History
1956: The Hungarian revolution
Mon, 18/12/2006 - 13:48In mid-October 1956 students in Szeged marched for the right to form their own organisation independent of party control. They also struck against the compulsory learning of Russian. The students of Budapest’s Technological University followed with a demonstration on the 23 October in solidarity with Poland. Read more...
Israel: History of a Colonial Settler State
Thu, 05/10/2006 - 10:24A Marxist analysis of the political and economic background of the Israeli state and how the creation of it was a racist act suported by Imperialism.\nZionism, as a colonial settler movement during the first part of the 20th century, had to be strategically allied to one imperialist power or another. Not only did these powers provide the funds for settlement but more importantly they controlled the Middle East. British imperialism was hegemonic there from 1918 until 1947-53 when it was supplanted by the USA. Read more...
How the Russian revolution was won
Tue, 03/10/2006 - 08:14Many myths surround the Russian revolution, the one most often told is that it was an undemocratic coup by a dictator-in-waiting called Lenin. This article dispels some of these myths and explains the mass character of the revolutionary movement amongst the workers and peasants. Importantly it outlines some of the lessons for revolutionaries today that fight for the victory of the working class over the bosses.\nOn 25 October 1917 the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets voted to take power and established the world’s first soviet republic. Read more...
Bolsheviks and the fight for power in Russia
Tue, 03/10/2006 - 08:09An analysis of the importance of the Bolsheviks in the Russian revolution and the centrality of the party in fighting with the class to take power Read more...
1919: Founding of the Third International
Mon, 04/09/2006 - 16:38The Early Years
The guns, mortars and rifles that opened fire in 1914 shattered not only the lives and limbs of a generation of young soldiers. The Second (Socialist) International itself collapsed under fire. Read more...
1923 - 1933: Collapse of the Third International
Mon, 04/09/2006 - 16:38Conceived in war, born in revolution, the Third or Communist International came to an ignominious end in yet another war, in 1943. Its degeneration, which set in after its 4th Congress in 1922, was rooted in defeats for workers internationally and in the triumph of Stalinism in the USSR. Read more...
1918: Germany - reformists versus the revolution
Mon, 04/09/2006 - 16:38Towards the end of the First World War the workers of Russia rose in revolt against Tsarism. By October 1917 they had pressed on to establish, under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party, a Soviet (workers’ council) Republic, the world’s first workers’ state. Read more...
1979: Iran - Revolution and counter revolution
Mon, 04/09/2006 - 16:38Iran’s clerical rulers are celebrating the fifth anniversary of their “Islamic Republic". They do so against a background of temporary economic stability and in a country where all open opposition has been mercilessly crushed. Read more...
1889: The Second International
Mon, 04/09/2006 - 16:38The Early Years
The Second International ended the national isolation of socialist organisations after the collapse of the First International (1864-1874). During this period powerful socialist parties in many European countries - particularly the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) - had emerged. Read more...
1864: International Working Mens Association
Mon, 04/09/2006 - 16:38The International Working Men’s Association (IWMA), later to be known as the First International, was founded on 28 September 1864 at St Martin’s Hall in London. It lasted only 12 years yet had an enormous influence of the world workers movement. It was the first organisation that tried to guide and lead the struggle for socialism on a world scale. Read more...
