Socialism

What are the 2011 Arab Spring’s lessons for now?Ten years ago, revolutions erupted in Egypt and Tunisia, and rapidly spread in the Middle East and North Africa. Workers and poor people enraged by their living conditions toppled dictators.World capitalist governments were taken by surprise. Why did Marxists in the Committee for a Workers’ International foresee that uprisings were coming?What was the outcome of the Arab Spring movements? Why did some go further than others, and why have none achieved the full aims of protesters?What is the significance of revolutions in the region since? And what is needed for the further upheavals which are already brewing to finish the job?This episode of Socialism looks at the tenth anniversary of the Arab Spring: lessons for today.Further readingTen years since the 'Arab Spring': https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31923/27-01-2021/ten-years-since-the-arab-springEgypt: The road to the 2011 revolution: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/01/25/egypt-the-road-to-the-2011-revolution/Tunisia: explosion of protests against government austerity (2018): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/26747/17-01-2018/tunisia-explosion-of-protests-against-government-austerityIran: strike wave marks new stage in revival of workers' movement (2020): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31329/09-09-2020/strike-wave-marks-new-stage-in-revival-of-iranian-workers-movementLebanon: mass protests cut across sectarian division (2020): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30278/12-02-2020/lebanon-mass-protests-cut-across-sectarian-division

How should socialists respond to the dramatic crisis in the US?On Wednesday 6 January 2021, Trump supporters - some armed - invaded Congress. It was the culmination of the loose-cannon president’s desperate attempts to overturn the election result. But the US capitalist class is used to inflicting humiliations like this on the rest of the world – not losing control at home.Was this action just a protest-turned-riot, or did it represent some kind of attempted coup? Are Trump and his movement ‘fascists’, or is the real picture more varied and chaotic?The opposite attitudes of Capitol Hill police officers and US military chiefs show the splits in the US state machine. The big divide between Trump’s supporters and other Republicans shows splits are developing there too.So can incoming Democrat Joe Biden fundamentally change the fortunes of US capitalism, or the conditions of the mass of the population? Is it right to support social media bans, new anti-terror laws, and the Democratic Party? Or could that actually help Trump and hinder working-class struggles?Clearly the events of 6 January were a watershed. What do workers and young people in the US need in order to put their own stamp on events?This episode of Socialism looks at the United States in crisis: the storming of the capital.Further reading and listeningCWI analysis of the US post-election crisis: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31867/20-01-2021/usa-in-crisis-the-need-for-a-socialist-alternativeUS socialists respond to 6 January attacks: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31834/13-01-2021/how-should-socialists-respond-to-the-6-january-attacks-on-capitol-hillCWI statement immediately following 6 January events: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/01/07/us-in-crisis-need-for-a-mass-workers-party-and-socialist-programme/Trump Twitter ban: only independent workers' voice can defeat right: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31884/20-01-2021/trump-twitter-ban-only-independent-workers-voice-can-defeat-rightUS imperialism in decline: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/99-2020-highlights-us-imperialism-in-decline

What is the outlook for class struggle in Britain in 2021?The pandemic was a world-shattering turning point. All the weaknesses of capitalism were laid bare in 2020. But in few countries more so than Britain.The nightmare which began in 2020 has not been limited to public health, but has infected the already-ailing world economy – with British capitalism the worst hit of all the major capitalist powers. Working-class and young people have already suffered hugely as the bosses try to pass on the pain. The bare-bones Brexit deal will only make things worse for Britain’s capitalist rulers.Boris Johnson’s Tory government has been completely exposed for its incompetence and craven defence of profit over lives. But Keir Starmer’s Labour offers no opposition whatsoever. Britain’s working class has no political voice – and desperately needs to build for a new, independent, mass workers’ party.Already this year, the trade unions have overturned the government by forcing part-closure of schools. And young people showed they are ready to explode in protest in last year's Black Lives Matter movement.British capitalism is not well. Meanwhile, Britain’s working class is angry – but lacks political organisation and leadership.This episode of Socialism look at Britain in 2021: a new era of capitalist crisis.Further reading2020 - a year which drove home the catastrophic failures of capitalism: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31784/30-12-2020/2020-a-year-which-drove-home-the-catastrophic-failures-of-capitalismGlobal capitalism at most dangerous conjuncture since the 1930s: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31825/13-01-2021/global-capitalism-at-most-dangerous-conjuncture-since-the-1930sWorkers' action wins Tory U-turn on school safety: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31788/06-01-2021/workers-action-wins-tory-u-turn-on-school-safetyUniversities: refund the rent, cancel the fees, for fully funded, publicly owned education: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31792/06-01-2021/universities-refund-the-rent-cancel-the-fees-for-fully-funded-publicly-owned-education

What do young people need today - and how can they fight for it?Last summer, massive, young, working-class protests exploded around the world after the murder of George Floyd, and other appalling incidents of racism and police violence. But it's not just these issues that angered young people.In the US, Britain and around the world, the youth are suffering appalling conditions, and a future of crisis and uncertainty. But young people have also fought. In electoral movements - through support for figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders. And on the streets - in the global climate strikes, and last year’s huge, young and working-class uprisings under the slogan of ‘Black Lives Matter’.Even before the pandemic, wages were low, jobs insecure, housing and education unaffordable - and tomorrow promised nothing but economic and social turmoil, and even climate catastrophe. In 2020, the pandemic multiplied all these problems, as the capitalists and their politicians dumped the burden disproportionately on the working class and youth. Young people on the streets were angry about racism, but they were also angry about all of it.How can young people fight to change things? And what would a socialist programme offer young people in that struggle? This episode of Socialism, one of our highlights of 2020, looks at how young people can fight back: a socialist youth charter.Further reading and listeningRefund the rent, cancel the fees, and fight for fully funded, publicly owned education: https://socialiststudents.org.uk/2021/01/05/refund-the-rent-cancel-the-fees-and-fight-for-fully-funded-publicly-owned-education/Socialism 91. Universities in crisis: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/91-universities-in-crisisA socialist charter for young people: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/txt/555.pdf

The crisis-ridden US has two options: socialism or barbarism. In the run-up to last year’s election, the United States was faced with a litany of crises. This episode was recorded during the run-up - but Biden’s election changes little. Like many capitalist economies, the US had to partly suspend production in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The state was forced to inject trillions of dollars into the economy to keep the capitalist system going. The capitalists were facing these crises with an unreliable representative at the helm: Donald Trump. But they were breathing a bit easier once Bernie Sanders, who came to prominence with his promise of a “political revolution” against the “billionaire class,” endorsed a more reliable representative of big business interests in the form of the Democrat Joe Biden. Biden narrowly defeated Trump. But the problems faced by “Sleepy Joe’s” administration have no solution on the basis of the capitalist system that both he and Trump defend.Huge anger is growing. Class polarisation sharpens as the divisions between bosses and workers are exposed. Armed demonstrations ratchet up the tensions. Capitalism is threatening to plunge millions more into poverty, on a scale not seen since the Great Depression.This episode of Socialism, one of our highlights of 2020, looks at US imperialism in decline: coronavirus, Trump, Sanders and socialism.Further readingTrump out but not down: http://socialismtoday.org/trump-out-but-not-downLesser evil Democrats won’t end Trumpism: http://socialismtoday.org/lesser-evil-democrats-wont-end-trumpismRevolution or reaction: http://socialismtoday.org/revolution-or-reactionGlobal covid-19 pandemic, capitalist crisis and bitter class polarisation in the United States: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/04/21/global-covid-19-pandemic-capitalist-crisis-and-bitter-class-polarisation-in-the-united-states/