Marie Frederiksen, author of The Revolutionary Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg, dispels some of the most common myths surrounding her life and ideas.
In particular, she takes apart the idea that Luxemburg developed some particular theory about how “spontaneity” is somehow superior to organised revolutionary action; and the idea that she was opposed to the Russian Revolution and Bolshevism.
Purchase your copy of The Revol
Marxism and cinema
Lights! Camera! Revolution! In this podcast, Steve Jones provides a Marxist analysis of cinema, investigating what it can reveal about society, and how it can be used as a propaganda tool - both for and against the establishment.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/socialistappeal
Check out our 'Films to watch in quarantine' series for more politically-oriented film recommendations: https://www.socialist.net/films-to-watch-in-quarantine-a-marxist-guide-part-one.htm
The collapse of the USSR and the rise of Putin
In this podcast, Niklas discusses why the USSR collapsed and how this led to the Putin regime today. Far from signalling the victory of bourgeois democracy and the 'end of history', the restoration of capitalism in Russia triggered one of the biggest economic and social crises in world history.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/socialistappeal
Read more on this subject in Niklas' article for In Defence of Marxism: https://www.marxist.com/the-collapse-of-the-soviet-union
Will the United Kingdom survive?
In this podcast, Shaun Morris from the editorial board of Revolution Scotland discusses the future of the Union. The rise in support for Scottish Independence has the ruling class wringing their hands with worry. The breakaway of Scotland threatens to reduce the UK into a diminished Little England, and would intensify the class struggle in both nations.
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The origins of class society
In this podcast, Laurie O'Connel combats the idea that class society is eternal, by exploring its origins, it's development, and how we can change it. By understanding the birth of class society and the nature of its institutions, we can discover the means by which we can overthrow them.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://www.linktr.ee/socialistappeal
Read more about the origins of class society in the latest issue of the In Defence of Marxism theoretical journal: https://www.soci
UCU Solidarity Rally: Students and workers unite!
In this podcast from last week's Marxist Student Federation rally, speakers from the UCU, NEU and the MSF outline the crisis facing the education sector, how we got here, and what we can do to support the UCU strike and put an end to marketisation altogether.
Read more in our article 'UCU strikes - All out for victory!': https://www.socialist.net/ucu-strikes-all-out-for-victory.htm
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#UCUStrikes #OneOfUsAllOfUs #UCU
Will there be a boom? Capitalism, cycles, and crises
The global economy has been down and up like a yo-yo over the past 18 months, with production stuttering in the face of the coronavirus crisis. In this podcast, James Kilby explores why capitalism repeatedly goes into crisis.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/socialistappeal
The Cuban Revolution: Where is it going?
The Cuban Revolution was one of the most inspiring events in history, creating the first workers' state in the Western hemisphere. In this talk, Keelan Kellegher discusses the struggle for socialism in Cuba and where it must go from here, to spread the revolution and free itself from isolation.
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Capitalism with Chinese characteristics
Extreme inequality is the defining feature of Chinese society, now officially more unequal than even the USA. In this podcast, Daniel Morley discusses the future of China under capitalism, and what the crisis of Chinese capitalism means for the world economy.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/SocialistAppeal
Capitalist crisis, class struggle, and Marxism in Britain today
In this podcast, Rob Sewell discusses the explosive events taking place in Britain – explaining what lies in store for the labour movement, and why we must build the forces of Marxism in order to play a leading role in these titanic battles.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/socialistappeal
COP26: Can capitalism save the planet?
Far from saving us, capitalism is killing the planet. We need a revolution. In this talk, Joe Russell discusses the climate crisis, the so-called ‘solutions’ of the ruling class, and explain why none of these can offer a way forward.
Get involved with Socialist Appeal today: https://linktr.ee/socialistappeal
When the communists ruled in Bavaria [from In Defence of Marxism 34]
In this narrated article - published in issue 34 of In Defence of Marxism, the quarterly theoretical journal of the International Marxist Tendency - Florian Keller explains how the events surrounding the Bavarian Soviet Republic represent one of the most inspiring episodes in the German Revolution of 1918-1923.
In November 1918, Germany exploded into revolution. In the Spring of 1919, the working class succeeded in seizing power and declaring a Bavarian Soviet Republic. In its short, heroic life
Alan Woods on the History of Philosophy
Watch Alan Woods' introduction to 'History of Philosophy: a Marxist Perspective' - an important new work published by Wellred Books. The text outlines how the best philosophical ideas of the past have laid the basis for the development of dialectical materialism, the philosophy of Marxism: the only set of ideas capable of explaining the real situation in society, and offering a roadmap towards a better world.
Our philosophy is not simply a matter of academic interest. It is a guiding light in po
Why are they really banning us? | Socialist Appeal Labour Conference 2021 fringe meeting
In July of this year, Socialist Appeal was proscribed by the Labour Party NEC. This move is part and parcel of Starmer and the Labour right’s war against the left wing of the party which has been waged ever since he became leader.
This decision to expel our supporters from the Labour Party is not a new idea. It is part of a long history by the right wing to eradicate Marxism and its influence from the party. Behind their attacks on us and the left of the party lie the establishment and the rulin
Morality and class society | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 9)
Is there such a thing as good and evil? Who decides, and why? Why is there so much suffering and cruelty in our society, and how can we end this? Daniel Morley will discuss all of these questions in the final episode of the series.
Want to learn more about philosophy? Pre-order your copy of Alan Woods' upcoming book 'History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective' today: https://www.marxist.com/hop
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Dialectical logic: necessity and chance | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 8)
What is causation? Is the universe determined and predictable? And where does that leave humanity, with its notions of free will and moral responsibility? And how does this affect our role as revolutionaries?
Want to learn more about philosophy? Pre-order your copy of Alan Woods' upcoming book 'History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective' today: https://www.marxist.com/hop
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Dialectical logic: part and whole | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 7)
Thought is inherently about generalisation and universals. It takes us beyond the immediacy of the here and now, and links things. This contradiction - between part and whole, individual and type - is at the heart of philosophy’s deepest problems. The need to grasp reality as a complex whole, instead of as atomised, self-contained parts, is likewise one of the deepest problems for science.
Want to learn more about philosophy? Pre-order your copy of Alan Woods' upcoming book 'History of Philosoph
Dialectical logic: contradiction and opposition | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 6)
If we want to understand how things change, we must understand things as self-moving, rather than seeing all change as a result of external forces. But how does matter move itself? How and why does development take place in nature? Daniel Morley will answer all of these questions in this week's episode of the ABCs of Marxist philosophy.
Want to learn more about philosophy? Pre-order your copy of Alan Woods' upcoming book 'History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective' today: https://www.marxist.c
Defending the Cuban Revolution [Rupture Radio]
Jorge Martin, editor for In Defence of Marxism, appeared on Rupture Radio talking about the Cuban Revolution, the recent protests that have broken out in the country, the imperialist blockade, and the tasks facing revolutionaries. You can listen to the entire thought-provoking discussion here.
This is a reposted episode from the Rupture Radio podcast in Ireland. (https://anchor.fm/ruptureradio). Both the Rupture Radio podcast and Rupture Magazine (https://rupture.ie) are produced by members of R
Dialectical logic: quantity and quality | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 5)
Marxist logic is dialectical, not formal. That means its starting point is change and contradiction - all truths become untruths because all that exists will perish. But how do we use logic to understand change? How do things change?
Want to learn more about philosophy? Pre-order your copy of Alan Woods' upcoming book 'History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective' today: https://www.marxist.com/hop
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Formal logic | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 4)
Logic is usually seen as a dry, boring discipline suitable only for pedants. This is because it is traditionally seen as having no relation to the real world of objects, and is instead a self-contained system of rules for thought. Marxism completely rejects this formalism and seeks to find the basis for our logic in this real world.
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Socialists in! Starmer out! #FightThePurge
Join Rob Sewell and Adam Booth to discuss the Labour right's plan to kick Socialist Appeal supporters out of the Labour party, and why the left must organise to fight back against this direct political attack. #FightThePurge
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What is human nature? | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 3)
Are humans greedy or selfish? Do we have a soul or an essence? Is there a way that we should live, one more true than how we live now? And how does this relate to the question of knowledge and thought?
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How can we know anything? | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 2)
The question of idealism versus materialism most frequently expresses itself in the question of knowledge. Do we know anything for certain, and if so, how? And why has this question stubbornly persisted throughout the history of philosophy?
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What is materialism? | The ABCs of Marxist philosophy (Part 1)
There are many ways to categorise philosophy, but at the most fundamental level, all philosophies are either idealist or materialist. Marxist philosophy is fundamentally materialist, that is to say, it believes the material universe is the only universe, and that mind is a product of it.
Subscribe to the newly re-launched In Defence of Marxism theoretical magazine to learn more about the revolutionary ideas of Marxism: https://www.socialist.net/subscribe-idom.htm
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UBI and automation: utopia or nightmare?
In this podcast, Adam Booth discusses the demand for a universal basic income.
The idea of a UBI is commonly raised in the context of increasing automation and the threat of "technological unemployment", which is making many existing workers obsolete from the point of view of the capitalist system.
But, as Adam explains, UBI is not a solution to the problems facing society in relation to technology and its impact on jobs and wages - the "race against the machine". Instead, Marxists should be de
Workers' control, democracy, and power
In this podcast, Daniel Morley discusses the idea of workers' democracy, contrasting this with the formal democracy that we have under capitalism, and explaining the ways in which the working class can take control of the wider economy.
Providing historical examples, Daniel shows how the working class can take power in order to run society in the interests of the many, rather than for the profits of the few.
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Idealism vs materialism: mind and matter
In this podcast, Ben Curry provides an in-depth history of the contrasting philosophies of idealism and materialism - two fundamental trends in philosophy, which have re-appeared in various forms throughout the history of human thought.
Marxism basis itself on a materialist outlook, which understands the material world as being an objective reality, consisting of matter in motion, governed by dynamics that are knowable and discoverable.
Idealism, in its different guises, asserts that ideas and t
Materialism and dialectics in Ancient Greece
In this talk from 2016, Hamid Alizadeh of In Defence of Marxism discusses the history of philosophy in Ancient Greece, looking at the early developments in terms of dialectics and materialism - the foundations to the revolutionary philosophy of Marxism: dialectical materialism.
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Dialectics, science and nature
In this talk from the Revolution Festival in 2016, Ben Curry gives an overview of the historical development of scientific theories and the philosophical ideas that lie behind some of the biggest scientific revolutions in history.
As Ben discusses, the latest developments and discoveries in modern science are a vindication of the Marxist philosophy of dialectical materialism.
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Labour, Starmer and the crisis in the party
The May elections were a disaster for the Labour party. But, rather than taking responsibility for this defeat, Starmer and the right have used this as an opportunity to scapegoat the left, and drag the party further to the right.
In this podcast, Adam Booth argues that if we want to change the direction of Labour, we need to remove Starmer and transform the party from top to bottom, by putting grassroots members in charge, Only then can the Labour party take on the Tories and the bosses with so
What is consciousness?
What is consciousness? How does it arise? Where do our thoughts come from? And how do the mind and the material world relate to one another?
In this recording of a talk given in 2014, Daniel Morley looks at the question of consciousness from a Marxist perspective and analyses one of the most complex of phenomena in nature - thought itself.
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Is Marxism fatalistic | The philosophy of Marxism
In this podcast, Daniel Morley discusses the accusations of 'fatalism' levelled at Marxism by its enemies. Ironically, it is Marx's accusers who would make human beings passive victims of fate.
They say that Marxism is a 'teleological' theory, according to which all of human history is preordained. They even accuse Marxism of being a religion, with the role of God replaced by iron laws of history, leaving no role for active, conscious human beings to change history.
This is, of course, a caricat
Marxism vs Postmodernism | The philosophy of Marxism
Postmodernism is a trend in philosophy that has become mainstream, and heavily influences identity politics. But when we ask the question 'what is postmodernism?', we are often told that it is indefinable. Indeed it can be summed up as a philosophy that rejects theory, science and the idea of progress.
In this podcast, Hamid Alizadeh of In Defence of Marxism explains why this philosophy is wrong and reactionary; and how the 'old' ideas of Marxism are far more relevant.
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Materialism and knowledge | The philosophy of Marxism
How do we acquire knowledge, and how reliable is it? Is there a real world beyond our senses, or is each of us an isolated atom? Can we really understand the workings of society and change it for the better?
In his podcast, Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - mounts a defence of materialism against the trends of subjective idealism, such as positivism and postmodernism, that deny the possibility of objective and scientific knowledge about the world and society.
Fascism: what it is and how to fight it
In this podcast, Niklas Albin Svensson – editor of marxist.com – sets out a Marxist analysis of the history and nature of fascism: what it is; what it isn’t; and how the labour movement can smash fascist and far-right groups wherever they emerge.
The crisis of capitalism has shaken and polarised society all over the world. While thousands of workers and youth are taking to the streets against austerity and oppression, far-right and openly fascist groups of thugs and extremists have also risen in
The Levellers and the English Revolution
In this podcast, Joe Russell explains the history of the Levellers and the Diggers, and discusses what we can learn from these heroic revolutionary movements to help us in the struggle for socialism today.Over 350 years ago, the masses in England turned the world upside down, carrying out one of the first of the bourgeois revolutions. This shows how English history – contrary to the story we are constantly told – is not one glorious, uninterrupted march of conservative progress and moderation.
I
What can I do? The role of the individual In history
In this podcast, Ben Curry explains the Marxist understanding of the role played by individuals in history – and the role that we must play today.
History is commonly taught as little more than the deeds of great men, who alone possess the ability to make history. Marxism rejects this view, and instead sees the development of society and great events as subject to objective processes, which often act behind the backs of the people taking part in them.
But does this mean that the actions, ideas,
Degrowth and neo-Malthusianism - a socialist response
In this podcast, Olivia Ruadh explains why it is the capitalist system that is to blame for climate change – and why we need to fight for a clear socialist solution.
With the huge youth strikes for climate internationally in recent years, the environmental movement became a real mass movement. The slogan of these protests – ‘for system change, not climate change – indicated a clear revolutionary mood amongst activists.
Whilst more and more people are drawing direct links between the climate cata
Ireland's fight for independence
In this podcast, Shaun Morris of the Revolution editorial board, will examine the lessons and legacy of the Irish independence struggle – an understanding of which is essential for revolutionary Marxists fighting for a socialist united Ireland today.
One hundred years ago, Ireland was in the midst of a revolutionary war for independence from Britain. As Britain’s oldest colony, Ireland was the testing ground for the brutal policies that the British ruling class applied across the Empire. The ter
The Paris Commune at 150
In this podcast, Jules Legendre from Révolution - the French section of the International Marxist Tendency - explains what the Paris Commune was, and the lessons that revolutionaries must draw from it today.
For two months between March and May 1871 the armed workers of Paris, surrounded by enemies on all sides, took their destiny into their own hands and demonstrated that it is possible for the workers to run society democratically, without capitalists, bankers or even a standing army.
In his b
End violence against women! End the capitalist system!
In this talk from yesterday's meeting on how to end violence against women, we were joined by Natasha Sorrell, an NEU activist and Socialist Appeal supporter, and Karen Campos, an activist in Izquierda Socialista (IMT - Mexico)and the Liga de Mujeres Revolucionarias. Both Natasha and Karen emphasised that it is only by abolishing capitalism that we can begin to build a society free from oppression and violence.
"Killed by the system we're told 'protects' us.” These were the striking words on one
The 1929 Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression
In this podcast, James Kilby analyses the Great Depression, a period of crisis that many have compared to the present situation. In both cases, however, it is clear that these crises are not 'accidental', but a necessary product of capitalism's incurable contradictions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a deep economic collapse. The world stands on the verge of a new depression. We must therefore look to the past to understand the present – and the future.
The Wall Street Crash was the spark f
The origins of women's oppression
In this talk from our international women's day event, Laurie explains where women's oppression comes from and what we can do to end it.
Marxists understand that women's oppression has not existed forever. Rather, it arose with the rise of class society, which alongside subordinating the majority of people to the will of a few exploiters, also resulted in the origins of the family and the oppression and exploitation from women.
This historical understanding of oppression is crucial - contrary t
Order from chaos: The role of leadership | MSF Conference 2021
In this talk from last month's MSF conference, Fiona Lali - lead organiser of the MSF - discusses need for leadership in our present-day struggles, and why we should look to the ideas of Lenin and Trotsky as inspiration.
With mass movements taking hold in every corner of the world, it has become clear that the masses possess plenty of energy and initiative. But spontaneous outbursts of anger are only one side of the equation: without a conscious, far-sighted leadership, movements will ebb, enter
The plunder of Africa: Colonialism - then and now
In this talk, Fiona Lali discusses the importance of remembering the crimes of the ruling class. While almost all African nations have official independence, they have no independence at all from imperialist exploitation. The only way forward is militant struggle against the exploiters of all lands, based on the principles of socialist internationalism.
The idea that the British Empire ‘civilised’ the ‘backward’ and ‘barbarian’ people of Africa is the story rolled out by the apologists of imperi
The death agony of capitalism: World Perspectives | MSF Conference 2021
In this podcast, we share with you a talk given by Fred Weston - editor of marxist.com - given at the recent Marxist Student Federation Conference, on the perspectives for world revolution in 2021.
As the pandemic drags on and the crisis of capitalism deepens, any illusions in the stability of the current system have been crushed. All around the world, the working class are awakening to the reality of the situation.
In the USA, we have witnessed the seismic Black Lives Matter movement, which to
Art and revolution
In this talk, Alan Woods - editor of marxist.com - discusses the relationship between Marxism and art, noting the nature of art under class society and how we can create a world where everyone can express themselves freely through art.
Marxists are sometimes accused of only being interested in pouring over economic data and political analysis; that we have no interest in art and culture. Nothing could be further from the truth.
By striving for the end of capitalism, and freeing men and women fro
Dynamite in the foundations: Alan Woods on the crisis of world capitalism
At a meeting of leading members of the International Marxist Tendency at the end of January, Alan Woods (editor of marxist.com) provided an overview of the dramatic events unfolding at the start of 2021. The crisis of world capitalism is causing eruptions, dislocation and class polarisation in one country after another.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to inflict misery and hardship on ordinary people, while the wealthy enrich themselves even further. The ruling class is pumping trillions into th
The police, the state, and revolution
In this talk, Ben Gliniecki discusses the history of the capitalist state and the police, and why a workers’ state would offer a clear socialist alternative to the repression and violence seen under capitalism.
The ruling class has always tried to give the state and the police an appearance of neutrality and justice – a force for preserving peace and stability. But since 2008, the crisis of capitalism has destroyed the economic and political equilibrium. And the present crisis will make this muc
Against academic 'Marxism'
In this talk, Daniel Morley explains why ‘academic Marxism’ is incompatible with the real revolutionary ideas of Marxism. To paraphrase Marx’s famous aphorism: The academics have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it. Ever since their inception, there has been a war waged against the genuine ideas of Marxism – not only by the ruling classes and by Stalinist regimes, but in the universities also. The aim of this concerted campaign has always been the same
Against academic 'Marxism'
In this talk, Daniel Morley explains why ‘academic Marxism’ is incompatible with the real revolutionary ideas of Marxism. To paraphrase Marx’s famous aphorism: The academics have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.
Ever since their inception, there has been a war waged against the genuine ideas of Marxism – not only by the ruling classes and by Stalinist regimes, but in the universities also. The aim of this concerted campaign has always been the sam
The rise of China: Communist or capitalist?
In this podcast, Fred Weston – editor of marxist.com – discusses what attitude Marxists should take to the Beijing regime, and outlines the future perspectives for China, its working class, and the coming Chinese revolution.
China has risen rapidly to become a major global power. It now represents a serious challenge to US imperialism, which only 20 years ago claimed hegemony over world capitalism. The result has been an ever-deepening trade war between the two countries, which has escalated in
Who are the essential workers?
In this session, Natasha Sorrell discusses how it is the working class who produce all the wealth in society. The capitalists, meanwhile, are mere parasites. That is why we need to fight for a socialist economic plan – one where workers are in control.
In ‘normal’ times, the capitalists would have us believe that it is the bosses and ‘entrepreneurs’ who are essential to society. But the pandemic has shown who plays the really essential role: the nurses, carers, and cleaners – in short, the worki
Rent strike now! Fight for free education!
For this week's episode of Marxist Voice, we are joined by Fiona Lali - lead organiser at the Marxist Student Federation - who will be interviewing Olive and Tori - two Marxist students playing a leading role in the ongoing rent strike movement.
With young people being lured back into universities by the Tory government and corruption university management, rent strike movements have exploded on campuses up and down the country. Students are rightly rising up in indignation at their shameful tre
Trump's 'coup' and the crisis of US democracy
In this recent talk to Socialist Appeal supporters, Antonio Balmer (from the Socialist Revolution USA editorial board) discusses the recent dramatic events in Washington, which are yet another symptom of the decline of American capitalism - and a harbinger of revolutionary explosions to come.
The storming of Capitol Hill by a mob of Trump supporters on 6 January is a graphic illustration of the deep crisis gripping US capitalism and the whole system of American bourgeois democracy. The fact that
Is Britain heading for a revolution?
In this session, Ellen Morton of the Glasgow Marxists discusses how these crises are laying the basis for revolution in these islands. The task ahead is to build a Marxist leadership in Britain and beyond.
The coronavirus crisis has hit Britain harder than most. The UK is a world leader in terms of ‘excess deaths’ from the pandemic, and is experiencing a deeper recession than almost any other developed capitalist country.
On top of this, Boris Johnson is presiding over the ongoing shambles that
Which way forward for the trade unions?
In this session, John McInally – former vice president of the PCS civil servants’ union and veteran trade union activist – will discuss how, in these conditions, we can build a revolutionary trade union movement.
The coronavirus crisis has accelerated class consciousness. Workers are getting organised to resist the tsunami of job cuts and austerity that is coming. Already, tens of thousands have joined both the NEU teachers’ union and Unison, Britain’s largest public sector union.
Members of th
NHS On The Brink: Tories To Blame | Marxist Voice
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we speak to Dr Raj Mistry - a junior doctor in a hard-hit hospital in South East England - about the COVID catastrophe that is currently pushing the NHS to breaking point.
The Tories have attempted to blame a new, more infectious strain of the virus for the current crisis. But, in reality, it is Tory cuts and privatisation that have created this dire situation inside the NHS, with chronic staff shortages and a long-term decline in bed numbers.
This is why
Support the struggle for safe schools!
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined again by Natasha Sorrell - a teacher and NEU activist - to discuss the ongoing battle between the teachers and Tories over the reopening of schools.
Thanks to a mass campaign by the National Education Union, the teachers have forced the Tory government into another U-turn, with remote learning now due to take place until the February half-term.
But the struggle for safe schools continues. Rather than listening to those who know best, the Torie
The Black Death - the pandemic that changed the world
The Black Death resulted in up to 200 million deaths in the 14th century, making it the deadliest pandemic ever recorded.
To many at the time, the plague seemed like the end of the world. What we now know is that it was not the world that was ending, but the decrepit feudal system, which was dying on its feet even before the plague hit.
Out of the contradictions and class conflicts that were ruthlessly exposed by the Black Death there later arose momentous uprisings of the poor and oppressed. Th
How to fight racism - and how not to
Six years after the beginnings of the Black Lives Matter movement, the death of George Floyd in the USA has sparked an international movement against racism and police violence. The repression and injustices experienced by BAME communities day-in, day-out was captured by the last words of George Floyd and Eric Garner: “I can’t breathe!”
The protests against institutional racism have spread like wildfire to Britain, with militant demonstrations insisting that ‘the UK is not innocent’. But the qu
Culture war or class war?
Labour’s election defeat last year, followed by a sharp shift to the right in the party under Keir Starmer, has opened up a period of introspection and questioning on the Left. Many are asking: what now?
Into this context, self-appointed advisors to the movement have been quick to put forward their own ‘new’ prescriptions.
One such idea – put forward by Paul Mason and other ‘left’ commentators – is that ‘values’ now form the fundamental dividing line in British politics, as opposed to class in
Their morals and ours - Marxism vs. Pacifism
In this talk from the International Marxist University, Ben Gliniecki - a leading activist of Socialist Appeal - discusses the Marxist morality and the question of whether Marxists should aspire to be pacifists. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
One of the many slanders hurled at the Bolsheviks is that they were bloodthirsty intriguers who got their way through violent means. This is a criticism shared both by the hypocritical bourgeois, and elements on the left. These pacifists
The life and ideas of Friedrich Engels
To celebrate Engels' 200th birthday, we are republishing this talk from 2014, in which Rob Sewell discusses Engels' life and ideas - and in particular his outstanding contributions to Marxist theory.
The greatest birthday present we can offer Engels is to learn from his legacy: to continue the struggle for socialism and build the forces of Marxism today.
Join us in the fight for socialism:
Join - socialist.net/join
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The revolutionary ideas of Friedrich Engels
28 November this year marks the 200th anniversary of Engels’ birth. To commemorate this, Adam Booth discusses the vital role that Friedrich Engels played in developing the revolutionary ideas of Marxism.
Alongside Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels was one of the founding fathers of ‘scientific socialism’. Though often considered as playing second fiddle to Marx, there can be no doubt of Engels’ extensive and outstanding contribution to Marxist theory. His collaboration with Marx was far from one-sided
Liberty through struggle - Marxism vs. Queer Theory
In this talk from the International Marxist University, Yola Kipcak - a leading activist of Der Funke, the Austrian section of the IMT - provides a Marxist analysis of Queer Theory. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
Marxism defends the unity of peoples across all gender and sexual lines in the fight against the oppressive capitalist system. But Queer Theory holds that our gender and sexual identities are a fiction produced by discourses and oppressive power in society: a learned
Marxism And Religion
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Alex Grant - a leading member of Fightback, the Canadian section of the IMT - analyses the role of religion in society. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
One of Marx’s best-known quotes is “religion is the opium of the people”, but that is not the end of the question. Marxism rejects all forms of superstition. Religion plays a profoundly reactionary role in society.
But it cannot be overcome by argument alone. We mu
The Chartist Revolution
The revolutionary traditions of the British working class are glossed over by the establishment. One such tradition is that of the Chartists. Decades before the formation of the TUC, the British working class dramatically entered onto the stage of history, threatening the ruling class with a mass insurrectionary movement and a general strike.
In the process, the Chartists succeeded in building the political party of the working class in history, which drew the support of the young Marx and Engel
Is class struggle ‘Eurocentric'? - Marxism vs. Postcolonialism
In this talk from the International Marxist University, Hamid Alizadeh - a leading activist of the International Marxist Tendency - explains the problems with postcolonialism and combats the view that Marxism is 'eurocentric'.
Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
Marxists are often accused of ‘Eurocentrism’ and ‘class reductionism’ (particularly in academic circles) when we argue for the struggle of workers of all races and nations against capitalism. It is said our emphasis on int
Trump, Biden, and the class divide in the USA
Fred Weston, editor for marxist.com, discusses the most polarised US election in living memory. Biden's victory is no cause for celebration for workers and youth. Donald Trump and his supporters are not going away anytime soon.
With little genuine enthusiasm for Joe Biden, the highest number of people in a century turned out to essentially vote either for or against Donald Trump. It appears as if Biden has narrowly scraped through to take the presidency, in an election that has thoroughly expose
The history of the IMT
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Fred Weston - a leading activist of the International Marxist Tendency - introduces the history of the IMT. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
The International Marxist Tendency traces its roots all the way through the First, Second, Third and Fourth Internationals. In the postwar period, there was a general retreat by the forces of genuine Marxism, and the left was dominated by the distortions of Stalinism and reform
Defend Corbyn! Fight for socialism!
In a special broadcast of Marxist Voice, Rob Sewell discusses the incendiary events surrounding the release of the EHRC report into Labour and anti-semitism.
The suspension of Jeremy Corbyn is a declaration of war against the left. This reveals how hollow Keir Starmer’s rhetoric of ‘unity’ really is - and always was.
Grassroots activists must not – and will not – stand for this! We must take the fight to the right.
Defend Corbyn! Fight for socialism!
Join us in the fight for socialism:
Join - so
The politics of division - marxism vs. identity politics
In this talk from the International Marxist University, Ylva Vinberg - a leading activist of Revolution, Swedish section of the IMT - provides a marxism explanation for oppression and explains the limits of identity politics. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
In the current period, identity politics are in vogue. Along with the related trend of intersectionality, these ideas stress the importance of self-identification, personal experience, and the various layers of oppression p
Chartist Revolution: A discussion with Rob Sewell and Josh Holroyd
Wellred Books are proud to announce the publication of 'Chartist Revolution' by Rob Sewell - a Marxist analysis of the inspiring Chartist movement in 19th century Britain.
To mark the release of this exciting new book, author Rob Sewell and Socialist Appeal writer Josh Holroyd discuss the key questions raised in 'Chartist Revolution', and the important lessons from these historical events for the struggles of the working class today.
Get your copy of 'Chartist Revolution' today from Wellred Book
Is history bunk? - historical materialism on trial
In this talk from the International Marxist University, Josh Holroyd - a leading activist with Socialist Appeal - demonstrates and defends the method of Marxist historical materialism. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
Bourgeois, liberal and postmodern historians alike tend to reject the Marxist view that history is driven by material laws and processes. Some also reject the idea of progress, saying this is merely a point of view. They say that history is basically random, punct
From Peterloo to Chartism - The rise of the British working class
In this talk from last year's Revolution Festival, Josh Holroyd discusses the rise of the working class in Britain, and the lessons from the revolutionary movement of the Chartists.
Find out more on this fascinating topic by getting a copy of Rob Sewell's new book on 'Chartist Revolution', out now through Wellred Books.
wellredbooks.net/chartist-revolution.html
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The Peterloo massacre took place over 200 years ago in Manchester. Thi
Spontaneity, organisation, and the role of the state - Marxism vs. anarchism
In this talk from the International Marxist University, John Peterson of Socialist Revolution USA explores the differences between Marxism and anarchism.
Marxists and anarchists share many of the same objectives in common: fighting oppression; smashing the bourgeois state; creating a society without class exploitation and so on.
However, there are also important differences in our ideas and methods - particularly relating to the nature of power in general, and of state power in particular.
These
In defence Of Marxist economics
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Rob Sewell - editor of Socialist Appeal - outlines the fundamentals of Marxist economics, and explains why only these revolutionary ideas can offer a way out of the impasse of capitalist crisis.
As Rob explains, many attempts have been made over the years to ‘update’ Marx’s economic theories. Inevitably, these ideas jettison the revolutionary core of Marxist economics.
Instead of applying a dialectical and materialist method to the e
Marxism and black liberation
In this online talk organised by the Marxist Student Federation as part of Black History Month, Fiona Lali (national organiser of the MSF) explains why the fight against racism must be a fight against capitalism.
In the coming weeks, the MSF will be publishing a series of articles and videos on the origins of slavery; the roots of racism; the black power struggle; from Windrush to the refugee crisis; and how we must fight against capitalism, racism, and all forms of oppression.
In the wake of th
Alan Woods: Trump's COVID crisis
Alan Woods – editor of In Defence of Marxism – comments on the situation in the USA, where it was announced last week that President Donald Trump has contracted COVID-19, amidst a farcical presidential election and the greatest crisis in the history of US capitalism.
Trump’s reckless response to the pandemic has led to the USA having 7.5m COVID-19 cases and 200,000 deaths: the highest in the world. This catastrophe has caused Trump’s polling figures to plummet, leading him to furiously point th
The poverty of philosophy - Marxism vs. Postmodernism
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Daniel Morley, a leading activist and writer with Socialist Appeal, provides a Marxist critique of postmodernism - an idealist philosophy that is in vogue amongst certain left-wing activists and academic.
Postmodernism is very popular on university campuses, and has also gained an echo in the workers’ movement.
This school of thought denies the very idea of historical progress. It echoes Henry Ford, saying “history is just one damn
Class struggle and small circle mentality: Marxism vs. sectarianism
In this talk from the International Marxist University, Claudio Bellotti - a leading activist of Sinistra Classe Rivoluzione, Italian section of the IMT - discusses the question of sectarianism. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
In the socialist movement, there are those who compromise on political principles opportunistically in order to find a short-cut to the masses; and there those who place themselves outside the main workers’ struggle, spending their time attacking other o
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part eighteen
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In the final episode of this series, Alan Woods explains how Oliver Cromwell - a man who embodied the contradictions of his class - went from revolutionary to counter-revolutionary; how a revolution that overthrew the monarchy ended in its restoration and the lessons of these eve
System change, not climate change: Marxism and the environment
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick - the director of Wellred Books, the official bookshop of the IMT - discusses the Marxist solution to climate change. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
Capitalism’s rampant exploitation of the earth’s resources is wreaking havoc on the natural world: with a spike in freak weather events, floods, wildfires and so on. In recent years, the struggle against climate change has erupted with explo
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part seventeen
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In the penultimate episode of this series, Alan Woods discusses how the great English Revolution, which embodied the hopes and democratic aspirations of so many ordinary people, ended with the dictatorship of one man: Oliver Cromwell. But the regime over which he ruled was very d
Class collaboration, compromise and the crisis of reformism
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Niklas Albin Svensson - a leading activist of the International Marxist Tendency - explains why reformism is a dead end and only revolutionary struggle can improve the lives of working people. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
Marxists are frequently attacked as unrealistic utopians. Rather than talking about revolution, the reformists say we should focus on winning achievable goals for workers. But all over the worl
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part sixteen
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this latest episode, Alan explains how, with the death of King Charles and the defeat of the Presbyterian counter revolution, Oliver Cromwell moved to crush the most radical wing of the New Model Army.
With the Last Stand of the Levellers in 1649 and the suppression of the Dig
Marxism and modern science: Dialectics of Nature
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Ben Curry - a leading activist of Socialist Appeal - discusses Marxism and modern science. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
On the anniversary of Engels’ birth, we highlight one of Engels’ greatest works, Dialectics of Nature. With his masterful grasp of dialectics, Engels pre-empted scientific discoveries like the equivalence of matter and energy and the role of labour in the development of modern humans.
Ben Curr
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part fifteen
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this episode, Alan explains how the split between the New Model Army and parliament was widening, as the former became increasingly radical, particularly the Levellers faction.
At the famous Putney Debates, revolutionary ideas (including universal suffrage) were openly discuss
Why has capitalism failed?
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Adam Booth - a leading activist of Socialist Appeal - discusses the contradictions of capitalism and explains why it is in crisis. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
Apologists for capitalism argue that it is the best, most-efficient system that could ever possibly exist. But the current period of crisis and chaos prove otherwise. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an economic collapse that threatens to throw
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part fourteen
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this episode, Alan's discusses how, with the victory of Cromwell's army at the Battle of Naseby, the first English Civil War came to an end. The defeated King handed himself over to the Scots, hoping to play the New Model Army (likened to a combination of the Soviets, the Red
2020: A World On Fire
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Alan Woods - editor of the In Defence of Marxism website and author of a long list of books on Marxist theory - discusses perspectives for the world revolution. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings.
The year 2020 will enter the annals of history as a decisive turning point. The coronavirus pandemic, the economic collapse and the corresponding wave of popular anger and revolts have brought all the contradictions in capit
What next for the Lebanese Revolution?
The Lebanese masses are moving once again. In the wake of the August 4th Beirut blast which devastated much of the city, the masses have taken to the streets to hold those responsible to account. Rightfully, they have aimed their anger at the corrupt government of Lebanon which caused the blast through their neglect and corruption. In the wake of this powerful movement, the government has resigned for the second time in less than a year.
This is a great achievement, but the revolution must go fu
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part thirteen
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this episode, Alan discusses how, after some losses at the hands of the Royalists, Oliver Cromwell and his new army scored a decisive turning point with a crushing victory at the battle of Marston Moor. But divisions were opening up on the parliamentary side between the radica
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part twelve
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In our latest episode, Alan discusses how, with the Parliamentarians in a favourable position at the outbreak of the Civil War, thousands of men enlisted to fight on their side. The Royalists, relying on the less economically developed regions, were dependent on superior cavalry
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part eleven
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
Alan continues his series by explained how, by leaving London, King Charles set in motion a chain of events that would lead inevitably to civil war...
A careful study of the English Revolution is obligatory for every class-conscious worker, Leon Trotsky noted. So tune in every we
The early years of the Communist Party
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Ben Gliniecki - writer for Socialist Appeal - discusses the beginnings of the Communist Party of Great Britain, which was founded 100 years ago on 31 July 1920.
The founding of the British Communist Party in 1920 took place during a period of heightened class struggle, marking an important milestone in the development of Marxism. Although only a few thousands strong, it attracted the most militant sections of the working class and led key struggles, su
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part ten
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In our latest episode, Alan discusses how, after King Charles' patience with his rebellious parliament ran out, he launched an attempted coup d'état, leading to one of the most famous scenes in English history, with Charles arriving at parliament with a list of names for arrest,
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part nine
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In our latest episode, Alan looks at the developments following the execution of Strafford. If King Charles thought Strafford's execution would calm the situation in England, he was dead wrong. Aside from continued opposition from Pym and parliament, the masses were becoming bold
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part eight
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In the latest episode, Alan outlines how King Charles's maneuvers forced him to recall parliament yet again. This however, gave an outlet for the pent up anger of the masses. A new period of turmoil opens up as the conflict pours out onto the streets. Petitions and political agit
The history of the Fourth International
From the archive:
In this talk from 2013, Fred Weston (editor of www.marxist.com) explains the formation and later collapse of the Fourth International, led by Leon Trotsky in opposition to the Stalinist ComIntern.
Fred will be speaking about the history of the International Marxist Tendency at Marxist University 2020. Get your ticket today at https://university.marxist.com/en/
The Marxist view of history: Historical materialism
In this talk from Socialist Appeal's "Marx in a Day" event in 2018(which celebrated Karl Marx's 200th birthday), Josh Holroyd discusses the contribution made by the great revolutionary thinker towards our understanding of history.
With their ideas of "scientific socialism", Marx and Engels provided the first real materialist analysis of how history develops, explaining that the motor force behind society's evolution is the class struggle and the drive to increase the humankind's productive force
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part seven
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this latest episode, Alan explained how the English Revolution began in Scotland. After 11 years of tyranny under King Charles and his court clique, their attempt at religious reform in Scotland proved a serious mistake. A riot at a Cathedral turned into a revolutionary moveme
RLB sacking: this means war
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Labour activist and Socialist Appeal writer Joe Attard joins us to discuss Keir Starmer's dismissal of Rebecca Long-Bailey, and what this means for the fight inside the Labour Party.
Last week, Starmer crossed the Rubicon by sacking Long-Bailey from the Shadow Cabinet, based on spurious charges of anti-semitism. This is a declaration of war on the left.
Join us to discuss the ongoing battle inside the Labour Party, and how activists should get organised to
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part six
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In the latest episode, Alan describes how, with parliament suspended, Charles I was determined to enforce his authority in matters of religion and state. His reforms to the church provoked horror and resentment from the people of England, and he exploited loopholes to raise cash
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part five
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this episode, Alan describes the escalating conflicts between King Charles and parliament. Charles dissolved parliament several times, culminating in a dissolution that was to last for 11 years. The country was now firmly on the road to war and revolution.
A careful study of t
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part four
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In episode four, Alan Woods discusses the escalating conflicts between parliament and the Machiavellian King Charles, who wanted money to fund various military adventures. These splits at the top were concurrent with a seething discontent at the bottom of society, reflected in th
Capitalism is racist: Black Lives Matter in Britain
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Fiona Lali - national organiser of the Marxist Student Federation - to discuss the massive protests against racism and police violence that have erupted across the UK.
Sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in the USA, the Black Lives Matter has rapidly spread to Britain - finding a powerful echo in a country with its own deeply racist history; and where BAME communities are only too aware of the inequality, injustice, and oppression
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part three
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
Revolutions always start with splits at the top. In episode three, Alan describes the tensions developing between King Charles (and his Catholic wife), firm in his belief in the divine right of kings; and the increasingly powerful English parliament.
A careful study of the Englis
Alan Woods: Uprising in America - The school of revolution
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the police killing of George Floyd in the USA and the insurrectionary protests seen in response across America.
The cold-blooded murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police is yet another horrific act of racist violence against an unarmed black man in broad daylight. This has sparked protests across the country, showing that people are fed up with capitalism's systemic racism.
As Alan explains, the
Racism, police violence, and the socialist revolution
The cold-blooded murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police is yet another horrific act of racist violence against an unarmed black man in broad daylight. This has yet again sparked protests across the country, showing that people are fed up with the systemic racism of the capitalist system.
When the great revolutionary martyr Malcolm X said, “You can’t have capitalism without racism,” he summed up a profound truth about the world we live in. This racist brutality is hardwired into the capital
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down - part two
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
In this episode, Alan sets the scene of England on the brink of revolution. The country was facing a profound economic crisis, there was an army of downtrodden poor, and radical religious ideas were taking hold amongst the burgeoining middle classes. Under the surface, these idea
Who should run the Labour Party?
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Pamela Fitzpatrick - Labour councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrow East - to discuss the current contest for Labour general secretary, and what changes and demands party members should fight for.
Pamela was also herself a candidate to replace Jennie Formby, and is a founding members of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour Councillors. We therefore hear from Pamela about her thoughts on the leaked report and the ensu
The English Revolution: the world turned upside down – part one
Welcome to episode one of our new series - The English Revolution: The World Turned Upside Down.
Every Friday, Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) will be discussing the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism.
It is said that revolution has never come to the British Isles. In fact, modern British democracy was born out of a violent revolution and a bloody Civil War, which saw the king lose his head. Today, we are witness
Teachers vs Tories: heroes and villains
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined again by Natasha Sorrell - an activist with the National Education Union - to discuss the current war being waged against teachers by the Tories and the right-wing press.
Under pressure from big business, the government are hastily attempting to restart the economy. As part of this, the Tories are belligerently pushing to open up schools. But they have no plan for how to ensure the safety of staff and students, and are putting teachers' lives
The fight against colonialism: then and now
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Hamid Alizadeh - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the fight against imperialism and colonialism.
The post-war period saw a wave of revolutions in the colonial world, bringing down many imperialist regimes. Liberals would have us believe that ended ‘imperialism’ and the oppression of the so-called ‘Third World’.
But the legacy of colonialism lives on today, with just as great a chasm between a handful of powerful capitalist states, and the im
Boris' green light to big business
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Curry of the Socialist Appeal editorial board joins us to discuss the government's recent announcement about the lifting of the lockdown.
Amidst all of Boris Johnson's confused and contradictory statements, one message was loud and clear: workers are expected to sacrifice themselves so that the bosses can continue to make profits.
The labour movement must organise to take control in workplaces and oppose any premature or unsafe return to work.
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The 1926 General Strike
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, James Kilby of the Socialist Appeal editorial board discusses the lessons of the British General Strike of 1926.
The 1926 general strike remains one of the greatest moments in the history of the British labour movement. It was the biggest - and most revolutionary - strike that these islands have ever seen.
During the nine days that it lasted, the strike went from strength to strength. ‘Councils of action’ sprang up all over the country, with local work
In defence of Lenin
Rob Sewell discusses the life and ideas of Vladimir Lenin, the great Marxist and leader of the Russian Revolution, who was born 150 years ago on 22 April.
For over a century, there has been a sustained campaign to slander his name and distort his ideas, ranging from bourgeois historians and apologists to various reformists, liberals and assorted anarchists. Their task has been to discredit Lenin, Marxism and the Russian Revolution in the interests of the “democratic” rule of bankers and capitali
Blue murder
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Adam Booth - editor of www.socialist.net - examines the fatal errors made by Boris Johnson and the Tory government surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recent Sunday Times investigation demonstrates that the Tories killed thousands through a combination of "incompetence, hubris, and arrogance". We must not let them get away with this murder.
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The COVID-19 pandemic: capitalism's deepest ever crisis
Fred Weston (editor of marxist.com) discusses the world situation as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
The bourgeois are trying to blame the current social and economic turmoil on the virus alone. But it was in fact just the trigger for a crisis that was prepared in the last period.
The anaemic recovery of world capitalism after 2008 was coming to an end even before the virus hit. China once held the system together, but it has become a centre of the current crisis. The EU is mired in in-fight
Sweep out the saboteurs!
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined again by Rob Sewell - editor of Socialist Appeal - to discuss the explosive revelations surrounding Blairite sabotage against the Corbyn movement.
The recently released report documenting the right wing's shenanigans proves what grassroots activists have long known: that the Blairites and bureaucrats actively campaigned for years against the election of a socialist Labour government.
We must organise and mobilise to sweep this damaging detritu
Where do we go from Keir?
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined again by Rob Sewell - editor of Socialist Appeal - to discuss the perspectives for the Labour Party in the wake of Keir Starmer's leadership victory.
Starmer is promising 'unity'. And grassroots activists are hoping he will deliver on his left-wing pledges. But the Blairites are already sharpening their knives, hoping for revenge against the Corbyn movement. Which direction is the Labour Party heading, in this time of deep capitalist crisis?
Alan Woods: Coronavirus and the world crisis of capitalism
Alan Woods (editor of marxist.com) joins us for a special broadcast, to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the worst-ever crisis of capitalism.
The coronavirus outbreak has dealt a savage blow to the world economy and political situation. The leaders of most countries initially downplayed the severity of the emergency in an attempt to keep business going, and are now desperately scrambling to stabilise the situation and avoid social unrest.
They are breaking all their own rules in the pro
Europe: The final countdown
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Josh Holroyd - of the Socialist Appeal editorial board - to discuss the national tensions that are rising between the different European Union member states.
How much longer can the European project survive? Will the liberal dream of European unity be another victim of the coronavirus pandemic?
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The revolutionary philosophy of Marxism
In this talk from Revolution Festival, Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick - Socialist Appeal activist and manager of Wellred Books - introduces the revolutionary philosophy of Marxism: dialectical materialism.
As Marx famously stated: “philosophers have only interpreted the world, the point however is to change it.” In order to change the world, however, we need to understand how it works. And for that we need philosophy.
Dialectical materialism is a philosophy of change, recognising that nothing in the
The pandemic vs the precariat
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Ian Hodson - President of the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union - who discusses the impact of the pandemic on precarious workers, and the need to fight back against the unscrupulous bosses.
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Fighting the pandemic: Essential workers in the firing line
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Natasha Sorrell - a teacher and NEU activist - who discusses the difficulties and dangers facing essential workers, as the Tory government turns a blind eye to rule-dodging bosses.
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Fighting the pandemic: Voices from the frontline
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Helen O'Connor - former nurse and union organiser for healthcare workers - discusses the desperate situation facing NHS staff, who are on the frontline in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic.
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The coronavirus crisis is a capitalist crisis
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Rob Sewell - editor of Socialist Appeal - discusses the global economic crisis that has been triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
What's the scale of the slump? Will the economy ever recover? And how can we get out of the crisis? Watch to find out Rob's thoughts on these questions, and more!
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The Tories can't be trusted with our lives
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Adam Booth - editor of www.socialist.net - looks back at the last week's chaotic events, and discusses the bold socialist steps that are needed to address the covid-19 pandemic.
Boris Johnson's has shown that he is completely incapable of tackling the coronavirus crisis. His government has been continually behind the curve, unable to get a grip on the situation, precisely at a time when decisive action is required.
Instead of providing reassurance, the Pri
The coronavirus pandemic and the crisis of capitalism
In this recent live-streamed talk, Fred Weston - editor of www.marxist.com - discusses the explosive developments surrounding the global coronavirus outbreak, which has wrought havoc on society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a severe economic and social crisis. The stock markets have plummeted; panicked people are bulk-buying supplies; and governments are scrambling to respond.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has bluntly informed the population: "your loved ones will die". At the
Coronavirus, contagion and crisis
As the covid-19 pandemic spreads, Hamid Alizadeh (editor of www.marxist.com) discusses how capitalism and the ruling class are completely incapable of addressing the crisis.
Healthcare systems across the world are overstretched and underfunded, decimated by years of austerity. Working-class families - already struggling to make ends meet - now face months of uncertainty about where their next paycheque will come from. And financial contagion threatens to spread, as households and businesses defa
Marxist economics: How capitalism works - and how it doesn't
In this talk from the Revolution Festival, Nigel Warren provides an introduction to Marxist economics - discussing why capitalism goes into crisis, and explaining why socialism is the only way forward.
It is over a decade now since the economic crash of 2008. And with the coronavirus pandemic paralysing production, and stock markets tumbling once again, a new slump is about to hit.
The epidemic is not the cause of the crisis, however, but merely its trigger; the historical 'accident' that expose
Origins of the family - in defence of Engels
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Natasha Sorrell introduces Engels' ideas about the origins of the family, explaining how these show that the oppression of women is not natural or permanent, but something that can and must be ended as part of the struggle for socialism.
In 1884, Engels published his classic of historical materialism, The Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State. This seminal book was based upon the revolutionary work of American anthropologist Lewis Hen
The Marxist view of history
In this talk from Revolution Festival, Fiona Lali - national organiser of the Marxist Student Federation - outlines the ideas of historical materialism: the Marxist theory that provides a scientific explanation for how change and development occurs in society.
"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle." So begins the Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels.
Rather than trying to make society conform to a timeless ideal, or to discover s
Why Marxists must fight for open borders
In this talk from the Revolution Festival 2019, Niklas Albin Svensson (writer for In Defence of Marxism) discusses why revolutionaries must oppose any repression of migrants and refugees, and fight instead for workers of all countries to unite.
Anti-immigrant rhetoric and far-right parties have risen in recent years on the back of the refugee crisis and the crisis of capitalism. In Britain and elsewhere, right-wing governments are whipping up xenophobia and nationalism in an attempt to divert at
Irish elections: A shattering blow to the establishment
In our latest podcast, Ben Curry (Socialist Appeal editorial board) discusses the results of the recent general elections in Ireland, which have dealt a shattering blow to the Irish establishment and the two-party system.
In the past, liberal commentators superficially asserted that Ireland had escaped the political turbulence that has rocked the rest of Europe. But no longer. Now Ireland had caught up with a bang.
With Sinn Fein coming out on top, the election results are a political earthquake
How do we fight the climate crisis?
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Helena Nicholson of the LSE Marxist society discusses the climate catastrophe facing the planet, and the need for a revolutionary alternative.
The question of climate change has become the burning issue of our era, as a result of the fires, floods, hurricanes, and droughts that have devastated communities across the world. Urgent action is required; and yet world leaders have proven that they are incapable of taking any serious steps to address this ex
The Troubles in the North of Ireland
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Shaun Morris discusses the period known as ‘The Troubles’ in the North of Ireland, which began just over 50 years ago when British troops were sent onto the streets of Derry.
In the decades that followed, thousands lost their lives as a result of sectarian violence, whipped up by the British ruling class and Unionist hardliners to divide working-class communities. On the other side, the IRA’s strategy of bombing and terrorism led the Republican movemen
Which way forward for Israel-Palestine?
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Fred Weston (editor of www.marxist.com) discusses the crisis in Israel-Palestine, which is back on the agenda thanks to Trump's proposed 'peace plan'.
For decades, the conflict in Israel-Palestine has been one of imperialism’s most blatant and persistent acts of oppression. The world watches on as Palestine shrinks and shrinks; settlement after settlement gets built; and bomb after bomb falls on innocent men, women, and children. But, as Marx said, a
Spain's Revolution Against Franco: The Great Betrayal
In this talk from the main rally at Revolution Festival 2019, Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses his new book on the revolutionary movement that overthrew the Franco regime in Spain in the 1970s.
Based on his own personal experiences and involvement, Alan explains how the movement to overthrow the Franco regime was a modern-day revolution, with the working class providing the motor force for change.
And as with any revolutionary movement, Alan discusses, this period is full
The 1949 Chinese Revolution
In this talk from last year's Revolution Festival, Daniel Morley (writer for Socialist Appeal) looks back at the events leading up to the 1949 Chinese Revolution, explaining why the revolution played out as it did, and discussing the process that has unfolded since: from revolution to Tiananmen to capitalism.
After the 1917 Russian Revolution, as Daniel discusses, the Chinese Revolution of 1949 is the most significant event in history. Fighting first Japanese occupation and then Chiang Kai-shek'
No to war with Iran! Oppose US imperialist aggression!
Hamid Alizadeh, editor of www.marxist.com, discusses the recent confrontation between American and Iran, and explains why the left and the labour movement must oppose US imperialist aggression.
The current sabre-rattling, as Hamid states, escalated on 3 January with the killing of the Iranian military general, Qassem Soleimani - one of the top figures in the Iranian regime.
This was a clear provocation by Trump, designed as a chest-beating exercise to distract from the problems the US President
Alan Woods: After the election - continue the Corbyn revolution
Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - analyses last week's UK election results, explaining the real reasons behind Labour's dramatic defeat.
In doing so, Alan answers the lies of the establishment media and the Blairites, who have falsely attempted to place all the blame for Labour's election loss on Jeremy Corbyn.
In reality, however, it is not Corbynism that has failed, but Blairism, liberalism, and the centre ground. The areas that have abandoned Labour are those that have been left
Marxism, Keynesianism, and Modern Monetary Theory
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Adam Booth - editor of www.socialist.net - compares and contrasts the economic ideas of Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, and MMT.
The crash of 2008 brought all the established neoliberal economic ideas into question. As Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman told an audience at the London School of Economics in the wake of the financial crisis: “Most work in macroeconomics in the past 30 years has been useless at best and harmful at worst.”
Over a d
Marxism and science: Tipping points, catastrophe, and revolution
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Ben Curry (of the Socialist Appeal editorial board)discusses the Marxist philosophy of dialectical materialism and its application to the natural world.
Dialectics is a philosophy of change, explaining that all matter is in a state of motion and flux. But how does this change take place?
Using a number of examples from science - from thermodynamics, to evolution, to chaos theory - Ben demonstrates one of the basic principles of dialectics: that change
Revolution in Latin America: Chile, Ecuador, and Haiti
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Jorge Martin - editor of American Socialista and writer for www.marxist.com - discusses the recent revolutionary developments in Latin America, including in Chile, Ecuador, and Haiti.
Until recently, commentary about Latin American politics was full of pessimism and talk about a swing to the right, with the election of the Macri and Bolsonaro governments in Argentina and Brazil, respectively; and with Trump's attempted coup against the Maduro governmen
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Stalinism
In this talk from the recent Revolution Festival, Marie Frederiksen - editor of the Danish Marxist paper 'Revolution' - discusses the impact of the Berlin Wall, which was broken apart 30 years ago, on 9th November 1989.
This marked the beginning of the end for the Stalinist regimes of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Subsequently, liberal commentators declared that these events marked the final victory of capitalism over Communism.
As Marie explains, however, what collapsed was not genuine C
200 years on: the lessons of Peterloo
Speaking at a day school in Manchester earlier this year, Josh Holroyd of Socialist Appeal discusses the events surrounding the Peterloo massacre of 16th August 1819, when thousands of protestors demanding political rights were brutally repressed by local representatives of the ruling class.
As Josh explains, the Peterloo massacre marked a turning point for the working class in England. In the years that followed, powerful trade unions were forged in order to fight back against the attacks of th
Alan Woods: Tory leadership race - folly, fury, and farce
Alan Woods, editor of In Defence of Marxism, discusses the current contest between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to succeed Theresa May as leader of the Conservative Party.
As Alan highlights, it is a farce of democracy that a 160,000-strong reactionary rabble of Tory members will decide who becomes the next Prime Minister.
Whilst the Tory leadership candidates out-compete each other over Brexit, the right wing of the Labour Party are once again ramping up their efforts to undermine Jeremy Corby
Hong Kong protests: What do they represent?
Daniel Morley, writer for Socialist Appeal, discusses the mass movement that is taking place in Hong Kong against the repressive extradition law.
Millions have participated in the protests against the newly proposed extradition bill - this in a city of around 7.5 million. This shows the scale of the anger that exists towards the Hong Kong government, and the Beijing regime that stands behind them.
Hong Kongers are rightly terrified of seeing their democratic rights torn to shreds, as Xi Jinping
Oppose Trump's imperialist aggression against Iran
Hamid Alizadeh, writer for In Defence of Marxism, discusses the increasing friction between the USA and Iran, with Washington accusing the Tehran regime of attacking two oil tankers and shooting down an American drone.
The US President, with the support of belligerent influential figures like John Bolton, has escalated tensions and threatened military strikes in retaliation. But he has been forced to pull back, for now.
It is clear that the bellicose Trump administration, along with their reacti
Revolution and counter-revolution in Sudan
Fred Weston, editor of www.marxist.com, discusses the revolutionary events taking place in Sudan.
In April this year, after decades in power, long-standing dictator Omar al-Bashir was toppled by a mass movement. Following this, a military junta - the Transitional Military Council (TMC) - stepped into the vacuum.
But workers across Sudan recently shut down the economy with a powerful general strike, aimed at wrestling control from the TMC. This terrified the regime, who know that they could lose
Alan Woods: Trump, Brexit, And the 'special relationship'
Alan Woods, editor of In Defence of Marxism, comments on President Trump's recent state visit to Britain.
With Theresa May stepping down, Tory leadership contenders have made a lot of noise about how Britain will 'reclaim sovereignty' and 'take back control' after Brexit.
But the events surrounding Trump's visit expose this as a complete charade. Far from achieving a favourable trade deal with the USA, the Tory government is preparing the ground for American big business to sweep in and pick at
China: from revolution to Tiananmen
In this talk from a recent London-wide meeting of the Marxist Student Federation, Daniel Morley discusses the Tiananmen student protests that shook the regime in China 30 years ago.
The Tiananmen square protests were the largest student movement in history, with over 1 million involved at the height of the demonstrations.
But, as Daniel explains, the protests were not confined just to students. Workers across Beijing also came out in support of the movement, and the initial wave of soldiers sent
Fundamentalism, Terrorism, and Imperialism
In this talk from a recent London-wide meeting of the Marxist Student Federation, Hamid Alizadeh - writer for In Defence of Marxism - discusses the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and the links between jihadi organisations and Western imperialism.
After every barbaric terrorist attack, right-wing politicians and commentators attempt to whip up the idea of a "clash of civilisations" between Muslims and the Arab world, on one side, and liberal Western democracies, on the other.
But the inconvenien
Israel & Palestine: which way forward?
In this talk from a recent meeting of the Marxist Student Federation in London, Francesco Merli - writer for www.marxist.com - examines the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and discusses the solution to the crisis in the Middle East.
The chaotic situation in Israel and Palestine is one imperialism's worst ever crimes. By dividing up Palestine and creating the Zionist state of Israel, the imperialists transformed the region - in the words of Leon Trotsky - into "a bloody trap" for both J
Alan Woods: The Brexit crisis and Labour's civil war
Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the battle in the Labour Party over the question of a second referendum.
The Tories are torn apart over Brexit. Yet rather than uniting behind their party leader, right-wing Labour MPs are putting all of their energies into attacking Jeremy Corbyn.
Sooner or later, judgement day will come for Theresa May, and the opportunity for Corbyn’s Labour to form a government will present itself. But how will Corbyn deal with the wreckers in his rank
The Prague Spring: a rebellion against Stalinism
In this video from the 2018 Revolution Festival, Francesco Merli of In Defence of Marxism (www.marxist.com) discusses the events and lessons of the 1968 Prague Spring - a revolt against the Stalinist bureaucracy that was put down by Moscow.
In 1968, over 50 years ago, USSR-backed tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia to crush the Prague Spring. But could the movement have been successful?
The Prague Spring was a movement with the potential to develop into a socialist political revolution against the
The crisis of liberalism
In this talk from last year's Revolution Festival, Ben Gliniecki looks at the current collapse of the liberal status quo, providing a Marxist analysis of liberalism's rise and fall.
In November 2016, American voters dispatched “the electoral equivalent of a suicide bomber to Washington”, according to the Financial Times.
Only months before, the British public had delivered a shocking blow to the European establishment by voting by a narrow majority to leave the European Union.
Today, nationalis
Liverpool in the 1980s - how to fight the cuts
Speaking at the recent Peterloo day school in Manchester, Mike Hogan of Liverpool Wavertree CLP discusses the lessons from the struggles waged in the 1980s by Liverpool city against Thatcher and the cuts.
With Marxist Labour councillors in the leadership, a mass movement involving the entire labour movement and working class communities was built up in Liverpool in the 80s, in order to oppose cuts and fight for socialist policies.
This was part of a national campaign, with anti-cuts councils spr
James Connolly and the struggle for Irish Independence
In this talk from the 2018 Revolution Festival, Ben Curry of the Socialist Appeal editorial board discusses the life of James Connolly: the man, his ideas, and their relevance for Marxists today.
James Connolly was born in 1868 to Irish parents in Edinburgh’s Cowgate slum. He would grow to be the greatest Marxist ever produced by these islands; an iconic figure in the history of the Irish working class.
Executed by the British army in 1916 following his leading role in the Easter Rising, Connoll
Artificial intelligence and the nature of consciousness
In this talk from the Revolution Festival 2018, Daniel Morley of the Socialist Appeal editorial board examines one of the most long-standing questions of philosophy: what is consciousness?
This is a question that has become increasingly relevant with the rise of artificial intelligence.
Modern technological advances have raised the idea of creating machines capable of thinking for themselves. This has generated hopes - and fears - that the next generation of robots will be able to display signs
The 2008 crash to now: A decade of crisis
In this talk from the 2018 Revolution Festival, Rob Sewell (editor of Socialist Appeal) explains the causes behind the 2008 crash and discusses the revolutionary way forward for society.
September 2018 marked the 10th anniversary since the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the beginning of the deepest economic crisis in the history of capitalism.
Now, over a decade on, none of the mainstream economists or establishment politicians can explain how we got here or offer a way out of the crisis.
The e
International Working Women's Day: from abortion rights to feminist strikes
To mark International Working Women's Day - 8th March - we publish a talk from the 2018 Revolution Festival, where Ellen Morton and Fiona Lali of the Marxist Student Federation discuss the modern struggles taking place internationally against women's oppression.
Ellen introduces the discussion by outlining how the crisis of capitalism has impacted upon working class women, who are doubly affected by austerity and the cuts to public services.
On the other side, as Ellen highlights, there has been
Marxism and Morality
Speaking at the 2018 Revolution Festival, Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick of Socialist Appeal provides a Marxist analysis of what role morality plays within class society, and how revolutionaries should derive their ethical framework and decisions.
Many critics of Marxism attempt to paint it as being a cold and inhumane philosophy, far more concerned with economics than ethics.
But, in fact, Marxism has much to offer on the question of morality - not least to point out the outrageous hypocrisy of the
Brexit, Corbyn, and Crisis
In this video from the recent national conference of the Marxist Student Federation, Ian Hodson (president of the bakers' union) and Rob Sewell (editor of Socialist Appeal) discuss the turbulent political situation in Britain and the misery facing workers under capitalism.
Ian Hodson highlights the devastating impact of Tory austerity on working class communities, and emphasises how Brexit has divided workers and acted as a distraction from the cuts.
Ian also notes the enthusiasm that Corbyn and
Oliver Cromwell and the English Revolution
In this video from the 2018 Revolution Festival, Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the events of the English Civil War - England's revolution.
The civil war in the 17th century saw the forces of Parliament battling against the monarchy of Charles I, fighting for power over England.
In essence, this was a revolutionary struggle for domination by the rising bourgeois class of merchants and bankers - an attempt to usurp the old feudal institutions of the monarchy.
Pivotal to th
Freedom and slavery: the birth of capitalism
In this talk from the 2018 Revolution Festival, Josh Holroyd discusses the origins of the capitalist system, the violent and contradictory revolution it carried out across the world, and the implications these hold for the fight against capitalism today.
As Josh explains, the society in which we live is often presented as something eternal; a natural expression of human nature and common sense. But the reality could not be further from the truth.
Capitalism - a system based on competition and pr
Hands off Venezuela! Oppose the imperialist coup!
Jorge Martin of the Hands Off Venezuela campaign discusses the ongoing attempted coup, which is being aggressively pushed by US imperialism.
Washington has stepped up it's efforts this week to oust the democratically elected government of Venezuela. They are now going for broke in an attempt to remove President Maduro.
As Jorge explains, whatever one's views of the Maduro government, this is an illegitimate and undemocratic attempt at regime change by Trump and his reactionary allies.
It is ther
The revolutionary ideas of Rosa Luxemburg
On 15th January 1919, Rosa Luxemburg - one of the main leaders of the German Revolution - was brutally murdered by reactionary state forces, depriving the working class of one of its greatest fighters.
To commemorate Luxemburg's life, we republish here a video from an IMT school in London in 2014, where Marie Frederiksen (editor of the Danish Marxist newspaper Revolution) discusses the real revolutionary history, ideas, and traditions of Rosa Luxemburg, drawing out the valuable lessons we can le
Dialectics: from Hegel to Marx
In this talk from the 2018 Revolution Festival, Hamid Alizadeh (editor of www.marxist.com) looks at the ideas of Georg Hegel, the German thinker who resurrected the philosophy of dialectics.
Dialectics, as Hamid outlines, is a philosophy that explains change, motion, and development. In this respect, Hegel's ideas provided a profound leap from the mechanical and rigid outlook of those who preceded him.
Hegel's dialectics were the basis for the revolutionary philosophy of Marxism - dialectical ma
Alan Woods: Macron - stripped of his liberal halo
Alan Woods, editor of In Defence of Marxism, discusses the magnificent gilets jaunes movement in France, which has exploded out of nowhere to land a blow against the ruling class.
Ever since his election as president in May 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been held up as a poster boy for liberalism by the European establishment.
Liberals everywhere proclaimed that Macron's electoral victory represented a turning of the tide for the centre ground against the encroachment of populism and extremism.
But
Alan Woods: Brexit - "Those who the gods wish to destroy, they first make them mad"
Alan Woods, editor of In Defence of Marxism, discusses the historic political crisis taking place in Britain, as the Tory Prime Minister's fate hangs in the balance.
As Alan notes, the UK was once considered one of the most stable countries in the world. But now it is a source of enormous instability for world capitalism.
And the crisis is not confined to Britain. May, Macron, and Merkel are all facing huge difficulties at home, as the broken status quo collapses around them. Only the call for a
From barter to Bitcoin: what is money?
Money, the Bible says, is the "root of all evil". Under capitalism, it dominates over us, acting - in the words of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - like a "chain of gold".
But money has evolved and changed throughout history: from the early use of precious metals, to the modern day network of cash, credit, and cryptocurrencies. And the more complex the money system becomes, the more removed and mysterious it seems.
In this talk, Adam Booth - author of Understanding Marx's Capital - discuss
Permanent revolution in Latin America
In this talk from the recent Revolution Festival, Jorge Martin discusses a new book co-authored by himself and John Roberts, which explores the application of Leon Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution to the experiences of Latin America.
Trotsky's theory explained how the capitalists in the colonial countries could not play a progressive role, but would instead be a barrier in the fight for agrarian reform, parliamentary democracy, and national independence.
In their new book, John Roberts (
The Suffragettes and the fight for equality: a century of struggle
In February 1918, the UK Representation of the People Act was brought in, giving the right to vote to women with property over the age of 30.
In November of the same year, women in the UK were allowed to stand for parliament for the first time. In December, women voted for the first time in a British general election.
Ten years later, women gained electoral equality with men, as the franchise was extended to all women over the age of 21.
These achievements came on the back of a militant struggle
How did Bolsonaro win the Brazilian elections?
Jorge Martin, editor of América Socialista and writer for In Defence of Marxism, discusses the results of Sunday's presidential elections in Brazil, where the far-right candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, won with 55% of the vote.
As Jorge explains, Bolsonaro is an extremely reactionary politician, who will go on the offensive against the working class and the oppressed. But his election does not represent a rise of fascism in Brazil. Rather, it reflects the hatred towards the establishment and the broke
Alan Woods: Saudi monsters and their imperialist friends
Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the barbaric crimes of the monstrous Saudi regime in the wake of their recent murder of a critical journalist.
This rotten regime is responsible for exporting wars, oppression, exploitation, and terrorism across the world. In Yemen, for example, they are carrying out daily atrocities, bombing and starving the population into submission - all with the help of the British and American governments.
The labour movement must expose the brutal a
Catalonia: a year of turbulence and struggle
In a special podcast episode of IMTV, Arturo Rodriguez - activist from Lucha de Clases and editor of the Catalan paper Revolucio - discusses the dramatic events that have taken place in Catalonia and the rest of Spain over the past 12 months.
The movement for independence has erupted onto the scene in Catalonia, but has been temporarily been beaten back as a result of political repression and a lack of revolutionary leadership.
Nevertheless, the mood across Spain is now one of polarisation and r
What the Trump is going on in the USA?
In this special podcast episode of IMTV, we interview Antonio Balmer and Tom Trottier of Socialist Revolution, the US section of the International Marxist Tendency.
Antonio and Tom explain the factors that have led to the election of Donald Trump in the USA, as well as describing the explosive political situation in Washington that now exists as a result.
Above all, the American comrades discuss how to fight Trump: not through the Democrats, but through the creation of a mass socialist party, ca
IMTV #6: From abortion rights to feminist strikes
In the latest episode of IMTV radio, activists from Socialist Appeal discusses the fight for women's liberation: from the struggles of the Suffragettes 100 years ago, to the #MeToo movement today.
The last year has seen a massive explosion of struggle for women's rights. The Harvey Weinstein case cast a light on the issue of sexual harassment and exploitation in the workplace. The landslide vote to repeal the 8th Amendment in Ireland struck an enormous blow against the conservative bastion of th
IMTV #5: Students and workers - unite and fight
In the latest episode of IMTV - the International Marxist Television channel, hosted by Socialist Appeal - our guests looks back over a busy year for activists on UK campuses.
Earlier this year we saw the largest ever strike by academic staff in the UCU, who took action over cuts to pensions. Their struggle was widely supported by students, who came out in large numbers on picket lines and protests across the country.
But despite this wave of militancy, the UCU strike ended up with a negotiated
IMTV #4: Grenfell, one year on - still no justice
On 14th June 2017, disaster struck as the Grenfell tower in west London was engulfed in flames. 72 people died in the fire, according to official reports. But the real number could be even higher.
One year on, and the inquiry into the Grenfell fire is underway. Revelations are coming to light indicating that a whole range of guilty figures are complicit in this murder: from the Tory council and Tenant Management Organisation, to the cladding manufacturer and architects.
In this latest episode of
IMTV #3: Israel and Palestine - a Marxist perspective
In the third episode of IMTV - the International Marxist Television channel, hosted by Socialist Appeal - Francesco Merli provides a Marxist analysis of the situation in Israel and Palestine.
On 14th May 1948, the state of Israel was officially founded. It was accompanied by a mass, forceful eviction of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who were forced to flee from their own lands. This exodus is known amongst Palestinians as the "Nakba"
70 years later, large demonstrations have taken place
IMTV #2: Venezuela - between imperialist aggression and economic crisis
In the second episode of IMTV, Jorge Martin of the Hands Off Venezuela campaign joins host Josh Holroyd to discuss the political situation, ahead of presidential elections on 20th May.
As Jorge explains, Venezuela is being bombarded from all sides by imperialist intervention and the impacts of the world crisis of capitalism. But the current leadership of Maduro and co. are not offering a way forward.
The Bolivarian revolution needs a new leadership, forged from the mass movement of workers and p
Alan Woods: Iran deal collapse - Trump lights a fuse in the Middle East
Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and reintroduce sanctions.
In taking this step, the US President is throwing a lit match onto an already highly-flammable situation.
In the process, Trump has stomped on the interests of the Europeans and instead allied himself to the most reactionary regimes in the region: Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Far from bringing stability or security to the people of Iran and the wider Middle East
Alan Woods: Oh! What a Lovely Peace
Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the North Korean peace talks, which US President Donald Trump has been quick to claim credit for.
A year ago, the media was alight with hysterical warnings about the imminent threat of a Third World War, involving mutually assured nuclear destruction.
Now, suddenly, it seems as though an unfathomable peace is on the cards, with North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong-Un, going on a charm offensive with his South Korean counterparts.
What lies
IMTV #1: Marx 200 - Why Marx was right
IMTV is a new audio-video channel, hosted by Socialist Appeal - the British section of the International Marxist Tendency.
Follow IMTV on the Socialist Appeal YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo_Moc4DU_WbHpA3q5SKoSQ
In our debut episode, we celebrate the 200th birthday of the main man himself: Karl Marx.
After a decade of capitalist crisis, it is clear that Marx got it right.
Get your ticket now for our upcoming event, 'Marx in a Day' - Saturday 5th May in UCL, London.
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