Adam Ramsay of open democracy has written the following review article after seeing the new film, Hamish, about the life of Hamish Henderson. It was first posted at:- https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/adam-ramsay/hamish-henderson-folk-culture-and-building-of-scottish-left-wing-identity HAMISH HENDERSON, FOLK SONGS AND THE BUILDING OF SCOTTISH LEFT WING IDENTITY For me, he was the polyglot communist who first translated Antonio Gramsci into English.…
THE EU AND THE EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION
Steve Freeman (Left Unity and RISE) sees the forthcoming EU referendum as undermining the potential for a European democratic revolution. The UK’s European referendum is no more than an opportunity for the Crown to extract more concessions for the City, whilst promoting its anti-working class racist neo-liberal agenda. It is not enough, however, to say…
THE UK STATE AND BRITISHNESS
This article, written by Allan Armstrong (RCN) in 2015, has now been updated to include a new section 3 on Scotland. It has been moved from its earlier site. Section A – The UK State and Britishness Section B – From the Irish-British and ‘Ulster’-British ‘Insider’ to the Irish ‘Racialised’ and ‘Ethno-Religious Outsider’ to the new ‘National…
RCN BULLETIN FOR THE 4th RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN CONFERENCE
Today we are holding the 4th RIC conference. RIC has been very much a contributor to Scotland’s ‘democratic revolution’, where 97% registered and 85% voted. Despite the ‘No’ result, politics in Scotland have been transformed. However, both the British unionists and the wannabe Scottish ruling class, who have latched on to the SNP, are trying…
4th RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CONFERENCE, 20th February, Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
Take a break from party politics, reconnect with allies across the left and dig into the issues: not just understanding the problems, but discussing positive solutions & ideas for action. Routes to Independence & Roots of Change Speakers & Contributors: Jim Sillars • Robin McAlpine • Cat Boyd • Maggie Chapman • Debora Kayembe •…
UKRAINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN AND THE BAN ON THE CPU
Statement by the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign on the CPU Ban and the Ukrainian Question The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign condemns the decision of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv on 16th December 2015: “To suspend the activities of the Communist Party of Ukraine”. This judgement in effect prevents the Communist Party of Ukraine…
THE DEBATE OVER SCOTLAND, CORBYN AND THE UNION
Steve Freeman (Left Unity Party and RISE) has been conducting a campaign in England and Wales, along with members of the Republican Socialist Alliance, to get socialists to understand the significance of the Scotland’s ‘democratic revolution’ and the need to break away from the British Left’s traditional unionist politics. Steve has fought consistently to try to make the LUP…
SCOTLAND AND THE EASTER RISING
Celtic Connections Event Friday, January 15th, 17.00 City of Music Studio, Royal Concert Hall for tickets go to:- http://www.celticconnections.com/events/Pages/event.aspx?ev=debf3997-126f-4987-8d5c-a5460122d826 Scotland and the Easter Rising, edited by Kirsty Lusk and Willy Maley brings together writers, journalists and academics to reflect on the part played by Scotland in 1916 and its legacies. The Easter…
THE WAR IN SYRIA
We are posting three pieces dealing with the situation in Syria. The first is the emergency motion passed overwhelmingly at the RISE National Conference in Glasgow on December 5th. The second was written by the World to Win Editorial Board just after the vote at Westminster to openly extend UK state involvement in the war…
JOHN MACLEAN COMMEMORATION DAY
On November 30th, 1923, John Maclean, the great Scottish socialist, died, after two decades of committed struggle. Eric Chester (RCN) has written the following piece, which is a contribution to today’s celebration of John Maclean’s life. JOHN MACLEAN – 1879 – 1923 Glasgow has a proud tradition of radical politics, one that is particularly…