Eric Thomas Chester, is author of The Wobblies in Their Heyday (a history of the Industrial Workers of the World during its most vibrant period, the World War I era ) and Yours for Industrial Freedom (an anthology that provides insight into the IWW as it really was based on letters introduced by the prosecution during the 1918…
THE STRUGGLE FOR A CATALAN REPUBLIC
We are posting two items on the situation in Catalunya. The first is from Eric Chester who recently visited Barcelona. The second is the motion put forward to the SSP’s National Council in May by the Dundee branch. 1. REPORT FROM BARCELONA Barcelona has once again become a center of radical politics. After decades…
TRUMP AND THE LEFT IN THE USA
Eric Chester wrote the following article on Trump and the Left. It was originally posted on the Utopian e-zine TRUMP AND THE LEFT IN THE USA Resisting the Trump presidency has lead many on the broad Left to focus on electing Democrats. However, is Trump the central problem confronting us, or is he just…
SCOTLAND IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE REFERENDUM
Eric Chester warns of the dangers of linking a call for Scottish independence with support for the EU. SCOTLAND IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE REFERENDUM In Scotland, the result of the recent referendum has reinforced the widespread belief that its political framework is significantly different from that of the rest of the UK. As the UK…
SUPPORT THE JUNIOR DOCTORS
SUPPORT THE JUNIOR DOCTORS NO COMPROMISES, NO BACKDOOR DEALS DEFEND THE NHS For months, the junior doctors of the National Health Service have stood firm in the face of an onslaught from the Conservative government in Westminster. Socialized medicine works and, indeed, it is extremely popular. With a national health service, access to…
TOWARD A SECULAR SOCIETY
Eric Chester (RCN) takes David Cameron to task over his promotion of a Christian UK. During his recent Easter weekend address, Prime Minister David Cameron made a point of declaring that the United Kingdom was a “Christian country.” This is not the first time Cameron has used religion to advance his conservative agenda. In his…
DEBATE ON THE EU REFERENDUM
The RCN is in the process of conducting a debate over the EU referendum on June 23rd. Where differences of opinion occur, we like to bring other socialists’ attention to these, so they can make their own minds up. Eric Chester (RCN and IWW) and Allan Armstrong (RCN and RISE) offer two different perspectives. Eric argues that we should leave. Allan…
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…
THE LIMITS OF REFORMISM AND THE GREEK CRISIS
Eric Chester (RCN) provides an analysis of the situation in Greece, after the Syriza government climbdown in the face of the Troika. THE LIMITS OF REFORMISM AND THE GREEK CRISIS Recent events in Greece mark a turning point in the ongoing crisis of global capitalism. The Greek people are confronted with the stark choice…
SCOTLAND AFTER THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION
Eric Chester (RCN) gives his perspective on Scotland after the Westminster election. The Scottish National Party has become the dominant force in Scottish politics. Already a majority in the Scottish parliament, SNP candidates crushed the Labour Party in the recent elections to Westminster. Yet SNP dominance extends well beyond the electoral arena. Within the trade…