We are reposting this article, written by Mike MacNair, which was first published by Weekly Worker. He argues that despite its ostensible archaism, the coronation of Charles III reflects the thoroughly modern practice of one-man management. STUFF ‘SINGLE PERSON’ LEADERSHIP In March 1649, after the execution of Charles I, parliament passed “An Act for the abolishing…
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…
What happens when it stops raining – from The Province of the Cat
The following article by George Gunn was first posted on bella caledonia. George argues that on the absence and omnipresence of theatre in contemporary Scottish politics, and the players and actors involved. It’s time to re-write the script. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT STOPS RAINING? From The Province of the Cat It was a rainy…
How the Paris Commune influenced the 1916 Rising
The following article, written by Donal Fallon, to commemorate the the anniversary of the 1916 Dublin Rising was first published by The Tribune. HOW THE PARIS COMMUNE INFLUENCED THE 1916 DUBLIN RISING The Paris Commune of 1871 was still fresh in the memory by the time of Ireland’s Easter Rising – and, for 1916 leader…
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…
In memory of Marco Bocjun, 1951-2023
The EL&SD EB is very pleased to repost this tribute by Chris Ford of the Ukrainian Solidarity Campaign. It is to Marco Bocjun, a leading Socialist from Ukraine. Before the war in Ukraine broke out, the Republican Socialist Platform, recognising the historical significance of Marco’s contributions, hosted a meeting to discuss his book, The Workers’…
“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…
Announcing the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill
The following article, written by Allan Armstrong for the Radical Independence Campaign, was first posted by bella caledonia ANNOUNCING THE 2023 DECLARATION OF CALTON HILL On September 18th, November 2014, something truly remarkable in politics happened. By the time of the Scottish independence referendum, held on that day, 97% of Scotland’s potential electorate had registered…
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)…
For a republican all-islands coalition (update)
In March 2022, Allan Armstrong announced the intention to write three reviews of books written in Ireland addressing the current political situation Socialists face there. The purpose in doing this has been to build the case for an all-islands, republican internationalist coalition to challenge the UK state and its imperial allies. These have now been…