The Scottish Independence Referendum Debate, Part 3

This section of our continuing debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum addresses the British Left. The commune asked Allan Armstrong and Bob Goupillot to submit an article on the issue. This article, The Scottish Independence Referendum, appeared in the April, 2012 issue of the commune. Barry Biddulph replied to this in the June issue with…

Debating The Possibility Of Communism

The current crisis of capitalism has found the majority of the the Left offering neo-Keynesian ‘solutions’ which go no further than attempts to reinvigorate a system that is long past its sell-by date. However, those who try to promote a vision of a new social order to replace capitalism have to confront arguments that ‘There…

Scottish Independence Referendum Debate, Part 2

This is the second block of articles on the Scottish Independence Referendum in the discussion and debate being promoted by the RCN. The first block can be found at:- Scottish Independence Referendum The Following Motions On The Scottish Independence Referendum Were Passed At The Annual SSP Conference At Glasgow On 31.3.12 1. An Independent Scottish…

Getting Over the Hee Bee GBs – New pamphlet

Getting Over The Hee Bee GBs An ‘Internationalism from Below’ critique of the British Left In the current period the existence of a majority SNP government in power in Scotland and a referendum on Scottish independence on the horizon poses the question as how should socialists and communists respond to these developments. Should we condemn…

Beyond The SSP And Solidarity – ‘Forgive And Forget’ or ‘Listen, Learn And Then Move On’?

INTRODUCTION The rise and initial success of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), between 1998-2004, was a significant historical event, not only for the history of the Left in Scotland (with knock-on effects in the UK and Europe), but also in the wider world of Scottish politics. It is therefore vital that we account for this…

Secularism, Socialism and Religion

Bob Goupillot outlines a Marxist approach to religion A Marxist understanding of religion Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is…

Beyond Broadswords and Bayonets

Challenging left nationalism and left unionism in the SSP Neil Davidson’s latest work on Scottish history, Discovering the Scottish Revolution 1692-1746 has generated considerable debate in the Scottish Socialist Party. Allan Armstrong gives his analysis of the book and its critics. Introduction by Bob Goupillot In writing Beyond Broadswords and Bayonets, his response to the…

Which route for political, working class unity in Britain?

We are publishing the statement by Cymru Goch because it highlights some of the problems hampering the struggle for working class unity in Britain. Bob Goupillot outlines his personal reflections on these problems and suggests a possible way forward. My view is that all individual socialists and socialist organisations should be inside the SSP or…

Roads to Freedom or did Marx change his mind?

Karl Marx Favourite maxim – Nihil humanum a me alienum puto (Nothing human is alien to me) Favourite motto – De omnibus dubitandum (Doubt everything) Bob Goupillot examines Marx’s search for new paths to social transformation Who will mend the hole in the ozone layer? Who will reverse global warming? It is quite clear that…