A head-to-head debate between the revolutionary left (Sean Matgamna) and the traditional Labour left (Michael Foot), focused on the alternatives posed to the labour movement in the fight against the Thatcher Tories from 1979 to the mid-1980s. The core political arguments remain crucial.
This five publication deal also comes with a printed study course, in eleven suggested sessions. The course covers our key ideas about socialism and liberation, class struggle and organising against other oppressions and imperialism, about what we do and why. PDF here, docx file here.
Workers' Liberty activists are expected to complete the reading in this course by the end of the first six months as a candidate member — before progressing to a full member.
If you want to start or join a reading group let us know! If you would like this combination, but with additional study guides for the independent components contact us after ordering.
More publication bundles here.
Can Socialism Make Sense? makes the case for an authentic, emancipatory socialism; while a companion volume Democracy, Direct Action and Socialism argues for a revolutionary approach against the traditional reformist Labour left. Buy them as a pair — which comes with a paper study guide for the former — or as part of the Introduction to Workers' Liberty study course.
These three texts bring together a perspective on what it means to be a socialist in the Labour party. Corbynism: What went wrong? tracks reflections on the 2015-20 period, analysing the mistakes that the Corbyn leadership made. Socialism makes sense confronts head-on the strongest arguments against socialism now in circulation, inside the Labour Party and beyond, and argues for a society based on human solidarity, social ownership of industry and banks, and on political, economic, and social democracy. Democracy, Direct action and Socialism brings together head-to-head debates between the revolutionary left (Sean Matgamna) and the traditional Labour left (Michael Foot), focused on the alternatives posed to the labour movement in the fight against the Thatcher Tories from 1979 to the mid-1980s. The core political arguments remain crucial.
There are decisive turning points in history that shape the future for many years ahead. The British labour movement was brought to such a turning point by the victory of the Thatcherite Tories in the 1979 general election and the events that came after it. The defeat of the labour movement then shaped the social, political, and ethical world we live in now. Was that defeat unavoidable? The revolutionary left argued then that it wasn’t: that if we mobilised our strength we could defeat Thatcher, as we had defeated her Tory predecessors in 1972-4.
This book deals with the clash of ideas between the revolutionary left and the traditional Labour left then personified by Michael Foot.
It was republished to complement our book Can Socialism Make Sense?
The Debate:
The Conway Hall Debate:
Baksheesh:
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