Theory and Analysis

An Introduction to Marxist Economics

Introduction Today, under the impact of the capitalist crisis, many workers and students have developed a thirst for economics. They are attempting to understand the forces which dominate their lives. This brief introduction to Marxist economics attempts to provide the class conscious worker not with a complete account of economics, but a guide to the basic laws of motion of capitalist society dominating his existence. The shallowness of capitalist economics is demonstrated Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Stop the student debt sell off!

This Friday 18th October students at UAL and Goldsmiths will be demonstrating against the privatisation of student debt. Come along and join the UAL Marxists in calling for no privatisation of student debt, the cancellation of student debt, the abolition of fees and the nationalisation of the banks to fund education. Since the introduction of fees and the cutting of grants, the influence of big business and the market on higher education has been steadily Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

UCLU Elections: vote for a socialist NUS!

As autumn elections in UCLU are underway, UCL students are due to give their mandate to 6 delegates who will represent them at the NUS National Conference in April 2014. The levels of participation are strikingly low – 6 vacancies are contested by only 8 candidates, and students generally are unaware that there are any elections taking place. Thus, it is crucial to address the importance of these elections, as well as Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Book review: Behind the Myths – The Foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

  John Pickard’s book delves into the history of the three most important religions in the Western world, and this has profound political implications. If you think about it, religion dominates so many people’s lives from their birth to their death and yet, incredibly, so little is known about how religion, in particular Judaism, Christianity, and Islam really came about. Well, if you get a copy of this book, you will wonder Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

The Russian Revolution – Triumph or Tragedy?

On Thursday 10th October the Marxist Student Federation hosted a fiery debate between Alan Woods, editor of www.marxist.com, and Orlando Figes, Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London on the topic of ‘The Russian Revolution: Triumph or Tragedy? Alan Woods Addressing a packed hall of 180 people, Woods opened the debate by pointing out that the Revolution was a mass popular movement of millions of workers and peasants coming onto the Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Ex-miner and Sheffield students debate Thatcher’s real legacy

Around 150 students crammed into the Revolution Coffee Bar at Sheffield University on Monday 30th September to hear John Dunn – Socialist Appeal supporter, ex-miner, and current member of Unite the Union – debate against a motion proposing that Margaret Thatcher’s time as Prime Minister was a triumph, leading to long term prosperity for British people that we should all be very grateful for today. Joe Rollin, the local organiser of the Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Marxist Student Federation off to a flying start

The Marxist Student Federation is a new organisation for revolutionary students. Members of Socialist Appeal have taken the decision to launch this national platform for Marxist ideas in the student movement because it is clear that there is both a need and a thirst for Marxist ideas in the movement. The response we have received at the freshers fairs with the numbers signing up and coming to our opening meetings has been Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

The Privatised Life of a Student

  by Guy Howie, UCLU Marxists Students coming to London this year face an unprecedented attack on their education. Ever since the Tories and Liberals trebled fees to £9,000 in 2010, we have seen university funding continually rolled back and the costs of student living soar. For London students in 2013 the cut-backs have reached a critical point. At UCL, the “Bloomsbury Masterplan” – a £500 million sell-off of many of the Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Edinburgh Marxists make a great start to the year

The interest in Marxism appears to be on the rise in Edinburgh after a successful meeting, hosted by the Edinburgh University Marxist Society last week. Up to 50 young students attended the first meeting of the society entitled ‘An introduction to Marxism’ where Socialist Appeal supporter, Adam Booth introduced the key elements of Marxist theory and explained why they are still highly significant today. This came after the society had collected details Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

For a Fighting NUS!

The Marxist Student Federation demand that the NUS: 1. Oppose all cuts to education 2. Oppose all fees and actively campaign for free education for all 3. Campaign for a massive programme of investment in education 4. Campaign for an expansion of student services so that everyone can study 5. Campaign for the abolition of student debt 6. Campaign for the introduction of a living grant for students 7. Oppose obscenely high Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Student activism and the role of Marxists

  by Adam Booth (10th April 2013) It has been a busy period within student politics over the past few months as students from across the political spectrum have campaigned for positions within student unions, culminating in the NUS conference this week. In some areas, left-wing candidates have been victorious; in other places, more right-wing candidates have won (often under the banner of being “politically neutral” or “apolitical”). These campaigns provide a Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

What attitude should revolutionary students have towards the NUS?

  by Daniel Morley (25th March 2013) In November 2010, the new Tory government was greeted by the largest and most militant student movement for decades. At the time, a brief wave of euphoria spread through the activist movement. The birth of a new generation of radicals had arrived. That prognosis was not wrong. The consciousness of young people has changed dramatically, as shown by the growing interest in the Marxist societies that Socialist Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago