Socialist Appeal

Theory

By Socialist Appeal

Wednesday, 03 September 2008

What is Capitalism? What is Socialism?

Listen to Alan Woods speak at a recent meeting of the Socialist Appeal. "...what capitalism shows us is the enormous potential that exists in our hands. In the first decade of the 21st century you can say for the first time in history all the fundamental problems that we face can be solved now, today. For example for the first time in history it is possible to say their is no need for anyone to starve in this world. There is plenty of possibility to produce food for everybody. As a matter of fact if you check the records for the last 30 or 40 years in Europe and the United States they have been destroying food in huge quantities in order to keep the prices artificially high for the capitalist farmers."

Listen to part 1 and part 2

To download the audio file click with your right mouse button and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As".

Oliver Cromwell and the English Revolution

By Rob Sewell
Wednesday, 03 September 2008
Today marks 350 years since the death of Oliver Cromwell, the outstanding leader of the English bourgeois revolution of the 1640s. Without him, with his steadfast courage and determination, the Revolution would have been betrayed by the big bourgeoisie who continually sought an accommodation with the Crown. It is no accident that Cromwell has been described as the Lenin of the English bourgeois revolution.

The History of British Trotskyism to 1949 - part 2

By Martin Richard Upham in 1980
Wednesday, 03 September 2008
This week we publish in 3 parts a history of British Trotskyism by Martin Upham. This was a PhD thesis on the subject, and while we would not agree with all the points raised in it, we believe it deserves a wider audience, particularly for those interested in the history of our movement. For a more in-depth study of the subject readers are urged to consult Ted Grant's book on the the History of British Trotskyism.

I Stake My Life!

By Leon Trosky in 1937
Wednesday, 03 September 2008
Last month was the 68th anniversary of the brutal assassination of Leon Trotsky by a Stalinist agent. We commemorate this event by publishing the transcription of his address to the N.Y. Hippodrome Meeting. The speech "I Stake My Life!" was delivered by telephone from Mexico City for the opening event of the Dewey Commission on the Moscow Trials.

The History of British Trotskyism to 1949 - part 1

By by Martin Richard Upham in 1980
Monday, 01 September 2008
Today we publish in 3 parts a history of British Trotskyism by Martin Upham. This was a PhD thesis on the subject, and while we would not agree with all the points raised in it, we believe it deserves a wider audience, particularly for those interested in the history of our movement. For a more in-depth study of the subject readers are urged to consult Ted Grant's book on the the History of British Trotskyism.

Socialist Appeal 165 is out now!

By Socialist Appeal
Monday, 01 September 2008
Socialist Appeal 165 is out now!

Audio File: Marxism and Art

By Alan Woods
Friday, 29 August 2008
In May this year Alan Woods of the IMT spoke to a meeting of the Socialist Appeal in London on the question of Marxism and Art. Why should socialists be interested in culture in general? At first sight these things might appear secondary with millions of people around the world living in miserable conditions under capitalism. But If you can imagine a world without art, without music, without colour, rythmn and harmony - then you can imagine that life would be near intolerable, when the lives of workers are hard enough as it is. Alan also traces the development of art and class society from the origins of human society, where art, science and religion were all one, and prized much more than they are today.

Labour's crisis – time to act

By Socialist Appeal
Thursday, 28 August 2008
As we have explained over the past year or so, the effects of the financial crash and its political consequences have represented a flash flood in British Politics. After many years of apparent stability we have entered a period of sharp turns and sudden changes as the deep underlying problems and contradictions in British society have broken through the surface of events.

The Colonial Revolution and the Sino-Soviet Dispute

By Ted Grant, 1964
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
The initial trigger for the writing of this document was the Sino-Soviet split, its importance for the world Communist movement at the time, and its significance for the forces of genuine Marxism, the Trotskyists. In the first place Ted declares that the split confirms Trotsky’s brilliant prediction, “That the theory of ‘socialism in one country’ would lead inevitably to the degeneration on nationalist lines of the parties of the Communist International.”