Not unlike the incorporation of labor, which proved to be the crucial political juncture of the twentieth century, the mobilization of indigenous Latin Americans represents what could be for many countries the most pivotal political event of the current century[1]Eaton, Kent, ‘Backlash in Bolivia: ‘Regional Autonomy as a Reaction Against Indigenous Mobilization’, Politics and Society,…
Highland Migrant Workers
Bill Scott uses the traditional song, Erin Go Bragh to explore the historical role of migrant workers in Scotland In our feudal past, apart from the merchant towns such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, Scotland was almost purely an agricultural community. Three quarters of Scotland’s total land area is still agricultural land, mainly hill and…
Migrant workers are at the heart of our fightback
Editorial from The Commune, no. 6 The jobs massacre currently taking place under the cover of recession is an attack which particularly endangers casually or precariously employed workers; furthermore, migrants are also being scapegoated for ‘stealing’ hard-to-come-by jobs. Immigrants, many of whom are forced to leave their countries of birth by repressive regimes directly or…
August 1969
Patricia Campbell reviews a crucial event in Irish history which occurred 40 years ago. This article first appeared in Fourthwrite (Summer 2009) August 1969 was the year that transformed the face of the North forever. The civil rights marches of the previous year had launched a movement for change that the Stormont regime found impossible…
Lisbon Treaty passed in second referendum
JM Thorn, Socialist Democracy (Ireland) analyses the defeat of the Irish Left in the second Lisbon Treaty referendum. The Lisbon Treaty was passed on October 2nd, overturning its rejection by the Irish people in June 2008. The margin of victory was emphatic – the ‘Yes’ vote winning by a majority of 67 percent of voters…
Can the SNP deliver independence?
We assess the politics behind the SNP government’s proposed independence referendum and its likelihood of success. Megrahi, behind-the-scenes deals and the ‘liberal’ US onslaught Political developments in Scotland are hotting-up in the aftermath of the decision by Kenny MacAskill, the SNP’s Justice Minister, to release Abdelbaset Ali-Mohamed al-Megrahi, the so-called Libyan bomber, on compassionate grounds.…
Emancipation & Liberation, Issue 18, Autumn 2009
Issue 18 of Emancipation & Liberation is out now. If you would like to buy this issue or subscribe, contact us. Comments are open, so until articles are online, feel free to discuss the articles below. When they are online you can discuss the article in it’s comment section. Editorial: Can the SNP deliver Independence?,…
The Need for Socialist Unity
A contribution from Allan Armstrong of the Republican Communist Network. This is immediately followed by a supplement analysing the European election results, which assesses the current balance of political forces in the EU. In Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales the main lesson of the 2009 European elections is clear – we need Socialist unity. In…
Left Unity
The SWP have published an open letter on Left Unity in the past few weeks. There is a reply from the Commune which the RCN is in broad agreement with. We reprint it below. Reply to socialist workers party’s open letter to the left Comrades, We write in reply to your Open Letter to the…
SSP Conference Bulletin March 2009
The RCN urges Conference delegates and visitors to apply the following principles when they discuss, debate and vote on this year’s Conference motions. Do they enhance the political independence of our class? Do they promote greater democracy both in our own organisations and in wider society? Do they develop genuine internationalism? Do they oppose British…