Ian Birchall
The total Marx and the total theory of literature
A lost gem of Marxist aesthetic theory, out of print for over forty years.
There’s nothing so weird as a revolution
Ian Birchall reviews China Miéville's October, a new history of the Russian Revolution.
It seems an odd pairing: the Russian Revolution and China Miéville, whose...
Peter Sedgwick and the British Left
Peter Sedgwick (1934-83) was a lifelong socialist activist and writer. Apart from his work to bring Victor Serge to the English speaking world, and his critical writings...
The story of a Bolshevik worker-intellectual: a review of Barbara Allen’s...
Ian Birchall reviews Barbara C Allen's Alexander Shlyapnikov 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik, published by Haymarket Books.
"Young Alexander conquered India. He alone?"...
The Somme: Remember…and explain
Ian Birchall reviews Neil Faulkner's new pamphlet, Have You Forgotten Yet? The Truth about the Somme
I happened to be on Waterloo Station on 1st July. When...
Bel Druce 1940-2015
We republish Ian Birchall's obituary for his very close friend, and rs21 member Bel Druce, who died at the end of August. It was...
Alfred Rosmer: A lifelong revolutionary
In the first of a series exploring the lives of some of history's understated revolutionaries, Ian Birchall introduces French syndicalist and communist Alfred Rosmer
The...
Lenin: Yes! Leninism: No?
A discussion article by Ian Birchall, historian and author of Tony Cliff: a Marxist for his time
It is currently a commonplace on the left and...
Latest articles
Revolt in Hong Kong
Charlie Hore provides some background on the magnificent protest movement in Hong Kong, and discusses the strategic dilemmas ahead.
Motion: Solidarity with the revolution in Sudan
Take this motion to your local union branch to build solidarity with the revolutionary movement in Sudan. This motion was initiated by members of The Sudanese Workers' Alliance for the Restoration of Trades Unions.
Video: How to strike for climate in your workplace
Youth strikers who will be out again on Friday 21 June have asked adults to join them in a global general strike for the climate on 27 September. What can you do to take part?
Reinstate George Gore
Workers at Colloids in Kirkby have been on indefinite strike since 20 May for the reinstatement of their Unite shop steward. Watch a video interview and find out how to support them.
Motion: Climate emergency
Bring this motion to your trade union branch to build support for the Youth Strike for Climate and organise towards the climate strike in September.
Greece: decline of Syriza sparks fresh elections
The poor performance of Syriza in the recent European elections may well sound the death-knell for Alexis Tsipras's discredited government
Review: We Need To Talk About Putin
Mark Galeotti's alternate perspective on Putin, as presented in his recent book We Need to Talk About Putin, provides an interesting read.
Grenfell: still mourning, still fighting
Friday 14 June 2019 marks the two-year anniversary of the Grenfell tower fire. The community will be marching in silence, as they have on the 14th day of every month since the fire.
Poland: the right holds fast
The European elections in Poland showed the Law and Justice Party staying firmly in the driving seat of Polish politics
France: nothing new under the Sun?
Despite the insurgent left potential of the Yellow Vests movement, the far-right were the winners in France's European elections
Highlights
revolutionary reflections | Value, force, many states and other problems: part 3
In the third and final part of his essay on violence and capitalist social relations, Colin Barker insists that capitalist states cannot be theorised without recognising their multiplicity.
Between Sartre and Cliff: Ian Birchall, a heterodox Marxist’s trajectory
Selim Nadi conducts a wide-ranging interview with long-standing revolutionary socialist Ian Birchall.
Review: What’s Wrong With Rights?
Radha D'Souza's investigation into the international liberal rights regime is a welcome intervention that should make us question the framework of 'rights'.
revolutionary reflections | ‘Green capitalism’: a critical review: part 1
Today, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world have been taking part in climate strikes. Stephen Graham dissects the discourses of sustainability, Green capitalism and the Green economy.
The Communist Women’s Movement
As we mark International Women's Day (8 March), Estelle Cooch talks Darya Dyakonova and Mike Taber about the history of the Communist Women's Movement (1920-22).