Marxist Voice

The events of the German revolution are some of the most tragic in the history of the world workers movement. One year after the Russian revolution, the German workers rose up, overthrew the Kaiser, and set up Soviets all over the country. But unlike the Russian revolution, where the Bolshevik party had been founded 14 years in advance, the revolutionary party in Germany, the Spartacus league, was founded one month after the revolution began. As a result, they were caught unprepared, and the revolution was beheaded. In this episode of Marxist Voice, Andy Southwark will explain the events of the German revolution to draw out the need for us to build a tempered revolutionary leadership, ready for the class struggles ahead. 📚 Get a copy of Germany 1918-1933: Socialism or Barbarism: wellredbooks.co.uk/product/in-defence-of-lenin/ 🌍 Sign up to attend the founding conference of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com ✊ Help us overthrow the warmongers in Westminster! Join the Revolutionary Communist Party! 💸 Support the RCP by donating to our fighting fund: communist.red/join 🗞️ Help us build a voice for the working class by subscribing to our newspaper, The Communist: communist.red/subscribe

The events of the Russian revolution were the greatest in all human history. For the first time, the exploited masses fought back and won. The revolution birthed the most progressive state the world had ever seen, with the Communist International — led by Lenin and Trotsky — becoming a beacon of internationalism, inspiring workers and poor everywhere. And yet, within 10 years, the Soviet Union had degenerated into a bureaucratic and totalitarian regime. The Communist International went from a harbinger of world revolution to a tool for the narrow, national interests of the Soviet bureaucracy, with Stalin at its head. In this session, Rob Sewell will discuss the main processes that led to the degeneration of the Russian revolution, answering the question: What is Stalinism? 📚 Get a copy of In Defence of Lenin: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/in-defence-of-lenin/ 🌍 Sign up to attend the founding conference of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com ✊ Help us overthrow the warmongers in Westminster! Join the Revolutionary Communist Party! 💸 Support the RCP by donating to our fighting fund: communist.red/join 🗞️ Help us build a voice for the working class by subscribing to our newspaper, The Communist: communist.red/subscribe

Following her takedown of Suella Braverman, and with a surge of grassroots support, Fiona Lali is standing as a revolutionary communist candidate for Stratford and Bow in the upcoming general election. Vote for Fiona! Bring down the warmongers! 🔗 Support Fiona's campaign! Volunteer and donate: https://fionalalircp.com ✊ Help us overthrow the warmongers in Westminster! Join the Revolutionary Communist Party! 💸 Support the RCP by donating to our fighting fund: https://communist.red/join 🗞️ Help us build a voice for the working class by subscribing to our newspaper, The Communist: https://communist.red/subscribe 🌍 Sign up to attend the founding conference of the Revolutionary Communist International: https://schoolofcommunism.com

Student encampments in support of Palestine have rapidly spread to universities across Britain. This talk is from a meeting organised by the Revolutionary Communist Party which discussed how we aim to broaden, link together, and escalate this struggle. ✊ Help us overthrow these hypocritical warmongers in Westminster! Join the Revolutionary Communist Party! - communist.red/join 🗞️ Help us build a voice for the working class by subscribing to our newspaper, The Communist: communist.red/subscribe 🌍 Sign up to attend the founding conference of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com

Communists are often accused of being bloodthirsty and violent provocateurs, who would stop at nothing to achieve their malevolent aims. But our accusers are the same people responsible for the slaughters in Gaza, Sudan, the Congo and countless others. In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ellen Morton will explain the difference between their morals, the morals of the bloody and barbarian capitalist system, and ours, the morals of the slaves in struggle to end slavery. 📚 Get your copy of Lenin's selected works on imperialist war: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/tr... 🌎 Sign up for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com/ ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': communist.red/subscribe 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: communist.red/write

The RCP has been accused of antisemitism by Michael Gove in an attempt to cover up the crimes of British imperialism and its support of Israel’s genocide. We sit down with Fiona Lali to discuss Gove's outrageous smear, the ICC request for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and what lies ahead for the Palestine encampments. ✊ Help us overthrow these hypocritical warmongers in Westminster! Join the Revolutionary Communist Party! 💸 Support the RCP by donating to our fighting fund: https://communist.red/join 🗞️ Help us build a voice for the working class by subscribing to our newspaper, The Communist: https://communist.red/subscribe 🔗 Register for our online national meeting 'Overthrow the warmongers! Build the movement': https://communist.red/palestinemeeting 🌍 Sign up to attend the founding conference of the Revolutionary Communist International: https://schoolofcommunism.com 🔗 Read Alan Woods' analysis of the ICC arrest warrant: https://communist.red/icc-arrest-warrant-will-netanyahu-be-brought-before-the-law/ 🔗 Read our article 'Gove's hypocrisy: The shocking history of Tory Party antisemitism: https://communist.red/goves-hypocrisy-the-shocking-history-of-tory-party-antisemitism/

‘Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition’, by Cedric Robinson, has featured in countless anti-racist reading lists across schools and universities. The title suggests it will be a synthesis of Marxism and the Black struggle. In reality, it is an attempt to divide the two entirely. What is the ‘Black Radical Tradition’, and how does the Marxist method apply to it? In this session, Fiona Lali will explore whether historical materialism can explain the development of racism, if the working class in the West can overcome racism, and whether a ‘black consciousness’ exists. 📚 Subscribe to the In Defence of Marxism magazine: communist.red/magazine/ 🌎 Sign up for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com/ ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': communist.red/subscribe 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: communist.red/write

Fanon has been used by academics as a basis for a whole series of confused and reactionary ideas about “de-colonisation of the mind”. However, “Wretched of the Earth” is a book about revolutionary struggle against colonialism, arms in hand. In the book, Fanon issues very sharp and prescient warnings about the treacherous role of the bourgeoisie after independence, but at the same time he argues that the only revolutionary classes in colonial countries are the peasantry and the lumpen-proletariat, as opposed to the working class. In this talk, Jorge Martin will discuss how Fanon reached these conclusions, what role he played in the Algerian revolution, and why the strategy he advocated was wrong. 📚 Subscribe to the In Defence of Marxism magazine: https://communist.red/magazine/ 🌎 Sign up for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com/ ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': communist.red/subscribe 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: communist.red/write

The history of the British Empire is littered with horrendous crimes. From the partitions of India and Ireland, to the suppression of the Mau Mau uprising, to the violent Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to its murderous role in the Easter Rising and Bloody Sunday; it is impossible to mention all the brutalities of British imperialism. Many brave anti-imperialists have fought and died for the cause of expelling British imperialism from their countries. It is our duty to learn from this history. Despite this, the legacy of the British Empire lives on, as does British Imperialism, though in a degenerate and pathetic form. Today, many previous colonies are still struggling to break free from the economic and political backwardness imposed upon them by the British state. In this episode, Sarah Vedrovich will discuss the rise and fall of the British Empire and the heroic attempts to fight back against British forces, opening up the arsenal of historical lessons which must be absorbed if we are to overthrow imperialism and capitalism today. 📚 Get your copy of Trotsky's Writings on Britain: https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/tr... 🌎 Sign up for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist International: schoolofcommunism.com/ ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': communist.red/subscribe 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: communist.red/write

With the founding congress only days away, we are joined by RCP national secretary Ben Gliniecki for the final episode of the series, to discuss the importance of this event, how the congress works, and what you can do to prepare for this historic weekend. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: https://communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: https://communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': https://communist.red/subscribe 📚 Check out Britain's Marxist bookshop, Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: https://communist.red/write

All across the world capitalism is in crisis. Climate change, imperialist war and the crushing poverty of the vast majority are exposing millions to the horror of the system and driving them towards revolutionary conclusions. But to bind these class fighters together and channel their anger into the fight for communism, a world party is needed, one that can create, school and orientate a leadership ready to successfully carry through the world socialist revolution. That is what we are building. In this session, Fred Weston will discuss the history of the International Marxist Tendency, and why, by building on the firm foundation of theory, it has been able to emerge as the strongest revolutionary force amongst workers and youth internationally. 🌎 Sign up for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist International: https://schoolofcommunism.com/ ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': communist.red/subscribe 📚 Check out Britain's Marxist bookshop, Wellred Books: wellredbooks.co.uk 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: communist.red/write

The Iranian Revolution was one of the most inspiring revolutionary episodes of the post-war period. Without any pre-adopted plan, programme, or leadership, the Iranian masses swept away the Shah, and began to take charge of society for themselves through popular councils. And yet, this power was not consolidated, leading to the decline and defeat of the revolution. In this session, Hamid Alizadeh discusses this great historic drama, which holds a wealth of lessons for revolutionaries today — not only in Iran, but across the world where the working class is preparing to go onto to he offensive once again. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: https://communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: https://communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': https://communist.red/subscribe 📚 Check out Britain's Marxist bookshop, Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: https://communist.red/write

With only two weeks to go until the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, and with students heading back to campuses for a final term of university, we sit down with Fiona Lali and Lubna Badi – members of the RCP's campaigns department – to discuss how RCP branches can recruit and organise around universities. In this episode, we cover how the capitalist crisis is affecting young people, the tactics and methods we can use to build the Party on campus, as well as how students can face outwards towards the wider class struggle. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: https://communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: https://communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': https://communist.red/subscribe 📚 Check out Britain's Marxist bookshop, Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: https://communist.red/write

The powerful rise of the Scottish independence movement once struck fear into the British ruling class, threatening to break the United Kingdom and raise the rebellious spirit of the working class. Nearly ten years since the referendum that unleashed opposition to Tory Britain, and raised the Scottish National Party to unprecedented support, the movement is at a crossroads. The SNP leadership clique have proven themselves to be politically bankrupt, unable to retain their rosy reformist image as they carry out attacks on the working class, and completely lack any sincere strategy for the independence movement. In this session, Shaun Morris will discuss the crisis faced by Scottish nationalism, and why we can look toward the class struggle for a way forward for the fight for independence. 📚 Get a copy of 'In defence of Lenin': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/in-defence-of-lenin/ ✊ Join our campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: communist.red/join 📰 Subscribe to The Communist newspaper today: communist.red/subscribe 💸 Donate to our special party launch fund: communist.red/donate

With less than three weeks to go until the founding of the Revolutionary Communist Party, we sit down with Jorge Martín, a leading member of the soon-to-be Revolutionary Communist International which is also being founded this summer. In this episode, we cover why the working class needs an international, the successes we've had in the recent period, as well as how the international works. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: https://communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: https://communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': https://communist.red/subscribe 📚 Check out Britain's Marxist bookshop, Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: https://communist.red/write 🔗 Read the Manifesto of the RCI: https://www.marxist.com/manifesto-of-the-revolutionary-communist-international.htm 🌍 Sign up for the World School of Communism taking place in June: https://schoolofcommunism.com

In June, the International Marxist Tendency will take the monumental step of founding a new Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), to provide communist workers and youth around the world with a bold rallying point in the struggle to overthrow capitalism. In doing so, the RCI will build on the immense revolutionary legacy left behind by the Third (Communist) International, founded by Lenin and the Bolsheviks as the world party of revolution. 🔗 Register now for the founding of the RCI: https://schoolofcommunism.com/ This week’s episode of Spectre of Communism podcast welcomes Fred Weston, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency, to explain the historic revolutionary importance of the Communist International. In doing so, Fred demonstrates the palpable need for a similar organisation in the world today. 🔗 Read the RCI Manifesto: communist.red/manifesto 🔗 Ted Grant's 'The Rise and Fall of the Comintern' cited in this episode: https://www.marxist.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-communist-international.htm ✊ Join the Communists! Build the Revolutionary Communist Party: communist.red/join 📰 Subscribe to The Communist newspaper today: communist.red/subscribe 💸 Donate to our special party launch fund: communist.red/donate

The capitalist system is in a deep global crisis. Its decline has devastating consequences, not only in terms of social and economic conditions, but also the destruction of the planet. This is shaking millions of people to political life and it has driven an increase in political activity of all kinds. In particular, some are drawn towards the methods of ‘direct action’ and ‘civil disobedience’. In this talk, Joe Russell will examine the limits of ‘direct action’ groups like Just Stop Oil, XR and, even to some extent, the self-proclaimed communist organisations. By revisiting some of Lenin’s writings from the early 1900s, and by examining political developments today, Joe will present a Marxist approach to these struggles, which correspond to the period of revolution that is opening up before us. 📚 Get a copy of 'What is to be done': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/what-is-to-be-done/ ✊ Join our campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: communist.red/join 📰 Subscribe to The Communist newspaper today: communist.red/subscribe 💸 Donate to our special party launch fund: communist.red/donate

As Lenin famously declared, "without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement." Defending the ideas of genuine Marxism is the bedrock of what we do here at the Revolutionary Communist Party. With just a month to go until the founding congress of the RCP, Fiona Lali and Jack Tye Wilson discuss why Marxist theory is essential to building the Party, as well as how communists can go about educating themselves. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join 💸 Donate towards the launch of the RCP: https://communist.red/donate 📨 Order your communist cell starter pack: https://communist.red/starterpack 📰 Subscribe to 'The Communist' and 'In Defence of Marxism': https://communist.red/subscribe 📚 Check out Britain's Marxist bookshop, Wellred Books: https://wellredbooks.co.uk 🔗 Visit our Marxist education hub: https://communist.red/education 📝 Send in your questions, reports, and more, for both the podcast and the newspaper: https://communist.red/write 🔗 Read the draft theses on the coming British revolution: https://communist.red/theses-on-the-coming-british-revolution/ 🔗 Read the Manifesto of the RCI: https://www.marxist.com/manifesto-of-the-revolutionary-communist-international.htm

In the first complete Marxist history of the Roman Republic, Alan Woods’ recently launched book provides a gripping and accessible analysis of the titanic struggles that shaped the Roman world, and continue to resonate today. Spanning more than a thousand years of development, the book delves into the fundamental processes which gave rise to the emergence of Rome as an imperial power, the crisis of the Late Republic and the rise of the Caesars. It also features additional material by the author on the eventual decline of the Roman Empire and the Marxist theory of the state. In this session, Alan Woods will discuss the treasure trove of history and theory covered in his new book, and why all serious revolutionaries must study these lessons to better equip themselves for the battles ahead. 📚 Get a copy of 'Class struggle in the Roman republic': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/class-struggle-in-the-roman-republic/ ✊ Join our campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: communist.red/join 📰 Subscribe to The Communist newspaper today: communist.red/subscribe 💸 Donate to our special party launch fund: communist.red/donate

The oppression of women is one of the most reactionary elements of class society and Marxists have always stood on the frontlines in the fight against it. Yet one the most common prejudices against Marxism is that it views the struggle for women’s emancipation as secondary. For example, Silvia Federici, who calls herself a Marxist-feminist, criticises Marxism and says Marx’s analysis of capitalism falls short andignores the sexual division of labour in capitalist accumulation. This could not be further from the truth. In this talk, Lotta Angantyr will explain what Marxists actually have to say about women’s oppression — both in terms of women’s role in family throughout history, and what we need to do to end it once and for all. 📚 Get a copy of 'Women, Family and the Russian Revolution': https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/women-family-and-the-russian-revolution/ ✊ Join our campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: communist.red/join 📰 Subscribe to The Communist newspaper today: communist.red/subscribe 💸 Donate to our special party launch fund: communist.red/donate