Party & Programme
End the cycle of splits
24 May 2012
If the left is to build a serious political organisation it will have to facilitate internal dissent, writes Mike Macnair. And that will require both majorities and minorities to act responsibly
Completely different foundations
26 Jun 2025
As with now, the economic significance and politics of the middle classes was being hotly debated among socialists back in the 1890s. Some claimed their growth as disproving Marxism. Others could only see proletarianisation. Ben Lewis has translated a highly pertinent passage from Karl Kautsky’s Anti-Bernstein (1899), which offers still valuable insights. Mike Macnair provides the introduction
Privileged information leaks
26 Jun 2025
Everything is happening in secret. But secrets have a habit of being told. Meanwhile, yet another deadline has come and gone, reports Carla Roberts
Socialisms have prevented communism
12 Jun 2025
Peter Kennedy, a member of Talking About Socialism, responds to Mike Macnair. Obviously what he writes represents his own take on the contemporary situation and historic issues
Learning some elementary Russian
12 Jun 2025
Worthwhile unity can only be forged around a democratically agreed programme. But that necessarily involves minorities accepting majority votes. Demanding that majorities discard their programme and compromise on their principles is a non-starter, says Jack Conrad
Collaboration, yes; opportunism, no
05 Jun 2025
Programme is central. We have taken many years fashioning, discussing and fine-tuning. It would be the crassest opportunism to abandon what we have achieved. Jack Conrad replies for the CPGB
Putting things on hold
05 Jun 2025
Talking About Socialism has written this letter to the CPGB and the pro-talks faction of Prometheus, suspending our talks
Capitalism as a star fort
05 Jun 2025
The system might be in decline, but it has a whole complex of defence works available to it. Mike Macnair completes his three-part series on the transition from capitalism to communism
Not a bright idea
29 May 2025
An unwillingness - or inability - to deal with the root causes of the climate crisis has resulted in a frantic search for technological fixes. However, argues Jack Conrad, that comes with all manner of dangers
Questions of communism
29 May 2025
What is the relationship between socialism and communism? Can socialism be built in a single country? Mike Macnair continues his exploration of the transition from capitalism
Patching up capitalism
29 May 2025
Rose-tinted images of the past were interspersed with absurd recipes for the future - Michael Roberts reports on a day spent with the ‘eminent’ members of the Progressive Economy Forum
Electoral front goes national
22 May 2025
Victorian Socialists are establishing franchises across the country. Marcus Strom looks at the background, the manoeuvring, the programmatic poverty - but welcomes the formation of the Communist Platform
Everyone wants to join
22 May 2025
While Corbyn and his trusted aides prepare to launch yet another soft left party, the SWP acts as foot soldiers … including for born-again Green leftie, Zack Polanski. Carla Roberts reports from Sheffield
Corbyn is coming
15 May 2025
Hints are being dropped here, there and everywhere. But exactly what is going on remains a closely guarded secret. As for programme, everything tells us it is going to be on the soft end of the soft left. Carla Roberts provides an update
Programme ’n’ chips
08 May 2025
Differences are inevitable. Unity can, however, be forged around a democratically agreed programme and the commitment to building a mass party. Jack Conrad reports … and considers organisational cultures, good and bad
They come with thorns
08 May 2025
Demands for ‘civility’, avoiding ‘name-calling’ and approaching others ‘in a comradely way’ are phrases that come straight from the dominant culture of opportunism. Mike Macnair defends the CPGB’s good culture of open criticism and robust polemics