A review of Imagine by Tommy Sheridan and Alan McCombes, the (then) leaders of the Scotish Socialist Party. An attempt by Trotskyists to become libertarian sounding are not very convincing.
A lengthy critique of the SWP’s attempt to rewrite the history of the resistance to Italian fascism in the early 1920s as well as the revolutionary Red Years after World War I. An important, if not well known, bit of anarchist history.
Part of a debate on the Russian revolution from 1994. The revolution was one of the most important events of the 20th century until the 1990’s the most important debate on the left was whether or not it had failed. Now with the collapse of the USSR a far more important debate is uncovered, why did it fail.
We have been insisting on the need for the far left to re-appraise the tradition of the Russian revolution and in particular the role the Bolsheviks played in destroying that revolution. One of the most detailed responses to the anarchists critique of Bolshevism was published in the winter issue of International Socialism the journal of the Socialist Workers Party (the largest Leninist group in England).
While something to oppose, suggestions of a state funeral for Thatcher seem fitting as neo-liberalism implodes around us. Nationalising her death seems an ideal insult. It also shows how bankrupt and Thatcherite New Labour is — as if we needed more evidence!
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On the Bolshevik Myth
An anarchist critique of an ISO attack on the Makhnovists. Corrects the distortions and shows how the Makhnovists show that Bolshevik authoritarian had its roots in Leninist ideology and cannot be solely explained by the civil war. Also refutes claims that the Haymarket Martyrs were Marxists as well as correcting the usual distortions about Kronstadt.
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Review: The Bolsheviks in Power
Review of a new book on the first year of Bolshevik power. Documents the Bolshevik assault on soviet democracy and the opposition.
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How the Revolution was Lost?
A critique of the standard Leninist account of the degeneration of the Russian Revolution, using the SWP’s How the Revolution was Lost (by Chris Harman) as its basis.
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How Revolutions must not be made
A review of Goldman’s account of her experiences in Russia, plus a review of a classic collection of Kropotkin’ essays. Both contain much wisdom for modern revolutionaries.
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1905
Overview of the 1905 Russian revolution, plus an analysis of why Rosa Luxemburg’s account of the mass strike is wrong about anarchism.