Our History

Ten years since the death of comrade Phil Mitchinson

Written by In Defence of Marxism Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Ten years ago today comrade Phil Mitchinson died tragically at the age of 38. He was a leading cadre of the Socialist Appeal in Britain and also of the International Marxist Tendency. He played a key role in building up the forces of the Socialist Appeal. We republish here an article by Rob Sewell written one year after his death, Phil Mitchinson: “We will finish what he began”. We are also highlighting one of his major articles, Marxism and direct action, which is the best way of honouring the comrade and showing his calibre as a leading Marxist cadre.

A tribute to Jean Lievens

Written by Alan Woods Wednesday, 14 September 2016

jean News of the death of comrade Jean Lievens came as a most shocking and unwelcome surprise to all of us who knew him. Jean was always so full of life that to speak of his death seems to be unthinkable. But at the tragically early age of 59 he has been suddenly taken from us after a short fight against a serious illness.

On the fourth anniversary of his death - Memories of Ted Grant

Written by Alan Woods Wednesday, 21 July 2010

On the fourth anniversary of his death - Memories of Ted Grant Alan Woods recalls the role of Ted Grant, discussions he had with him and also provides excerpts from some of Ted’s speeches in the 1990s, that reveal a sharp mind still following world events and applying the Marxist method to explain them.

Terry Fields, Militant MP dies – the workers’ MP on a workers’ wage

Written by Rob Sewell Monday, 30 June 2008

We have just received the sad news of the death of Terry Fields, a Militant supporter and Labour MP for Liverpool Broadgreen (1983 -92). He died over the weekend after a long struggle with cancer. Terry is remembered by all the comrades who knew him as a true class fighter and a man who stuck to his socialist principles throughout.

A Brief History of the International Marxist Tendency

Written by In Defence of Marxism Saturday, 12 August 2006

The following text is a very brief outline of the history of our tendency, in answer to questions we have received from different people around the world.

The Character of the European Revolution – A Reply to Some Comrades of the IKD

Written by Ted Grant Wednesday, 02 February 2005

We are publishing a 1945 article by Ted Grant’s which was a contribution to the discussion on the national question in Europe then taking place within the Fourth International. The IKD was the German section of the Fourth International, but some of its members had unfortunately drawn some very reactionary conclusions. Instead of the perspective of the socialist revolution they had been thrown back to the idea of the “national democratic” revolution. Ted explained the disastrous consequences this idea would have on the movement and went on to state the classical Marxist position on this question.

The Fourth International and the Soviet Union in 1946

Written by RCP Wednesday, 15 December 2004

In 1946 the perspectives of the then leadership of the Fourth International were that through “the combined economic, political and diplomatic pressure and the military threats of American and British imperialism” the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union could collapse. The complete opposite was the truth. Ted Grant, together with the leadership of the RCP, attempted to correct this mistaken prognosis. Here we provide the historical 1946 documentation.