Socialist Appeal - Philosophy

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THE CLASSICS OF MARXISM

Four great works in one book

Philosophy

By Alan Woods
Monday, 09 January 2012
The present period is the most stormy and convulsive period in history. Globalization now manifests itself as a global crisis of capitalism. Given the depth of the crisis and the worsening conditions, things are developing very quickly. The stage is set for a general revival of the class struggle, and in fact, this process has already begun.

Remembering Phil Mitchinson

By Socialist Appeal
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Five years ago today comrade Phil Mitchinson passed away tragically at the age of 38. Phil was an outstanding Marxist and a leader of the International Marxist Tendency. He also edited the Socialist Appeal for a period.

Women and the crisis of capitalism: Fighting back on a class basis!

By Dan Cooper
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Russian working class women gained much from the October revolution of 1917 and the subsequent planned economy that was put in place. Later under Stalin many of the gains were destroyed, although as the economy developed the conditions of women also improved. The return of capitalism in Russia dramatically worsened the conditions of women. How does all this compare to the current situation working class women are facing in the UK?

Seventy years after the assassination of Trotsky, yet another attempt

By Ted Sprague - USA
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Seventy years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky bourgeois writers and historians are attempting to bury the man again. They are constantly demonizing him and his ideas. That is because they understand that his ideas are not dead, but very alive and have never been so relevant as they are today, in this period of crisis of capitalism.

Leon Trotsky: seventy years on

By Socialist Appeal
Saturday, 21 August 2010
On August 21, 1940 the great revolutionary fighter, theoretician, and martyr, Leon Trotsky, died of the wounds inflicted in a brutal attack by a Stalinist agent. To mark the 70^th anniversary of his assassination we want to bring to the attention of our readers some of the material we published on the www.marxist.com about the life, work and ideas of Trotsky.

New Ted Grant book Now In Stock

By Steve Jones
Friday, 30 July 2010
We are pleased to inform our readers that "Ted Grant: Writings Volume One 1938-1942" is now in stock and orders are being accepted.

On Authority

By Frederick Engels
Tuesday, 08 June 2010
Anarchism is a confused political creed. In fact some anarchists take pride in the fact that it is difficult to pin their ideas down almost as a point of principle. But their watchword has always been a struggle against ‘authority.’ Some may find this slogan attractive, but Engels’ brilliant essay shows that some class always wields authority in society – the question is which one.

Marx versus Bakunin - Parts Three to Five

By Alan Woods

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Alan Woods concludes his study of the struggle between Marxism and Anarchism as expressed in the conflict between Marx and Bakunin in the First International.

Click here to read part three.

Click here to read part five.

To read part one click here.

To read part two click here.

Marx versus Bakunin - Part Three

By Alan Woods
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
After the defeat of the Paris Commune different ultra-left and opportunist tendencies emerged within the First International, who intrigued against the General Council and attempted to use the name of the International for their own ends. This was finally resolved with the expulsion of these elements with strict powers established for the General Council and clear rules on how the International was to be run.

Marx versus Bakunin - Part Four

By Alan Woods
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
In 1872 in response to the intrigues of Bakunin and his secret society, the Hague conference of the First International adopted a resolution prohibiting any organization with an independent programme to function within the body of the International and proceeded to expel Bakunin and his supporters, putting an end to the internal diatribe and intrigues and establishing the principles upon which the organisation would function.

Marx versus Bakunin - Part Five

By Alan Woods
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
At the Hague congress of the First International Bakunin was finally expelled, provoking the wrath of the anarchists and like-minded people, some of which walked out of the organisation, like the Blanquists. At the same time, the opportunists such as the English trade union leaders lined up with the ultra-left in demanding greater autonomy for the local sections, all of course complaining about the authoritarianism of Marx and the General Council.

Women’s struggle and class struggle

By Marie Frederiksen

Friday, 12 March 2010

To mark the hundreth anniversary of International Women's Day this week, we are publishing an article which forms the centre pages of this month's edition of Socialist Appeal. The author is a contributor to a recent book on women's rights and class struggle published by the Danish Marxists around 'Socialistick Standpunk'.

Marx versus Bakunin - Part Two

By Alan Woods
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
The Paris Commune put to the test the different currents inside the First International. Its subsequent defeat created an atmosphere where all kinds of demoralised elements thrived. Intrigue was on the order of the day. This led to a questioning of centralised leadership, of the very role of the leadership. Marx and Engels answered all this fully.

Marx versus Bakunin - Part One

By Alan Woods
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
It is fashionable to portray Marxism as the source of authoritarianism. This accusation is raised repeatedly by anarchists, reformists and all kinds of opportunists. Bakunin was one of the more famous exponents of such accusations. But the truth is concrete and the historical facts reveal that those same elements who raise a hue and cry about authoritarianism are themselves the worst bureaucrats and authoritarians... where they manage to rule the roost.

Bolshevism and Stalinism

By Rob Sewell
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
The history of the Russian Revolution is intimately associated with the names of Lenin and Trotsky, its two great leaders. They attracted all the praise and they bore all the hatred. The reason for this is not difficult to understand. The October Russian Revolution, led by the Bolshevik Party, was the greatest event in history. For the first time, the workers and peasant took power into their hands, swept aside the landlords and capitalists, and proceeded to organise a democratic workers’ Soviet Republic. The authority of the new Soviet government rested upon a congress of soviets (workers’ committees) elected from factories and barracks.