Allan Armstrong has written reviews of three books which address the political situation Socialists face, first of all in Ireland. He has extended this to Scotland, Wales and England, and their position in a world of competing imperialisms. The purpose in doing this is to build the case for a Republican, all-islands, ‘internationalism from below’…
Freedom come all ye – Why we need a truly human and democratic communism
The RCN/RCF has always seen the need to connect anti-capitalist activities with providing a vision of the type of society we want and the means of achieving it. To this end we were engaged in debates in the commune. One of the articles which Allan Armstrong, with assistance from Bob Goupillot, contributed proved too long…
‘From Pre-Brit to Ex-Brit’ update
EL&SD is posting a new conclusion to Allan Armstrong’s book From Pre-Brit to Ex-Brit FROM AN EX-BRIT END TO THE BRITISH UNIION AND EMPIRE IN AN ‘INTERNATIONALISM FROM BELOW’ CAMPAIGN FOR A EUROPEAN REPUBLIC TO A ‘UNIVERSALISM FROM BELOW’ GLOBAL COMMUNE Despite the claims of liberal EU supporters, the EEC did not bring peace to…
Ireland’s reunification: prologue to democratic revolution
Allan Armstrong addresses some of the issues raised in Ireland’s Partition: Coda to counterrevolution by John McAnulty. Contents a) Introduction b) A Socialist history of Irish history but with some blind spots c) Unionism and British identities d) Building a coalition for Ireland’s reunification e) Under the guise of opposing Neo-Liberalism, a worrying accommodation to the…
Global Britain, Levelling up, Strengthening the Union
The following article by Allan Armstrong (RSP) was first posted by bella caledonia. It looks at the political significance of the appointment of Sir Tony Radakin to Chief of Defence Staff, using his speech to the Royal United Services Institute. This version also included a link to that speech and other references. GLOBAL BRITAIN, LEVELLING…
What does the union flag tell us about the UK?
Allan Armstrong has rewritten the introduction to the first part of his book, From Pre-Brit to Ex-Brit. In this he takes a closer look at the history of the UK’s Union Flag. WHAT DOES THE UNION FLAG TELL US ABOUT THE UK? Today, even the United Kingdom’s most diehard defenders realise their state may not…
The SWP and Scottish independence – Part 2, To party or not to party?
This posting covers the Introduction and Contents of the second part of Allan Armstrong’s review of the book, Breaking up the British state, Scotland, Independence and Socialism, edited by Bob Fotheringham, Dave Sherry & Colm Bryce of the SWP. The full article can be seen at:- https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/breaking-up-the-british-state-part-2.pdf Contents This posting covers the Introduction and Contents of the second…
The SWP and Scottish independence – part 1, Breakin’ up is so hard to do
The following post includes the Contents and the Introduction of the first part of the review by Allan Armstrong of Breaking up the British state – Scotland, Independence & Socialism, editors, Bob Fotheringham, Dave Sherry and Colm Bryce. The full review of Part 1 can be read at: https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/breaking-up-the-british-state.pdf THE SWP AND SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE Part…
Rayner O’Connor Lysaght Presente!
Rayner O’Connor Lysaght, born in 1941, passed away on 2nd July, little more than a year after his comrade Kevin Keating, both members of Socialist Democracy (Ireland). Before meeting Rayner I had read some of his earlier books, being particularly impressed by his writing on the 1919 Limerick Soviet. Deidre McCartan, who was a former…
May 6th election results and beyond
This article by Allan Armstrong (RCF) looks at the aftermath of the May 6th elections in Scotland, Wales and England, the current situation in Northern Ireland, and then to the political significance of new movements from below across these islands, culminating in the people of Govanhill challenging the UK state’s Home Office Border Agency’s attempted…