Eric Chester gives his interpretation of recent events in Greece and the lessons to be learned. Recent events in Greece mark a turning point in the ongoing crisis of global capitalism. The Greek people are confronted with the stark choice of accepting a crippling austerity project or rapidly advancing toward a new society. For socialists…
THE CURSE OF NATIONALISM
Eric Chester (RCN) outlines his view of the political dangers represented by the SNP The independence referendum has substantially changed the political landscape of Scotland. With 45% of the voters supporting independence, and many others deterred from joining them by a last minute fear campaign, there is a widespread belief that the election was stolen and that…
THE WOBBLIES IN THEIR HEYDAY
Murdo Ritchie reviews a new book by Eric Chester, The Wobblies in their Heyday. The Rise and Destruction of the Industrial Workers of the World During the World War One Era. AN OPEN UNION IN A POLITICAL WORLD Using documents that have been concealed or hidden in plain sight, Eric Chester reveals the repression used…
MORE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE RCN’S ‘WHAT WE STAND FOR’
The RCN will be debating new amendments to our ‘What We Stand For’ on our annual weekend away being held on November 8th. The first set of amendments proposed by Allan Armstrong were posted at:- http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2014/08/09/proposed-amendments-to-the-rcns-what-we-stand-for/. Eric Chester has proposed another set of amendments, which are posted below. Add to point 5: We call for…
Scotland out of NATO
Eric Chester reports on recent developments in the Scottish peace movement The Trident missiles armed with Nuclear warheads located at Faslane Naval Base have become a flashpoint for Scottish activists. One of the few specific pledges made by Alex Salmond and the SNP during the referendum campaign was a commitment that no nuclear weapons would…
Protesting Against The UK Government’s Launch Of The First World War Commemoration In Glasgow On August 4th.
Eric Chester (RCN) reports on the official opening of the UK government’s First World War commemoration in Glasgow on August 4th. The UK government is determined to use the commemoration of World War I as an opportunity to promote militarism and imperialism and to defend the British role during that war. The last part of…
Emancipation & Liberation Special Bulletin – The Centenary of the World War I Imperialist Slaughter
WORLD WAR I – THE CATASTROPHIC RESULT OF IMPERIALIST RIVALRIES On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip, A Serbian nationalist, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire. This incident sparked World War I, that soon engulfed much of the world and led to the deaths of millions of soldiers, and…
The Demise Of Labourism And The Passing Of Tony Benn
Eric Chester (RCN) goes beyond the glowing tributes made to Tony Benn after he died earlier this year and takes a critical look his politics. Tony Benn was one of the most popular and respected figures on the Left in Scotland and throughout the UK. His recent death has been followed by many notices that…
World War 1: Glorious Victory Or Imperialist Bloodbath
In the third article from the RCN’s May Day Special Bulletin, Eric Chester (RCN), Convener of the Scottish Peace Network’s August 4 Working Group, examines the reality behind the First World War, and the UK government’s attempts to rehabilitate British imperialism’s role, to prepare the working class today for future imperial sacrifice. One hundred years ago the world was engulfed…
Socialists And A Secular Society
Eric Chester makes a contribution to the ongoing discussion and debate in the RCN about secularism The demand for a secular republic has always been central to the struggle for socialism. All too frequently state power is used to bolster a specific religious orthodoxy, with those who adhere to other religions, or to no religion at all,…