One month after the explosive demonstrations and general strike of 3-4 October, it is necessary to take stock of the situation.

20 November marks the 50th anniversary of the death of the dictator Franco, one of the most sinister and despicable figures in Spanish history. But he was nothing more than the representative of the military caste and the social class that elevated him to his position: the big Spanish bankers, industrialists, and landowners. 

When the BBC aired a doctored video of Donald Trump appearing to directly encourage violence during the 6 January Capitol riot of 2021, it was aiming to influence the 2024 US election.

Last weekend, 1,200 communists gathered for Revolution Festival 2025, the largest openly communist event in Britain in decades. Youthful energy, a burning desire to study Marxism, revolutionary optimism, and theoretical clarity all made this a landmark event. 

On the weekend of 8-9 November, the Organización Comunista Revolucionaria (OCR), the Spanish section of the RCI, held its first national Marxist School in Madrid. It was a great success. This marks an important step in the development of our section as it was the first time that we have held two major national events in the same year.

Danish politicians live on another planet. They busy themselves taking selfies, slinging mud at each other and propagandising ahead of the local elections.

Trotsky wrote in ‘The Tragedy of Spain’ (1939) that, despite the Spanish proletariat’s revolutionary heroism, they were “brought to ruin by petty, despicable, and utterly corrupted ‘leaders.’” In this episode, we chart the great triumphs and tragic demise of the Spanish Revolution in a complete timeline.

Last week’s Dutch elections ended in a neck-and-neck race between Rob Jetten’s liberal party D66, and the right-wing PVV of Geert Wilders. In the end, by just a few thousand votes, D66 became the biggest party. Liberal newspapers and politicians around Europe have hailed these results as the return of the ‘centre-ground’ and a defeat for ‘populism’. But is this really the case?

Expert vulcanologists commenting on Italy's Mount Vesuvius have pointed out that ­it isn't a question of if it will erupt but when. Before an actual full-blown eruption there are the telltale signs: the magma begins to build up beneath the surface, there are increased tremors, and changes in gas emissions or steam activity. Minor lava flows can take place before a major eruption.

A year has passed since the canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 innocent people and maiming a young mother. Despite the time that has passed, justice is still nowhere in sight. The courts are barely reporting on the trials of the suspects of a crime that deeply shook Serbia. 

‘Mr. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.’ The deposed Prince’s new name has that same empty, quotidian ring to it as ‘Charles Stuart’, ‘Nicholas Romanov’, or ‘Citizen Louis Capet’. No more ‘Duke’ this or ‘Earl’ that, and certainly no more ‘His Royal Highness’. Just plain-old, common-as-muck ‘Andy’.

Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly was elected the tenth president of Ireland with a thumping majority of 63 percent of the valid votes cast – the highest share of first preferences a presidential candidate has ever received. The votes were at least as much a means of giving the government a kicking as they were votes for her as an individual candidate.

This article was originally published on 8 October in Swedish at marxist.se. It explains the rise of the Sweden Democrats, a right-wing party that has made opposition to immigration a central plank of its policy. Meanwhile, the ‘left’ and the moderates, who have overseen a decade of austerity and become increasingly unpopular as a result, have nothing to offer but to try and mimic the anti-immigrant rhetoric of the right wing.

What is Britain’s place in the world? The British ruling class has been asking itself this question for the best part of a hundred years, as it has struggled to come to terms with its ever-deepening decline, decade after decade.

In November 2023, comrades Alyona and Leonard of the Revolutionäre Kommunistische Partei (RKP) were investigated for holding up a banner with the slogan ‘Freedom for Palestine! Intifada until victory!’ After a months-long campaign, our comrades were acquitted in the final court proceedings before the Munich Regional Court in July. The verdict is now final: the slogan ‘Intifada until victory!’ is not illegal. This victory holds important lessons for the entire Palestinian and labour movements in dealing with repression!