History

Mary Wollstonecraft—fighting for women to be free

The erection of a statue of Mary Wollstonecraft in north London has sparked controversy, Sarah Bates goes beyond the headlines to explore her life and legacy

The Alabama miners strike of 1920—striking a blow at racism

One hundred years ago miners went on strike in Alabama, in the US Deep South. Tomáš Tengely-Evans spoke to historian Brian Kelly about how their action helped to challenge the hold of racial segregation

The Gardner’s occupation—a jobs fight that won

Forty years ago this month a workers’ occupation of Gardner’s factory in Eccles, Salford, showed it’s possible to stop mass redundancies. Geoff Brown tells the story. Pictures by John Sturrock

Trespass, capitalism and land

Simon Basketter looks at a new book examining how the rich have stolen huge swathes of public land—and passed centuries of laws keep everybody else out

New stand-up show already feels like outdated humour

Sam Jay’s new Netflix special 3 In The Morning is refreshing in some ways. But there are too many jokes that leave you cold, says Jasmine Fischer

Israeli state is worried about questioning of its history

As Seth Rogen talks about Israel’s lies, Tomáš Tengely-Evans looks at the myths around the foundation of the state

The Communist Party of Great Britain—a party that began as radical

26 July 2020
The Communist Party of Great Britain was founded 100 years ago to fight for revolutionary change. Ken Olende looks at its roots and the debates that took place as it was formed

Comintern, July 1920—a critical juncture

19 July 2020
The Comintern met for the second time 100 years ago. Simon Basketter looks at how the debates there help us to understand and challenge the capitalist system today

Fannie Lou Hamer: ‘I am sick and tired of being sick and tired’

15 June 2020
The indomitable political activist Fannie Lou Hamer was one of the most urgent and important voices of the US civil rights movement.

Vietnam War student massacre—50 years on

10 May 2020
In May 1970 cops opened fire at black students resisting US imperialism. Socialist Worker looks at the forgotten killings at Jackson State

Lenin and his ideas today

19 April 2020
In a time when capitalism is in crisis, the works and life of the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin—born 150 years ago this week—are still crucial, writes Tomáš Tengely-Evans

Cook’s tour drenched in blood

07 April 2020
British explorer James Cook arrived on the east coast of Australia 250 years ago. His incursion was part of a horrific imperialist expansion, writes Charlie Kimber

Yalta 1945—how they carved up the globe

03 February 2020
Seventy five years ago, a cabal of world leaders crafted a secret plan to divide up Europe. Socialist Worker looks at how workers’ resistance forced their hand

Nicolae Ceausescu—death of brutal dictator was a Christmas gift

16 December 2019
Stalinist regimes across Eastern Europe fell in 1989, but Romania was the icing on the Xmas cake says Tomáš Tengely-Evans

BBC misses the real lessons of Hitler’s seizure of power

10 September 2019
The series ignores how bosses handed the Nazis power—and the force that could have stopped them, writes Tomáš Tengely-Evans

The real story of Peterloo

03 August 2019
The Peterloo massacre exposed our rulers’ brutality. But a new history also shows how the workers’ movement was militant and inclusive from its birth, writes Judy Cox

The politics of the D-Day landings

01 June 2019
As the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings sees politicians commemorate the events Tomáš Tengely-Evans looks at the horrific reality of the Second World War

How the way was cleared for capitalism in Scotland

30 May 2019
A new book by Tom Devine offers a fresh interpretation of how capitalism was established in Scotland. He spoke to Charlie Kimber

The rising in 1820 was a challenge to the state

30 April 2019
The Radical War in Scotland two centuries ago saw a mass strike movement, plans for armed rebellion—and then bitter government repression, writes Charlie McKinnon