1920s Britain: A "country nearer Bolshevism than at any time since"

In the sixth article in our series - 'war, global crises and working-class struggle' - Socialist Party national committee member Alistair Tice asks: does the picture following the World War One give more pointers to what we can expect today in terms of new economic crises and workers' struggles?.

The 'Lucas Plan'

When workers set out an alternative to job losses by creating socially useful products and technology: The announcement by Rolls Royce of 9,000 redundancies in its aero-engine business is one of many likely threats of job losses in the coming recession, writes Jane Nellist Coventry Socialist Party and president of Coventry TUC (personal capacity).

A new world order - global reconstruction after World War Two

The United States emerged from the carnage of World War One immeasurably strengthened, both economically and militarily, writes During the Covid-19 crisis, many commentators have talked about a 'new Bretton Woods' and the need for post-crisis international capitalist cooperation and reconstruction. In the fifth in our series on 'war, global crises and working-class struggle', Robin Clapp looks at reconstruction and global relations after the Second World War and the lessons for today.

The Spanish Flu of 1918 and how it "fanned the flames of revolt"

Laura Spinney's book on the 1918 flu pandemic, first published in 2017, is now being widely read

'Victory in Europe' 75th anniversary: A resurgent workers' movement and the fight for socialism

Victory in Europe had come at an enormous cost. 40 million soldiers and civilians had been killed, 27.5 million in the Soviet Union alone.

Peter Hadden remembered

Many Socialist Party members will remember Peter Hadden, who died ten years ago, on 5 May 2010 ('Obituary: Peter Hadden - an inspiring life for socialism' - socialistparty.org.uk)

The Tyneside apprentices' strike during WW2

I have been enjoying reading the articles on World War Two. There are many lessons to be learnt for today for our class and the youth, writes Heather Rawling, Leicester Socialist Party.

130 Years of May Day in Britain: Fight for workers' rights more relevant than ever

Overworked, underpaid, struggling to afford the basics - this is true of the situation facing many 'key workers' that the Covid-19 lockdown has so clearly demonstrated society is dependent on.

No return to the 1930s: World War Two and 'a land fit for heroes'

In the fourth article in our series 'war, global crises and working-class struggle', Socialist Party national committee member Tom Baldwin shows how working-class expectations were transformed by World War Two and the impact this had on the initial post-war period

Lenin at 150: A revolutionary life - and the relevance of his ideas for today

In January 1917 the world was in flames amid the barbarism of the first capitalist world war. Yet within months Lenin was elected head of the first democratic workers' government in history.

How the catastrophe of WW1 sparked revolution

In the third of a series of articles on 'war, global crises and working class struggle', Philip Stott - secretary, Socialist Party Scotland - describes how the horrors and privatiations of WW1 provoked revolutionary working class uprisings

Class collaboration and worker militancy in World War Two Britain

In the second of a series of articles on 'war, global crises and working class struggle', Alec Thraves - Socialist Party national committee - explains how workers' militancy broke the shackles of the World War Two coalition government in Britain

All in this together? The 'Blitz spirit' myth

In the first of a series of articles on 'war, global crises and working-class struggle', Chris Holmes exposes the myth of class unity during the World War Two

30 years since the huge anti-poll tax demo... And how mass non-payment of the tax was built

On 31 March 1990, a massive demonstration surged into central London. It was the culmination of months of organisation and defiance of the Tory government's hated poll tax by millions of overwhelmingly working-class people.

South Africa: 60 years marking the Sharpeville Massacre

The beginnings of revolutionary working-class struggle against a brutal capitalist regime

30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall: How a mass revolutionary movement for genuine socialism was diverted

The build-up to the official celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary have, as before, been dominated by anti-socialist propaganda.

Obituary - Bob Lee: 1954 - 2019

It was with great sadness and shock that I learnt of the death of Bob Lee, a former black member of the Militant Tendency (forerunner of the Socialist Party).

How working-class tenants beat Gentrification

Every time I drive up Lea Bridge Road in Walthamstow, east London, I pass the Butterfields estate. I look with pride to the 'Butterfields won't budge' poster still displayed in the window of one of the tenants.

The 1929 Wall Street Crash: When the capitalist system was on its knees

Ninety years ago the world was tipped into the 'Great Depression'. The Wall Street Crash saw stock markets descend into free-fall while banks failed. The capitalist economy slumped and the nightmare of mass unemployment for the working class became a reality.

China after the 1949 revolution: the benefits of the planned economy stifled by bureaucracy

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Chinese revolution. In the second of a series of articles marking that event, Tom Baldwin looks at the period following the declaration of the People's Republic of China.