At our RCN aggregate held in Dundee on May 23rd, we re-examined our platform for working in the campaign for Scottish self-determination. Some of these issues have already arisen within the Radical Independence Campaign, particularly in RIC-Edinburgh (see http://radicalindyedinburgh.blogspot.co.uk/), the three RIC national conferences, and Trade Unionists for Independence (East Coast) (see http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2014/10/24/after-september-18th-bring-real-democracy-into-our-trade-unions/). Now that there are plans…
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY – MARCH 8th
In recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, we are posting two contributions. The first is the introductory talk on IWD given by Linda Rogers and Cat Grant to the Edinburgh Radical Independence Campaign meeting on March 2nd. The second is a major contribution to the history of women’s suffrage, entitled Finland 1906:…
THE RCN’S UPDATED ‘WHAT WE STAND FOR’
Over the RCN weekend away from November 7th-9th 2014 held near Dunfermline and our aggregates held on January 11th in Edinburgh and February 21st, 2015 in Glasgow, we updated our What We Stand For in the light of our recent engagement with the struggle for Scottish self-determination and our ongoing discussions on communism, secularism and…
A review of ‘Scottish Independence – A Feminist Response’
Mary McGregor (RCN) reviews Scottish Independence: A Feminist Response by Cat Boyd and Jenny Morrison. Even when we lost we felt like we had won something. It was an exciting time to be involved in Scottish politics. There was an optimism and vibe in workplaces and on the streets that I can never remember…
Emancipation & Liberation, Issue 22, 2013
We are posting a new link to an electronic version of the special issue of Emancipation & Liberation, issue no 22, the RCN produced for the second Radical Independence Campaign conference, held in the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow on November 23rd, 2013. http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2013/11/24/emancipation-liberation-issue-22-winter-2013/ This will provide some basis for assessing the changes, which have occurred…
EMANCIPATION & LIBERATION RIC SPECIAL BULLETIN – September, 2014
Allan Armstrong (RCN) has written the following article for the RCN Radical Independence Campaign Special Bulletin, which will be distributed at the RIC National Forum in Glasgow on September 27th. Nobody could have anticipated the rise of the Radical Independence Campaign, nor the form it would take. It has been moulded by the…
Up To And Beyond The September 18th Independence Referendum – A Socialist Republican Perspective
Allan Armstrong (RCN) has written an account of the Scottish independence campaign since the SNP launched its official ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign in 2012 up until the last two weeks before the September 18th referendum. This is based on several contributions Allan has already made on this blog. It is also a contemporary update of his…
Sexist abuse in the Trade Union movement – a case requiring a proper response
The RCN takes seriously the continued appearance of cases of actual and alleged sexual abuse that have arisen in the Socialist, Labour and Trade Union Movements. Sexist behaviour needs to be driven from our movement and not brushed under the carpet. This is why we have decided to post the statement from Morning Star reporter,…
Freedom Come All Ye – The New RCN Banner
The four portraits on the Republican Communist Network banner provide good examples of the historical tradition we come from. These people have been chosen as representative of many others, whose names have often gone unrecorded, yet who have contributed to the struggle for human emancipation, liberation and self-determination. Each individual highlights different aspects of our…
The Ghost Of James Connolly – Book Launch
THE GHOST OF JAMES CONNOLLY James Connolly and Edinburgh’s New Trade Union, Independent Labour and Socialist Movements(1890-96) James Connolly’s role in Irish history is well known and celebrated. However, Connolly also played a prominent part in the ‘New Union’, independent Labour and Socialist movements in Edinburgh. Allan Armstrong, who conducts Radical Walks in the city, has…