The following article by Martyn Rush (Labour Momentum) on the history of English Republicanism, to coincide with the Elizabrit’s platinum jubilee, was first published in The Tribune. In modern Britain, the republican movement is largely a forgotten cause. That forgetting comes at the expense of a proud history attested to by writers like Clive Bloom…
Socialist Democracy statement on the Stormont Assembly election
The following statement from Socialist Democracy (Ireland) addresses the Stormont Assembly elections on May 5th and examines the further hardening of sectarianism and the future of the Good Friday Agreement if the DUP no longer holds the First Minister’s role for the Unionists SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY (IRELAND) STATEMENT ON THE STORMONT ASSEMBLY ELECTION No to sectarianism…
The odd couple: Ruaraidh Erskine and John Maclean
We are posting this article by Johnnie Gallacher, who provided his own introduction:- As society stands hesitating at the ecological fork in the road to either ecosocialism or suicide, reflecting upon the unlikely political alliance between John Maclean, the revolutionary socialist, and Ruaraidh Erskine, the aristocratic Gaelic nationalist, can offer valuable insights. These relate to…
Catalangate: the surveillance state in Spain
The following article by Jordi Oriola Folch on the Spanish/Castilian state’s clampdown in Catalunya was first posted on bella caledonia CATALANGATE: THE SURVEILLANCE STATE IN SPAIN On the 18th April, The New Yorker uncovered in an extensive report [1] the biggest case of espionage in an EU country. The Canadian organisation Citizen Lab had documented [2] the spying on…
For a republican, all-islands, internationalism from below coalition
Allan Armstrong has written reviews of three books which address the political situation Socialists face, first of all in Ireland. He has extended this to Scotland, Wales and England, and their position in a world of competing imperialisms. The purpose in doing this is to build the case for a Republican, all-islands, ‘internationalism from below’…
People of Belize reject Will and Kate – Jamaica’s about to do the same
The UK state charm offensive headed by the royals Will and Kate has not started well. This article by Eliza Egret was first posted by The Canary. PEOPLE OF BELIZE REJECT WILL AND KATE – JAMAICA’S ABOUT TO DO THE SAME As William and Kate embark on a charm offensive tour of the Caribbean,…
‘From Pre-Brit to Ex-Brit’ update
EL&SD is posting a new conclusion to Allan Armstrong’s book From Pre-Brit to Ex-Brit FROM AN EX-BRIT END TO THE BRITISH UNIION AND EMPIRE IN AN ‘INTERNATIONALISM FROM BELOW’ CAMPAIGN FOR A EUROPEAN REPUBLIC TO A ‘UNIVERSALISM FROM BELOW’ GLOBAL COMMUNE Despite the claims of liberal EU supporters, the EEC did not bring peace to…
Ireland’s reunification: prologue to democratic revolution
Allan Armstrong addresses some of the issues raised in Ireland’s Partition: Coda to counterrevolution by John McAnulty. Contents a) Introduction b) A Socialist history of Irish history but with some blind spots c) Unionism and British identities d) Building a coalition for Ireland’s reunification e) Under the guise of opposing Neo-Liberalism, a worrying accommodation to the…
Police intimidation at Cop26
We are posting two pieces concerning the police intimidation and kettling of the Young Communist League contingent on the Cop26 demonstration in Glasgow on November 6th. The first is by Mike Small of bella caledonia; the second is a statement from the YCL Central Committee. 1. POLICE INTIMIDATION AT COP-26 Saturday saw one of…
Crossing the Rubicon – Sinn Fein becomes Fianna Fail mark II
The following article was first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland). It reports on the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in October CROSSING THE RUBICON With vote on non-jury courts, Sinn Féin finally morphs into Fianna Fail mark II Leader Mary Lou McDonald at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis at the Helix in Dublin. Resolution number 21…