Europe

Workers against Stalinist tanks

The Hungarian revolution created a system of workers' councils and counterposed it to both capitalism and the Stalinist system. Download PDF

The Peace Programme (1915)

I. What Is a Program of Peace? What is a program of peace? From the viewpoint of the ruling classes or of the parties subservient to them, it is the totality of those demands, the realization of which must be ensured by the power of militarism. Hence, for the realization of Miliukov’s “peace program” Constantinople must be conquered by force of arms. Vandervelde’s “peace program” requires the expulsion of the Germans from Belgium as an antecedent condition. From this standpoint the peace clauses merely draw the balance sheet of what has been achieved by force of arms. In other words, the peace...

Blitzkrieg and Revolution (May 1940)

I. IF HITLER WINS – PERSPECTIVE FOR SOCIAL REVOLUTION The fundamentals of Marxism have not changed. But the German blitzkrieg has radically altered the political situation. For years all informed persons, from Roosevelt to Trotsky, believed that the Germans would be defeated in the second imperialist war. Revolutionaries looked forward to this defeat as initiating an era of socialist revolution. The imperialist perspective was not very different. The bourgeoisie dreaded the exhaustion of both sides, followed by the revolt of the millions in Central Europe against the long drawn out slaughter...

Remaking Socialism: From Socialism's Collapse in 1914 to the Foundation of the Communist International in March 1919

THE ECLIPSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL On 4 August, 1914, the Workers' International breathed its last, and that watchword of socialism "Death to militarism", which should have rung out clear and strong above the tumult of mobilisation and the clash of arms, was unheard by the peoples of the world. No doubt this cry of revolt from a workers' movement animated by a true solidarity of the exploited against their task masters would have been promptly stifled by the death-dealing implements of war, and by the weight of censorship and martial law, but ere its defeat it would have awakened the consciences...

Cyprus elections

Presidential elections were held in Cyprus on 17 February. In a run-off on 24 February Nicos Anastasiadis of the Democracy Rally Party (DHSY) won with 57.5% of the vote. The Cyprus elections come amid panic about the collapse of banks and the entire economy of Cyprus — and a long strike by construction workers. Anastasiadis replaces Demetris Christofias of AKEL (the Communist Party), who is going to go down in history as the “communist president” who brought Cyprus under an EU/ECB/IMF cuts memorandum. He did not seek re-election. Stavros Malas, supported by AKEL, got 42.5% of the vote. • Full...

Cyprus: lessons from AKEL's shame

The Cyprus elections come amidst panic about the collapse of banks and the entire economy of Cyprus - and in the midst of a long strike by construction workers. In these presidential elections the economy took precedence over the national questions. A big lead was secured by candidate of the (DHSY), Nicos Anastasiadis, who was also supported by the majority of the Democratic Party (DHKO). He will almost certainly win the second round [post-script: he did win the second round]. The current president of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias of AKEL (the Communist Party), who is going to go down in...

The first European general strike in history

Wednesday 14 November, the day this paper goes to press, will see the first Europe-wide general strike in history. There will be strikes in Spain, Portugal, Greece (for three hours) and Italy (by CGIL, for four hours). The common demand proclaimed by the European TUC is “For jobs and solidarity in Europe: no to austerity”. In many other countries unions will organise demonstrations: France, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Romania, Belgium. In Lithuania, unions are organising a transport strike in Vilnius. Outside the borders of the European Union, the Turkish union DISK is...

European strike on 14 November

14 November will see Europe’s first ever continent-wide general strike. It will be far from complete, but workers in several different countries will be out “for jobs and solidarity in Europe: no to austerity”. There will be full one-day general strikes in Spain and Portugal. Greek unions are expected to follow up their two-day general strike on 6-7 November by striking again on 14 November. In Italy, the CGIL union federation has called a four-hour general strike. According to some reports there will also be general strikes in Cyprus and Malta. In France, the unions are organising numerous...

14 November: European unions to strike together

Trade union federations in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus have called general strikes on Wednesday 14 November. Unions in France and Italy are also said to be considering calling mass strikes. Spanish union federation CCOO said: “Unemployment, cuts, the impoverishment of the majority and the deterioration of public services justify a general strike.” CCOO and UGT, Spain’s two main union federations, held a “social summit” with working-class community organisations, students’ unions, and smaller trade unions to launch the strike call. CCOO leader Ignacio Fernandez Toxo said he...

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