Socialism

CWI secretary Tony Saunois gives analysis of the attempt to remove Maduro from power in Venezuela, and the lessons for left governments and parties internationally.

Useful further reading:

• ‘Venezuela – resist the imperialist coup’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28590/30-01-2019/venezuela-resist-the-pro-imperialist-coup

• Statement from CWI Venezuela: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/americas/venezuela/10089-venezuela-for-mass-mobilization-of-workers-to-build-real-socialism-and-put-an-end-to-corrupt-bureaucracy

• ‘Venezuela – on the brink of collapse?’: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/americas/venezuela/7611-Venezuela--On-the-brink-of-collapse

• ‘Hugo Chavez dies – the struggle continues’ by Tony Saunois: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/americas/venezuela/6194-Hugo-Chavez-dies--The-struggle-continues

• ‘Chavez and socialism – a contribution to the international debate’ by Tony Saunois: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/americas/venezuela/2913-venezuela-hugo-chavez-and-socialism

We speak to Clive Heemskerk from the Socialist Party executive committee about a strategy for struggle against local government cuts.

Useful further reading:

• ‘Passing the council cuts test’: http://www.socialismtoday.org/217/editorial.html

• Response to the Corbyn and McDonnell letter Clive references: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/21923/18-12-2015/labour-councils-dont-have-to-pass-on-tory-cuts

• ‘Who’s killing local government’ by Clive Heemskerk: http://www.socialismtoday.org/206/councils.html

• Interview about the Liverpool experience: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/954/25739/28-06-2017/liverpools-1983-87-socialist-council

• ‘Preparing a no-cuts people’s budget’ briefing by the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition: http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/355.pdf

• ‘Liverpool – a city that dared to fight’ by Peter Taaffe and Tony Mulhearn: available at leftbooks.co.uk

• ‘Our record: socialist councillors are different’ on the Lewisham Socialist Party councillors Clive talks about: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/txt/132.pdf

• Campaigning against council cuts: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/26748/17-01-2018/we-must-fight-all-council-cuts

Socialist Party member Dave Nellist, former Labour MP, gives a radio interview on Brexit, Corbyn’s position and a socialist approach to the EU.

Socialist Party executive committee member Judy Beishon analyses the latest Brexit developments after the historic defeat of May’s deal and the first attempt at a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Useful further reading/listening:

• ‘May facing Brexit catastrophe’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28506/15-01-2019/may-facing-brexit-vote-catastrophe

• Updates online at socialistparty.org.uk on 22 January

• ‘A socialist view of Brexit’ Socialism episode 5 on your podcast app or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLcRUXWcMbA&list=PL7g0By-vE-0jJSnXooqsAmwczHgGin5uB&index=5

• ‘Tory Brexit chaos’ Socialism episode 11 on your podcast app or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJPQyEwvh1w&list=PL7g0By-vE-0jJSnXooqsAmwczHgGin5uB&index=15

Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, the Socialist Party’s national organiser, discusses the proposed reform of the Gender Recognition Act, and a socialist programme for united struggle for Trans rights.

Useful further reading:

• ‘Taking Trans rights forward’ by Sarah Sachs-Eldridge: http://www.socialismtoday.org/218/gender.html

• ‘Gender recognition division’: http://www.socialismtoday.org/223/gra.html

• ‘Defending women’s services’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/27550/27-06-2018/defending-womens-services

• ‘End violence against women’ and ‘A brief history of the Campaign Against Domestic Violence’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/17128/17-07-2013/end-violence-against-women

• ‘It Doesn’t Have to be Like This – Women and the Struggle for Socialism’ by Christine Thomas: available at leftbooks.co.uk

• The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, by Frederick Engels: available at leftbooks.co.uk

Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe gives an analysis of the political processes and trends we can expect to see continued and escalated in 2019 – from economic crisis, to Brexit chaos, to shifting world relations.

Useful further reading:

• On 2019: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28432/27-12-2018/preparing-the-struggle-for-socialism-in-2019

• On France: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/europe/france/10045-france-in-revolt

• On Bolsonaro : http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/americas/brazil/9999-brazil-the-resistance-begins-now

• On the Tories’ Brexit chaos : https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28394/11-12-2018/tory-chaos-reaches-fever-pitch

• And see updates at socialistparty.org.uk from 9/1/19

Clare Doyle from the CWI and Socialist Student national chair Theo Sharieff join us to discuss the movement sweeping France, what it symbolises and what we can learn from it here.

Useful further reading:

• ‘France in revolt’ by Clare Doyle: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/europe/france/10045-france-in-revolt

• ‘France’s president backs down in face of mass demonstrations’: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/europe/france/10040-france-s-president-backs-down-in-face-of-mass-demonstrations

• ‘Eyewitness – French protesters seize streets against President Macron’: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/international/europe/france/10038-eyewitness-french-protesters-seize-streets-against-president-macron

• ‘France 1968 – Month of Revolution’ by Clare Doyle available from leftbooks.co.uk

We discuss with Hannah Sell following Theresa May being forced to abandon the planned parliamentary vote on her Brexit plan, and the initiation of a vote of no confidence in her from within the Tory Party.

Useful further reading:

• ‘Tory chaos reaches fever pitch’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28394/11-12-2018/tory-chaos-reaches-fever-pitch

• ‘Brexit as a window on our times’: http://socialismtoday.org/224/editorial.html

• ‘Corbyn and trade union movement urgently need to fight for a general election to kick out the Tories’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28368/05-12-2018/corbyn-and-trade-union-movement-urgently-need-to-fight-for-a-general-election-to-kick-out-the-tories

• ‘For a socialist alternative to the EU – mobilise to kick out the Tories!’: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28336/28-11-2018/for-a-socialist-alternative-to-the-eu-mobilise-to-kick-out-the-tories

Steve Score from the Socialist Party’s national committee discusses the financial crash of 2007/8, its causes and implications.

Useful further reading:

• ‘10 years since the financial crash – the socialist answer to capitalist crisis’ by Steve Score: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/27918/12-09-2018/10-years-since-the-financial-crash-the-socialist-answer-to-capitalist-crisis

• ‘Ten years since the crash – what now for the world economy?’: http://www.socialismtoday.org/216/economy.html

• ‘Value, Price and Profit’ by Karl Marx available from leftbooks.co.uk

• ‘Wage Labour and Capital’ by Karl Marx available from leftbooks.co.uk

9. When revolution ended World War 1

We speak to Bob Labi from the Committee for a workers’ international about why World War 1 ended when it did, and particularly the role of radicalisation and revolution.

• ‘1918 - revolution ends first world war as international radicalisation shakes the world’ by Bob Labi: http://socialistworld.net/index.php/theory-analysis/history/10017-1918-revolution-ends-first-world-war-as-international-radicalisation-shakes-the-word

• ‘1918 revolution - when workers’ entered onto the stage of history’ by Peter Taaffe: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/20089/11-02-2015/1918-when-german-workers-entered-history

• ‘The German Revolution’ by Pierre Broue available from leftbooks.co.uk

• ‘The First Five Years of the Communist International’ by Leon Trotsky available from leftbooks.co.uk

• ‘Lessons of October’ by Leon Trotsky available from socialistbooks.co.uk