The Coming British Revolution, by Tariq Ali (Cape, 95p paperback) It is hardly surprising that the bourgeois press has attacked this book so violently -the two most hostile reviews being those of Bernard Levin in The Observer and Christopher Hitchens (I.S.) in The Times-as its aim is very clear, namely, of stressing that the socialist revolution in Britain is not only inevitable but necessary and has to be organised. The book doesn't lay any claim to new theoretical discoveries. It is simply what it was intended to be; an introductory volume for large numbers of people who are beginning to question the legitimacy of the bourgeois state and are developing an interest in revolutionary ideas and organisations. While the book clearly represents the political views of the IMG, to which Tariq All belongs, the chapter on the revolutionary left is by no means uncritical of the IM's past and contains a number of pertinent self-criticisms.
The various chapters discuss the decline of British capitalism, the labour movement, the youth radicalisation, brief histories of the British CP. and Trotskyism in Britain, the lack of a Marxist tradition in Britain and the need for revolutionary organisations. One of the appendices contains a little-known text by Lenin on the Labour Party which succintly explains the latter's class nature, and should be read by all those who still have doubts on this score. Ireland Unfree, by Bob Purdie. Red Pamphlets -2 (IMG Publications. 30р)
As the position adopted nearly two years ago by The Red Mole and the IMG on Ireland. relating specifically to the resurgence of Republicanism. is now being accepted by even those who claimed not so long ago that Republicanism was historically dead Bob Purdie's pamphlet is very timely. For a long time the IMG was the only organisation on the extreme left to give unconditional support to the Republicans in their struggle against British Imperialism. This pamphlet explains why and in so doing traces the background of the Civil Rights movement and Peoples Democracy, explaining both their strengths and weaknesses. There is a thorough analysis of Republicanism and a fraternal but forceful critique of some of the positions adopted by the Provisional and Official wings of the IRA. While the pamphlet also deals with the small groups of the revolutionary left its critique of the "two nations theory" is necessarily brief and needs to be extended further elsewhere, but for militants engaged in building a solidarity movement in Britain, the pamphlet is essential reading. CAPITAL: A Readable Introduction to Volume One, Red Pamphlets-1 (IMG Publications, 40p.)
First of a series of Red Pamphlets, this pamphlet is exactly what its title says: a readable introduction to the first volume of Marx's Capital. It follows the text of estates were suggested. We were asked if we would use the slogan Victory to the IRA', at the Alliance meetings, and we Capital fairly closely dealing in order with Marx's key concepts: the analysis of commodities. the constituents of Capital, Surplus Value, the Working Day. etc. It is deliberately written in a simple style so that it can readily be understood by someone with no prior knowledge of economics whatsoever. This type of pamphlet, although helpful for individual study. comes into its element when used in study groups. This text has already been used in Workers" Study Circles in West Germany. hopefully it will serve the same function here. In any case it fills a gap in the literature, providing a stepping stone for the study of Capital and encouraging comrades to begin the task of studying Capital itself.
The Formation of the Economic Thought of Karl Marx, by Ernest Mandel (New Left Books, £2.25)
To understand the revolutionary nature of the industrial proletariat requires an understanding of the capitalist mode of production: its historical origins, its merits as well as the contradictions that spell its doom. The starting point of classical political economy had been wealth; Marx and Engels began their analysis with poverty, and with the laws of evolution of wages-rooted in the complete separation of producers from the means of production. Unlike Malthus and Ricardo, they start not from the population movements but from the movement of accumulation of capital. It took them a considerable time to rid themselves completely of Ricardo's views and Marx was led initially not only to miscalculate the the organisations which are trying to tackle these problems.
To attempt to muzzle organisations uction but also the significance of tradeunion activity. A careful study of both resulted in the more correct position in the Grundrisse and Capital. True, the accumulation of capital and the replacement of human labour by machines tend to lower the nominal wage, but this accumulation also gives rise to new branches of industry as well as new needs which, together with tradeunion resistance to the decline in the standard of living, increase the value of labour and its price. However, the inadequacy of wages is no longer measured against the minimum required for physical survival but also reflects new needs.
What is valuable in Mandel's account of the formation of Marx's economic thought is not just his clear and masterly presentation of issues such as those outlined above, but also his demolition of a number of well-known bourgeois and Marxist critics of Marx (from Parsons, Robinson and Tourraine to Marcuse and Althusser). He traces the fate of certain forgotten" themes (e.g. the Asiatic mode of production) and also takes the opportunity to combat some general views on the nature of transitional societies. What is now required is a concrete analysis of the economic laws of motion of these All books and pamphlets reviewed in this column can be obtained from Red Books, 182 Pentonville Road, London, N.1. For orders of over 6 please include 10% to cover postage costs. the