Socialism

How can students fight back against rip-off Covid imprisonment?

Universities have enticed students onto courses with promises of a learning experience that never materialised – then trapped them there under lockdown to suck out fees and rent.

Overcrowding on campus and in housing is causing major material and mental health crises. Jobs and teaching quality have nosedived – after already suffering from years of marketisation.

Meanwhile, the official student organisations have deserted the field. And Starmer’s Labour has ignored the pressing problems of students and young people as it cravenly backs the Tory government’s approach.

This episode of Socialism looks at the crisis in the universities: how can students fight back?

Further reading

Join Socialist Students: https://socialiststudents.org.uk/join/

Covid and the campuses: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31379/23-09-2020/covid-and-the-campuses

Students not to blame for unsafe uni conditions: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31464/14-10-2020/students-not-to-blame-for-unsafe-uni-conditions

Students trapped on Covid campuses speak out: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31402/30-09-2020/students-trapped-on-covid-campuses-speak-out

Solidarity with Manchester students - fight for democratic control of campus safety: https://socialiststudents.org.uk/2020/11/06/solidarity-with-manchester-students-fight-for-democratic-control-of-campus-safety/

Corbyn suspended - Time to fight for a new mass workers' party: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31582/03-11-2020/corbyn-suspended-time-to-fight-for-a-new-mass-workers-party

US: Narrow poll lead for Biden in highly polarised elections: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/11/05/us-narrow-poll-lead-for-biden-in-highly-polarised-elections/

What next for the uprising in Nigeria?

Millions of youth have been out on the streets in response to the brutal repression and banditry of the Nigerian state’s so-called ‘Special Anti-Robbery Squad’ (Sars). They have the sympathy of millions of workers in this huge, resource-rich west African country.

The scale of the protests shows this is about much more than just police violence. Appalling wages and living conditions, soaring fuel and food prices, and breath-taking levels of corruption, have discredited the whole Nigerian capitalist establishment.

There are widespread calls to bring the government down. The union leaders called – and then called off – a general strike. And Democratic Socialist Movement – Nigerian sister party of the Socialist Party in England Wales – has attracted impressive numbers with its revolutionary programme, and its new youth platform, the Youth Rights Campaign.

The Committee for a Workers’ International spoke to DSM on Wednesday 21 October, following another brutal killing of protesters by state forces, about how the movement can win.

This episode of Socialism looks at the uprising in Nigeria: End Sars, Buhari out, fight for a socialist Nigeria!

Further reading

Nigeria: Buhari must go! https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/10/22/nigeria-buhari-must-go/

Mass protests force government to disband killer cop unit: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31483

Nigerian police repress peaceful anti-government protest: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31358

Nigerian labour leaders postpone general strike at last minute: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/09/30/nigerian-labour-leaders-postpone-general-strike-at-last-minute/

Nigeria protests shake regime: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31568

Solidarity with the movement in Nigeria: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31555

Sixty years since Nigeria’s independence – mass misery in the midst of huge resources: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/10/01/sixty-years-since-nigerias-independence-mass-misery-in-the-midst-of-huge-resources/

How did Trotsky view revolution and the arts?

Because art holds a mirror up to life, many revolutionaries have taken an interest its role. Leon Trotsky in particular wrote on art, literature, and its role in society and politics.

Art can be insightful because of its politics, or despite them. So how does Marxism, a political theory, have any relation to art?

The Russian revolution led to an explosion in artistic vision. Then Stalinism stamped it all out. Why?

Why did Trotsky struggle to try to bring together revolutionary artists in the 1930s? And what relevance does Trotsky’s approach to art and culture hold today?

This episode of Socialism looks at revolution and culture: Trotsky and the arts.

Further reading

Art and revolution: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/128/art.html

Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art (Trotsky, Rivera, Breton): https://www.marxists.org/subject/art/lit_crit/works/rivera/manifesto.htm

The Social Roots and the Social Function of Literature (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1923/art/tia23b.htm

Surrealism’s revolutionary heart: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/120/manifesto.html

Revolutionary drama: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/203/brecht.html

Literature and Revolution (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1924/lit_revo/

Art and Revolution: Writings on Literature, Politics and Culture (Trotsky): http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=2075628

88. Crumbling capitalism, revolution and counter-revolution

As the capitalist world tears at itself, who stands to gain?

Global capitalism is in its deepest crisis since the 1930s, exacerbated by ‘the great accelerator’: Covid-19 pandemic and depression.

There is turmoil on every continent; class battles and uprisings; rising authoritarianism; polarisation within and between nations. Meanwhile, the trade union and ‘new left’ leaders have more and more accommodated themselves to capitalism’s demands.

The United States is a harbinger for the 2020s. Constitutional crisis is on the cards. Internal and international tensions, conspiracy theory mysticism, and dangerous right-wing forces are on the rise.

Is fascism the same threat it was a century ago? What is the difference between fascism then and right-wing authoritarianism today? Why does this matter? And how can socialists navigate these choppy waters to build the urgent alternative?

This episode of Socialism looks at crumbling capitalism: revolution and counter-revolution today.

Further reading

World perspectives: Revolution and counter revolution – Who stands to gain? https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/10/08/world-perspectives-revolution-and-counter-revolution-who-stands-to-gain/

Worldwide capitalist crisis deepens – step up the fight for socialism: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/10/07/worldwide-capitalist-crisis-deepens-step-up-the-fight-for-socialism/

How can socialists link day-to-day struggles to the need for revolution?

Global capitalism is in a historic crisis, and offers no future to the majority of humanity. Socialism is the only alternative to bloated billionaires, mass unemployment and ruinous trade wars.

On the one hand, the profit system is in such a mess that even defending existing pro-worker reforms can lead to colossal pitched battles. On the other hand, why would workers bother fighting for new reforms if it seems the economy cannot possibly grant them?

Socialists need demands and slogans which link the struggle over day-to-day problems with the need to overthrow capitalism. So how can we work out such ‘transitional demands’?

What is the difference between a ‘transitional programme’ and a ‘minimum-maximum programme’? Is there a fixed formula we can use to create it? Has one ever worked? And what are some of the problems it would have to address today?

This episode of Socialism looks at the bridge from immediate needs to socialist revolution: what is a ‘transitional programme’?

Further reading

The Transitional Programme (Trotsky) with an introduction by Peter Taaffe: http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=2333802

The Socialist Party's core programme - What We Stand For: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/partydoc/What_We_Stand_For

Coronavirus - a workers' charter: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/partydoc/Coronavirus_-_a_workers_charter_2020

A socialist charter for young people - we won't sacrifice our future to capitalist crisis: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30868/08-06-2020/a-socialist-charter-for-young-people

Trotsky's Transitional Programme: Winning Support For Socialism (2002): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/24669

The Impending Catastrophe and How to Combat It (Lenin): https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/ichtci/index.htm

The Communist Manifesto (Marx and Engels) - especially final two chapters: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/manifesto/

Discussions on the Transitional Programme (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1938/tp/tpdiscuss.htm

Third Congress of the Communist International: On Tactics - especially section V: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/3rd-congress/tactics.htm

What is the state of world capitalism as it heads into a second wave of Covid-19?

Over a decade ago, the global capitalist system was shaken by a historic financial crisis. It still had not recovered when the coronavirus pandemic caused the worst economic contraction in history.

Pandemic, depression, environmental catastrophe, political turmoil - capitalism is not well. And now a second wave of Covid is gathering pace.

What does this mean for capitalism around the world? Will we see mass protests and revolutions? Isn’t it the right making gains from the crisis? And what will the US elections bring?

This episode of Socialism looks at a world on the brink: capitalist crisis and the second wave.

Further reading

10 years since the financial crash: https://www.socialistworld.net/2018/09/14/10-years-since-the-financial-crash/

Coronavirus plunges capitalism into global turmoil - the need for a socialist alternative: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/03/23/coronavirus-plunges-capitalism-into-global-turmoil-the-need-for-a-socialist-alternative/

What lies behind the US-China trade war? https://www.socialistworld.net/2019/05/24/what-lies-behind-the-us-china-trade-war/

Democratic, Republican, and Peoples’ Conventions: What Way Forward for Workers? https://independentsocialistgroup.org/2020/09/22/democratic-republican-and-peoples-conventions-what-way-forward-for-workers/

Interview with US presidential candidate: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/09/22/interview-with-us-presidential-candidate/

Britain: Tory Prime Minister’s brinkmanship over EU deal deepens capitalist splits: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/09/17/britain-tory-prime-ministers-brinkmanship-over-eu-deal-deepens-capitalist-splits/

Britain: Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition to stand in elections again against pro-austerity politicians: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/09/14/britain-trade-unionist-and-socialist-coalition-to-stand-in-elections-again-against-pro-austerity-politicians/

What are the lessons for today from the 1926 general strike?

One of the myths about the British working class is that it’s too ponderous and conservative to have a serious fight with capitalism. Actually, centuries of bitter class struggle have shown the real potential again and again.

But arguably the high point came in 1926, during a period of national and international crisis for capitalism not so different from today. Despite the hesitancy and treachery of the official union leaders, Britain’s workers came out on strike in every sector, and without an end date. They even started running parts of society for themselves.

How did Britain’s only general strike so far come into being? What did it show us about revolutionary power of a general strike? Why did it end in defeat? And what can workers and socialists today learn for the huge class battles coming up today?

This episode of Socialism looks at Britain’s ‘almost’ revolution: the 1926 general strike.

Further reading and listening

1926 General Strike: Workers Taste Power (Peter Taaffe): http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=2017077

The general strike today (2003): http://socialismtoday.org/archive/76/generalstrike.html

Towards a 24 hour general strike (2012): http://socialismtoday.org/archive/161/britain.html

Socialism 75. Britain's revolts after WW1: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/75-britains-revolts-after-ww1

Where is Britain Going? (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/britain/wibg/

The Middle of the Road (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/britain/v3/ch02f.htm

75 years since the 1926 general strike: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/8489/04-05-2001/1926-general-strike-a-showdown-between-the-classes

90 years since the 1926 general strike: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/22727/04-05-2016/1926-general-strike-when-workers-tasted-power

1926 general strike debate: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/5276/15-06-2006/1926-general-strike-debate

What was Trotsky’s advice for revolutionaries on unions?

The trade unions are the basic organisations of the working class. Trotsky, like all who follow the ideas of genuine Marxism, believed the working class was the only social force which can lead socialist revolution.

But the union leaders can be timid, or even hold back struggle by their members. And anyway, the working class today looks very different to working class in 1917.

So how did Trotsky see the unions in relation to the struggle for socialism? And are those ideas - and the unions themselves - still relevant to that struggle today?

This episode of Socialism looks at the organised working class: Trotsky on the trade unions.

The CWI is producing a new book on Trotsky's life and ideas for the 80th anniversary of his assassination, which this podcast series is following. It's called 'Leon Trotsky - A Revolutionary Whose Ideas Couldn't Be Killed'. You can pre-order it now at www.leftbooks.co.uk.

Further reading

Should Revolutionaries Work in Reactionary Trade Unions? (Lenin): https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch06.htm

The Nature of the Trade Unions (Peter Taaffe): http://marxist.net/2019/12/11/the-nature-of-the-trade-unions/

Trade Unions and Bolshevism (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/britain/ch07.htm

The Trade Unions in Britain (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1933/09/unions-britain.htm

Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay (Trotsky): https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1940/xx/tu.htm

How did Trotsky help organise international socialist struggle?

Capitalism is a worldwide problem. Since the days of Karl Marx, socialists have worked towards a worldwide solution.

But there have been multiple attempts to organise international associations of revolutionaries. Each rose and then fell for different reasons.

What can we learn from their successes and failures? What was Trotsky’s part in building ‘internationals’? And what are the prospects for building a mass, revolutionary, working-class international going forward?

This episode of Socialism looks at the struggle for a world party of revolution: Trotsky and the Fourth International.

The CWI is producing a new book on Trotsky’s life and ideas for the 80th anniversary of his assassination, which this podcast series is following. It’s called ‘Leon Trotsky - A Revolutionary Whose Ideas Couldn’t Be Killed’. You can pre-order it now at www.leftbooks.co.uk.

Further reading

The Rise and Fall of the Communist International: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/Trotsky/cominternframe.htm

1938 anniversary: Founding the Fourth International: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/124/international.html

A Socialist World Is Possible: The History of the CWI: http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=2017051

In Defence of Trotskyism: http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=49575330

What is fascism and how can we fight it?

In the 1930s, mass fascist movements smashed the workers’ organisations. Today, far-right and right-populist forces are again growing in prominence. So what can we learn from history?

What exactly is fascism? Is a fascist dictatorship possible today? What distinguishes it from other authoritarian regimes?

Do these political differences mean tactical differences in how workers should fight them? What’s the difference between a ‘popular front’ and a ‘united front’? And why do you have to be anti-capitalist to succeed as an anti-fascist?

This episode of Socialism looks at fighting anti-worker reaction: Trotsky, fascism and the ‘united front’.

The CWI is producing a new book on Trotsky’s life and ideas for the 80th anniversary of his assassination, which this podcast series is following. It’s called ‘Leon Trotsky - A Revolutionary Whose Ideas Couldn’t Be Killed’. You can pre-order it now at www.leftbooks.co.uk.

Further listening and reading

Socialism episode 4. Fighting the racist far right: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/re-run-4-fighting-the-racist-far-right

Socialism episode 42. You can't have capitalism without racism: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/72-you-cant-have-capitalism-without-racism

Fascism: What It Is and How to Fight It (Trotsky): http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/950002679/Products/TROT0001

The Communist International and the fascist threat: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/222/comintern.html

The character of the far-right threat: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/66/farRight.html

The alt-right threat: http://socialismtoday.org/the-alt-right-threat

The danger of the far right: http://socialismtoday.org/the-danger-of-the-far-right