In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Ben Curry - a leading activist of Socialist Appeal - discusses Marxism and modern science. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. On the anniversary of Engels’ birth, we highlight one of Engels’ greatest works, Dialectics of Nature. With his masterful grasp of dialectics, Engels pre-empted scientific discoveries like the equivalence of matter and energy and the role of labour in the development of modern humans. Ben Curry...
Sep 02, 2020•46 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In this episode, Alan explains how the split between the New Model Army and parliament was widening, as the former became increasingly radical, particularly the Levellers faction. At the famous Putney Debates, revolutionary ideas (including universal suffrage) were openly discuss...
Aug 28, 2020•52 min
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Adam Booth - a leading activist of Socialist Appeal - discusses the contradictions of capitalism and explains why it is in crisis. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. Apologists for capitalism argue that it is the best, most-efficient system that could ever possibly exist. But the current period of crisis and chaos prove otherwise. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an economic collapse that threatens to throw ...
Aug 26, 2020•34 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In this episode, Alan's discusses how, with the victory of Cromwell's army at the Battle of Naseby, the first English Civil War came to an end. The defeated King handed himself over to the Scots, hoping to play the New Model Army (likened to a combination of the Soviets, the Red ...
Aug 21, 2020•29 min
In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Alan Woods - editor of the In Defence of Marxism website and author of a long list of books on Marxist theory - discusses perspectives for the world revolution. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. The year 2020 will enter the annals of history as a decisive turning point. The coronavirus pandemic, the economic collapse and the corresponding wave of popular anger and revolts have brought all the contradictions in capita...
Aug 19, 2020•39 min
The Lebanese masses are moving once again. In the wake of the August 4th Beirut blast which devastated much of the city, the masses have taken to the streets to hold those responsible to account. Rightfully, they have aimed their anger at the corrupt government of Lebanon which caused the blast through their neglect and corruption. In the wake of this powerful movement, the government has resigned for the second time in less than a year. This is a great achievement, but the revolution must go fu...
Aug 17, 2020•36 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In this episode, Alan discusses how, after some losses at the hands of the Royalists, Oliver Cromwell and his new army scored a decisive turning point with a crushing victory at the battle of Marston Moor. But divisions were opening up on the parliamentary side between the radica...
Aug 14, 2020•34 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In our latest episode, Alan discusses how, with the Parliamentarians in a favourable position at the outbreak of the Civil War, thousands of men enlisted to fight on their side. The Royalists, relying on the less economically developed regions, were dependent on superior cavalry ...
Aug 07, 2020•28 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. Alan continues his series by explained how, by leaving London, King Charles set in motion a chain of events that would lead inevitably to civil war... A careful study of the English Revolution is obligatory for every class-conscious worker, Leon Trotsky noted. So tune in every we...
Jul 31, 2020•36 min
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Ben Gliniecki - writer for Socialist Appeal - discusses the beginnings of the Communist Party of Great Britain, which was founded 100 years ago on 31 July 1920. The founding of the British Communist Party in 1920 took place during a period of heightened class struggle, marking an important milestone in the development of Marxism. Although only a few thousands strong, it attracted the most militant sections of the working class and led key struggles, su...
Jul 31, 2020•55 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In our latest episode, Alan discusses how, after King Charles' patience with his rebellious parliament ran out, he launched an attempted coup d'état, leading to one of the most famous scenes in English history, with Charles arriving at parliament with a list of names for arrest, ...
Jul 24, 2020•32 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In our latest episode, Alan looks at the developments following the execution of Strafford. If King Charles thought Strafford's execution would calm the situation in England, he was dead wrong. Aside from continued opposition from Pym and parliament, the masses were becoming bold...
Jul 17, 2020•57 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In the latest episode, Alan outlines how King Charles's maneuvers forced him to recall parliament yet again. This however, gave an outlet for the pent up anger of the masses. A new period of turmoil opens up as the conflict pours out onto the streets. Petitions and political agit...
Jul 10, 2020•41 min
From the archive: In this talk from 2013, Fred Weston (editor of www.marxist.com) explains the formation and later collapse of the Fourth International, led by Leon Trotsky in opposition to the Stalinist ComIntern. Fred will be speaking about the history of the International Marxist Tendency at Marxist University 2020. Get your ticket today at https://university.marxist.com/en/
Jul 09, 2020•59 min
In this talk from Socialist Appeal's "Marx in a Day" event in 2018(which celebrated Karl Marx's 200th birthday), Josh Holroyd discusses the contribution made by the great revolutionary thinker towards our understanding of history. With their ideas of "scientific socialism", Marx and Engels provided the first real materialist analysis of how history develops, explaining that the motor force behind society's evolution is the class struggle and the drive to increase the humankind's productive force...
Jul 06, 2020•43 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In this latest episode, Alan explained how the English Revolution began in Scotland. After 11 years of tyranny under King Charles and his court clique, their attempt at religious reform in Scotland proved a serious mistake. A riot at a Cathedral turned into a revolutionary moveme...
Jul 03, 2020•33 min
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Labour activist and Socialist Appeal writer Joe Attard joins us to discuss Keir Starmer's dismissal of Rebecca Long-Bailey, and what this means for the fight inside the Labour Party. Last week, Starmer crossed the Rubicon by sacking Long-Bailey from the Shadow Cabinet, based on spurious charges of anti-semitism. This is a declaration of war on the left. Join us to discuss the ongoing battle inside the Labour Party, and how activists should get organised to...
Jun 30, 2020•34 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In the latest episode, Alan describes how, with parliament suspended, Charles I was determined to enforce his authority in matters of religion and state. His reforms to the church provoked horror and resentment from the people of England, and he exploited loopholes to raise cash ...
Jun 26, 2020•31 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In this episode, Alan describes the escalating conflicts between King Charles and parliament. Charles dissolved parliament several times, culminating in a dissolution that was to last for 11 years. The country was now firmly on the road to war and revolution. A careful study of t...
Jun 19, 2020•28 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In episode four, Alan Woods discusses the escalating conflicts between parliament and the Machiavellian King Charles, who wanted money to fund various military adventures. These splits at the top were concurrent with a seething discontent at the bottom of society, reflected in th...
Jun 12, 2020•38 min
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Fiona Lali - national organiser of the Marxist Student Federation - to discuss the massive protests against racism and police violence that have erupted across the UK. Sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in the USA, the Black Lives Matter has rapidly spread to Britain - finding a powerful echo in a country with its own deeply racist history; and where BAME communities are only too aware of the inequality, injustice, and oppression ...
Jun 09, 2020•38 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. Revolutions always start with splits at the top. In episode three, Alan describes the tensions developing between King Charles (and his Catholic wife), firm in his belief in the divine right of kings; and the increasingly powerful English parliament. A careful study of the Englis...
Jun 05, 2020•35 min
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Alan Woods - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the police killing of George Floyd in the USA and the insurrectionary protests seen in response across America. The cold-blooded murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police is yet another horrific act of racist violence against an unarmed black man in broad daylight. This has sparked protests across the country, showing that people are fed up with capitalism's systemic racism. As Alan explains, thes...
Jun 02, 2020•38 min
The cold-blooded murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police is yet another horrific act of racist violence against an unarmed black man in broad daylight. This has yet again sparked protests across the country, showing that people are fed up with the systemic racism of the capitalist system. When the great revolutionary martyr Malcolm X said, “You can’t have capitalism without racism,” he summed up a profound truth about the world we live in. This racist brutality is hardwired into the capital...
Jun 01, 2020•25 min
In our podcast series 'The World Turned Upside Down', Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) discusses the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. In this episode, Alan sets the scene of England on the brink of revolution. The country was facing a profound economic crisis, there was an army of downtrodden poor, and radical religious ideas were taking hold amongst the burgeoining middle classes. Under the surface, these idea...
May 29, 2020•43 min
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined by Pamela Fitzpatrick - Labour councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrow East - to discuss the current contest for Labour general secretary, and what changes and demands party members should fight for. Pamela was also herself a candidate to replace Jennie Formby, and is a founding members of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour Councillors. We therefore hear from Pamela about her thoughts on the leaked report and the ensu...
May 26, 2020•35 min
Welcome to episode one of our new series - The English Revolution: The World Turned Upside Down. Every Friday, Alan Woods (editor of In Defence of Marxism) will be discussing the English Revolution: a colossal event in world history that dealt an irreparable blow to feudal absolutism. It is said that revolution has never come to the British Isles. In fact, modern British democracy was born out of a violent revolution and a bloody Civil War, which saw the king lose his head. Today, we are witness...
May 22, 2020•36 min
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined again by Natasha Sorrell - an activist with the National Education Union - to discuss the current war being waged against teachers by the Tories and the right-wing press. Under pressure from big business, the government are hastily attempting to restart the economy. As part of this, the Tories are belligerently pushing to open up schools. But they have no plan for how to ensure the safety of staff and students, and are putting teachers' lives ...
May 19, 2020•26 min
In this talk from Revolution Festival 2019, Hamid Alizadeh - editor of In Defence of Marxism - discusses the fight against imperialism and colonialism. The post-war period saw a wave of revolutions in the colonial world, bringing down many imperialist regimes. Liberals would have us believe that ended ‘imperialism’ and the oppression of the so-called ‘Third World’. But the legacy of colonialism lives on today, with just as great a chasm between a handful of powerful capitalist states, and the im...
May 18, 2020•51 min
In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Curry of the Socialist Appeal editorial board joins us to discuss the government's recent announcement about the lifting of the lockdown. Amidst all of Boris Johnson's confused and contradictory statements, one message was loud and clear: workers are expected to sacrifice themselves so that the bosses can continue to make profits. The labour movement must organise to take control in workplaces and oppose any premature or unsafe return to work. Support ...
May 12, 2020•36 min
