Marxist Voice

How China became capitalist 14.07.2026 44мин

Whilst the Chinese Communist Party rule over China, it works with a capitalist mode of production. This is a historic peculiarity which originates with the successful Chinese Revolution in 1949. This revolution overthrew capitalism, but without workers power. This meant a slow return to capitalism was inevitable without successful revolutions internationally. But how did they return to capitalism while keeping the CCP in place? In this talk, RCP Central Committee member Tom Crozier, explains the process.

Rise and fall of US Imperialism 07.07.2026 1ч 5мин

The relative decline of US imperialism is a process having enormous effects on every corner of the globe and every capitalist market. The US is struggling through its death agony which is resulting in a deeply unpredictable world. From wars to trade wars, to foreign policy on truth social, anger is building towards the US government rapidly. This exists in countries imperially dominated by the US, but has now spread to the US and its allies. Huge social explosions have begun, and the RCI is trying to take this process to its logic conclusion: revolution. In this talk, given at the Central Committee meeting of the RCP last weekend, Fred Weston explains these processes.

The failures of 'lesser evilism' and the popular front 30.06.2026 54мин

Those on the left are increasingly being pushed the idea that we must support, vote for and publicly defend the 'lesser evil' in politics. Many liberal politicians orient their campaign around the idea that they are not as bad as the other candidate. This is not a new phenomenon but a rehashing of the ideas of the Popular Front, popularised by Stalin in the 1920s/30s to excuse his distaste for international revolution. Importantly, it has never worked in defeating either fascism or the right wing populists of today such as Trump or Farage. In fact, the left aligning themselves with the liberals, ie. the representatives of capitalist crisis, has only opened the road further to those on the right presenting themselves as the anti-establishment candidates. In this talk, delivered to the newly elected RCP Central Committee this weekend, Rob Sewell discusses different examples of lesser evilism and the popular front and their failures, linking this to how this bankrupt idea has informed the political situation in the West today. Rob Sewell is a member of the Executive Committee of the RCP and the International Secretariat of the RCI.

1945: Liberation, revolution and betrayal 23.06.2026 40мин

A revolutionary wave swept through Europe towards the end of the Second World War. In France, communists formed the backbone of the armed resistance to fascism. In Italy, workers occupied the factories, peasants took over the land, and communists led a mass armed partisan force. In Greece, the communist party led the resistance movement, and was in a strong position to take power. But in all these countries, capitalism survived. In this session, leading member of the RCI James Kilby, will explain the revolutionary process that developed towards the end of the war. He will explore how and why the Stalinists in one country after another betrayed these incredible movements, thus setting back the world revolution by decades.

What would socialism look like? 16.06.2026 40мин

Most people today are well aware of what they are against, poverty, austerity, racism, imperialism and much more. However, very few people have an idea of what they are fighting for. Politics promises things it can never achieve, demoralising people in the process. This is where Marxism is different. Instead of starting with what we want, we begin with what is possible and what is getting in our way. In this talk, Sarah Vedrovitch explains the world which communists are fighting for and how to get to it from what exists today.

Revolutions in Materialist Philosophy 09.06.2026 48мин

From the Renaissance to Marx, this talk from the London Marxist School traces the revolutionary developments of materialist philosophy. Beginning with the scientific breakthroughs of figures like Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton, it explores how humanity fought to understand the world through reason, science, and experience.The talk examines the limits of English empiricism, explaining the triumph of Marx and Engels in using dialectics to elevate materialism onto a higher plane. In doing so, they uncovered the laws of historical development and the contradictions of capitalism itself.As Khaled Malachi explains, Marxist philosophy is a guide to revolutionary action: a method for understanding society, exposing the roots of class exploitation, and fighting consciously for a socialist future.

Defying US imperialism: Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution 02.06.2026 49мин

The Cuban Revolution stands as one of the most revered revolutions in the history of capitalism. Fidel Castro and Che Guevara began as anti-imperialists and did not initially consider the revolution to be socialist.However, in the course of the struggle, they realised that the fight against imperialism, if it was to succeed, also had to be a fight against capitalism. With this understanding, they heroically ended capitalism on the island, leading to a long list of gains for Cuban workers.With the struggle against imperialism taking on renewed importance today, the lessons of the Cuban Revolution should be studied by all those who want to end the barbarism created by imperialism.In this talk, RCP Central Committee member Keelan Kellegher will draw out the lessons of the Cuban Revolution, explaining the most important conclusions we can take from this inspiring event.

Feuerbach, philosophy, and the birth of Marxism 26.05.2026 44мин

Dialectical materialism, the philosophy of Marxism, did not fall from the sky. Nor was it just a ‘good idea’ that Marx came up with one afternoon. As Marxists we owe an immense debt to the philosophers of the past, in particular the German idealist Hegel. Before Marx was a ‘Marxist’, he was a student of Hegel, and was amongst those who saw in Hegelian philosophy a revolutionary method of understanding the world: the Young Hegelians. This talk will explain the contributions of Hegel and the Young Hegelians in developing philosophy. In particular, the work of Ludwig Feuerbach, whose attempt to critique Hegel showed the way forward, even if it ultimately failed to go all the way. Of the Young Hegelians, it was Marx and Engels alone who fully grasped the revolutionary spirit of Hegel’s philosophy. This talk, given by leading RCP comrade Nye Shaw, will explain what set these two giants apart from the rest, and how, on this basis, the revolutionary philosophy of Marxism was born.

100 years of Malcolm X: From Nation to Revolution 19.05.2026 48мин

The name Malcolm X is synonymous with the black liberation movement internationally. His life was dedicated to this struggle, ultimately leading to his murder in 1965. His view that liberation should be fought for 'by any means necessary' was a battle cry to the oppressed masses globally, who could see the limits of peaceful protest and abiding by a law set up to oppress you. Beginning as black nationalist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, in his life he experienced the development of the civil rights movement in the US and saw a series of revolutions against colonialism in Africa. These experiences moved him towards socialist and international and anti-capitalist ideas. Later in his life he proclaimed 'you cannot have capitalism without racism'. In this talk Fiona Lali, RCP Executive Committee member, will discuss the life and ideas of Malcolm X and how we can honour his legacy by overthrowing the oppression and exploitation which still plagues the world today.

World Perspectives 2026 12.05.2026 1ч 9мин

In order to change the world, you must first understand it. This is why communists discuss politics, economics and the state of class consciousness. In a world defined by economic collapse, political turmoil and growing anger at the establishment, the 3rd Congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party met to discuss this. Here we share the introduction on World Perspectives given by Alan Woods.

Science, the crisis in cosmology and the Big Bang 28.04.2026 54мин

Men and women have looked up at the night sky and speculated about the nature of the universe since prehistoric times. Those speculations were the first gropings towards science. But science was bound up with myth; cosmology with cosmogeny; astronomy with astrology.Since the scientific revolution of the 16th century, however, myth has been squeezed in cosmology. But in the last century, a century of capitalist decline, it has made a comeback under the guise of a new Creation myth, the Big Bang.Since the 1990s, this has ossified into the so-called Standard Model. Today, advances in observational astronomy are fatally undermining that model. In this discussion, Ben Curry, leading member of the Revolutionary Communist International, will look at how the philosophical thought of an age impinges on this science where a clear philosophy is above all necessary if we are to relate the finite sphere of our observations to the infinite cosmos beyond, and the little sliver of time we are able to study its magnificent unfolding to the whole eternity that stretches behind us and ahead of us.

Mao Zedong: His life, legacy, and limits 21.04.2026 53мин

There is no doubt that the Chinese revolution is one of the greatest events in human history. It freed China from the shackles of imperialism after a heroic, decades-long struggle.This revolution was the fruit of the tremendous determination and spirit of sacrifice of the Chinese masses. And at the head of this movement was Mao Zedong.Since Mao’s death, capitalism in China has been gradually restored by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bureaucracy.Mao is seen to have led a struggle against ‘capitalist roaders’ in the CCP in his final years. Thus many revolutionaries both inside and outside China have understandably looked towards the ideas of Mao as a guide to action in the struggle towards a new revolution.However, just as much as he achieved incredible things, there were not a few tragedies and horrors under his leadership that must be explained, such as the famines of the Great Leap Forward and China’s de facto alliance with the USA against the USSR.Is there a connection between these serious errors and crises, and the CCP’s eventual return to capitalism? And do communists need to make use of the best of Mao’s ideas to abolish once again capitalism in China? In this talk, Daniel Morley, from the RCP Central Committee, will answer these questions.

The Chartist Revolution 14.04.2026 52мин

“Let there be no blinking the question. These are not the times to be nice about mere words: the fact is that there is but one mode of obtaining the Charter, and that is by insurrection.” George Julian HarneyChartism was the first time ever that British workers fixed their eyes on the seizure of political power: in 1839, 1842 and again in 1848. In this struggle, they conducted a class war that at different times involved general strikes, battles with the state, mass demonstrations and even armed insurrection. They forged weapons, illegally drilled their forces, and armed themselves in preparation for seizing the reins of government. Such were the early revolutionary traditions of the British working class, deliberately buried beneath a mountain of falsehoods and distortions.In this talk given at the London Marxist School, Rob Sewell draws out the lessons of the Chartist movement. You can get your copy of Rob's book here https://wellredbooks.co.uk/product/chartist-revolution/

The Easter Rising of 1916 07.04.2026 42мин

The Easter Rising of 1916 is one of the most inspiring events in Irish revolutionary history. The rising saw Europe’s first Red Army, the Irish Citizen’s Army, fight the forces of British Imperialism on the streets of Dublin and sacrifice their lives for the cause of a free Ireland for the Irish workers and poor. When Lenin got news of the Rising, he criticised those who wrote it off as a ‘putsch’ saying ‘Whoever expects a ‘pure’ social revolution will never live to see it. Such a person pays lip-service to revolution without understanding what revolution is.’ These comments still ring true today with the history of the rising falling victim to all kinds of distortions. In this talk from Revolution Festival 2025, Orla Thomas from the RCP Central Committee will set the record straight on the history of the Rising, discuss its lessons , and explain the importance of the Irish national question for communists in Britain today.

The Reformation: religion, revolution and the rise of the bourgeoisie 31.03.2026 46мин

“The long fight of the bourgeoisie against feudalism culminated in three great, decisive battles. The first was what is called the Protestant Reformation…” EngelsWhen Martin Luther pinned his ninety-five thesis to the door of a church he set in motion a struggle on a scale that he did not foresee nor desire. Starting as a theological debate on doctrine, it became an ideological struggle against the Roman Catholic Church, and from there a series of revolutions, wars and civil wars. This explosive chapter of events shook Europe to the core, and changed history forever. It was a necessary first step in the struggle of the masses against feudalism by breaking the ideological dictatorship of the Catholic Church. This struggle opened the floodgates for new radical thought, such as the enlightenment, the development of science, and further revolutions. In this talk from Revolution Festival 2025, Joe Russell, RCP Executive Committee member will use this period of revolution as an important case study for historical materialism. How do changes in the economic base of society affect the realm of ideas, including religion? And how in turn, do such ideas become the most powerful weapon in the struggle to change the world?

For an independent revolutionary art: Marxism and Surrealism 24.03.2026 44мин

Surrealism was a revolutionary artistic movement founded in 1922 and led by writer and poet André Breton. The movement produced and influenced a galaxy of the 20th centuries finest artists. Surrealist artwork deals in the bizarre and the strange. On the surface, it can seem as if this is all it is - though, it stands for something much deeper. In this talk, Will Collins from the RCP Central Committee explains how surrealism grew out of the general feeling of malaise and anger that existed across Europe following the barbarism of the First World War and at the same time the inspiration from the revolutionary events that swept Europe.This revolutionary spirit reflected itself in the art produced by the surrealists. Surrealist art seeks to express a contradictory view of reality. It reveals the violence and savagery that lurks underneath the thin veneer of bourgeois civilization. The polite manners and “good taste” of bourgeois society is really just a façade that conceals the most terrible suffering, exploitation and repression.But really the essence of the surrealist movement, was to liberate the artist from the shackles of ‘official’ culture, the state, church and even of the mind itself. In its form, the surrealists developed techniques that aimed to tap into the creative well-spring of the subconscious mind - they experimented with automatic writing and painting, dream recitals and research into mental illness and recent studies in psychoanalysis.The surrealists were not at all armchair intellectuals, but committed revolutionaries. After being ex-communicated by the Stalinist Communist Party, Breton was drawn into the orbit of Leon Trotsky who in 1937 together published a manifesto called a ‘Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art.’Here, they argue that art must remain true to itself and not degenerate into mere propaganda dictated to it by a revolutionary party yet should place itself at the service of the revolution. But to truly liberate the mind, a life and death struggle would have to be waged against the system that enslaves it, and commit to the building of a socialist society. The manifesto finishes with the slogan:"Our aims: The independence of art — for the revolution. The revolution — for the complete liberation of art!”

How to end women's oppression 10.03.2026 43мин

Sunday March 8th marked International Working Women's Day. This day was created by Socialists and Communists to highlight the role of working women under capitalism and in overthrowing it. Communists have always been at the forefront of the struggle against women's oppression. But what is it that we actually say on this topic? How can women's oppression be overthrown? In this talk from Revolution Festival 2025, Manon Powrie, leading RCP member, spoke on this topic.

How do Marxists view history? 03.03.2026 49мин

From the comfort of their cosy armchairs and university lecterns, the well-learned professors of bourgeois academia throw all manner of wild accusations at the Marxist view of history.Fatalistic, teleological, economically deterministic, class reductionist, Messianic... there’s no end to the high-sounding mutilations that Marx’s ideas receive at the hands of their adversaries.But these are all misunderstandings, distortions, and lies. The Marxist method of historical materialism is, in reality, the only way to understand the logic of history – which is driven by social relations, revolutionary upheavals, and class struggle.In this talk, communist.red editor Jack Tye Wilson uncovers the profound insights that Marx and Engels offer into the historical process, and combat the false and one-sided interpretations their ideas have suffered over the years.He coves questions like: Is there such a thing as progress? Does Marxism reduce everything to economics? What about the role of ideas and individuals? And is the victory of communism inevitable?

The British General Strike: A Communist History 24.02.2026 52мин

Hear the author of A Communist History of the British General Strike talk on the contents of his new book. And order your copy of the book. In May 1926 the working class of Britain moved in its millions. Whispers of a new world — one run by the workers, without the need for bosses, bankers or politicians — were in the air. Britain, an island supposedly lacking in revolutionary traditions, was on the brink of an almighty upheaval.For nine days, British workers defied the state and their employers to bring the country to a standstill. The General Strike had the potential to change the country forever, but it was betrayed by the very people who were supposed to lead it.Today, a century later, there are striking similarities with Britain of the 1920s. The economy is weak. Living standards are falling. Public services are collapsing. People are angry, and class battles are close at hand.In his book, Ben Gliniecki, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist Party, presents a sketch of the events of the strike and what led to it. Through it, we can study the hard-learned lessons of 1926 — about betrayal, state repression and failure of leadership. And we can be inspired by the power, initiative and unity of the working class in struggle. With this, we can turn the whispers of a new world into reality.

Does Britain have free speech? 17.02.2026 44мин

Questions of free speech and state repression have reared over the recent period. The right wing cynically uses the idea of free speech to pretend figures like Farage are being silenced. In reality, however, those defending the needs of capitalism and the status quo are given all the free speech they need. In the mean time, elderly protestors have been arrested for standing against genocide. Last week the High Court ruled that Palestine Action could no longer be brandished as terrorism, coming after the inability to find a jury which would sentence the activists. Both the harsh repression from the British state and the inability to put this repression into practise in a systematic way shows the mess the British ruling class is in. Here we share Nelson Wan, RCP executive committee member speaking on this topic at our 2025 Revolution Festival.