2012
29 December 2012 · · 19 comments
A Respect revival in East London?
It is a brave political gesture for a British political party to organise a public meeting in the ‘twilight zone’ that takes place between the Christmas and New Year public holidays writes H…
23 December 2012 · · 10 comments
A comment on the SWP's conference resolutions
The bulletins for the SWP's conference, to be held on 4 -6 of January 2013, have just appeared on-line. Although there are no big surprises there are a number of things worthy of comment, ev…
23 December 2012 · · 1 comment
Birmingham - Communities Against The Cuts
Based primarily in South West Birmingham, Communities Against the Cuts has stabilised itself as a small but very dynamic left of Labour/anti-austerity party and has begun to draw around it a…
18 December 2012
More protests needed to defend Russian activists
One month ago, we, representatives of the Russian radical left, turned to you with a call for solidarity. We asked you, our comrades and fellow thinkers, all who treasure freedom and the jus…
17 December 2012 ·
Oxford Women’s Conference – Resist and Survive
Liz Peretz reports on an inspiring day: Around 60 women attended a day conference in Oxford in November. There were contributions from Occupy ( a young woman who took part in the Brookes Uni…
16 December 2012 · 5 comments
Neoliberalism at Manchester Metropolitan University, and an alternative
We have been sent this report by an activist who wishes to be known only as TP. The reasons for this are apparent from what follows. A significant victory has been won by a campaign against …
14 December 2012
Emergency anti-fracking demonstration
This Energy Bill will cost the Earth! Wednesday 19th December 2012 5.30pm-7pm Parliament Square The Government is trying to sneak its disastrous Energy Bill through Parliament before Christm…
9 December 2012 · 2 comments
Belfast Flag riots - Unionists unite to reject conciliation for sectarian dominance
John McAnulty is a former Belfast city councillor. During a debate in the council chamber he referred to the British flag as "the butcher's apron", a reference to that state's murderous impe…
8 December 2012
SYRIZA - You're never ready to fall in love or have a revolution
The London branch of SYRIZA hosted a public meeting with the theme Shock Therapy and Popular Uprising: Greece at the Crossroads on December 7th. We are pleased to be able to make available t…
3 December 2012 · 2 comments
New Socialist Resistance out shortly
The December / January issue of Socialist Resistance is out next week. It has a strong feminist content with articles on abortion in Ireland and Britain; the women's movement in Turkey and t…
1 December 2012
The energy bill will cost the earth
Callout for an emergency demonstration WE DEMAND A BILL FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET, NOT FOR POLLUTING PROFITEERS We are groups and individuals who have come together to fix the deeply flawed …
30 November 2012 · 2 comments
London protest calls for release of Russian political prisoners
A lively protest was held at the Russian embassy in London last night (Thursday) to demand the release of democratic and left activists currently in Russian gaols, and an end to state repres…
28 November 2012 · 1 comment
Masha moved to solitary – while Putin tightens treason laws
Jailed members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were moved to prison camps in late October. Masha to the Berezniki penal colony near the city of Pe…
28 November 2012 · 1 comment
Greece at the Crossroads - Syriza meeting in London
Shock Therapy and Popular Uprising: Greece at the Crossroads Organised by the Syriza London branch: 7th December 2012 19.00 - 21.00 Location: ULU, Malet Suite 7,Malet St, London WC1E 7HY (£5…
25 November 2012 ·
No Reduction in Abortion Time Limits
Women have always tried to control their fertility by whatever means possible including illegal, often dangerous terminations writes Jane Kelly . Mike Leigh’s film Vera Drake showed what thi…
25 November 2012
Coalition of Resistance AGM - register now
We face the biggest attack in a generation on the jobs, public services, the NHS, education, benefits, pensions, trade union and employment rights. The corporations, banks and super rich who…
23 November 2012 ·
Arrest Israeli War Criminals!
Despite all of the convoluted arguments from Israel’s propagandists, the truth about Israel’s onslaught on Gaza is patently clear to everyone ? yet another murderous attack on civilians livi…
22 November 2012 · 2 comments
Protest at Russian embassy - defend democracy activists
Free the Russian democracy activists! Free all members of Pussy Riot! End the Repression! London Protest: Thursday 29 November, 6pm , opposite Russian Embassy, north side of Bayswater Road, …
19 November 2012
Protest for Palestine
Monday 19th November Sheffield- 4.45pm- Shoreham Street- Protest against the BBC London-6.30pm- Sadler's Wells- Protest against Batsheva London- 5pm- London School of Economics Campus- http:…
19 November 2012
A militant's life: Hugh Lowe in his own words
Interviewed by Martin Eady on 9 th and 11 th August 2012 Early years. I happened to have been born on the 24 th May 1922 which is actually quite significant for my life because 24 th May, as…
18 November 2012 · 2 comments
"We Teach Life, Sir!"
Rafeef Ziadah wrote this poem as a response to an earlier attack on Gaza. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=g8WwB9tvBWM Today, my body was a TV'd massacre. Today, my bod…
18 November 2012
The New European Left
This is an edited version of the speech given by Kate Hudson at a recent meeting on New Left Parties organised by Socialist Resistance. You can watch the video here . What we are addressing …
16 November 2012 ·
Europe's workers angry, undaunted and resisting
Millions of workers took strike action across Europe on Wednesday 14 November following a call from the ETUC to protest at austerity writes Fred Leplat. The call for a European-wide day of p…
16 November 2012
Denmark’s Red Green Alliance – a successful new party of the left?
Michael Voss, a member of the Red Green Alliance in Denmark, spoke about the experience of the RGA at a seminar organised by London Socialist Resistance a few weeks ago. This is an edited su…
15 November 2012 · · 16 comments
How federalism failed the Irish left
The United Left Alliance (ULA) was launched in Dublin in late November 2010 to contest the southern Irish general election a few weeks later. Liam Mac Uaid explains why it is falling apart a…
15 November 2012 ·
China: An “anti-imperialist” Imperialism?
Whether it happens a few years or a few decades from now it is more or less inevitable that China will replace the United States as the world’s largest capitalist economy writes Patrick Scot…
14 November 2012 · 1 comment
Ireland: Savita Halappanavar killed by church state links
This article first appeared on the Irish site Sráid Marx Savita Halappanavar, who was 17 weeks pregnant, arrived with back pain at University Hospital Galway on October 21st but was found to…
13 November 2012 ·
When Palestinians were made to pay for European antisemitism
The 95th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration has led to a number of statements and press articles pointing out the arrogance and hypocrisy of Britain giving away land which it didn’t own …
12 November 2012
China's Rise: book your place now!
China’s rise – Strength and Fragility is the first book being jointly published by Resistance Books, the IIRE and Merlin Press. Author Au Loong Yu will be visiting Britain from 12 to 22 Nove…
12 November 2012 ·
The women's movement in Turkey fights back
Feminism, as a modern social movement, is not a new political phenomenon for in Turkey writes Ecehan Balta . At the end of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century women began organising thems…
11 November 2012 · 2 comments
Russian socialists appeal for solidarity
An appeal from the Russian Socialist Movement (RSD), Autonomous Action, Left Front Today we, the representatives of Russian leftist organisations, turn to our comrades all over the world wit…
11 November 2012 · · 2 comments
Education, neoliberalism and class struggle
In this interview with the Turkish radical paper soL (Left) Dave Hill explains how neoliberalism is impacting on education in the British state and surveys the European political situation D…
10 November 2012
Support the European day of action November 14th
On 14 November the European Trades Union Confederation has called a day of action against austerity across Europe. There will be general strikes in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, an…
10 November 2012 · 2 comments
The Potential of November 14th
Events themselves are driving us towards greater European cooperation. In the context of the social, economic and political catastrophe that is facing much of Europe, this increasing coopera…
9 November 2012
Shame and resistance in Athens
Syriza's statement on the Troika-imposed Memorandum 3 which was approved in Athens on Wednesday 7 Nov 2012. “After a completely anti-constitutional ‘express process’ that lasted for less tha…
9 November 2012
Some lessons of the Hillsborough scandal
Max Ashley-Cooper reflects on the experience of the Hillsborough cover up. Football: the window to the reality of the British establishment of state-media collusion, police corruption, and c…
7 November 2012 ·
How did China rise?
Over the last 30 years, China has moved from being a poor developing country to one with the status of a global power, progressively contesting US hegemony. With 1.3 billion inhabitants, a f…
7 November 2012 · 2 comments
China: bureaucratic capitalist?
Terry Conway interviewed Au Loong Yu, the author of the forthcoming book China’s Rise Strength and Fragility (Resistance Books, IIRE, Merlin Press) TC: Can you explain why you have developed…
6 November 2012
A woman’s place is in her union
When Frances O’Grady takes over as TUC General Secretary in January it will be the first time in its 144 year history that the TUC is led by a woman. Clare Murphy looks at some of the issues…
6 November 2012 · · 1 comment
Healthcare: private feast, public famine
The impact of the Health & Social Care Act on the NHS is neatly summed up by the event on November 29 organised by Healthinvestor magazine, at which you can book seats at £330 per head to ta…
3 November 2012
Protest against outsourcing at the British Museum
Over 40 PCS and Unite members working in cleaning and maintenance demonstrated outside the British Museum gates last Monday morning. They were striking against the strong threat of their wor…
1 November 2012 ·
The great wedding trick
Marriage is making a comeback writes Kathy Lowe . Although more people are bringing up children on their own, living alone or co-habiting than ever before, a huge ideological offensive is un…
30 October 2012 ·
New pension scheme fleeces poorest
The top-up pension scheme rather than a revolution in pension provision claimed by the government appears as more a case of talking about pension provision rather than actual pension provisi…
28 October 2012 · · 7 comments
History and the betrayal of radicalism
Eric Hobsbawm, the world’s best known Marxist historian has died at the age of 96. He notoriously stayed loyal to the Communist Party after the 1956 Hungarian revolution, that saw many of hi…
26 October 2012 · 1 comment
China’s rise: tour details
Book launch and tour with author Au Loong Yu, 12 – 22 November 2012 China’s rise – Strength and Fragility is the first book being jointly published by Resistance Books, the IIRE and Merlin P…
24 October 2012
South African socialist paper–free download
Phakamani! Opstaan! is the newspaper of the Democratic Left Front, an organisation in South Africa. This 6th issue of the newspaper provides brief analysis and an interview from the recent w…
23 October 2012
Women in Israel: Race Gender and Citizenship
Rayah Feldman reviews Nahla Abdo’s book (Zed Books, £18.99) Women in Israel contains of plethora of facts which demonstrate the high levels of inequality between Palestinians and Jews, and p…
23 October 2012 · 1 comment
Europe against Austerity
Kate Hudson reports on the successful conference on Oct 21 and the next steps for the movement Over a hundred delegates packed into the Coalition of Resistance’s conference at the Unite the …
21 October 2012 · 4 comments
Smaller demonstration but more militant rhetoric
By normal measures a demonstration of 100 000 people in London is massive. The TUC, which organised October 20th's March For A Future That Works, the police and participants seemed to agree …
18 October 2012 ·
Pussy Riot - Katia freed
Geoff Ryan examines the latest developments - and the double standards of Roman Abramovitch.. . Yekaterina Samutsevich, one of the three jailed members of feminist punk collective Pussy Riot…
18 October 2012 · 7 comments
People's Petition Against Austerity
In a letter to today's Guardian, Coalition of Resistance has launched a People's Petition Against Austerity. It will be handed into Downing Street in June 2013 when we will be hosting a Peop…
18 October 2012
Support the climate bloc on O20
A host of organisations are organising a climate bloc on October 20's anti-austerity demonstration see http://climatebloc.wordpress.com/ Assembling under the slogans For a Future That Doesn’…
16 October 2012
Irish socialist paper available for download
Socialist Democracy, the organisation in Ireland which supports the Fourth International, has made its bulletin available for download here . It has coverage of South Africa, the United Left…
16 October 2012 · · 3 comments
Vanguard and self-organisation
Roy Wilkes reviews The Contradictions of “Real Socialism” The Conductor and the Conducted by Michael A. Lebowitz Paperback, 222 pages ISBN-13: 978-1-58367-256-3 If you don’t know where you w…
15 October 2012
Strike against austerity - SR leaflet for download
image no longer in the archive On Saturday tens of thousands of people will march through London in the TUC's "For A Future That Works" demonstration. As we say in the leaflet Socialist Resi…
11 October 2012 · · 3 comments
Latest Step in a Long Road: The Venezuelan Elections
Jeffery R. Webber analyses the Venezuelan election result. That Chávez had to win last Sunday’s elections in order for the Bolivarian process to continue – in whatever form – was recognized …
9 October 2012 · 6 comments
On leaving Respect
image no longer in the archive We are posting this statement by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson as a contribution to the debate on what sort of left party we need to build. Comments are welcom…
3 October 2012 · 1 comment
Defend a woman’s right to choose
Maria Miller, appointed by David Cameron as Women’s Minister in his Cabinet reshuffle, has lived up to the worst fears of feminists by today’s call to reduce the time limit for abortion to 2…
1 October 2012 ·
Free Pussy Riot
Geoff Ryan explains why a punk feminist band needs the support of all those who think another world is both possible and necessary Monday 1 October saw the opening of the appeal against thei…
30 September 2012 · 1 comment
The radicalisations in North Africa - video
Adam Hanieh discusses the political radicalisations in Tunisia and Egypt, looking in particular at the attacks on women and the working class by new governments committed to ne0-liberalism. …
30 September 2012 · · 4 comments
Why we need broad parties of the left - video
Alan Thornett explains why Socialist Resistance is committed to helping create a left challenge to Labourism in Britain and argues that organisations like SYRIZA are going to be crucial to r…
30 September 2012
Denmark's Red Green Alliance - video
Denmark's Red Green Alliance has a membership nearing nine thousand in a country with a population of around five and million, making it a real mass party. It also has several members in the…
30 September 2012
The rise of SYRIZA - video
As the social tensions in Greece continue to intensify there is a real possibility that SYRIZA may form the next government in that country. Stathis Kouvelakis, speaking at the Socialist Res…
29 September 2012 · 7 comments
Kate Hudson on new left parties video
Kate Hudson of Respect spoke at Socialist Resistance's seminar on new left parties. Click on the photo to see the video of her contribution. image no longer in the archive
28 September 2012
Disability and Austerity: The Politics of Blame
London Socialist Resistance Meeting Wednesday 3 October, 7.30pm ULU, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY Speakers: Joseph Healy, disability rights campaigner, Susan Pashkoff, socialist economist George B…
24 September 2012 · 12 comments
TUSC conference report
image no longer in the archive Last Saturday's (September 22nd) conference of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) was attended by about a hundred people, about seventy of whom …
20 September 2012
London Met – Defend Our Students – London Demonstration Friday 28/9
London Met UCU, London Met Unison, and London Met SU have called a London-wide mobilisation and march from ULU (Malet Street) to the Home Office (Marsham Street, Victoria) for Friday 28th Se…
19 September 2012 · 1 comment
New parties of the left: event schedule
A day of debate organised by London Socialist Resistance Saturday 29 September, 10:30am – 5pm With Stathis Kouvelakis (Syriza), Kate Hudson (Respect), Adam Hanieh (author and activist), Sand…
17 September 2012
Hillsborough - a working class tragedy caused and covered up by a venal ruling class
Andy Richards reflects on the Hillsborough disaster I was driving (don't remember where) when news started filtering through the car radio about what became known as the Hillsborough Disaste…
13 September 2012 · 1 comment
Windy City Fights Back: Live blogging the Chicago Teachers’ Strike
On Monday in Chicago, a new generation of working class activists hit the picket lines in the city's first teacher strike in a quarter century. In contrast to the 1980s (when the CTU struck …
12 September 2012 · · 14 comments
Salma Yaqoob’s dignified exit
Salma Yaqoob’s resignation from Respect can, or so it seems from the outside, only mean the death of the organisation writes Liam Mac Uaid . The announcement on her website says “I feel nece…
12 September 2012
All out against the austerity coalition
The new issue of Socialist Resistance is out this weekend. Alan Thornett’s article surveys the British political situation and emphasises the importance of the TUC’s demonstration on October…
6 September 2012 · · 2 comments
No to ‘Brand Israel’ Pinkwashing
Terry Conway explains how pinkwashing fits into the strategy of the Israeli state: Pinkwashing is a strategic campaign by the Israeli state to rebrand itself as a “safe haven” of tolerance f…
6 September 2012 · 7 comments
New Parties of the Left in the Age of Austerity
organised by London Socialist Resistance Saturday 29 September 10:30am - 5pm ULU, Malet Street, WC1 £10 and £5(students and unwaged} With Stathis Kouvelakis (Syriza), Kate Hudson (Respect), …
4 September 2012 · · 6 comments
Psychology and Marxism in Mexico
Ian Parker reports from a very unusual conference: Marx famously argued (against the view that ‘religious essence’ could be resolved into and thereby explained by ‘human essence’) that the h…
29 August 2012 · 1 comment
From the archive: South Africa - an unfinished revolution by Neville Alexander
The following address - the fourth Strini Moodley Annual Memorial Lecture, held at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on May 13, 2010 – was delivered by renowned South African revolutionary soc…
29 August 2012
Obituary: Neville Alexander (22 October 1936 – 27 August 2012)
Norman Traub reflects on the life of the South African revolutionary who has died: Neville Alexander, the South African revolutionary, educationist and acclaimed linguist, died in Cape Town,…
26 August 2012 · · 1 comment
Shadow Dancer: A review
By the early 1990s it was apparent that the IRA had been militarily defeated by the British. The fantasy that an organisation of a few hundred active members could beat a professional army o…
23 August 2012 · 2 comments
Syriza - reality is forcing us to forget the old ways of working
Alexis Benos is a Professor in Public Health at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University, and was an electoral candidate for the left wing coalition Syriza in Thessaloniki. Alexis is a member of …
22 August 2012 · 18 comments
George Galloway wrong
Susan Pashkoff and Terry Conway respond to George Galloway's video: This video from George Galloway – which appeared on The Guardian website – is extremely offensive and misogynist. Galloway…
20 August 2012 · 2 comments
Reflections on the Olympics
Tony Traub offers his personal view. The Olympics have been like heaven to a devoted sports fan like me. Wall to wall coverage of both mainstream and obscure sports has made compelling viewi…
19 August 2012 · 1 comment
Condemn the Marikana massacre! Defend trade unionism and democratic rights!
image no longer in the archive This article by Phil Hearse first appeared on his site Crisis and Revolt . At least 34 striking miners were shot dead by police yesterday at the Marikana plati…
19 August 2012 ·
Libya after the Elections
Ten months after the overthrow of the old Gaddafi regime the Libyan people participated in their first bona fide national election in almost half a century on the 7 th of July writes Patrick…
18 August 2012 · · 1 comment
The Iranian Revolution – Socialism and Theocracy
Part of the forgotten story of the Middle East is that in the 1970s a working class revolution in Iran overthrew the old regime and there were a number of secular, socialist organisations co…
14 August 2012 ·
Frying in their Own Oil: Capital, Nature and Mindanao
Jack Whitman reports from the Philippines . The Filipinos have a saying, “gimsa sa sariling mantika” – frying in your own oil. They use this phrase to describe how their natural resources ar…
13 August 2012 · 3 comments
Prolonged crisis – no way out?
Leading members of the European sections of the Fourth International met recently to discuss the economic crisis and its political ramifications in Europe. . KLAUS ENGERT gave this introduct…
12 August 2012
UNITE tamed by Jaguar
We have been sent this report from an activist in Birmingham. Earlier this year a Jaguar management proposal, born of secret negotiations between themselves & the full time officers of UNITE…
12 August 2012 · · 3 comments
Egypt: The Revolution Continues
Eighteen months after mass protests and strikes ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak from power, the basic aspirations that drove Egypt’s uprising remain largely unfulfilled writes Adam Hanieh . Th…
11 August 2012 · 8 comments
The corruption of the ANC
Bobby Wilcox, a South African socialist who spent seven years in Robben Island under the apartheid regime, explains how the African National Congress has become notorious for its culture of …
8 August 2012
Munch he's a bit alienated, isn't he?
Edvard Munch – The Modern Eye Exhibition at Tate Modern, London, until 14 October. Reviewed by Adam Whitford A: So why are we at this exhibition? B: I was asked to review it for SR and I’ve …
3 August 2012 · · 2 comments
Pussy Riot - Rock and Roll Heroines
Over the last few years the entertainment industry in Britain has cheerfully allowed itself to be conscripted by the Ministry of Defence writes Liam Mac Uaid . Its TV and music sectors have …
1 August 2012 · 3 comments
Scotland – in search of social justice
The now unfolding debate on independence in the run up to the referendum in late 2014 provides for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put the case for a socially just Scotland. So long as t…
30 July 2012 · 1 comment
Occupations, insurgencies and human nature: Paul Mason and/or Karl Marx
Paul Le Blanc reviews Paul Mason's Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere Paul Mason is one of the best journalists covering the global economy today. His book Live Working, Die Fighting: How the W…
26 July 2012
2nd Wigan Diggers Festival
image no longer in the archive
24 July 2012
Ukraine: The Labour Movement, the Left and the Economy on the Eve of Elections
Saturday, 27 October, 2012, 11.00 to 5.00 The Institute for Conflict, Security and Development Studies, Richmond University, 17 Young Street, High Street Kensington, London Speakers: Marko B…
23 July 2012 · 6 comments
For a Capitalist United States of Europe
The short article below is a review of Alan Thornett's pamphlet Behind the EU Crisis by Roy Wall. Alan asked me to write this review whilst knowing that I am fundamentally opposed to his bas…
23 July 2012 · 3 comments
Dave Packer: a tribute from Alan Thornett
Socialist Resistance leader Dave Packer (4 August 1945 – 3 July 2012) died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage at the age of sixty five. His funeral took place on Friday 20 July, attended by 100…
20 July 2012 · 7 comments
Respect relaunched
Around seventy people attended the inaugural meeting of London Respect in Conway Hall on July 19th. The meeting was Respect’s first major public event in the city for some time and was prese…
11 July 2012 · 1 comment
Solidarity with John Lewis cleaners’ strike
On Friday 13 th July, the first strike in the history of the John Lewis Partnership will take place at the Oxford Street store - the cleaners who are members of the independent union Industr…
9 July 2012 · 31 comments
Dave Packer – a personal tribute
Socialist Resistance leader Dave Packer (4 August 1945 - 3 July 2012) died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage at the age of sixty five. His funeral will take place on Friday 20 July at Honor Oa…
5 July 2012 · 10 comments
Dave Packer: an unexpected, tragic death
Socialist Resistance announces the sad and shocking news that leading member Dave Packer died suddenly on July 3 His partner Jane Kelly found him after he failed to get up as expected. Dave …
3 July 2012
Behind the EU crisis:
Behind the EU Crisis is a new pamphlet from Socialist Resistance (£1.50, 40 pages). You can read it here: [issuu width=420 height=298 backgroundColor=%23222222 documentId=120703135154-cf6518…
28 June 2012 · 1 comment
Handshake for sectarianism
This article is taken from a new Irish Marxist blog Sráid Marx The handshake between the British Queen and Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness is something significant even though most people…
28 June 2012
Focus on Fukushima
Sarah Parker and Terry Conway Kenzamuro Oe, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1994, spoke on June 6 at a demonstration of 3,000 people opposing the restart of the Oi nuclear reactor …
27 June 2012
At Rio+20: Values versus prices
by Patrick Bond Director the University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Civil Society [RIO DE JANEIRO, JUNE 18, 2012] – Given the worsening world economic crisis, the turn to ‘Green Economy’ rhe…
26 June 2012 · 1 comment
Paraguay's Parliamentary Coup
This article by Todd Gordon and Jeffery R. Webber was written for the Canadian Socialist Project and published under the title Paraguay's Parliamentary Coup and Ottawa's Imperial Response on…
21 June 2012 · 3 comments
Greek elections: the parties of the thieves are back in office
Socialist Resistance statement The right-wing New Democracy (ND) and its reactionary allies have won the Greek elections by a slim majority. As a result the Greek and European elites have be…
18 June 2012 · 1 comment
Greece - fear triumphs, but hope continues
Josep María Antentas gives a first response to the Greek election results. This article originally appeared on International Viewpoint The troika sighs with relief. There will be a new pro-M…
17 June 2012 · 1 comment
On June 17th we are supporting SYRIZA for the election of a left government
We are preparing for the next day of a harsh class conflict in Greece and in Europe Kokkino The elections of May 6th generated a real political earthquake in Greece, foundering the parties o…
15 June 2012
Teachers must build the resistance and extend the struggle!
Everyone agrees. Education, like all the public sector, is facing an unprecedented attack. The Tory led Coalition Government is seeking to reverse all the gains made by the public education …
14 June 2012 · 3 comments
We want Syriza to win
Dave Packer r eplies to Manos SKOUFOGLOU and ‘Greece: The Pendulum’. Manos SKOUFOGLOU, a supporter of Antarsya, in his article, ‘ Greece: The Pendulum ’ (3 June 2012) provides us with an int…
13 June 2012 · 22 comments
Spectacular stakes in the Greek elections
Alan Thornett considers the situation. It looks increasingly likely that Syriza could produce a spectacular result on Sunday - even more spectacular than on May 6 - and win enough support to…
13 June 2012
Greece - the Euro Zone’s first revolution?
Public Meeting Thursday June 28 @ 7.30pm • Dimitris Tzanakopoulos– SYRIZA, London • Özlem Onaran – Socialist Economist Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 (Bethnal Green tube) Downloa…
7 June 2012 · 2 comments
The people of the world confront the advance of capitalism
Via Campesina considers what Rio +20 and beyond will mean. Governments from all over the world will meet in Río de Janeiro, Brasil from June 20-22 2012, to supposedly commemorate 20 years si…
7 June 2012
Coalition of Resistance Public Meeting June 19 London
The Coalition of Resistance has called a rally to help build the 20 October TUC demonstration against cuts and in defence of the NHS Tuesday 19 June 6:30pm Friends Meeting House, Euston Road…
4 June 2012 ·
A Crucial Summer
The next three months will determine the political and economic shape of not just the Eurozone but that of the capitalist system for the next period writes Fred Leplat . The political and ec…
2 June 2012 · 8 comments
George Galloway wrong on Scottish independence
Liam Mac Uaid takes issue with George Galloway’s rejection of an independent Scotland. British Labourism’s deference to the reactionary trappings of the British state is as old as the moveme…
30 May 2012
Stop the Cuts: Coalition of Resistance public meeting
A major rally to help build for October 20 demonstration Additional speaker Vassilis Fouskas from Syriza
28 May 2012 · 19 comments
Greece – for an anti-austerity government of the left
Syriza’s stunning vote in the recent elections has shaken the Greek and European ruling classes to their foundations. It was a total rejection of the austerity package, on a progressive basi…
26 May 2012 · 2 comments
The future of the workers of Europe is being decided in Greece
Statement of the Fourth International For two years the Greek people have fought against the austerity imposed by the Troika (the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank).…
26 May 2012 · 2 comments
SYRIZA or the breakthrough of a unique unifying and original experience
by Yorgos Mitralias Translated by John Catalinotto A nightmare for "those on top," a hope for "those on the bottom," SYRIZA made a sensational debut on the political landscape of Europe in d…
25 May 2012 · 3 comments
We have to learn from SYRIZA
One big point is missing from a lot of the British left’s commentary on Greece and particularly the role of SYRIZA argues Liam Mac Uaid . It’s the simple, unavoidable fact that the political…
23 May 2012 · 3 comments
Eurozone crisis–the history and socialist solutions
Behind the EU Crisis is a new pamphlet from Socialist Resistance (£1.50, 40 pages) and combines an analysis of the current crisis of the Eurozone, which broke in full force in 2011, with a h…
19 May 2012 · · 1 comment
The Dictator - a faint whiff of Islamophobia
image no longer in the archive There are two mainstream comedies with “dictator” in the title writes Liam Mac Uaid . One of them ends with the main character addressing his cinema audiences …
17 May 2012 · 2 comments
Greece: the exit from the crisis is on the left
Below we publish 10 demands put forward by Syriza as the basis for their campaigning in the run up to the May 6 elections to make these more widely available to an English speaking audience …
17 May 2012 · 1 comment
Greece: SYRIZA, the Communist Party and the desperate need for a united front
This piece by Michael Karadjis was published by Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal on May 16. This article does not aim to give a full account of the current Greek political cr…
16 May 2012 ·
Latest news: towards new elections in Greece!
by Christos Kefalis The last three days of negotiations and conducts under the Greek President Karolos Papoulias, after E. Venizelos of PASOK surrendered his mandate at Saturday 12th, have l…
15 May 2012 ·
Greece: what prospects for a SYRIZA-led left government?
by Christos Kefalis The parliamentary elections of May 6 have produced a sensational result, opening a new chapter in the political history of Greece. It will have important repercussions on…
13 May 2012 · 22 comments
Unite behind Syriza’s anti-austerity programme
Socialist Resistance editorial statement May 13 th 2012. Socialist Resistance strongly welcomes the stunning vote achieved by Syriza in the Greek elections which put it second in the poll on…
12 May 2012 · · 2 comments
Vote ‘yes’ for Scottish independence
Terry Conway explains why the issue of Scottish independence should be of concern to socialists across Britain and what our strategy should be to win a majority yes in the referendum. Alex S…
12 May 2012
Million climate jobs caravan hits the road
On Saturday 12 May the million climate jobs caravan was launched on its journey across Britain from the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and the Westminster Parliament in London. John McDone…
11 May 2012 · 7 comments
Scotland: Why socialists should back independence
A Socialist Resistance Public Meeting Scotland: Why socialists should back independence WEDNESDAY 30 MAY, 7.30pm Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6AQ (Warren Street tube) Speakers: Gregor…
9 May 2012 · 2 comments
SYRIZA lays out five points of Greek coalition talks
Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the runner-up in the May 6 general elections Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), presented the five points along which his discussions with minority party l…
6 May 2012 · 3 comments
Coalition takes election battering
SR editorial statement Labour was clearly the big winner in the local elections last Thursday. Although in London celebrity politics, along with a nasty personalized campaign by the Evening …
30 April 2012 · 6 comments
Gerry Foley: A Life Dedicated to Socialist Revolution
BY JEFF MACKLER Few revolutionaries, past or present, have devoted their entire adult lives to the socialist cause as full-timers . Gerry Foley was one of them. He died unexpectedly on April…
29 April 2012 · · 6 comments
French elections crucial for Europe
The outcome of the presidential elections in France has an important significance for the future direction of the European Union and the resistance against austerity writes Fred Leplat . Fra…
26 April 2012
Free Salameh Kaileh
Omar S. Dahi and Vijay Prashad At 2am on Tuesday April 24, the Palestinian-Syrian intellectual and activist Salameh Kaileh was arrested from his home “without explanation,” as his lawyer Anw…
25 April 2012
Die Linke faces key election challenge
Manuel Kellner reports from Germany on how Die Linke operates in a regional parliament. This article first appeared on International Viewpoint . In May 2010 Die Linke in North Rhine-Westphal…
24 April 2012 · 1 comment
Capitalism – Crisis and Alternatives: Book Launch
image no longer in the archive Meet and hear some of the authors of the new title from Resistance Books: Özlem Onaran, Sean Thompson and Susan Pashkoff WEDNESDAY 2 MAY, 7:30pm Community Cent…
24 April 2012 · · 2 comments
Leveson: dirty linen washed – but what chance of change?
A veritable industry has arisen from “hackgate” – the ongoing phone hacking scandal centring on Murdoch-owned media interests - with at least six judicial, police and parliamentary inquiries…
23 April 2012
It’s kicking off
Tony Traub discusses Paul Mason’s new book. Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere: The New Global Revolutions Verso £12.99 Paul Mason is a BBC journalist who is not afraid to confront the shortcom…
22 April 2012 · 2 comments
Fourth International grows rapidly in Asia
The Fourth International (FI) is a world wide grouping of revolutionary socialist organisations and Socialist Resistance is its section in Britain. Alan Thornett attended a meeting of its In…
20 April 2012 · 1 comment
Bangladesh Climate Caravan
Klaus Engert reports on an incredible initiative organised by ecosocialists in Bangladesh. From the 14 th of November to the 2 nd of December a “Climate Caravan” was organised in Bangladesh …
19 April 2012 ·
4th National Conference Occupy Movement
The 4th Occupy UK and Ireland National Conference hosted by Occupy Southend at their camp took place on the 14th and 15th April writes Norman Traub . The conference was attended by 40-50 peo…
18 April 2012
Elect next TUC General Secretary says Jerry Hicks
On the day that the TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has announced that he is retiring at the end of 2012. Jerry Hicks is urging people to join him in his call for all 6 million TUC unio…
17 April 2012
Conflicts of interest – bureaucrats and workers in the pension struggle
Jon Duveen, secretary of the Cambridgeshire Association of the National Union of Teachers assesses the state of the struggle in defence of pensions. With the massive demonstration of over 2 …
15 April 2012 · 15 comments
The space to the left of Labour just got huge
This is the editorial from the upcoming issue of Socialist Resistance. George Galloway’s Bradford West victory, like the student revolt in December 2010, the inner city riots of August 2011,…
13 April 2012 · 4 comments
Israel denies activists entry - keeps Palestine in isolation
Israel is denying entry to activists trying to enter the West Bank from Tel Aviv to bring solidarity with the Palestinian people. Up to 2,000 people, mainly from Europe, will attempt to boar…
12 April 2012 · · 1 comment
The Republican Rogues’ Gallery
David Finkel reports from the United States on a disturbingly eccentric bunch of presidential hopefuls. I assume that viewed from outside America, the roster of Republican candidates for the…
12 April 2012 · · 1 comment
Unite to resist new Tory health Act
John Lister, Director, London Health Emergency argues that with Lansley's Bill on the statute book we need to step up campaigning in defence of the NHS: None of us wanted to start from here.…
7 April 2012
Urgent appeal from Nava Sama Samaja Party in Sri Lanka
Two leaders of the Frontline Socialist Party (JVP dissident group) Kumar Gunarathnam and Dimuthu Attygalle (Women and International Affairs secretary) were separately abducted in the early h…
4 April 2012
Greece, women and austerity
Stefania Koutsonikou discusses the effects of austerity on women in Greece at a meeting organised by Socialist Resistance in London.
3 April 2012 · 1 comment
First All-Europe Racist/Fascist Gathering Overshadowed in Denmark
Ron Ridenour reports from Copenhagen Ruling authorities confront the continuing crisis of capitalism by: 1) aiding the very firms that bankrupt the general economy by transferring workers’ t…
3 April 2012 · 2 comments
Sri Lanka: Human rights activists in danger
Socialist Resistance condemns the Sri Lankan government for intensifying its terror campaign against human rights and media activists following its setback at the UNHCR which adopted a resol…
3 April 2012 · 7 comments
Bob Crow calls for new working class party
Speaking last Saturday at a conference organised by the Morning Star on the theme “For a People's Britain - not a Bankers' Britain” RMT leader Bob Crow called for a new working class party a…
30 March 2012 · 8 comments
Galloway victory is rejection of austerity and war
Socialist Resistance strongly welcomes the stunning victory of George Galloway and the Respect Party in the Bradford West by election. His majority of 10,000 is a remarkable achievement (see…
27 March 2012
Tories–corrupt and super rich
“We’re not corrupt. One of our most senior party officials tells lies for money” is the Tory defence to revelations that their former treasurer was selling access to policy makers for up to …
26 March 2012
Alarming Increase in Hostile Rhetoric, Threats of Reprisals against Journalists in Sri Lanka
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly deplores the alarming escalation in hostile rhetoric and the barely concealed threats of reprisals that have been made against some…
24 March 2012
Stop the Jewish National Fund
John Nicholson explains why our readers should take action against the Jewish National Fund The Jewish National Fund was set up in London over a hundred years ago explicitly in order to sett…
23 March 2012 · · 5 comments
Women and austerity
Women are being hard hit by the austerity offensive. In this video of her talk at a London Socialist Resistance forum economist Susan Pashkoff examines the details.
23 March 2012 · · 5 comments
The Falklands oil rush and Thatcher’s War
The 30th anniversary of Britain’s invasion of the Falklands to remove an occupation force sent by Argentinian military dictator General Galtieri, comes at a time of renewed controversy over …
22 March 2012 · · 3 comments
A budget for the 1%
In a classic Tory move this week’s budget reaffirmed this government’s commitment to the wealthiest earners in the UK by dropping the 50% tax rate to 45% writes Susan Pashkoff . We see a con…
21 March 2012
Guernica 75th Anniversary Night Out: 26 April
Bearing witness to Guernica's 75th Anniversary, Thursday 26 April. Philosophy Football, in association with the International Brigades Memorial Trust and the the Basque Children of '37 Assoc…
16 March 2012 · 1 comment
Socialist, feminist, republican to lead Plaid
Socialist Resistance welcome the victory of Leanne Wood, socialist, feminist and republican, as the leader of Plaid Cymru in the results of a membership ballot announced on March 15. Leanne …
14 March 2012
Escape the Jubilee seminar Amsterdam June 1-5 - Marxism for the 21st Century
Just twelve years into the 21st century Marxism is facing unprecedented challenges. We have the biggest economic crisis since the 1930s with massive attacks on welfare and living standards. …
12 March 2012
Support the Climate Jobs Caravan 12th - 25th May
image no longer in the archive The CLIMATE JOBS CARAVAN – backed by a number of national unions and campaign groups – is a 2000 mile campaign tour of towns and cities to promote the ONE MILL…
9 March 2012
Capitalism: Crises and Alternatives
image no longer in the archive This new book from Resistance Books has been published. Order now by sending a cheque for £9, made out to Socialist Resistance and posted to PO Box 62732, Lond…
9 March 2012
New book: Eurozone in Crisis: What is to be Done?
The Coalition of Resistance has produced a new book: Eurozone in Crisis: What is to be Done? Order your copy online now The articles in this book bring together analysis and proposals for ac…
8 March 2012 · 2 comments
Self determination for the Tamil people–three videos
A highly significant meeting in London brought together representatives of a number of British based Tamil organisations including the British Tamils Forum and the International Tamil Journa…
8 March 2012 ·
2,000 campaigners rally against Health Bill
It was the final few minutes of the eleventh hour, but the TUC finally gave us a flavour of what a real fight to defend the NHS could have looked like on March 7, when over 2,000 NHS staff a…
7 March 2012 · 4 comments
Brighton Greens vote for cuts
Green Party councillors are making a big mistake by proposing and adopting a cuts budget in Brighton, where they are the majority party. The Green Party for some years now has been on the le…
7 March 2012
"We affirm our solidarity with women in the revolutionary process”
Statement by the International Committee of the Fourth International This statement on solidarity with women in the revolutionary process in the Arab region was adopted by the annual IC meet…
7 March 2012
Women in Indonesia: struggle for liberation
Zely Ariane reports on the struggle for women's liberation in Indonesia This year International Women’s Day in Indonesia is marked by an increase of attacks on women. The increasing frequenc…
7 March 2012
Defend Eygptian independent trade unionist
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine strongly condemns the sentence of six months imprisonment issued in absentia by the misdemeanor court of Helwan in Egypt against Mr. Kam…
6 March 2012
If Not Us, Who? A Review
George Barratt reviews a new German film If Not Us, Who? (Wer wenn nicht wir ) about the Baader Meinhoff terrorist organisation. “Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean that they are not…
5 March 2012 · 7 comments
International Women’s Day: A History
International Women's Day (8 March) was originally a socialist holiday established in 1911 by the Socialist International and is celebrated by women's groups around the world write Peg Rapp …
3 March 2012 · 3 comments
Solidarity with the Syrian Revolution!
Statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International The Syrian people have lived for decades under the repression of a bloody and corrupt oligarchy. Power is monopolized by …
29 February 2012
SNP trade unionists back Leanne Wood
Leanne Wood has secured the backing of an influential arm of the Scottish National Party – the SNP Trades Union Group – which has thrown its weight behind her bid to become the first female …
28 February 2012
Free Fadi Quran
On February 24, 2012, a 24-year old Palestinian American, Fadi Quran, was assaulted and arrested by Israeli security forces during a non-violent protest in the West Bank for allegedly pushin…
27 February 2012
Solidarity with the Tamils! Public meeting
Self determination for the Tamil people! Public meeting organised by British Tamil Forum, International Tamil Association of Journalists and Socialist Resistance, Wednesday 7th March, 7:30pm…
26 February 2012 · · 1 comment
The Role of Marxist Educators Against and Within Neoliberal Capitalism
by Dave Hill [i] This is a potentially revolutionary period in world history. The collapse of finance capitalism, the bankers’ bailouts across the globe, the continuing bankers’ bonuses, and…
25 February 2012 · 2 comments
Revisiting the Irish prison struggles
Smashing H-Block (The rise and fall of the popular campaign against criminalization 1976-82) - University of Liverpool by F. Stuart Ross reviewed by Liam Mac Uaid The conventional account of…
25 February 2012 · 2 comments
Ireland Unfree
We hope to be making available on this site some important texts from the Fourth International in Britain. The 1972 International Marxist Group pamphlet Ireland Unfree was written as an intr…
25 February 2012 · 4 comments
From Malthus to Ian Duncan Smith
Vilifying the poor and disabled is nothing new argues Susan Pashkoff It is the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Dickens and I find myself with a strange feeling of déjà vu listening to p…
16 February 2012 · 1 comment
Eleftherotypia’s Workers are back with their own newspaper !
Moissis Litsis reports from Greece Here it is ! Done ! The workers at Eleftherotypia, one of the biggest and most prestigious Greek daily newspapers, go forward undertaking the great endeavo…
9 February 2012 · 1 comment
Justice for Alfie Meadows
Alfie Meadows sustained a brain injury having been struck on the head with a baton by a Metropolitan Police officer at a protest about tuition fees on 9 December 2010. That assault is the su…
9 February 2012 · 1 comment
Join the Unite NHS Lobby and Rally to Save the NHS
Our NHS is a national treasure that we should all be proud of. It has cared for generations of working people. It places fairness at the heart of our society. You need the NHS – now it needs…
9 February 2012
Barking against the cuts
Ken Loach, the award winning film director, will be speaking in defence of the Broadway Theatre and against cuts in Barking on Thursday 16 February at 7:30pm the Spotted Dog pub, next to Bar…
7 February 2012
Revolutions are not over
Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf states, have been key protagonists in the counter-revolutionary wave unleashed against the uprisings. Indeed, 2011 has clearly demonstrated that imperiali…
3 February 2012
Demonstrate against health and social care bill
The Health and Social Care Bill will soon be voted on by our MPs. This shameful Bill will privatise our NHS. It is widely opposed by health professionals, including GPs. There has been very …
3 February 2012 · 2 comments
Green capitalism, the indignados and the social forums
Esther Vivas considers the major questions confronted by the Thematic World Social Forum in Porto Allegre, Brazil The defence of the earth, the ecosystem and biodiversity is one of the most …
3 February 2012 ·
Is another world still possible?
Iain Bruce reports from the Thematic Social Forum in Porto Allegre, Brazil on green capitalism and the road to Rio +20 and beyond. The central capitalist powers are using the economic crisis…
30 January 2012
Barking Against the Cuts meeting
NO CUTS IN COUNCIL SERVICES! SAVE THE BROADWAY THEATRE! Thursday 16 February, 7:30pm SPOTTED DOG public house, by Barking tube station Speakers: Councillor George Barratt Karena Johnson, Dir…
29 January 2012 · · 2 comments
Community marches against school privatisation
Piers Mostyn reports on a very successful demonstration against the government's bid to forcefully privatise four local primary schools against the opposition of teachers, parents and govern…
28 January 2012
Environmental destruction in Mindanao
Cha N. Lavandero writes from Iligan City, Mindanao in the Philippines The tragedy that had ravaged the areas in many areas of Northern Mindanao during the flashfloods that hit Cagayan de Oro…
27 January 2012
Coalition of Resistance Spring tour
It seems the government couldn't be happier right now. There's been a slow down in the pensions dispute and Miliband / Balls have declared that they wont reverse any spending cut or oppose a…
26 January 2012
Reject the European austerity programmes
Özlem Onaran sets out an anti-capitalist alternative. Europe is now the centre of the global crisis. It is a crisis of the system, sweeping across Europe and is not limited to just one count…
18 January 2012 ·
Major anti-cuts victory in Birmingham
Bob Whitehead reports on an inspiring anti-cuts victory in Birmingham - collective action makes a difference. As part of its huge cuts package, voted through by the Birmingham Council ConDem…
17 January 2012
Robbing the poor to pay the rich
The Con Dem millionaire cabinet is driven by class hatred. Nowhere is that more transparent than in its proposals on welfare. It is actively and deliberately transferring billions of pounds …
15 January 2012
Pakistan and Afghanistan: What prospects for peace?
Socialist Resistance public meeting Sahar Saba, Afghan socialist and feminist and Farooq Sulehria, journalist and member of Labour Party Pakistan report on the situation now facing the peopl…
14 January 2012
The unions at the crossroads: stop the sell-out
The possibility of a serious fightback, which was represented by the magnificent strike on November 30 has been thrown into question by the retreat of a number of unions, led by UNISON and s…
13 January 2012 · 1 comment
Independence for Scotland – GAME ON.
Socialist Resistance supports independence for Scotland. Here we republish an article by Andy Bowden from Scottish Socialist Youth on how socialists in Scotland will be campaigning. After al…
10 January 2012 · 4 comments
UNISON sells out in pensions dispute
We have been sent this report by a UNISON branch official. It is a strange phenomenon in British trade unionism that when we are engaged in major national struggles we often send in people w…
9 January 2012 · 23 comments
A reply to Alan Thornett’s review of “Too Many People?”
We were pleased to learn that Alan Thornett, whose record as working class and socialist leader we respect, had reviewed our book, Too Many People? Population, Immigration, and the Environme…
9 January 2012 · · 5 comments
Iron Lady - hagiography of an evil woman
It seemed oddly appropriate to be watching a film about Thatcher in my local cinema in Wood Green, North London writes Richard Willmsen . Not only was the area (branded as 'Shopping City') r…
8 January 2012
Mrs Windsor’s sixty bloody years
2012 will be the year of austerity and circuses in Britain. David Cameron used his New Year’s message to say as much: “"As we welcome the world to the best Olympics ever - and, as in the 60t…
5 January 2012 · 2 comments
Building the Revolution: Soviet art and architecture 1915-1935
The Royal Academy’s current exhibition is reviewed by Terry Conway As you approach the Royal Academy – the somewhat incongruous host to this exhibition, there is a replica of what the Tatlin…
4 January 2012
Sounds like Freedom: Celebrating Protest Music, Verse, Street Art and Football
Sanum Ghafoor's latest film for Philosophy Football records a celebration of protest music, verse, street art and football in the year of the Arab Spring. Featuring Reem Kelani, Grace Petrie…
4 January 2012 ·
Russia: is Putin’s project unravelling?
After a parliamentary election campaign that seemed to hit new depths in terms of tedium and dreariness writes Rick Simon , and in which the success of the pro-Kremlin United Russia was a fo…
3 January 2012 · · 1 comment
Global Justice School - Internationalism at Work
Jack Whitman reports from a recent educational event organised by the Fourth International. Revolving around three thematic modules – The Global Crisis, The Ecological Crisis and Strategy, P…
2 January 2012 ·
Mindanao needs solidarity
Terry Conway reports on the after effects of Typhoon Sedong in the Philippines Many readers of Socialist Resistance attended meetings during November addressed by Maria Pampillo from Mindana…
2 January 2012 · · 19 comments
Too many people? A review
Alan Thornett reviews Too Many People? by Ian Angus and Simon Butler published by Haymarket at £13.99. As a long-time comrade of Ian Angus, a fellow ecosocialist, and an admirer of his work …