The RCN discussed the forthcoming Scottish Independence Referendum at its Dundee aggregate on March 25th. Papers were presented by Allan Armstrong, Eric Chester and Susan Dorazio. Allan and Susan presented general papers covering the principles behind any campaign for Scottish self-determination. Allan and Eric also provided papers with more immediate proposals. The RCN also noted…
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…
Reform Or Revolution In An Era Of Economic Crisis
The gap between revolutionaries and reformists is fundamental and widening as the economic crisis deepens. This gulf in underlying perspectives is reflected in the conflicting approaches taken to an array of specific issues. Specific differences in strategy and tactics should be viewed as elements in a recurring pattern that in varying forms is being constantly…
The RCN Platform And The SSP
At its AGM on January 22nd 2012 the RCN agreed to withdraw as a Platform within the SSP. This decision was not taken lightly as many of us in the RCN were founder members of the SSA and in turn the SSP. We agreed from the start that the project of bringing together the Left…
Three Reviews Of Allan Armstrong’s ‘From Davitt To Connolly’ (with replies)
Below are three reviews of Allan Armstrong’s book From Davitt to Connolly. The first one, written by Jim Monaghan, appeared in Saothar (the journal of the Irish Labour History Society); the second one, by T.R. appeared in Socialist Voice (the monthly journal of the Communist Party of Ireland) and third is from Ted Crawford, who helps to compile the Marxist…
Red, Orange And Blue
Allan Armstrong gives his personal reflections on The Provisional IRA – From Insurrection to Parliament (by Tommy McKearney, with an Introduction by Paul Stewart). I first met Tommy McKearney in the preparations for the initial Republican Socialist Convention, which was held in Scotland. He was due to pick me up from the Dublin Monaghan bus.…
A new review of ‘From Davitt to Connolly’ by Tara O’Sullivan
Celtic Soul Brothers Tara O’Sullivan (from Red Banner, issue no. 45) A review of From Davitt to Connolly: ‘Internationalism from below’ and the challenge to the UK state and British Empire 1879-95, by Allan Armstrong Earlier in the year we witnessed much discussion of relationships between Ireland and Britain. Some was of interest, but the worst…
Fighting the Cuts
The Scottish working class confronts an escalating series of cuts in social services as the welfare state is systematically dismantled. This assault on the public sector has sparked a variety of protests, ranging from the militant actions of UK Uncut, and the demonstrations in support of the Accord Centre, to strikes of public sector workers…
Review of From Davitt to Connolly by Chris Gray
The following review of From Davitt to Connolly: ‘Internationalism from Below’ and the Challenge to the UK State and British Empire 1879 – 1895 appears in Issue 20 of Permanent Revolution Allan Armstrong, From Davitt to Connolly: ‘Internationalism from Below’ and the Challenge to the UK State and British Empire 1879 – 1895 (Intfrobel Publications…
After May 5th – A Looming Constitutional Crisis?
Part One – the Meaning of the May 5th Elections A good kicking for the Lib-Dems disguises the wider impact of the National Question on May 5th On May 5th, the Lib-Dem-initiated referendum proposal to introduce AV to Westminster elections was massively rejected in every nation and region of the UK, including Northern Ireland. In…