[World History Archives]

The history of the world's
working-class culture

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   The history in general of the world's working class

Marxism: The only ideology specific to the working class

The Communist Manifesto: A clarion call full of ideas
By Sam Marcy, in Workers World. Of all the great classics in the treasury of Marxism, "The Communist Manifesto" unquestionably stands out as the most popular and widely read throughout the world. It illuminates a great number of complex ideas, but is also a guide to action.
Materialism and the Left: Remembering Marx
By Ted Keller. For more than a 150 years, the Left of industrial nations has been identified by the materialism, but with rare exception have steadfastly avoided any materialist examination of their own orientations or those of the publics to whom they address their appeals (64 Kb).
Engels Centential: The greatest popularizer of Marxism
By Sam Marcy, in Workers World. Marx and Engels together developed the social science known as Marxism. There were those in the movement who tried to divide Engels from Marx. After Marx died in 1883, Engels concentrated on popularizing basic Marxist doctrine.
Lenin and the Australian Labor Party
Roger Clarke continues a debate, Green Left Weekly. The Comintern endorsed Lenin's theory that, in the years before 1914, a "labour aristocracy" had been bought off by "crumbs" from the enormous profits of the bourgeoisie in the wealthiest countries. Communist parties and social democracy.
We must break the power of big capital
By Boris Kagarlitsky, in Green Left Weekly. A discussion of revolution, arguing that vs. social democracy, state intervention is mandatory, but only when combined with its transformation.
A Marxist Critique Of Post-Marxists
By James Petras, in Links. "Post-Marxism" has become a fashionable with the triumph of neo-liberalism and the retreat of the working class. The conflict between Marxism and "post-Marxism" is most intense among political intellectuals and politicised sectors of the trade unions and urban and rural social movements (67 Kb).

Working class culture in general

Comparative Int'l History of the Left and Leftist Schools
By Marvin Gettleman, March 1995. Re. a project to write the history of communist parties' labor schools. Left adult education. Resources.
Why hard work isn't working any more
By Sharon Beder, The Age, 20 October 2000. The resurgence in propaganda aimed at reinforcing the work ethic. Employers have been left with the problem of motivating workers in restructured workplaces, where hard work does not lead to a secure, well-paid job.
Abusive language in working-class culture (dialog)
December 2000. A dialog on Labor-L regarding the role of abusive language in class struggle.