‘What I did after becoming a revolutionary socialist’: voices from Marxism Festival

Historian Ilan Pappé drew big crowds at Marxism festival 2025

‘We have nothing to lose and everything to gain’: Gwen from London

I was at Marxism 2025 for two days. I remember the speech Andrew Feinstein gave when he announced Your Party—it was so exciting.

The festival made me aware of the interconnected nature of so many different struggles I was passionate about. I didn’t have the analysis that it was the framework of capitalism—I had seen these struggles in isolation from each other.

Being in a room with so many people with the energy to fight was inspiring. I had just left school and I felt it was such a contrast with being in a space that stripped you of a sense of self.

I loved sociology A Level. The Marxist thinkers were always the ones I remembered because they were the only ones who knew what they were talking about.

But at Marxism I saw people not just in an academic context, but acting on their ideas. All these people were acting on their Marxist analysis.

The Marxism taught at school was sanitised and shrunk down. It made me angry that I hadn’t been able to study those ideas.

Women Against The Far Right locally has been very important, but I do as many campaigns as possible. Student work was important too. We have a growing Socialist Workers Student Society (SWSS) group.

The weekly Finsbury Park campaign stall where we sell Socialist Worker helps us get to know people locally. It is fun to politicise any situation, a good way to test yourself and challenge your ideas. If I have questions, I know comrades will be eager to help me answer them.

The biggest pull for me was the Palestinian cause. I was opposed to the genocide, but I saw it in a tunnel-vision way. I was solely focused on a moralistic perspective. Marxism widened my understanding of imperialism.

Becoming a member of the SWP gave me the language to describe reality. It made me realise that the gap between what you feel and how capitalism explains our material life takes away our power.

Recognising and understanding why and how the world is structured the way it is made me feel less lost and hopeless.

We need more young people who think that caring is cool and who are fighting for the world we all deserve to live in, free of oppression. We have nothing to lose and literally everything to gain.

Gwen

‘Practice makes political arguments a lot stronger’: Dave from Edinburgh

Before I joined, I was on the left, but I didn’t have a coherent ideology and I wasn’t active.

I saw a Marxism poster and I booked up. I thought it might be a dry, academic event but it was very different.

I found out it was organised by the SWP and I met comrades from Edinburgh. I asked them, how does it work? What is the strategy? How can we make a difference?

I was not quite ready to join but I went to a meeting in Edinburgh. There was a theoretical discussion and then so many people talking about working in the unions, the Palestine movement, anti-racism and organising on campuses and I thought—yes.

I have been very active, especially in Stand Up To Racism (SUTR)—I’m on the organising team. I have attended lots of historic protests, including one against Tommy Robinson in London and others around Britain.

I went from being a bit hesitant on marches to leading the chants and organising trips to fight the fascists in Falkirk.

I have learned a lot about socialism and Marxism. I have taken part in a lot of interesting discussions and there are lots of educational materials, books and the paper. And, of course, it is important to discuss politics with people.

We are part of a global effort, you feel you are one of many and that together we are making a difference. On smaller protests, individual contributions are more visible and you do make a real difference.

I think opinions on politics are stronger when you have examples of what you have done. Practice makes political arguments a lot stronger.

There is a lot of work to do, a lot of things to fix, but I am a happier person now. Despite the horrible world we live in, you feel so much better if you are trying to do something about it. And if you meet people who care about the world and are fighting for positive change.

‘Having knowledge isn’t enough—you have to be involved’: Delane from Bristol

Me and a friend saw Marxism posters, we saw Jeremy Corbyn was speaking and we thought anything else would be a bonus.

It was such an inspiring event. Up until then my perception of the left was that it’s a commentariat just posting stuff online, or very parliamentary.

But at Marxism I saw rooms of people engaged in topics—no one was on their phones.

Some recruiter came up and asked if we wanted to join and we said we may as well.

Delane

When I moved to Bristol I thought—new city, new opportunity to meet like-minded people. I went to a meeting and it was fun and very friendly. I’m black and the energy in the SWP meeting was different from other groups.

The SWP branch was a very warm and inviting place for someone like me.

I came along more and got involved in local protests. I have developed politically but having knowledge is not enough—you have to be involved in protests

I organise the book stall for my branch. We didn’t really have one, but we had an event called Marxism in a Day. I ran the book stall there and it went really well. People who bought books were open to discussions and to joining.

I have plans to build up the stall and do more book launches.

I have been involved in SUTR locally and in London. It is enjoyable to see things being done.

Before I thought it would be impossible to get people to go from Bristol to London for a march against racism, but when you see people you met on a stall turn up and get on the coach—that’s so satisfying.

‘Being in the party has really boosted my confidence’: Millie from Liverpool

I was in a different party but didn’t align with their politics. I bumped into some comrades in a pub, we had a long chat and they told me about Marxism.

I really enjoyed it—I got a real sense of belonging. There was such a nice atmosphere and the politics felt right, so I decided to join.

Our party speaks out on oppression in a way that doesn’t patronise or degrade people. It showed me how being clear about politics helps to convince other people and brings them hope.

Millie

I have learnt so much about how to speak to people in accessible and convincing ways.

Being in the party has really boosted my confidence—now I go on the megaphone at the front of demos.

It helps me get my rage out too.

My worst fear was public speaking. All throughout university, I was doing presentations and I could never finish them. And now I am the one doing the meetings. I couldn’t have imagined that even a year ago that I would be at this point.

We never pressure people to join. We make a positive atmosphere that encourages people.

‘It’s about finding the best analysis, not defending opinions’: Maia from London

Last year was my first Marxism. I had heard about it, and of the SWP, but I never interacted because I felt it was quite intimidating. I am a scientist, I had no background talking about politics except with my family and friends.

When you talk about politics, it is often arguments about fundamental things—women’s rights or supporting strikes. I always had to defend my opinion, but didn’t have the context or information to back up my opinions.

I went to Marxism to educate myself. I attended a series of talks which were very interesting, and then I joined at the closing rally.

I felt everyone was easy to talk to and excited to talk.

The goal of conversation was to find the best analysis, not defending existing opinions.

I started coming to weekly meetings and feeling more confident. I didn’t really intend to be very active and there was never any pressure.

But theory and practice are interwoven, so if you go to meetings and think about issues, it is inevitable that you do things and begin to organise.

It came very naturally and I felt very supported in doing that.

I started getting involved after Marxism. There were protests outside refugee hotels and the flag campaigns, so I was organising counter-demos with SUTR. That fed into interacting with the community and the mosque.

I really started to get involved and started UCL SWSS group. I was thinking, where are the students? Because I know they care. I wanted to share my great experiences of the SWP with them.

We have great new comrades at the university now. It is very exciting that we have found each other. Hopefully, more students will join at this Marxism.

‘People were making sense for the first time’: Jeet from London

I found Marxism 2025 really good. It was a real introduction to left wing spaces—it felt like people were making sense for the first time. I had all these issues, but all the solutions I heard felt inadequate.

People were talking about the labour theory of value and what we should do in a revolution—it was a breath of fresh air. For the first time, I felt like I could talk to an old white man and I knew they would be chill and not be a racist.

Within two days I joined the party.

The first book I finished reading was on Marxism and women’s liberation, that really piqued my interest. And Trotsky’s Fascism and How to Fight It, I loved the way it was written. It felt like you were just talking to a guy.

I have been learning and sharpening my understanding. The SWP has been really good for my confidence.

• You can book tickets for this years Marxism festival here and find the timetable here