We’re running a new Education for Socialists course, aimed mainly at new members. It consists of ten meetings—each backed up by an Education for Socialists pamphlet. A pack costs £10: contact the SWP National Office to order.
“The ideas of the ruling class,” wrote Karl Marx, “are in every epoch the ruling ideas: i.e., the class which is the ruling material force of society, is at the same time its ruling intellectual force.”
Revolutionaries require confidence in Marxism in order to overcome the pressure of the prevailing ideas in society and to allow them to challenge those ideas, whether in the workplace or the lecture theatre. Particular struggles may rise or fall. But if members are to stick with a revolutionary party through defeats as well as victories, they must be confident that Marxism can both explain the world and guide attempts to transform it.
We can learn an enormous amount from the struggle itself—indeed, Marxism can only develop as a theory through engagement in workers’ struggles. But this does not automatically ensure that members will acquire a rounded understanding of Marxist theory—taking in the broad history of class struggle and the full range of ideas in our tradition.
That is why parties such as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) also need a culture of education. Specific educational meetings, aimed in particular at less experienced members, can help give them the space and time to develop the ideological confidence they require.
SWP branches and districts organise educationals for members regularly.
Our Education for Socialists course consists of ten meetings, each supported by a pamphlet:
For comrades who’ve completed the Education for Socialists course, we recommend our Revolutionary Classics series:
For Summer 2026 we have put together a special three part course on Revolutionaries and the United Front. You can download it here.
How should a session run?
Each meeting in the Education for Socialists course is supported by a pamphlet. They contain three or four articles taken from our publications that illustrate the basic ideas to be discussed in the meeting along with recommended further reading.
The educational packs—made up of all the pamphlets—should be sold and distributed before the meetings so that attendees have a chance to read them in advance.
First an experienced speaker introduces the topic. While it is important to get less experienced members doing branch meetings, educationals should be introduced by strong, tested and confident speakers.
Second, the speaker sets three or four questions. There are some suggested questions in each of the pamphlets—but you won’t have time to go through all of them. The questions are designed to force the audience to think creatively about the application of theory, rather than simply repeating what they have just been told. How would you answer someone’s question convincingly in a meeting, campaign stall, campus or workplace?
Third, the speaker should leave the room for half an hour or three quarters of an hour, while those attending the course ponder the questions. This can be done in break-out groups of around four people, depending on the size of the educational in your area.
Fourth, the speaker should return to the room and comrades can report back on each question in turn. After each question, the speaker, other experienced comrades and the group as a whole can intervene to answer questions that arose from the discussion and suggest additional points.
In many ways this is the most important part of the educational meeting as it tests what the new members have understood and often highlights misconceptions or gaps in knowledge. It is also the part of the meeting that is most difficult to get right as the experienced comrades must try to correct mistakes without discouraging new members from speaking or demoralising them.
Afterwards, if possible, there should be a space for an informal chat with refreshments. Have a bookstall.
Go to our Ideas and Theory page for links to more articles on a range on topics. Check out your nearest SWP branch and meeting.
