Assembly parties united on making working class pay for crisis

Written by Gary Mulcahy Monday, 01 March 2010 14:02

From Socialist View, Spring 2009

The economic recession has already led to social explosions and political crisis in many countries. Gary Mulcahy looks at the consequences for Northern Ireland and what impact the dowturn will have on the power-sharing Executive and the peace process.

Britain - The great anti-poll tax victory

Written by Peter Taaffe, General Secretary Socialist Party England & Wales Friday, 26 February 2010 17:00

How 18 million people brought down Thatcher

The majority of trade union leaders are completely unprepared to meet the onslaught on jobs and public services, the worst for 40 years. But that does not mean that the inevitable resistance is destined for defeat. On the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the poll tax to England and Wales, PETER TAAFFE looks back on the ‘unofficial’ mass movement which humbled the seemingly invincible Margaret Thatcher.

The Permanent Revolution today

Written by Peter Taaffe Tuesday, 23 February 2010 18:00

We publish below a new introduction by Peter Taaffe to Leon Trotsky’s ‘Permanent Revolution’, which the comrades of Socialist Movement Pakistan (CWI) are to translate into Urdu and publish.

Introduction to new Urdu edition of ‘Permanent Revolution’ by Leon Trotsky

What relevance does Trotsky’s Theory of the Permanent Revolution have to the problems of the workers’ cause or the peasants’ (small farmers) movement today? After all, it was formulated more than 100 years ago during the first Russian revolution of 1905-07. The same kind of question could be posed – and it is – regarding the ideas of Marx and Engels, Lenin and Rosa Luxemburg. But no matter how ‘old’ is an idea – a method of analysis upon which mass action is based – if it more accurately describes the situation today than ‘new’ theories, it retains all its relevance in the modern era. This is particularly the case for the masses in the neo-colonial world – and especially today in the vital country of Pakistan with more than 200 million inhabitants – confronted as they are with all the terrible problems flowing from the incomplete capitalist-democratic revolution.

Perspectives for Malaysia

Written by Peter Taaffe Tuesday, 09 February 2010 17:31

A Marxist approach
Review of Jeyakumar Devaraj's "Malaysia at the Crossroads, a Socialist Perspective"

Jeyakumar Devaraj, member of the Central Committee of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput, published a book on perspectives for Malaysia in August 2009. Peter Taaffe, General Secretary of the Socialist Party (CWI in England and Wales) and member of the International Secretariat of the Committee for a Workers' International, reviewed it in a letter to Jeyakumar. We are carrying a slightly edited (shortened) version of the review which deals with important questions of method, analysis and perspectives for Marxists in the struggle - to overthrow capitalism in Malaysia, Asia and worldwide.

"Malaysia at the Crossroads, A Socialist Perspective" by Jeyakumar Devaraj is available at the bookshop of the Socialist Party England and Wales or the PSM.

August 1969

Written by Peter Hadden Saturday, 30 January 2010 19:11

When British troops went in to Northern Ireland

August 1969 was a turning point in the history of Northern Ireland. It was then that the Labour Government of Harold Wilson took the decision to send troops onto the streets, first of Derry, then of Belfast.

The measure was presented as temporary – troops were needed, they said,  because, with riots sweeping the streets, with huge parts of Derry and Belfast sealed off behind barricades and with pogroms starting to develop, it was clear that the Unionist government at Stormont had lost control. It was to be a ‘stop gap’. The troops would be withdrawn ‘as soon as law and order is restored’.

The tawdry morals of capitalism

Written by Peter Taaffe Saturday, 30 January 2010 19:05

Time to raise the socialist banner – For a society to eliminate the horrors of capitalism

From forthcoming new issue of Socialism Today, monthly journal of the Socialist Party (CWI England and Wales)

Twenty years ago, the representatives of capitalism celebrated the collapse of Stalinism. And the major powers imposed their economic and military dominance across the globe, increasing the exploitation and suffering of billions of people. Today, they want to make the working class and poor pay for the deep economic crisis they have created. This exposed the bankruptcy of the capitalist system, not only economically but also ideologically and morally.

Marxism and the second world war

Written by Peter Taaffe Sunday, 10 January 2010 14:33

The lyrics to Eric Bogle’s haunting folk song, No Man’s Land (The Green Fields of France, or Willie McBride), set against the background of an imaginary young soldier killed in the first world war, are as relevant today on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the start of the second world war which falls on 1 September. War did happen ‘again and again’ with its countless victims and will continue to do so as long as capitalism remains. Indeed, the total number of victims of the second world war dwarfed even the carnage of the first. Estimates of the total number of casualties for the war suggest some 60 million died, 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians.