Ted Grant is not widely known outside of revolutionary circles, but he was the most important Marxist theorist since the death of Leon Trotsky, who alone predicted the course of world politics after WWII. Amongst other things, he foresaw the post-war economic upswing; the expropriation of capitalism in China and much of Eastern Europe; Stalin’s clashes with Tito and Mao; and much more besides. In this episode, his closest collaborator Alan Woods, the main leader and theorist of the RCI, reminisces about Ted’s life and works, and explains the importance of his contributions.

In today’s episode, Alan talks about Ted’s legacy. He emphasises not only Ted’s brilliant mastery of Marxism, which gave him a huge advantage over his contemporaries; but also his humanity, his indignance towards all forms of injustice, and his profound sense of optimism. While the road to revolution is long and often difficult, Ted always said, there are two indispensable traits for any revolutionary: a sense of proportion and a sense of humour!

Aside from the organisation we inherit today, Ted’s main legacy can be found in his tremendous contributions to Marxist theory and analysis. The third volume of his collected works will be released in January 2026. 

Stalinist land programme wins peasants, Chiang’s conscripts roped to prevent escape, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1949/01/china.htm 

Democracy or Bonapartism in Europe - A Reply to Pierre Frank, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1946/08/frank.htm 

Ted’s obituaries in the bourgeois press:

🔗https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1524889/Ted-Grant.html,

🔗https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/jul/27/guardianobituaries.southafrica 

Ted Grant: The Permanent Revolutionary, Alan Woods:
🔗https://wellred-books.com/ted-grant-the-permanent-revolutionary/
The degeneration and collapse of the Fourth International: in defence of our heritage, RCI:

🔗https://marxist.com/the-degeneration-and-collapse-of-the-fourth-international.htm
The TRUTH about World War 2: Marxist historian sets the record straight | SPECTRE OF COMMUNISM:
🔗https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1vobbAMUzM&t=1191s
The Changed Relationship of Forces in Europe and the Role of the Fourth International, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1945/03/changed.htm

Economic Perspectives 1946, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1946/04/economy.htm

Perspectives in Britain, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1946/07/britain.htm

Czechoslovakia: The Issues Involved, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1948/04/czechoslovakia.htm

Reply to David James, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1949/james.htm

Stalinism in the Postwar World, Ted Grant:

🔗https://www.marxists.org/archive/grant/1951/06/stalinism