Socialism and Democracy: the Foot/ O'Mahony debate
Debate between then Labour Party leader Michael Foot, and John O'Mahony, in 1982 on socialism and democracy, with a 1994 introduction.
Marxist Theory
Marxism and democracy
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By James P Cannon. This is an extract from Cannon's reply to a criticism of his court evidence in 1941.
Comrade Munis [1] is dissatisfied with our assertions at the trial that “we submit to the majority”.
The movement of the majority
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By James P Cannon, from Socialism on Trial, 1941. This is an extract from Cannon's evidence in the court where, during World War 2, he and other American Trotskyists and trade unionists were put on trial and jailed for hindering the US war effort.
Trotsky on democracy in the Russian Revolution (1918)
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THE FATE OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.
When, after Korniloff’s adventure, the paramount parties on the Soviets made an attempt to make amends for their previous attitude of indulgence towards the counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie, they demanded the speedy convocation of the Constituent Assembly.
Vladimir Lenin on democracy and dictatorship
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Lenin called for the "dictatorship of the proletariat" as a great expansion of democracy.
Hal Draper: An Eye-Witness Account of the Russian Revolution
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The Russian revolution was the most important event of the 20th century.
Democracy, Direct Action and Class Struggle: the Defects of Bourgeois Democracy
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The malaise of bourgeois democracy in Britain is now a subject of much discussion and concern. The discussion on democracy, early in 1982, between Michael Foot, then leader of the Labour Party, and Socialist Organiser, a forerunner of AWL, may help readers form a clearer picture of the issues beyond small-scale financial corruption.
Marxism at Work: Overtime
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Lots of workers do overtime to supplement low wages. But while you might feel the need to do this to get by, the system of overtime itself helps the bosses keep your wages down.
Other workers, even if their pay is OK, might feel pressured to do overtime to keep the job running and save their workmates from carrying the burden of uncovered duties. But where employers can rely on workers doing overtime, you find that vacancies take longer to be filled. Why should the company hurry up spending money on recruiting, training and kitting out new staff when they can use the existing ones? Even where overtime rates are higher than normal rates, they are cheaper for the employer than hiring a new worker.
Communist Manifesto study course
A guide to studying the Communist Manifesto (PDF). If you prefer to download it as a Word file, click here.
Communist Manifesto - study course
A guide to studying the Communist Manifesto ('Word' file). If you prefer to download it as a PDF, click here.