Updated: 5th January 2007
I just thought we could bring together a selection of the articles we've got that do not deal with 'heavy politics,' with the odd one that is theoretical, just to keep things stirring! Marxists do have opinions on books reviews, sport, etc.
Sometimes articles are added for a while before being added here, please check the sitemap for reviews, obits, etc. as well.
To see more about what the Socialist Party stands for visit the sitemap
Added, Jan. 5th 2007
Obituary for James Brown, 1933-Xmas Day 2006
This obituary from the Australian SP site can be read here.
Socialist comment on the Ipswich murders.
The comrades in Britian have produced the following article after the murders of 5 female prostitutes in Ipswich. Read it here. We would ask any readers who wish to comment on these issues to get in touch.
Added June 20th 2006
Internationale - whatever language you want it in!! Here's an interesting site where you can hear dozens of differing language versions, and styles of song, of the Internationale, the workers anthem. Listen in, prepare for the next occassion so you odn't have to mime!! Visit here -http://www.hymn.ru/internationale/index-en.html
Added 26th May 2006 - Bobby Sands Nothing but an Unfinished Song
Twenty five years ago in May, Bobby Sands, MP, died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. Over the next few months, nine other young republican prisoners followed him, demanding jail reforms.
Niall Mulholland reviews Bobby Sands Nothing but an Unfinished Song by Denis O'Hearn (Pluto Books).
Good Night and Good Luck
Good Night and Good Luck arrives in Britain on the back of a wave of critical acclaim.
Bob Sulatycki. Read the rest of this review here.
Permanent Revolution
100th anniversary of the ‘Theory of Permanent Revolution’
Are Trotsky’s ideas of socialist revolution still relevant today? Read Niall Mulholland's article here.
George Best wrote poetry with his feet
Added to SP site, Monday 5rth Dec. 2005
George Best's final wish was that people should remember him for his football. He wouldn't have been disappointed for it was in recognition of his unique talent that tens of thousands lined the streets on the day of his funeral to say farewell to a legend. Read the rest of this obituary to a sporting legend.
What are the prospects for Cuba today? by Peter Taaffe, cwi, 2005.
The Cuban revolution, which triumphed over the hated Batista regime 46 years ago, in January 1959, has endured many predictions of its imminent demise. Two new timely books on the subject, ‘Cuba: A New History’, by Richard Gott, and ‘The Real Fidel Castro’, by Leycester Coltman, go a long way to explain the durability of the revolution but, at the same time, the dangers which are still posed by the implacable hostility of US imperialism – underlined by the posture adopted by George Bush in his second term.
Constant Gardener
Reviewed by Tony Saunois, the Socialist, Nov. 2005. A positive review of a very interesting film.
Obituary - Arthur Miller - death of a legend. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by David Convery
In Green and Red - the lives of Frank Ryan. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by Adrian Hoar
The Corporation. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by Mark Achbar & Jennifer Abbot
Selling out? Privatisation in Ireland. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by Paul Sweeney
Global Dimming. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. By Daniel Waldron
Mao – The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday
Reviewed by Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party, England and Wales
Art
Exhibition: Tate Modern Museum, London -
Soviet Graphics - States of Illusion Reviewed, Nov. 2002
Review: Tate Modern - Picasso & Matisse from Socialism Today (May/02)
Book Reviews, etc
In Green and Red - the lives of Frank Ryan. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by Adrian Hoar
The Corporation. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by Mark Achbar & Jennifer Abbot
Selling out? Privatisation in Ireland. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by Paul Sweeney
Jack London: The Man, The Socialist, The Fighter
Militant International Review, No. 19, 1980
We publish below a brief autobiographical sketch by Jack London, author of “The Iron Heel”, “Martin Eden”, and countless classic short stories and novels. But very few of the millions who read “White Fang” or “Call of the Wild” while at school know anything about Jack London. the lifelong socialist and revolutionary.Read the rest of the article.
Militant, January 1987, No. 148 Added to site, Feb. 8th 2005
Against the Tide - book review by Pat Smyth
The publication of Noel Browne's fine autobiography, Against the Tide, will make uncomfortable reading for many of our senior politicians. Their sickening complacency to the facts of poverty and cringing servility in the face of the Catholic Church have changed little since the days of Browne's ill-fated Mother and Child Scheme. For anyone who shares Browne's anger at the hypocrisy of Irish society it makes a very good read. Read the rest of the review.
Niall Mulholland, cwi
The award-winning writer John Pilger brings together in Tell Me No Lies vital reporting from around the world since World War Two. Running at 600 pages this highly rewarding book can be dipped into time and again.
How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World by Francis Wheen
Reviewed by Michael O'Brien
WITH "MUMBO JUMBO" Francis Wheen has found a polite catch-all term to describe how irrational thought, religious obscurantism, blind faith and new fads increasingly pervade all aspects of life the world over.
article from Socialist VIEW, No. 13 Winter 2004
Lies and the Lying liars that tell them - by AL Franken
Reviewed By Garret Mullan in Socialist VIEW, No. 13 Winter 2004
The Battle of Venezuela by Michael McCaughan
Reviewed by David Convery
LEFT-WING JOURNALIST Michael McCaughan's new book The Battle of Venezuela, is a vivid account of the process which has been evolving since the election of left-wing populist President Hugo Chavez six years ago. Socialist VIEW, No. 13 Winter 2004
I'm Not The Only One by George Galloway
Reviewed by Cillian Gillespie
IN THE PAST few years, particularly since US imperialism launched its so-called ''war on terror'' against Afghanistan and Iraq, George Galloway has come to prominence. from Socialist VIEW, No. 13 Winter 2004
Watching Big Brother - Glenn Simpson reviews 'A Matter of Trust MI5 1945-1972' by Nigel West
Militant Irish Monthly Dec 1983 - Jan. 1984, Issue 117
'A Matter of Trust' is a book that should be studied in depth by labour activists. It deals in some detail with the penetration by MI5 and the KGB of the British labour movement. It is worth examining the deep penetration of MI5 into the Communist Party after the war and their more recent work inside the labour movement. read on.
Militant interview with Glenn Patterson
'The poor are still poor even if they're looking at a video'
Niall Mulholland, West Belfast Militant Labour, Militant Labour, No. 230, May 1995
You don't expect a prize winning, critically acclaimed young author to have to do his own PR and distribution but Glenn Patterson, 'a socialist and atheist', knew his work, a successful, wise 'attempt to update the fictional map' of Northern Ireland would be problematic for publishing houses, far removed as it is from the usual thrillers stacked with cardboard cut-out characters.Read the rest here...
Life and Times of Eleanor Marx
Review by Norma Prenderville of Eleanor Marx, Vol.'s 1 and 2, by Yvonne Kapp in Militant Irish Monthly, June 1985
The story of Eleanor Marx deserves to be widely known. It is the moving story of a strong minded, courageous and independent woman who devoted her talents ad energies, throughout her life, to the socialist cause.Read the rest here...
An attack on Socialism? - George Orwell's Animal Farm, reviewed by Michael Barry in Militant, April 1987
George Orwell's Animal Farm is on the English literature reading list for the Leaving Cert again this year. Many students studying for the course find it to be one of the new books that they actually enjoy reading in preparation for the exam. Animal Farm, a satire on the 1917 Russian Revolution and its degeneration in the 25 years that followed, is a brilliantly written and very relevant novel - little wonder that it is one of the most widely read books in the English language. Read more here...
Connolly in America - James Connolly and the United States, written by Carl and Anne Barton-Reeve and reviewed by Niall Kelly, Galway, Militant Irish Monthly, February 1980.
A painter’s tale - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, by Robert Tressell
The Communist Manifesto - 'A handbook for every class-conscious worker'
Finn Geaney, (Dublin Trades Council Executive - personal capacity) Militant, March 1988
140 years have passed since Marx and Engels published the Communist Manifesto. Read more here
Victor - An unfinished song By Joan Jara, Reviewed by Tony Saunois
PINOCHET HAS been sent home to Chile and paid up to half a million pounds in legal costs by the British government. The same generosity, however, was not shown to the thousands of victims of his military dictatorship, prominent amongst whom was the renowned musician, Victor Jara.
The moving story of Victor Jara, told by his British wife, Joan, was first published in 1983. It was republished in 1998 to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1973 coup. This lively and honest biography succeeds in graphically tracing the emergence of Victor Jara's theatre, music and poems, and the crucial role they played in the Chilean workers' movement. Read more..
A STAR CALLED HENRY by Roddy Doyle
Two differing reviews of Roddy Doyle's latest novel by Michael O'Brien and Paul Dillon.
A Star Called Henry marked a new departure for Roddy Doyle who until now has concentrated on novels portraying contemporary life in Dublin.
Reviews by Michael O'Brien (for) and by Paul Dillon who says "There's no good reason why a socialist should recommend a bad book just because it contains some political truth." Read these contrasting reviews.
Taliban Islam and Oil Book
The detention of 24 aid workers accused of promoting Christianity has stretched relations between Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and governments around the world to breaking point. This is the latest episode in the international power struggle around this strategically vital area of the world. PER ÅKE WESTERLUND looks at a recent book by Ahmed Rashid that details the background to the Taliban 's rise to power and the situation in Afghanistan today. Read more..
Review: Why Fahrenheit 9/11 makes Bush fume It's not surprising that Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 is storming the US. The film's release coincides with Americans' growing anger at George Bush and his right-wing regime. Read the rest of this review from the British cdes paper, July 2004, by Dave Carr, Socialist Party, England and Wales
Markievicz - an inspiring woman
Diana Norma's book - Terrible Beauty A life of Constance Markievicz reviewed by Ruth Coppinger in Militant, September 1988
Only two people spoke in the entire debate on the Treaty which confirmed Partition in 1922, on behalf of the Irish working class. One was Liam Mellowes, the other was Constance Markievicz. Read the rest of Ruth's book review of this.
'Outstanding Accounts Of The Miners' Strike'
IF YOU want novels or books that give you a happy ending you wouldn't necessarily choose ones about the miners' strike. After all you know the end before you start these books. 2 Reviews by Ken Smith.
GB84 by David Peace, published by Faber, £12.99
The English Civil War Part II by Jeremy Deller, published by Artangel, £19.95
Film Review: In the name of the Father - Ciaran Molloy, Militant Labour, January 1994
In The Name of the Father is one of the most powerful and emotive films for many years.
May 2004 - Michael Moore's latest film on GW Bush censored by DISNEY!!!
Mr. Moore, who will present the film at the Cannes film festival this month, criticized Disney's decision in an interview on Tuesday, saying, "At some point the question has to be asked, `Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' Read the newspaper story here
Factory Farms - The Bloody Truth About Our Meat
By Erika Blechinger and Ben Arenburg CWI-America Justice Sept-Oct 03:
Michael Moore's latest booked reviewed. Dude,
Where's My Country?
Reviewed by Alison Hill, SP in England. There's also another review by Nicholas Baptiste, in Justice, 37, the Nov. 03 - Jan '04 paper of the US cdes.
The main aim of Michael Moore's hilarious and scathing new best-selling book, Dude, Where's My Country? is to empower a seemingly inert anti-war and anti-Bush movement. Unfortunately, in Moore's estimation, all roads to accomplishing this goal lead back to the Democrats in 2004. Read more..
Nearly 100 years ago, Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle, a harrowing exposé of the meatpacking industry's repugnant abuse of workers and animals. According to Eric Schlosser's recent bestseller, Fast Food Nation, the working conditions, production methods, and sanitation in slaughterhouses of the 21st century have changed little since then.
Review: Planning Green Growth by Pete Dickenson
by Manny Thain (March/03)
A century of women By Sheila Rowbotham, 1999, Penguin, £11-99
Reviewed by Clare Wilkins Socialism Today, No. 41, Sept. 1999
Working-class Fiction: from Chartism to `Trainspotting' By Ian Haywood, Northcote House (in association with the British Council), 1998, £8-99 Reviewed by Victor Paananen Socialism Today, No. 33 Nov. 1998
The case for the prosecution: Guilty Men: Conservative Decline and Fall, 1992-1997 By Hywel Williams, Aurum Press, 1998, £19.95.
Reviewed by Mike Watkinson Socialism Today No. 33 Feb. 1999
Blowing hot and cold: Cold War: An Illustrated History 1945-1991
By Jeremy Isaacs and Taylor Downing, Bantam Press, 1998, £22.50
Reviewed by Dave Reid Socialism Today, No. 36 March. 1999
The year the party ends: The Crisis of Global Capitalism by George Soros, Little Brown, 1998. Reviewed by Victor Paananen Socialism Today No. 37 April 1999
2 Books on the USA - Iraq War. Reviewed in Socialist View, No. 10, Spring 2003.
Fences and Windows Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Globalization Debate by Naomi Klein by Sarah Mayo (Dec/02)
Tower of Strength: The Story of Tyrone O'Sullivan and Tower Colliery by Tyrone O'Sullivan by Alec Thraves, CWI Britain (Nov/02)
Empire by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri by Per Olsson, member of RS, the Swedish section of the CWI
The Real Rogue State by William Blum October 2002, Socialist Voice.
Palestine - Still the Issue by John Pilger
by Chris Newby, a member of the CWI in England (Sept/02)
Koba the Dread: Laughter and the Twenty Million by Martin Amis: Who Really Fought Stalin's Dictatorship by Jim Hensman (Sept/02)
Michael Moore's Stupid White Men Reviewed By Jeff Booth
Issue No. 30 June-August 2002 Justice, Socialist Alternative (US-CWI) paper
Socialism in the 21st Century by Hannah Sell
The Way Forward for Anti-Capitalism August 2002
Anti Capitalism - The Social Economy Alternative by Chris Hill
Summer 2002 by Per Olsson, member of RS, the Swedish section of the CWI (Summer/02)
Senoir Service - The Life of Giangiacomo Feltrinelli by Carlo Feltrinellin by Niall Mulholland (Jun/02)
Memoir - My Life and Themes by Conor Cruise O'Brien A Reactionary Diatribe by Anton McCabe (May/99)
‘Frantz Fanon: A Life’ Ciaran Mulhollland reviews "Frantz Fanon: A man who always asked questions" by David Macey. (Published by Granta Books, London, 2000 (paperback edition, 2001)
Review of Peadar O’Donnell, author Donal O’Driscoll – by Anton McCabe, Socialist View, Summer 2001
Islam - One Thousand Years of Faith and Power by Jonathon Bloom & Shelia Blair by Manny Thain (May/02)
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Gergory Palast
by Clive Bomford (April/02)
NoLogo Naomi Klein. Reviewed by Eleanor Rodgers, Socialist View, Spring 2001
The Buru Quartet by Pramoedya Ananta Toer Naomi Klein by Anton McCabe Socialist View, No 8 Spring 2001
The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes by Jonathan Rose by Michael Calderbank (Spring/01)
A short cut to socialism Review of Imagine a book from Alan McCombes and Tommy Sheridan
By Per-Åke Westerlund, a member of the CWI in Sweden. 21st March 2001
Loyalists by Peter Taylor The Loyalist Psyche
by Peter Taaffe, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of England & Wales (July/99)
Films - TV
Constant Gardener
Reviewed by Tony Saunois, the Socialist, Nov. 2005. A positive review of a very interesting film.
1905 Russian Revolution on the screen
Restored version of ‘Battleship Potemkin’ at 55th Berlin Film Festival
Aron Amm, Berlin
Hungry - try a BIG MAC! Here's a review of Super Size Me the film of the man who only ate McDonald's food until his doctor ordered him to stop!!!
Review - Motorcycle Diaries
By Dave Reid in Socialist View, No. 13 Winter 2004.
Rambo – a Reagan fantasy Pat Smyth, Militant Irish Monthly October 1985
“I’ve always thought,” Rambo tells us in his first remotely intelligent remark half way through the film, “that the mind is the best weapon.” How then could they send a man to totally defenceless to do battle with the entire Vietnamese nation and most of the Russian army thrown in for good measure? Read on
New Film Review:
Film review: Goodbye Lenin is a political love story set in East Germany (GDR) around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Stephen Jolly, Socialist Party, Australia A working class single mother, Christiane, and her 20-year old son, Alexander, live in a tiny East Berlin flat in the last days of Stalinism.
Rabbit Proof Fence by Keiran Roberts, CWI Britain (18/11/02) The Socialist
The Dancer Upstairs by John Malkovich by Niall Mulholland (Oct/02)
Bread and Roses by Ken Loach – Orla Drohan Socialist View, Summer 2001
Film: Killers on the Loose - Panorama: The Dirty War on BBC Television
June 2002
Green Politics
What They're Not telling US About GMOs: - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You and the Environment. By Jessica Moore
Justice, paper of the CWI in America, Issue# 37 November 2003 - January 2004
Genetic engineering has become a topic of intense controversy, and with good reason. Genetic engineering involves taking genes from one species and inserting them into other, even completely unrelated, species to transfer a desired trait or character.
Read more here from the US cdes paper, Justice...
Factory Farms - The Bloody Truth About Our Meat
By Erika Blechinger and Ben Arenburg CWI-America Justice Sept-Oct 03:
Planning Green Growth. Written by Pete Dickenson, reviewed
by Manny Thain (March/03)
Global Dimming. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. By Daniel Waldron
History
You should also visit the labour history section of the site, here's a list of these pieces
Slavery and the rise of capitalism: The Making of New World Slavery: from the Baroque to the Modern, 1492-1800.
By Robin Blackburn, Verso, 1997 (Pbk, 1998).
Reviewed by Matt Wrack Socialism Today No. 33 Nov. 1998
Dr Strangelove and the evil empire: The Other Missiles of October: Eisenhower, Kennedy and the Jupiters, 1957-1963
By Philip Nash, University of North Carolina Press, 1997.
Reviewed by Alison Hill Socialism Today No. 34 Jan. 1999
Britain and the Nazis: The Chamberlain-Hitler collusion by Alvin Finkel and Clement Leibovitz, The Merlin Press Ltd., 1998.
Reviewed by Paul Ursell Socialism Today No. 37 April 1999
Miss World
Dec/02) Nigeria: Exploitation & Poverty Behind 'Miss World' Riots
Obituaries
George Best wrote poetry with his feet
Added to SP site, Monday 5th Dec. 2005
George Best's final wish was that people should remember him for his football. He wouldn't have been disappointed for it was in recognition of his unique talent that tens of thousands lined the streets on the day of his funeral to say farewell to a legend. Read the rest of this obituary to a sporting legend.
OBITUARY - FERGUS WILSON
FERGUS WILSON (45) died on 5 November 2004 after a five-year struggle with cancer. Fergus joined the Militant/ Socialist Party in early 1990 . From the Nov. 2004 edition of Socialist, the new paper of the SP
Arthur Miller:- Death of a dissenter
Arthur Miller, the American playwright, died on 9 February, aged 89, having battled with cancer, pneumonia and a heart condition.
Tony Mulhearn, Liverpool
Another obituary-review article
Obituary - Arthur Miller - death of a legend. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. by David Convery
Just give me my equality, An obituary for Nina Simone (1933-2003)
Gary Mulcahy: Written for Socialist View No. 11, Summer 2003, but not published due to space.
Joan Littlewood - Radical Theatre Director
by Niall Mulholland (25/09/02)
Stephen Jay Gould - Outstanding Contributor to Evolutionary Theory by Pete Mason, a member of the CWI in England (23/05/02)
Plays
Over the Bridge - Part of working class culture - Marc Mulholland, Militant, November 1990
This month sees the return to the stage of one of the most controversial plays in the history of Northern Ireland. The same elements which outrages the ruling class in the late 1950s, makes it of great interest today. The story of labour versus sectarianism in the Harland and Wolff shipyard reflects and now is, a part of the working class culture in the North.
The history of the troubles, according to my da. Written by Martin Lynch, reviewed by Colin Devine, Socialist View, No. 10, Spring 2003.
Science
Global Dimming. Published in Socialist View, Spring 2005. By Daniel Waldron
Sexual Politics
The Stonewall Riots - 1969
By Lionel Wright in Socialism Today Issue 40 July 1999
The Stonewall Riots were a turning point in the struggle for homosexual equality. Yet last year's brutal murder of 21-year-old US student Matthew Shepard, and the British government's unwillingness to implement promised reform, indicate how far there is to go. Lionel Wright assesses the role Stonewall played in shaping the modern lesbian, gay and bisexual movements.
Soccer
(May-Jun/02) Nigeria: World Cup 2002 - Any Hope for Nigeria Soccer?
Reclaim the Game By John Reid, ISBN 0-906582-58-x
For other articles from Socialist Voice visit the Paper files
or for the articles on the USA-Iraq war go to the sitemap.
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