The past year has undoubtedly been the most successful yet for the Marxists in Britain. The potential, however, is far greater, but we do not have the resources required to be able to adequately follow up all the opportunities present. Please donate at this festive and revolutionary time of year to help spread the ideas of Marxism!
The past year has undoubtedly been the most successful yet for the Marxists in Britain. Whilst concerns for the ruling class – in Britain and internationally – are growing, with even David Cameron openly talking of “red warning lights flashing” over the global economy, the Marxists are full of optimism about the huge events and revolutionary potential that lies ahead.
Without doubt, we live in the most turbulent period that humanity has ever seen – a period of sharp turns and sudden changes with instability at every level: economically, politically, and socially. We should – and do – feel extremely privileged to be living through such times, experiencing these international revolutionary events first hand as they unfold; and most importantly, having the opportunity – with our ideas and activity – to have an impact on events themselves and be a factor in the situation. As the great English poet William Wordsworth aptly stated in relation to the French Revolution of 1789: “Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive; but to be young was very heaven!”
This general instability is reflected in Britain in the crisis of the Establishment, which lurches from one scandal to another, and the collapse in support for the parties of the political centre-ground. In Scotland, the independence referendum was an enormous blow against the ruling class; thousands of workers and youth have been radicalised in the process and drawn into political activity for the first time.
There is a questioning in society that was not there before. The rising attention on popular figures such as Russell Brand, who openly rallies against the rich and talks about the need for revolution, demonstrate the enormously radicalisation that exists, particularly amongst young people, many of whom have no conscious memory other than the experience of capitalist crisis.
As splits emerge in the ruling class, the Marxists have made enormous gains in the recent period thanks to our clear ideas and bold approach. The use of the Marxist societies and the banner of the Marxist Student Federation have allowed us to connect directly with the revolutionary mood amongst the youth, resulting in a steadily increasing influence over the past year. This was demonstrated in our most successful intervention ever in the university freshers’ fairs, where over 3000 people signed up across the country, with around 600 people attending meetings in total during the first few weeks of term alone.
Elsewhere, we helped organise an impressive bloc of over 70 students on the Marxist Student Federation bloc at the TUC demo in October, and around 200 people were present at our most recent International Marxist School – our biggest and best educational event ever. Meanwhile, it is through the Marxist societies that we have been able to help run important international campaigns, such as the Solidarity with the Anti-Fascist Resistance in the Ukraine campaign and the recent Mexico student solidarity campaign.
The Marxists in Britain now have a presence on almost 30 university campuses across the country, and have established ourselves as a truly national presence, with new Marxists societies in Manchester, Oxford, Swansea, and Canterbury. However, our potential for growth is far higher, but we do not have the resources required to be able to adequately follow up all the opportunities present. The need for more full-time staff – to help organise campaigns, speak at public meetings, and continue writing high quality analysis for the paper and website – has never been greater.
Already this year we have managed to raised £18,000 towards the 2014 Fortnightly Fighting Fund target of £25,000, which we need in order to take on the personnel needed to move to a fortnightly paper in 2015. This includes excellent collections of over £9,000 at our national conference and £8,000 at our World Congress, demonstrating the tremendous revolutionary sacrifice that our supporters are willing to make.
We are therefore now appealing to our readers to help us raise £7,000 at this festive time of year to help us meet our 2014 fighting fund target and take this important step forward for the work of the Marxists in Britain. Please donate generously today, and help us meet the target by raising money locally and approaching those sympathetic to our revolutionary cause.
Donations can be made online via PayPal, or by sending a cheque (made payable to “Socialist Appeal”) to PO Box 50525, Poplar, London, E14 6WG.
Thank you in advance for your kind donation. Have a Merry MarXmas and a Revolutionary New Year!
