Sects and ‘new left’ disillusionment. Mike Macnair reviews P Blackledge, N Davidson (eds) Alasdair MacIntyre’s engagement with Marxism: selected writings 1953-1974, Brill (Historical materialism series),... »
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David Harvey interview
Rethinking revolution. David Harvey, Marxist academic and author of the newly published The enigma of capital, spoke to Mark Fischer. Many commentators, from both Marxist and non-Marxist standpoints, predicted the current capitalist crisis. But have there been any features that surprised you? Something that has surprised me about the way this crisis presents itself is the extremely... »
In the very fabric of art
In his rejection of practice that prioritises cooperation over competition, Hans Werber Henze conspires with a system he claims to oppose, writes Gordon Downie Last weekend the music of the German composer Hans Werner Henze was featured in the Barbican’s Total Immersion series, which claims to examine the work of a single composer through performances,... »
Paul Cockshott critiques Mike Macnair’s Revolutionary strategy
Democracy or oligarchy? Paul Cockshott critiques Mike Macnair’s Revolutionary strategy and argues for a rethink on the question of a democratic republic Mike Macnair of the Communist Party of Great Britain has recently written a book whose avowed aim is to reformulate left strategy along Kautskyan lines. One might say: surely this is a retrograde step... »
Matthew Cobb, author of ‘The Resistance: the French fight against the Nazis’, examines the contradictory role of the French Communist Party during World War II
Lions led by donkeys In June 1940, the Nazi blitzkrieg led to the occupation of France. A puppet government was set up in Vichy and France began to be transformed into an exploited colony. Virtually straightaway, ordinary people took action. They produced leaflets, cut telephone cables and eventually set up underground organisations. Alongside members of the... »
Moment of silence – Emmanuel Ortiz
(Emmanuel Ortiz, 2002) Before I start this poem, I’d like to ask you to join me in a moment of silence in honour of those who died in the world trade centre and the pentagon last September 11th I would also like to ask you To join me in a moment of silence for all those who have... »
Fantasy liberation
Michael Jackson’s death serves to remind us of the amorality of the pop and entertainment industry, writes Eddie Ford. Much to the delight of media-owners everywhere, Michael Jackson died suddenly last week after being taken to a Los Angeles hospital. He was aged only 50 and was about to embark on a 50-concert ‘comeback’ tour... »
David Douglass looks back at the life of Lawrence Daly: October 20 1924-May 23 2009
Worker-intellectual who fell prey to the right. By the late 1960s, the left was on the ascendancy within the National Union Of Mineworkers. This was illustrated in 1968 by the election of my mate, the left-Labour Lawrence Daly, for NUM general secretary, beating Joe Gormley, the arch-moderate. But we were not having it all our... »
Blueprint for tyranny or freedom charter?
Lars T Lih takes a closer look at Hugo Chávez’s proposed gift to the US president Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, has announced that the next time he meets with Barack Obama, he will give the American head of state a short book written in 1902 by one VI Lenin, entitled What is to be... »
Lars T Lih, Boris Kargalitsky, Hillel Ticktin and other authors to speak at Communist University 2009
Communist University 2009 August 8-15, South London. Book Now! The CPGB’s annual school – the Communist University – is different. It features sharp clashes of opinion ... »
Communist theory and the sophisticated anarchist
Yassamine Mather was at the recent Glasgow conference where Alain Badiou spoke On Friday February 13, 280 students and staff filled a Glasgow University lecture theatre to listen to Alain Badiou, described on the university website as a “renowned French philosopher and author”. Some of us had read his first books 30 years ago, long... »