A century after Lenin’s death, scholars and leftists continue to discuss the life and legacy of the leader of the Russian Revolution. But a fundamental question remains largely unanswered. What did Soviet citizens themselves think of Lenin?
Category: Left Politics
review
Early Criticism of the October Revolution
John Marot critically reviews a collection of essays written by Communist dissidents in 1920-22 in opposition to the New Economic Policy, translated by Simon Pirani.
Participatory Democracy Minus Endless Meetings
Gar Lipow proposes use of revocable proxies in representative democracy and neighborhood assemblies based on participatory democracy.
Reply to Janette Habel and Michael Löwy
Che Guevara and Socialist Democracy
Samuel Farber defends his critique of Che Guevara as an anti-democratic figure that undermined the socialist cause in Cuba.
Against Samuel Farber’s Biased Approach
Janette Habel and Michael Löwy defend the political and intellectual legacy of Che Guevara as a Marxist, against Samuel Farber’s critique.
The Nature of Neoliberalism
What can we learn about neoliberalism from Neil Davidson’s new book?
Charles Post assesses Neil Davidson’s posthumous book on neoliberalism, which makes a key contribution to the Marxist analysis of contemporary capitalism.
Gentrification and Social War
Andrew talks through the organizing reality of confronting housing as both a commodity and a human necessity.
Turmoil in American Politics
American politics are in turmoil, all of politics in the broadest sense.
In the White House, in the Congress, in the courts, in state governments, in communities urban, suburban, and rural, in labor and social movements, and in the streets. . . .
The Party’s Over
The Crisis of Left Electoralism
Socialists need to use the growing working class surge to get beyond the dead end of mainstream electoral politics.
Self-Organization and the New Left in Ukraine
From Maidan to War
The author (right) on Kyiv’s IndependenceSquare. December 2013.
In early December 2013, I found myself on Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), holding a sign reading “Don’t Believe Politicians—Self-Organize!” as part of a protest with a small group of student activists. Weeks . . .
From the Editors
We are living in awful, yet hopeful, times. As we go to press, several wars are raging. One of them, Israel’s ferocious assault on Gaza and its systematic, genocidal massacre of Palestinians, is exacting a greater civilian toll than any . . .
The Political Context of the Crisis in Gaza
An Interview with Joel Beinin
Joel Beinin, Emeritus Professor at Stanford, discusses the politics of the Palestinian left and Hamas, and the US policies in Israel/Palestine.
Standing Rock
A Struggle for Land and Sovereignty
Brian Ward narrates his experience of participating in the Standing Rock encampment in 2016 and analyzes the legacy of the struggle.
“Tensions are building in Ukrainian society as a result of neoliberal policies imposed by the government”
An interview with Oksana Dutchak, member of the Commons editorial team
An editor of the leftwing Ukrainian journal Commons discusses the dual enemies of Russian aggression and Ukrainian neoliberalism
The New U.S. Labor Movement
The labor movement in the United States is passing through a transition from the stagnation of the period from 1980-2010 to a new period of dynamic change in industrial decentralization, new technologies, work, organization, union activism, and the enormous and enveloping issue of climate chan
Can Xi Jinping’s “Chinese Model” Supplant Capitalist Democracies and Why Should Western Socialists Care? – Part 4
Given China’s drivers, it’s difficult to imagine how this trend could be halted or reversed short of the collapse or overthrow of the CCP. That’s coming but of course it’s impossible to predict when.
Could the U.S. Become Involved in a War Between Venezuela and Guyana?
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shows new map of Venezuela’s incorporation Eusebio Province of Guyana.
The United States has taken the first steps in becoming involved in a potential war between Venezuela and Guyana. President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela is claiming the . . .
Cornel West for President? – Part 6 – Jesse Jackson for President – 1984 and 1988
While many Black voters and others admired and took pride in his achievement, some on the left felt he had ultimately served the Democratic Party establishment.
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