Focus
New Immigration Rules;
Turkey — Which Direction
?; Northern Ireland
Equality for Women:
have the laws worked ?
Jean Coussins
The last decade has seen a welter of legislation concerning the position
of women.
Why did it happen and what effect has it had? Jean Coussins, until recently
Women's Rights Officer for the National Council for Civil Liberties, examines
these questions and suggests where we should go from here.
The Labour Party-why
the decline?
Pat Devine
It is now widely accepted that the Labour Party has suffered a serious
decline over recent years. Pat Devine, a lecturer in Economics at Manchester
University, and a member of the North West District Committee of the Communist
Party, argues that this is a long run process and explains some of the
main reasons for it.
NALGO - The New
Unionism of Contemporary Britain
Richard Maybin
The rise of public sector unionism is one of the most striking features
of trade unionism. Richard Maybin, Chairman of Havering NALGO branch,
looks at one of the key unions in this context, and the particular problems
and possibilities involved in its transformation.
Revolutionary Christianity
Tony Benn
Tony Benn looks at the revolutionary aspects of Christianity and how they
relate to progressive aspirations today.
The State in Northern
Ireland
Paddy
Hillyard
Serious theoretical work on Northern Ireland has been in relatively short
supply.
Paddy Hillyard, a writer on Northern Ireland, discusses an important new
book which is already provoking considerable interest on the Left.
Reviews
Duncan Campbell— Review
of Security and the State 1979
Ronald Frankenberg — Health
in Danger — The Political Economy of Health
Alan Hunt — The Future
of Intellectuals — Marxism and Class Theory
Notes
covers
The Portuguese Elections . The EEC and Recession . Scotland 1979, a Catalogue of Disasters
Education and the Right Offensive
Brian Simon
Education has emerged as a central political issue over the last few years. Brian Simon, Professor of Education at Leicester University and a member of the Communist Party's Theory and Ideology Committee, examines the nature of the Right's offensive, the weaknesses of the Left and what the present Tory Government is attempting to do. He concludes by outlining an educational perspective for the Left.
Campaigning Against the Cuts
Dave Priscott
The campaign against cuts in public expenditure has become one of the central areas of anti-Tory struggle. South Yorkshire has played a key role in the cuts movement and initiated the big November 28 Lobby. Dave Priscott, Secretary of the Yorks District Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Communist Party, examines the character, history and perspectives of the cuts movement.
The Iranian Revolution: What's Happening?
Joanna de Groot
Iran remains at the centre of world attention. Joanna de Groot, a lecturer at York University, assesses where the Iranian Revolution has got to — and where it is going.
The Gramsci Debate
Bob Jessop
Gramsci is now established as one of the key Marxist thinkers of the left in Britain. Bob Jessop, author of many articles on politics and political theory, discusses three significant new books on Gramsci, including Christine Buci- Glucksmann's important Gramsci and the State.
Discussion
Thatcherism - a new stage?
Stuart Hall
Stuart Hall, co-author of Policing the Crisis, discusses the nature of Thatcherism, how we got here and where we go now.
Reviews
Chris Pond — Poverty in the United Kingdom
Brian Bunting — Three books on Africa
Notes
covers
Direct Labour — The Tory Bill • The Indian General Election • Back to Front?
Interview with Derek Robinson
British Leyland has moved to the centre of the political stage. It is a microcosm of Britain's industrial decline and the failure of government and management policies alike. Now the offensive by Edwardes and the Tories threatens its very existence. Derek Robinson, convenor at Longbridge, discusses the reasons for decline, why the stewards alternative is the way forward for BL and the
development of a more powerful trade union presence. The interview was conducted by John Bloomfield.
March 8th; International Women's Day Kathy Porter
International Women's Day has a long history. Kathy Porter, author of a biography of Alexander Kollontai just published by Virago, looks at its development.
Afghanistan: National Sovereignty and Detente
Tony Chater
The Soviet action in Afghanistan raises vital questions for the left. Here, Tony Chater, Editor of the M orning Star, discusses some of the broader issues involved.
Post-Impressionism
John Walker
The exhibition currently running at the Royal Academy has focused attention on what happened in art after the Impressionists. John Walker, who teaches art history at Middlesex Polytechnic, looks at the exhibition and what this phase in art meant.
Discussion
Thatcherism - a new stage?
Bernard Dix
Asst General Secretary of NUPE, Bernard Dix, continues this important discussion.
Stalin - a centenary view
Brian Pollitt
The author looks at Soviet developments in the twenties.
Reviews
John Saville — Culture and Crisis in the Thirties
Jim Tomlinson — A History of Economic
Thought, Essays on Marx's Theory of Value
Notes
covers
Unemployment
The American Political Carousel
BL
World Capitalism in Recession
Dave Currie
The long boom is over. The capitalist world is in the throes of its biggest economic crisis since the thirties. And, as Dave Currie, a lecturer in economics at Queen Mary College, London and member of the Communist Party's Economic Committee, argues, no end is in sight.
Eurocommunism - can it regain the initiative?
Goran Therborn
Eurocommunism was a response to the social crisis of advanced capitalism in the late sixties. In the mid-70s, it promised much: indeed it looked as if the Left
might enter the government in more than one West European country. But these hopes were not realised. The Right regained the initiative. Goran Therborn, well-known Swedish marxist and author of What the Ruling Class Does When it Rules explains why.
Women and Children First
Miriam David and Jenny Shaw
The present Tory offensive, the authors argue, bears most heavily against women and children.
Discussion
Julian Cooper
Stalin - a centenary view
The author examines the 'realities' of Soviet development.
Eoin O'Murchu
The State in Northern Ireland
The author takes issue with Paddy Hillyard's article in the January Marxism Today.
Reviews
Roy den Harrison — Bevanism, Hugh Gaitskell, Final Term.
Monty Johnstone — Revolutionary Marxism Today.
Notes
covers
Focus
Local Government Finance
• Nuclear Threat
• Fiat Conference
Zimbabwe: The Process
of Liberation
John Ngara
The recent elections marked a major defeat for western interests. John
Ngara, a Zimbabwean journalist, looks at how white domination was finally
ended.
The Tories: Bringing
the House Down Michael Jones
In the General Election, housing emerged as one of the key issues. The
Tories are now on the attack. Mike Jones, who works in housing policy
and is a member of the Communist Party's Social Services Committee, examines
the new situation
and how the Left should respond.
Fighting the Cuts
- the Lambeth Experience
Jeff Rodrigues
The struggle in Lambeth has been a focal point of the national movement
against the cuts. Here Jeff Rodrigues, who is Secretary of the Lambeth
Borough Communist Party and works in local government, examines the experience
of that struggle — and looks at more general problems associated
with the cuts and community politics.
Discussion
Paul Olive
Thatcherism - a new stage?
The author questions whether the Tory Party has declined.
Jack Cohen
Culture and Crisis in the Thirties
The author takes issue with the review.
Reviews
Tamara Deutscher— Alexandra
Kollontai.
Roger Hallam — The
Young Lukacs.
Gordon Robinson — Togliatti
on Gramsci.
Notes
covers and
adverts
Focus
Egypt •
Talbot
De-industrialisation
and the Tories
John Grahl
The deindustrialisation of Britain is an established economic fact. It
shows no sign of abating under the Tories: indeed, John Grahl, a lecturer
in economics at Queen Mary College London and a member of the Communist
Party Economic Committee, argues that the process is being drastically
accelerated.
Politics, Sport
and the Olympics
David Triesman
Sport has been big politics in 1980. The Olympics in July are under serious
threat.
David Triesman, a writer on sport, looks at the relationship between politics
and
sport, national achievement in sport and the Moscow Olympics.
Interview with Alvaro
Cunhal
Since the days of the revolution in 1974, Portugal has experienced a major
shift to the right. In an exclusive interview with Paul Fauvet during
his recent visit to London, Alvaro Cunhal, the general secretary of the
Portuguese Communist Party, considers the nature of this threat and how
it can be resisted.
The Writer: Commitment
and Alignment
Raymond Williams looks at the idea of 'commitment' to the writer, its
historical
evolution and what it should mean.
Sartre
Willy Thompson
The author evaluates Sartre's significance as a writer and left-wing figure.
Discussion
Cynthia Bower and Paul Sutton
The Cuts How should
the cuts be fought?
Reviews
Andrew Glynn — Capitalism,
Conflict and Inflation.
Robert Reiner — Policing
the Police
Notes
covers
cover
contents
ads & classified
Focus
Brazil • The
Tories and Higher Education • Local
Elections
Ian Gough Thatcherism and
the Welfare State The welfare state has moved to the centre of the
political stage. In many capitalist countries
it is now under attack — above all in Britain. Ian Gough, author
of The Political Economy of the Welfare State and senior lecturer in social
administration at Manchester University, looks at the reasons for this
onslaught.
Steve Iliffe Dismantling
the Health Service
The National Health Service was the
great achievement of the 1945 Labour
government. It now faces its biggest
threat: but what can the Tories do? Steve Iliffe, a doctor, an editor
of Medicine and Society and member of the Communist Party Social Services
Committee, explores the issues.
Sam Russell Tito
Sam Russell, the Morning Star Foreign Editor, assesses the achievements
of one of the giants of post-war history.
Discussion
Ian Mackay, Sue Slipman Thatcherism
- a new stage?
Ian Mackay, head of the Communist Party's Press and Publicity Department
and Sue Slipman continue the discussion.
Reviews
Steve Gooch — The
Political Theatre
Notes
cover
contents
ads & classified
Focus
West German Election
- Import Controls
John Ericson Who Will Control
North Sea Oil?
Britain is now self-sufficient in oil. The North Sea reserves have had
a profound impact on Britain's economic position. The state — through
BNOC — exercises a powerful control over these reserves. But will
that continue: will the Tories undermine it? John Ericson, a writer specialising
in the politics of international oil production, looks at Britain and
its oil.
Jack Woddis Political Strategy
in the Third World
Political developments in the Third World have assumed an increasingly
complex and diverse character. Iran, Egypt and Nicaragua are obvious examples.
Jack Woddis, Head of the Communist Party's International Department, examines
some of the key problems confronting progressive advances in the Third
World.
Pete Carter May 14: an assessment
The TUC's Day of Action was a historic event, the first such political
call in its history. The response was impressive and wide-ranging. But,
also, big problems were revealed. Pete Carter, until recently convenor
of Sandwell
Direct Works and now a full-time official in UCATT and member of the Communist
Party's Executive Committee, discusses its significance.
Alan McKinnon Communist
Party Election Tactics - a historical review
Communist Party election strategy has been through various phases. Alan
McKinnon, a lecturer in Glasgow, examines two periods in particular —
the late twenties/early thirties and the early post-war period and tries
to draw some conclusions.
Discussion
Martin Ashworth and Percy Riley The
Cuts
The discussion continues
David Griffiths Housing
The author works in housing policy for the Labour Party, but writes here
in a personal
capacity.
Reviews
Ian Connell — More
Bad News
Notes
cover
contents
ads & classified
Focus
Another Old Flame Dies
• The Tories High
Exchange Rate Policy
John Cox Goodbye to Detente?
The world is again faced with the threat of a nuclear holocaust. New devastating
weapon systems are being deployed. Detente threatens to give way to a
new cold war. But why? And who is to blame? And what can we do about it?
John Cox, a leading member of CND since 1961 and currently its vice-chairperson,
tries to answer some
of these questions.
Gordon McLennan What Kind
of Fightback? The slump and the Tories have produced a new set of
problems and issues for the labour movement. Gordon McLennan, the general
secretary of the Communist Party, looks at what they are and what kind
of fightback is required.
A Roundtable Discussion Where
are we now ? Five activists discuss what is new about Thatcherism,
what challenge it poses for the Left, and the fightback. The participants
are Jacky Atkin, Jack Adams, Alan Baker, Bill Innes and Jeff Rodrigues.
Sheila Smith A New International
Economic
Order - or Disorder? The rise in oil prices in the early seventies
stimulated a demand from the Third World for a New International Economic
Order with the advanced capitalist countries. Since then little progress
has been made — and the present international recession is fraught
with numerous possibilities. Sheila Smith, a lecturer at Cambridge University
and member of the Communist Party Economic Committee looks at the issues.
Reviews
Colin Mercer — Gramsci's
Politics.
Notes
ads
and classified
Focus
Monetarism gone mad
• Italy after Bologna
• ILEA
Eric Hobsbawm Interviews
Tony Benn
Tony Benn has emerged over the last decade as one of the most significant
and original figures within the Labour Party and, indeed, on the British
political scene. In this interview, Eric Hobsbawm, well-known historian
and member of our Editorial Board, engages Tony Benn in an important discussion
focused on Britain's crisis and the problems of the labour movement.
Tricia Davis and Catherine Hall The
Forward Face of Feminism
The women's movement is far from homogeneous. Here the authors examine
the various trends within the women's movement, including Beyond the Fragments,
and outline some perspectives both for feminism and its relations with
the labour movement. Tricia Davis and Catherine Hall are socialist feminists
active in the women's liberation movement in
Birmingham. Tricia Davis is a member of the Communist Party Birmingham
City Committee.
Martin Kettle The Drift
to Law and Order
Law and Order emerged as one of the major questions in the last elections
— the Tories have consistently championed the issue. Martin Kettle,
Home Affairs Correspondent of New Society and a member of the Labour Party
and of the State Research editorial group, looks at what it is all about.
David Edgar American Culture
- a cop out
David Edgar, author of the widely acclaimed anti-National Front play
Destiny, reviews the
state of American culture at the beginning of the eighties.
Discussion
Manuel Azcarate Eurocommunism
- can it regain the initiative?
The author, head of the International Department of the Spanish Communist
Party and editor of the theoretical journal Nuesta Bandera, responds to
Goran Therborn's article which appeared in our April issue.
Greg Philo, John Hewitt and Pete Beharrell More
Bad News
The authors reply to the review in the August issue.
Reviews
Jack Cohen — Britain's
First Socialists, British Socialists.
Stanley Harrison —
Special Operations Executive.
Notes
Heseltine's lunge • Soviet oil prospects
The coup in Turkey • British Rail
Lessons of the Polish Summer -
an interview with Wlodzimierz Brus
This summer saw a mighty demonstration of working class action in Poland. Its objectives were wide ranging - its main achievement is independent trade unionism. In this interview, Wlodzimierz Brus, the well-known Polish economist, examines the nature of the Polish crisis, the causes of the working class action and the possibilities for a wider democratisation of Polish society. The interview was conducted by Jon Bloomfield and Monty Johnstone.
Thatcher - make or break
Andrew Gamble
The Thatcher government marks the most radical break in British politics since 1945. Its objectives are far reaching and fraught with risks for the Right. Andrew Gamble, author of The Conservative Nation, looks at the nature of Thatcherism, its record in office and its prospects of success.
Architecture: the past fights back
Richard Hill
From high-rise to crowded estates. From ultra-modernism to nostalgic recreations of the past. An architect, Richard Hill, looks at the forces behind the changing shapes of buildings and argues that these are questions too important to be left to the expert: they must be public property.
Discussion
Mark Rage
Housing
The author, a housing officer in London, continues the discussion.
Kevin Halpin
May 14: an assessment
The author, the chairman of the Liaison Committee, writing in his personal capacity, looks at the implications of May 14.
Reviews
Michele Barrett — The Politics of Housework — Gender and Class Consciousness.
Robbie Gray — The Challenge of Labour — The General Strike of 1842.
Notes
covers & adverts
Focus
The French Left •
Square Leg •
On the wages front
Labour's Long Haul
Jon Bloomfield
The Blackpool Conference ushered in the most important constitutional
changes in the Labour Party since 1918. The election of Michael Foot as
leader of the PLP has broken the continuity of right-wing leadership.
Jon Bloomfield, author of Passive Revolution and until recently Birmingham
City Secretary of the Communist Party assesses the nature of the changes
taking place in the Labour Party — and argues that there is a long
way to go.
Import Controls
- on the Left's terms
Paul Levine
Suddenly import controls are on the political agenda. Long part of the
Left's perspective, others have now joined the fray including sections
of Labour's Right and some parts of industry particularly threatened by
imports. Paul Levine, a lecturer in economics at South Bank Polytechnic,
shows why they are necessary and why they constitute an essential component
of the Left's strategy.
West German Social
Democracy:
the erosion of the socialist vision
Rob Burns and Wilfried van der Will
The West German SPD rebuffed the challenge from Strauss. It is indisputably
the most successful social democratic party in West Europe. But it has
steadily distanced itself from a socialist perspective. Rob Burns and
Wilfred van der Will, lecturers at the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham
respectively, analyse the character of the SPD.
Interview with Edward
Bond
Edward Bond is one of Britain's leading playwrights whose works include
Saved and The Fool.
In this interview he discusses his own development as a socialist playwright
and the role of the artist in contemporary society. The interview was
conducted by Colin Chambers, the theatre critic of the Morning Star and
author of Other Spaces: New Theatre and the RSC.
Discussion
The Forward Face of Feminism
Hilary Wainwright
One of the authors of Beyond the Fragments discusses the article
published in October.
Reviews
Michelene Wandor — Other
Spaces: New Theatre and the RSC.
John Westergaard — Labour
and Equality.
covers
| Marxism
Today January 1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today February 1981 |
|||||||||||||
| Focus
TV Franchising • Local Government Finance • Sexual Violence David Plotke Reagan: is it as bad as it sounds? A right-wing Republican is now US President. American politics has shifted to the right. David Plotke, an editor of the American journal Socialist Review, examines the extent of this shift and the prospects for the US and the world with Reagan in the White House. Fred Steward The Politics of Technology Technological issues are now big politics. A few examples —microprocessing, nuclear power, Concorde, juggernauts — suffice to make the point. Fred Steward, a lecturer in technology policy at Aston University and member of the Communist Party's Science and Technology Committee, looks at why technology has become such a hot political and social question — and argues that the Left must develop a coherent view on the direction and control of technology. Tony Lane Merseyside under the hammer Jarrow and the South Wales mining villages both evoke memories of the thirties depression. Merseyside threatens to become a symbol of unemployment in the eighties. Tony Lane, at present a research officer for the TGWU based in Liverpool and author of The Unions Make us Strong, looks at Merseyside's plight and the growth of resistance. Discussion Dan Smith Goodbye to Detente? The co-editor of Protest and Survive and former vice-chairperson of CND looks at the decline of detente. Jane Darke Architecture: the past fights back A response to Richard Hill's article in our November issue. Johanna Wilson Import Controls - on the Left's terms The author argues that Import Controls can play only a limited role. Reviews Paul Levine — The Alternative Economic Strategy. There is an Alternative. The British Economic Disaster. Victor Kiernan — Scottish Capitalism. Alan Hunt — Pashukanis: Selected Writings on Marxism and Law. Notes covers |
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today March 1981 |
|||||||||||||
| FOCUS Labour's Battles • Trade Union Immunities • El Salvador Jean Gardiner Women, Recession and the Tories Women made important advances in the seventies. Now Thatcherism and recession have changed all that: women are under attack. Jean Gardiner, a member of our editorial board andco-author of The Political Economy of British Capitalism, looks at what is happening. Dave Triesman Football in Decline Football is Britain's great national winter sport. Yet it faces growing difficulties. Dave Triesman, a writer on sport, argues that football is in decline and only radical solutions can tackle the problem. Piero Borghini Italy: the intractable crisis Italy faces the most serious political crisis in Western Europe. Piero Borghini, a member of the Central Committee of the Italian Communist Party, looks at the nature of that crisis and the PCI's strategy. Interview with Alan Fisher Cuts in public expenditure have put the public sector unions at the centre of attention. NUPE is one of the largest. In this interview, Alan Fisher, General Secretary of NUPE and Chairman of the TUC, discusses the problems facing NUPE and the trade union movement generally. Francis Mulhern The Cambridge Affair Suddenly, the English Faculty atCambridge University has hit the national headlines. Francis Mulhern, author of The Moment of 'Scrutiny', discusses the issues involved. Discussion Bill Laughlan Labour's Long Haul The author discusses the implications of developments in the Labour Party for the Communist Party. Reviews Dave Cook — Politics and Power 2 David Parker — Ideology and Popular Protest Notes covers |
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today April 1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today May 1981 |
|||||||||||||
cover
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today June 1981 |
|||||||||||||
| Focus
France • Local Elections Tony Bunyan The Growing Power of the Military Traditionally, the armed forces have largely been excluded from civil life in Britain. That is beginning to change. Tony Bunyan, author of The Political Police in Britain and a member of the editorial group of State Research, looks at the way the military is steadily encroaching on domestic politics and what this means. John Kelly Steel - an irreversible decline? The decline of British Steel has been one of the most dramatic examples of deindustrialisation. John Kelly, a lecturer in industrial relations and researcher on the steel industry, looks at the causes of its decline, the trade union response and what kind of alternative is needed. Rodney Hilton The English Rising of 1381 In 1381 there was an extraordinary uprising against the established authorities. It was broad, it was far reaching and its consequences were profound. On the 600th Anniversary of the 'Peasant's Revolt', Rodney Hilton, Professor of History at Birmingham University, looks at what it was and what forces lay behind it. US Policy Toward Latin America Reagan's foreign policy is aimed at restoring American power and influence. Latin America occupies a central position in this design. The objective is to roll back the progressive advances. In this interview, Saul Landau, co-author of Assassination on Embassy Row, looks at some of the issues. The interview was conducted by Mike Gatehouse. Discussion Sam Russell, Ian Davison Goodbye to Detente? In these contributions to the discussion, the Foreign Editor of the Morning Star and the secretary of the Scottish CND respectively, look at some new questions. Brian Nichols The Politics of the Alternative Economic Strategy The author looks at the relationship between the alternative economic strategy and the fight against the cuts. Reviews Raymond Williams — George Orwell, A Life Andrew Chester — Memoirs of a Socialist Business Man Eileen Phillips — Microelectronics: Capitalist Technology and the Working Class Notes covers & adverts |
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today July r1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today August1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today September 1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today October1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
|
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today November1981 |
|||||||||||||
| cover |
|||||||||||||
| Marxism
Today December1981 |
|||||||||||||
Focus
| |||||||||||||
