Afghanistan: Socialism or Barbarism Marx explained that in the long run capitalist society would either be replaced by Socialism or it would degenerate into Barbarism. The situation in Afghanistan is a living example of what Barbarism means. In this interview, held on March 22, 1998, Afghan socialists explain the situation in their country after the victory of the Taliban.
Afghanistan: Socialism or Barbarism Marx explained that in the long run capitalist society would either be replaced by Socialism or it would degenerate into Barbarism. The situation in Afghanistan is a living example of what Barbarism means. In this interview, held on March 22, 1998, Afghan socialists explain the situation in their country after the victory of the Taliban.
China: After the death of Deng The death of Deng Xiaoping opens up a new chapter for China. Over the last 20 years since the death of Mao, the shift towards opening up the economy to capitalist interests has intensified the contradictions of Chinese society.
The Reform of State Owned Industry "Smashing the Iron Bowl" A detailed analysis of the process of urban reform and the resistance of the working class.
Korea Erupts in General Strike The Korean working class has come of age. This mighty movement offers us both lessons and inspiration and must fill the bourgeois with fear and trepidation of what is yet to come. The economic miracle of the so-called tiger economies has been brought to and end, the strike has shown that rather than being a savior for world capitalism, economic development has led to an inmense strengthening of the working class.
The "Constitutional" Coup in Pakistan The coup in Pakistan on November 1996 underlines the nature of the Pakistan regime as a regime of crisis. It is a graphic expression of the impasse of all the regimes of the ex colonial countries. Economic crisis, mass unemployment and underemployment, inflation, financial bankruptcy, and complete subjugation to world imperialism--these are the hallmarks of the situation.
On the 5th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square: Where is China going? A detailed analysis of the process of urban reform and the resistance of the working class.
Cracking the Chinese puzzle The following article was originally published in the British Socialist Appeal in 1992, it provides background material on the processes and forces shaping modern Chinese society today. It looked at the growing influence within the state apparatus of the pro-capitalist elements, a process that has continued and intensified to this day.
Revolution and counter-revolution in Indonesia (1965) Confused reports of Officers' plots, coups and countercoups which filtered through to the Western press a week ago were the first indication of a major revolutionary upheaval in Indonesia. The recent events unfolded against a now familiar background of social and economic crisis in a backward country. The regime of Sukarno - despite the superficial appearance of stability - has been exposed as rotten to the core
Perspectives for the Philippine Revolution Here we are republishing a document written in April 1987 on the Philippine Revolution. At that time a ferment of discussion had opened up in the Communist Party of the Philippines. This was a discussion document which had been presented as a contribution towards that debate. At the time it had a limited circulation, but we believe that it will be of interest to Marxist activists internationally.
Vietnam 1945 - The derailed revolution In 1975 the Vietnamese people gained a historic victory, driving out the US armed forces and liberating the south. After 28 years of war the country was reunited and capitalism and landlordism abolished throughout. With these heroic sacrifices, the Vietnamese workers and peasants paid the price for the defeat of the revolution of 1945,when they had power in their grasp. Why was this opportunity lost in 1945? What are the lessons of this defeat for the workers' struggle today?
[Ted Grant] Afghanistan: Why the Russian bureaucracy invaded We are republishing Ted Grant's 1980 article on the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, together with an introduction by Alan Woods. In this article we find a scientific Marxist analysis of the class content of the 1978 Afghan revolution and its historical origins. In addition, we have an explanation for the principled position that we took with regard to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that occurred the following year.
From: The Colonial Revolution and the Deformed Workers' States In 1978, a radical faction of the Afghan Communist Party seized power in a military coup. The 'Saur Revolution' carried out a whole series of progressive measures. The government passed decrees abolishing the selling of brides and giving equality to women. It announced a land reform and the cancellation of farmers’ debts. These measures met with the ferocious opposition of the powerful land owners and moneylenders. This article by Ted Grant, published in 1978, contains an analysis of the revolution, as well as the phenomena of colonial revolutions and proletarian bonapartism more generally.
What is really happening in China? This article was written at a time (Autumn of 1976) when many on the left had big illusions that Maoist China was somehow a genuine socialist regime. Alan Woods was able to see beyond the fog of the Maoist propaganda and see what was really happening in China. This article provides interesting background information for anyone who wants to know the truth about the nature of the Chinese bureaucracy, that same bureaucracy that is now pushing China more and more towards capitalism.
[Ted Grant] Moscow - Peking, the real differences This article, written in May 1965 by Ted Grant, shows how genuine Marxism was able to see the real processes going on in China and not be fooled by the words of the Chinese leaders. Then as now Marxism was a tool that allowed one to see through the fog of seemingly contradictory and incomprehensible events.
