Marxist Voice

Questions of free speech and state repression have reared over the recent period. The right wing cynically uses the idea of free speech to pretend figures like Farage are being silenced. In reality, however, those defending the needs of capitalism and the status quo are given all the free speech they need. In the mean time, elderly protestors have been arrested for standing against genocide. Last week the High Court ruled that Palestine Action could no longer be brandished as terrorism, coming after the inability to find a jury which would sentence the activists. Both the harsh repression from the British state and the inability to put this repression into practise in a systematic way shows the mess the British ruling class is in. Here we share Nelson Wan, RCP executive committee member speaking on this topic at our 2025 Revolution Festival.

The Russian Revolution was the greatest event in human history, where the workers took power into their hands and grasped the state. But revolution is never a one act drama, it is a transition from one mode of production into another. This means that the revolution does not create socialism or communism overnight. The was abundantly clear in Russia, with its underdeveloped economy. This was the topic of a discussion at the latest Central Committee meeting of the Revolutionary Communist Party. Listen to the talk, by executive committee member Daniel Morley, here. If you want to know more about this period of history we would recommend ⁠this article⁠ from the RCI on the same topic. For a longer read covering the topic, ⁠In Defence of Lenin⁠, ⁠Russia, from Revolution to Counter Revolution⁠, ⁠Trotsky's My Life⁠ and ⁠Victor Serge's Year One of the Russian Revolution⁠.

Friedrich Engels once said 'bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism.' In many countries, this barbarism is already upon us. This is the topic of the latest In Defence of Marxism magazine. Here we share the author of the lead article, Thomas Soud, discussing his lead article on the Sudanese revolution and counter revolution of 2019. If you would like to get your own copy of this magazine, click here.

The middle east has been the playground of western imperialism for decades. With tensions raising in Iran, and western imperialism attempting to use this for its own gains, it is the job of communists to understand the role of imperialism in this region. For this reason, we publish here Lubna Badi's talk from Revolution Festival 2025. Lubna is a Central Committee member of the RCP who regularly writes and speaks on the middle east. If you would like to learn more on this topic we reccomend reading Thawra hatta'l nasr! - Revolution until Victory! as well as Israel-Palestine A Revolutionary Way Forward.

In September and October 2025, 2 million workers came to the streets of Italy to fight against the genocide in Palestine. This is representative of the crisis in Europe which has plagued the European working class in 2025.It is clear that actions such as these in Italy are the way forward. We have uploaded this talk by Jorge Martin, RCI International Secretariat member, from our Revolution Festival last year, which covers the current crisis in Europe and how to fight it.Here we also link an article on the events being discussed in this episode.

2026 has started with an almighty imperialist bang. Given the current actions of US imperialism, kidnapping the president of Venezuela and threatening the rest of Latin America and Greenland, it is clear that imperialism is something communists must understand. Liberal media will tell you that this is the madness of Trump, but we know it is deeper than that. Imperialism does not start or end with the personality traits of its representatives. Rather, it is sewed into the fabric of capitalism. In order to help comrades understand this topic, we are publishing Adam Booth, from the RCP Executive Committee, talking on monopolies and imperialism at our 2025 Revolution Festival. If you want to know more about this topic, we would reccomend reading Lenin's Imperialism: The highest stage of capitalism, as well as Colossus: The rise and decline of US imperialism. If you would like to hear more from Adam, we suggest his other talk from this event on the inner workings of capitalism, as well as his readers' guide to Marx's Capital.

On Saturday January 3rd 2026, Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped from his home by the United States. This is a clear act of Western Imperialist aggression which all communists should be opposed to. But why is it happening? What does this mean for US imperialism, world capitalism and countries like Venezuela? Speaking at an open meeting of the RCP in London, Jorge Martin, Secretary of the Hands Off Venezuela campaign and leading member of the RCI, explains the method in this madness. If you would like to learn more about the history of Venezuela we would recommend pre-ording Alan Wood's new book on the topic. We would also recommend reading Colossus: The rise and decline of US imperialism to understand what is happening today.

Every day the news in the Western world is full of stories about migration. Major political parties are forming their messaging around anti-migrant rhetoric. At the same time, the left is organising protests and holding signs which say 'refugees are welcome here'. But migration didn't come out nowhere, it is a product of capitalisms need for cheap labour and foreign wars. So what is the communist position on this question? At Revolution Festival last year, Fiona Lali from the RCP Executive Committee talked on this topic.

Merry Christmas! But what is Christmas? What is Christianity, and where did it come from? From a small, radical sect, to the world's most popular religion, spanning from West to East. Here, we republish a talk from 2 years ago given by Alan Woods, theoretical leader of the RCI, on the origins of Christianity. Here, he tracks from the early and radical start of Christianity, through to the bureaucratisation of Christianity and its use to colonise the world. Just a reminder, WellRed Britain is having a 20% off Christmas sale! Get your titles before they go!

From this year's Revolution Festival, Peter Kwasiborski, introduces Shostakovich. Stalin's bureaucracy waged a campaign of hate against artists who defied their narrow doctrine of 'Socialist Realism'. Dmitri Shostakovich's 'Anti-formalist Rayok' lambasts these cultural crimes, and defends the spirit of cultural freedom unleashed by the October Revolution.🔗 ⁠Head to our website for more analysis on the topic⁠✊ ⁠Join the Revolutionary Communist Party⁠📰 ⁠Subscribe to The Communist and the In Defence of Marxism magazine⁠💸 ⁠Donate to the RCP⁠🌐 ⁠Read the latest news and analysis from the RCI

Lenin and Trotsky stand as two of the most slandered men in history. Whether from the bourgeois, or from the Stalinists, their ideas are constantly misappriopriated. Stalinists have spent a century trying to divide Lenin and Trotsky. But was there really any difference between their ideas? In this talk, Olivia Ruadh, RCP Central Committee member, explains the real legacy of Lenin and Trotsky

Whatever you think of the Russian Revolution, it transformed the 20th century. For us, this event is the greatest in human history. Where the masses not only entered the scene of history but took their lives' into their own hands. This incredible event is rich in lessons for how to overthrow capitalism today. In this talk, Georgina Ryan, RCP Central Committee comrade, gives life to this important year in history. If you want to learn more about 1917, we would recommend these books from WellRed Britain. In Defence of October - Leon TrotskyHistory of the Russian Revolution - Leon TrotskyIn Defence of Lenin - Rob Sewell and Alan Woods

Marx's masterpiece, Das Kapital, is dripping with the most important lessons for humanity to understand. How does capitalism, the system we live under, actually work? What are the contradicitions inherent in how our economy runs, and how does this impact our lives as workers? At Revolution Festival this year, Adam Booth, who has just rewritten his guide to capital, explains Marx's writing for the modern reader. You can purchase Adam's guide here.

Recently there has been a renewed effort by the US to clamp down on Venezuela. Given this, we are publishing a talk by Jorge Martin from this year's Revolution Festival on the history of the Bolivarian Revolution and Hugo Chavez. This incredible event is rich in lessons for those wanting to fight imperialism and capitalism today.

Continuing with our series on the Russian Revolution of 1917, we republish here an episode from our sister podcast Spectre of Communism. In this discussion Fred Weston, alongside host Joe Attard discuss this monuments event; the first time the workers took power into their hands. This episode is also available at Marxist Voice on Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.

In honour of the anniversary of the Russian Revolution, Marxist Voice is proud to present a special episode. This Q&A with Rob Sewell, author of In Defence of Lenin, was recorded last night in front of an audience of communists in London eager to hear about the life and ideas of Lenin.The crisis of world capitalism clearly raises the need to train the next generation of Leninists. As we celebrate the Russian Revolution this year, it is clear that our task is to study the lessons of history so we can struggle for revolution today.In Defence of Lenin by Alan Woods and Rob Sewell can be purchased at Wellred Britain.

In the latest In Defence of Marxism magazine, Trotsky's theory of the Permanent Revolution is explained. This theory has gone down in history, as Stalin used it to try and divide Lenin and Trotsky. By the time these debates arose, the question had already been solved by history, in Trotsky's favour. Trotsky's theory was first written in his book Results and Prospects and was based on the experience of the 1905 revolution in Russia. The new magazine begins with this revolution and the formation of Trotsky's theory. Here, Joe Attard, author of the article, discusses the article in question. You can buy the magazine here: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/idom-51/

The Spanish Civil War was one of the greatest revolutionary struggles of the 20th century—and one of its greatest betrayals.At the RCP Summer Camp, Joe Russell explained how the working class of Spain rose against fascism and capitalism, only to be betrayed by the Stalinists, the reformists, and the centrist leadership of the POUM.Joe outlines the main lesson of 1936–39: without a revolutionary party rooted in the working class and Marxist theory, even the most heroic struggles can be defeated.From the Stalinist counterrevolution to the betrayal of the Popular Front, this talk highlights the burning need for a genuine communist leadership. For revolutionaries today, the Spanish Civil War shows the dangers of reformism, centrism, and class collaboration, and the necessity of building a revolutionary organisation. This talk is essential for anyone interested in anti-fascism, communism, and the history of the class struggle.🔗 ⁠⁠Head to our website for more analysis on the topic⁠⁠✊ ⁠⁠Join the Revolutionary Communist Party⁠⁠📰 ⁠⁠Subscribe to The Communist and the In Defence of Marxism magazine⁠⁠💸 ⁠⁠Donate to the RCP⁠⁠🌐 ⁠⁠Read the latest news and analysis from the RCI

The struggle against South African apartheid is a source of inspiration across the world. However, the understanding of how it was overthrown is limited, especially in the West. With the struggle to free Palestine, this topic holds a particular importance, as many on the left explain their support for the Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement on the lessons of South Africa. But what does this period really tell us about how our struggle today can be successful?In this talk from Revolution Festival 2024, Fiona Lali explains the view of communists on this vital struggle.

The genocide of Palestinians over the last 2 years has become a lightening rod for all the accumulated anger in society. People have been exposed to the bombing of hospitals, videos of mothers pulling their babies from the rubble and the vile response from governments internationally - that Israel 'has the right to defend itself'. Since October 7th 2023, millions across the world have come out to defend Palestine with demonstrations and encampments. It is clear that more is needed. The general strike in Italy has shown the way forward. Speaking at a meeting of the RCP in Central London, Fiona Lali lays out how the Palestine movement can be successful and the job of communists in achieving this.