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Author Archives: Sean Thompson
Orthodoxy and the Left
A few days ago I wrote about how the SWP’s leadership, who endlessly go on about the need to ‘defend the IS tradition’, have over the years coarsened and stultified the organisation’s politics and practice to the point that they … Continue reading
Posted in Quotes, Socialism, The Left, Theory
Tagged Harry Braverman, Jim Higgins, Marx, Marxism, SWP, Working class
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A little nag about food
I rather like my local farmers market. Yes, I know that farmers’ markets are full of insufferably smug Guardian readers pushing four wheel drive baby buggies and buying expensive vegetables and even more expensive meat and bread because it is … Continue reading
As soon as this pub closes
Thanks very much to my old comrade Richard Kuper for reminding me of this extremely irreverent, but detailed and devastatingly accurate overview and history of the British left from the late ’80s. He suggests that it is still relevant in … Continue reading
In praise of Leon Rosselson
I was astonished to discover the other day that Leon Rosselson will be 80 next year. To be fair he is still a sprightly 78, but still…) I first saw him in the early ‘60s on TV, performing as a … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Music, Reviews
Tagged Billy Bragg, Dick Gaughan, Georges Brassens, Leon Rosselson, Palestinian people, World Turned Upside Down
2 Comments
William Morris on work
“Worthy work carries with it the hope of pleasure in rest, the hope of the pleasure in our using what it makes, and the hope of pleasure in our daily creative skill. All other work but this is worthless; it … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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The SWP and the IS tradition
One of the recurring themes of the SWP leadership’s current furious efforts to repel the criticisms of an increasing number of its members is the need to ‘defend our tradition’, or ‘defend the IS tradition’. It’s worth taking a look … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Marxism, Michael Kidron, Russia, Socialist Workers Party, Soviet Union, Stalinism, SWP, Trotskyism
3 Comments
Remembering 1968; the Tet Offensive
1968 was one of the most dramatic years in my life. Many of the unshakeable pillars holding up the status quo began to shake, even if only temporarily in some cases. The world seemed to be beginning to reshape itself … Continue reading
Posted in History
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Arundhati Roy
It is mendacious to make moral distinction between the unspeakable brutality of terrorism and the indiscriminate carnage of war and occupation. Both kinds of violence are unacceptable. We cannot support one and condemn the other. The real tragedy is that … Continue reading
My Clause IV moment
To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and … Continue reading
Posted in General grumpiness, History, Labour Party, Quotes, Socialism
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Being Green
A few days ago there was an interesting discussion on the Socialist Unity blog (I say interesting; lengthy and fractious more like) about a post from a young comrade in York University Green Party entitled Can the Green Party become … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Green Party, Left regroupment, Socialism, Theory
Tagged E. P. Thompson, Green, Green Left, Joel Kovel
3 Comments
Captain Jack 