Tag: History
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Sixty-five years since Trotsky’s Death
86 years ago today, Leon Trotsky was assassinated by a Stalinist agent. To commemorate his life and legacy we republish here an article written on the 65th anniversary of his murder which traces his role in defending the genuine traditions of Bolshevism and the Russian Revolution following the death of Lenin. Trotsky’s murder was not…
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The Spanish civil war and the crimes of Stalinism
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the working class showed all the determination, self-sacrifice, and organisational ability to carry out not one, but ten revolutions, as Trotsky stated. And yet they were ultimately frustrated – betrayed as they were by all their leaders. Of these leaders, the Stalinists played the most counter-revolutionary role. Joseph Stalin…
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2026 perspectives for the Irish Revolution
The following document was passed unanimously at the third congress of Revolutionary Communists of Ireland. Here, we offer our perspective and analysis of the main trends that are shaping Irish politics and the class struggle. If you agree with the ideas here explained, then there is no time to lose. Write to us today and…
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Boutcher and the RIC – who are the real terrorists?
Jon Boutcher, the PSNI’s chief constable, while speaking at a commission on the Kenova report, remarked: “I was at an event on Sunday for … Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) officers murdered before the creation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) by terrorism.” We hope the irony will not be lost on our readers. While denying…
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Israel’s war on Iran – how would Trotsky have posed the question?
Following the US and Israel’s scandalous, unprovoked attack on Iran, we are republishing the following article, which was first written after the 12-Day War in June 2025. It remains every bit as true as then. As it explains, communists must be absolutely clear on one thing: this is a predatory, imperialist war waged to subjugate…
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50 years since the Dublin airport bombing
Fifty years ago this winter, on 29 November 1975, a bomb tore through Dublin airport during the busy afternoon rush. Luggage handler John Hayes was killed instantly, and nine others were injured. Once again, Dublin was the target of loyalist paramilitary violence. A second bomb detonated shortly afterwards. By that point, however, the airport had…
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Bloody Sunday: fifty years on
Today marks 54 years since Bloody Sunday, when soldiers of the British paratroop regiment opened fire on a peaceful civil rights march in the North of Ireland. 13 people were killed immediately, and a 14th victim died later as a result of his injuries. For over half a century, the British state has covered up…
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What the Russian Revolution achieved and why it degenerated
108 years ago this week, the Bolsheviks led the Russian workers and peasants to power in Russia. The October Revolution of 1917 stands out as the greatest event in human history – the moment when capitalism was overthrown across one-sixth of the Earth’s surface, and millions of ordinary people took up the task of transforming…
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Shostakovich, the musical conscience of the Russian Revolution
We republish below an article written by Alan Woods about Dimitri Shostakovich, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, a giant who gave voice to the sufferings and triumphs of the Soviet people in one of the most turbulent and revolutionary periods in history. In this article Alan Woods attempts to show Shostakovich…
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The Russian Revolution: the meaning of October
On 7 November 1917 (25 October in the Julian calendar) the Russian working class took power in their own hands and forever altered the course of human history. For Marxists, the October Revolution is the greatest event in human history. Below we republish an article by Alan Woods (written in 1992) that gives an excellent…