The theory of permanent revolution stands alongside Lenin’s theory of imperialism as one of the most important contributions to Marxism since the deaths of Marx and Engels. Accordingly, in this issue of In Defence of Marxism we are proud to publish a number of articles which explore this concept in some depth.

In a world on fire with revolutionary uprisings and mass movements, 165 communists from across the West Coast and beyond gathered in Los Angeles on October 11–12 for a landmark weekend of Marxist education.

On 10, 11, and 12 October, more than 200 communists gathered at the Telephone Workers' Union in Mexico City for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR). In an atmosphere of great enthusiasm, we discussed international and national perspectives, a balance sheet of our work, and the political and organisational principles of our party.

Events have developed at lightning speed over the weekend in Madagascar. The mass youth movement, which started on 25 September, has now overthrown the old regime. A section of the army refused to continue carrying out repression against the masses and mutinied. The president had to be airlifted by the French military on Sunday, 12 October.

80 years ago, in the early hours of 5 October 1945, a pitched battle erupted at the Warner Brothers studio lot in Burbank, California. This was not a shoot for a new war movie, but an armed clash between unionised set decorators on one side; and strikebreakers, mafia goons and police, allied with the studio bosses, on the other. ‘Black Friday’ was the bloody culmination of the biggest strike in Hollywood’s history, a high watermark of labour militancy the likes of which the industry has not seen since.

“When the leaders speak of peace, the common people know that war is coming.” (Berthold Brecht)

The general strike on 3 October was a historic leap forward for the Palestine movement and for the class struggle in general. A human tide poured onto streets across Italy: 300,000 in Rome, 150,000 in Milan, Naples, and Bologna, 100,000 in Florence. The list is too long for this article. In total, an estimated 2 million people took to the streets in at least 100 cities. The next day, 500,000 people flooded Rome again for the national demonstration.

Celebrations have erupted in Gaza and Israel at the announcement by Trump on Truth Social that a peace agreement has been reached between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Egypt. That there is celebration is understandable, especially for Gazans who until this point faced a future of certain death by bombardment or starvation. However, we must tell the truth, ugly as that truth may be.

This week, after two years of genocide in Gaza, Trump struck a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But who benefits? And will it last?

Last week, US President Donald Trump stepped in to impose his 20-point peace plan to end the genocide in Gaza. He is now proposing that Gaza be handed over to an American-led transitional authority, chaired by himself, with the assistance of the destroyer of Iraq, Tony Blair.

The US federal government “shut down” last Wednesday night after a deadlock in Congress over the latest budget proposal. Around 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed—temporarily laid off—while those deemed essential will be forced to work without pay until lawmakers come to an agreement.

Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla has sparked an eruption of mass anger across the world and particularly in Europe. In Italy, this has led to not one but two political general strikes for Palestine. This represents the decisive entry onto the scene of the powerful Italian working class. In Spain too, millions were on the streets. Many hundreds of thousands took to the streets of hundreds of cities all over Europe.

We are excited to announce that The Communists are Coming: A Visual Manifesto– an original, feature-length documentary produced by the Revolutionary Communist International – is coming to YouTube on 24 October! With revolution raging across the world, this film feels more relevant, and our tasks more pressing, than ever! Watch the trailer below…

Last Thursday, on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, a British-Syrian man carried out a knife attack at a synagogue in Manchester, killing one and injuring two. The attacker, Jihad Al-Shamie, was shot dead by police on the scene.

What happened in Italy on Friday 3 October has very few precedents. Think about it. A politicalstrike. A political generalstrike. A political general strike over internationalist solidarity and against imperialism.