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 Below is a list of essays on revolutionary Marxism. We've divided this page into four parts. The first part is a basic introduction to socialism. The second part is a Marxism FAQ secion (Frequently Asked Questions). The third part is a collection of recommended readings from historic revolutionaires like Karl Marx, Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg, Leon Trotsky and James Cannon. And the fourth and final section is a misc. collection of interesting theoretical links and essays. I. Introduction to Socialism  What is Socialism?Socialists obviously don't have a monopoly on compassion, however. What distinguishes socialists from other socially concerned people is that we do not view these problems as normal, natural, eternal, or an inherent feature of the human condition. We believe that these problems are historically and socially created and that they can be solved by human beings through conscious, organized political struggle and change. . . read on How to Make a RevolutionFirst of all, you have to have clear in your mind the meaning of the word “revolution.” Many people have a stereotyped picture of what a revolution is like. They say a revolution is when people come with guns, when they surround a fortress or take over a city. What they do is they confuse revolution with insurrection. Insurrection is just one stage of revolution. Revolution is a lot more. It’s a long process. . . read on Marxism vs. AnarchismIn the worldwide movement for social justice, many young people are attracted by the ideas of anarchism - even if they don’t call themselves anarchists. Anarchists seem to stand for the same thing we Marxists do - a classless society, a self-organized and self-managed society - what we often sum up with the phrase ‘workers’ power’. Like us, many anarchists say they stand for revolution. No bosses, no police, social equality, no rich and no nuclear bombs. People not profit. . . read on What Will a Socialist America Look Like?While the formal program of revolutionary socialism does not embody a picture of what the future socialist society will look like, revolutionary socialists share a vision of that society, if only in its broad outlines. There is no reason to be concerned about the absence of precision on this question. We cannot know what the socialist generations will decide to do, but the general lines of development we are able to forecast give us confidence in the wisdom of these decisions. . . read on Why Do We Need a Vanguard Party?You cannot have a spontaneous socialist revolution. You cannot make a socialist revolution without really trying. And you cannot have a socialist revolution commandeered from the top, ordered around by some omniscient leader or group of leaders. You need both ingredients in a socialist revolution: the highest level of consciousness possible, and the highest level of self-organization and self-activity by the broadest possible segment of the population. . . read on Overview of What Socialists Stand ForSocialism has been pronounced dead many times before-and it has always revived to continue the struggle. One instance was the time of demoralization that followed the defeat of the Russian Revolution of 1905. Lenin said at that time that the "official professors" who declared Marxism to have been "refuted and annihilated" were utterly befuddled. . . read on Socialists and ElectionsWith elections coming up again a lot of politically conscious people are hitting the pavement to campaign for their candidates. Voter registration drives, leafleting and yard sign distribution have become the order of the day for many activists. We certainly commend people who take politics seriously and who are committed to fighting for what they believe in. However, when asked who we will be supporting in the upcoming elections, we have to say “nobody.” . . . read on II. Marxist FAQ What Is Communism?What Are the Main Concepts of Marxism?What Makes Marxism Scientific?What's So Important About the Working Class?What Do Marxists Propose to Do About Racism?What Do Marxists Say About GLBT Oppression?What Do Marxists Say About Women's OppressionWhat Do Marxists Have Say About the Environment?What's Wrong With Capitalism?What are the Causes of Alienation?Who Was Karl Marx?Who Was V.I. Lenin?Who Was Leon Trotsky?What is Marx's Theory of Surplus-Value?What is Dialectics?What is Dialectical Materialism?What is Trotsky's Theory of 'Permanent Revolution'?Can American Workers Make a Revolution?How Do We Win Strikes?What is the Best Way to Fight Racist Groups?What If They Try to Arrest Us?Were There Any Gains Made From Previous Revolutions?What is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat?What is the Marxist View on Building Classless SocietiesIII. Archives of Writings by Revolutionaries Karl Marx Communist ManifestoWage Labour and CapitalV.I. Lenin State and RevolutionThree Sources & Three Component parts of MarxismThe Right of Nations to Self-DeterminationLenin on Womens' LiberationLeon Trotsky Transitional ProgramIn Defense of OctoberTrotsky on Womens' LiberationTrotsky on Optimism & PessimismRosa Luxemburg Reform or Revolution?The Mass StrikeJames Cannon On the Korean WarOn Eugene DebsOn The I.W.W.The Revolutionary Party & Its Role in the Struggle for SocialismSocialism on TrialErnest Mandel What Is Communism?The Marxist Case 4 Revolution TodayOn the Causes of AlienationThe French Trotskyists During WWIIHow the Fourth International was ConceivedVanguard PartiesWhy The Soviet Bureaucracy was not a New Ruling ClassThe Marxist Theory of the StateGeorge Novack Can American Workers Make a Revolution?The Revolutionary Movement: 1919-1969Understanding HistoryOther Revolutionaries The Challenge of Matriarchy by Evelyn ReedMemories of Trotsky by Jake CooperBio & Writing Sample of Paul SiegelHow to Win Strikes by Harry DeBoer60 Years of the Fourth International by Charlie Van GelderenFoundations of a Communist Youth League by Martin AbernHistory Will Absolve Me by Fidel CastroIV. Misc. Theoretical Resources Trotskyism vs. Stalinism A One Party or a Multi-Party System?What Seperates Trotskyism and Stalinism on Democracy?Down With the Stalin-Hitler Pact! - text from a 1939 flier put out by Trotskyist youth.Open Letter to the Young Communist League - text from another pre-World War II leaflet put out by Trotskyist youth in the U.S.Lenin's Program for Revolution - a look at Lenin's "April Theses"Was Russia Socialist?A Look at the 1956 Hungarian RevolutionRevolutions A Brief Look at the Paris CommuneAn Extensive Look at the Paris CommuneThe Russian RevolutionMarxist Analysis of CubaThe Soviet System Under Lenin & TrotskyThe French near-revolution of May 1968
Lessons From Allende's Chile
A Look Back @ Allende's ChileA Look at the 1956 Hungarian RevolutionThe Social Gains of Past RevolutionsGLBT On Lesbian/Gay Liberation - a Fourth International draft resolution.Ecology Marxist Analysis of the World-Wide Ecological Crisis -a Fourth International resolution.Study Guides Study Guide for Mandel's "Vanguard Parties"Study Guide for Lenin's "State & Revolution"Reading Lists Young Socialist Alliance Reading List From the 1960sRecommended PamphletsList of Political Novels & Biographies
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