It was very sad news to hear of the death of Leigh French, co-editor of Variant. I was invited in the context of IndyRef2 to speak to a meeting organised by Leigh and Gordon Asher. What we shared in common was an appreciation of the significance of cultural struggle in challenging capitalism. Although we differed…
We are citizens not subjects
The Radical Independence Campaign issued the following statement for the Calton Hill republican rally on May 6th. WE ARE CITIZENS NOT SUBJECTS The Radical Independence Campaign initiated the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill, signed by nearly 3000 people. We welcome those attending today’s rally organised by Our Republic. We are here to challenge…
James Connolly and the coronation of Edward VII
The following article was written by James Connolly in 1902 in response to the coronation of Edward VII. The full version can be seem on the Marxist Internet Archive. CORONATION OF KING EDWARD VII Fellow-Workers, Unless unforseen accidents intervene to prevent this consummation, His Majesty, Edward VII, King and Emperor, will be crowned on…
Norway: thousands of youth demonstrated against “Green Colonialism”
The following article, written by Matthew Walters, was first posted by Left Voice (USA). From the end of February to the beginning of March, over a thousand youth protested against the construction of wind turbines on Sami land. This movement represents the birth of a militant, Indigenous-led environmentalist movement. NORWAY:THOUSANDS OF YOUTH DEMONSTRATED AGAINST’GREEN COLONIALISM’…
The radical politics of Nina Simone
This article, written by Chardine Taylor-Stone, on the radical politics of Nina Simone was first posted by The Tribune . Nina Simone, who died on 21st April in 2003, is often remembered for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement – but she was also a socialist who saw revolution as the path to true…
Papering over the cracks, covering up the tracks : a review of Scotland after Britain
Allan Armstrong has written an extended review of ‘Scotland After Britain’, written by James Foley and Ben Wray, with Neil Davidson, entitled Papering over the Cracks, Covering up the Tracks. The Contents, the last chapter and Conclusion can be read here. PAPERING OVER THE CRACKS COVERING UP THE TRACKS A review of Scotland after Britain by…
The Winds of Change at Gartymore
George Gunn is a signatory to the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill. In this thought provoking article, first posted by bella caledonia, George argues that climate activists should take inspiration from the Highland Land League’s slogan “Is treasa tuath na tighearna” (The people are mightier than a lord.) Allan Armstrong adds his own comment at…
“The Sturgeon era is over: Now what?” and “What we have learned from the SNP leadership election”
Mike Small and Sean Bell are signatories to the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill. Quite independently, they have been making their own observations and commentaries about the current political situation in Scotland in bella caledonia. Recently Mike has written, The Sturgeon era is over: Now what? and Sean has written What have we learned from…
Remembering George Padmore
The following article on Trinidadian revolutionary, George Padmore, written by Perry Blankson, was first posted by the Tribune. REMEMBERING GEORGE PADMORE Trinidadian socialist George Padmore was born in 1903. His Pan-African organising helped to build the struggle against colonialism in the West – and to push independence struggles towards Marxism. Of all the many figures…
RIC reconstituted and the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill
This is the conclusion of Completing Scotland’s Democratic Revolution, in which Allan Armstrong examines the legacy of of Scotland’s 2014 Democratic Revolution and the 2023 Declaration of of Calton Hill, designed to complete that unfinished democratic revolution. RIC RECONSTITUTED AND THE 2003 DECLARATION OF CALTON HILL After the attempted shutdown on 17.1.21[1] the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC)…