Reclaiming the revolutionary legacy of Rosa Luxemburg To celebrate the 150th birthday of Rosa Luxemburg, we publish an extract from the introduction to The Revolutionary Heritage of Rosa Luxemburg, a new book analysing the life and ideas of this great revolutionary Marxist.
Luxemburg, Liebknecht and the German Revolution To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Rosa Luxemburg, we share this article by Marie Frederiksen, author of The Revolutionary Heritage of Rosa Luxemburg (available for pre-order in Danish from Forlaget Marx). Marie explains how the Spartacist Uprising of 1919 was defeated due to the weakness and mistakes of the young German Communist Party, ultimately resulting in Luxemburg’s execution. These events are also explored in Germany 1918-1933: Socialism or Barbarism, available now from WellRed Books.
[Video] Rob Sewell launching 'Germany 1918–1933: Socialism or Barbarism' in Sweden To commemorate 100 years since the Spartacist Uprising, watch Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, speaking in Gothenburg in November 2018 at the annual, national school of 'Revolution': the Swedish section of the International Marxist Tendency. Rob was launching his new book: Germany 1918–1933 – Socialism or Barbarism.
November 1918: how occupied Belgium was liberated by German revolutionary soldiers The German Revolution of 1918 ended the First World War. During a little-known episode of the Revolution, German soldiers liberated Belgium from a brutal military occupation before the armistice of the 11 November was signed. This revolutionary movement was also crucial in pushing through a swift introduction of universal general suffrage in Belgium.
The German Revolution of 1918 Coming just one year after the mighty events of Red October in Russia, power was taken into the hands of the masses. Yet the socialist revolution ultimately failed. The consequences of that failure would be most brutally felt over a decade later with the rise of fascism in Germany and the consolidation of Stalinism in Russia.
[Video] Rosa Luxemburg and the 1918 German Revolution Speaking at the opening rally of the 2018 Revolution Festival, Marie Frederiksen and Rob Sewell discuss their new books about Rosa Luxemburg and the German Revolution.
[Book] Germany 1918-1933: Socialism or Barbarism Germany 1918-33 was one of the most tumultuous periods in history. Following the revolution in Russia, the German workers and soldiers attempted to seize power in November 1918. Unfortunately, the revolution was betrayed by the Social Democratic leaders. In this book, Rob Sewell argues that all this was not inevitable, and analyses those events, drawing out the lessons for today.
Austria: “Let’s make it like in Russia” – 100 years since the January 1918 general strike 100 years ago, in January 1918, a mass strike shook Austria. After years of hunger and with war-weariness setting in, the revolution in Russia gave the workers hope that another world was possible, inspiring them to take action.
Rosa Luxemburg – Reform or Revolution To commemorate the anniversary of Rosa Luxemburg's murder in 1919, we republish the following introduction to a 2014 Mexican edition of her important work, Reform or Revolution. The legacy of this martyr for proletarian revolution endures through her ideas.
[Video] World War One - The Great Slaughter On Armistice Day - 11th November - Alan Woods analyses the factors behind the First World War - "The Great Slaughter" - and discusses the revolutionary alternative to imperialism and war today.
The Zimmerwald Conference – the turning of the tide 100 years ago, on 5th September 1915, a small group of international socialists gathered in the tiny Swiss village of Zimmerwald. This was the first attempt to unite those socialists who were opposed to the War.
[Video] The Revolutionary Ideas of Rosa Luxemburg In this video from the International Marxist Winter School 2014, Marie Frederiksen, editor of the Danish Marxist newspaper "Revolution", discusses the real revolutionary history, ideas, and traditions of Rosa Luxemburg, and draws out the valuable lessons we can learn for today.
4th August 1914: The Great Betrayal and Collapse of the Second International This year marks not only 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War, but it also marks the centenary of another debacle: the collapse of the Second International, the international body that brought under its banner all the mass workers’ parties.
Women in First World War Britain: Exploitation, revolt and betrayal This year marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the media is dedicating much time and attention to it. However, one aspect which so far has not received sufficient consideration is the role played by women during those dramatic and bloody years.
1919: Britain on the Brink of Revolution “We are running a race with Bolshevism, and the world is on fire.” President Woodrow Wilson, Paris, March 1919