When Socialist Appeal was founded just over thirty years ago, in 1992, capitalism was in an economic upswing; the Soviet Union had recently collapsed; and Britain was still considered a stronghold of conservatism, with the Tories elected for a fourth consecutive term, on the back of a series of historic defeats for the organised working class.
At that time, the ruling class were euphoric. Their apologists were talking about ‘the end of history’ and the triumph of the free market. Many tired, jaded ‘lefts’, meanwhile, were hanging up their hats and concluding that the struggle was over; that capitalism was here to stay.
Today, the situation could not be more different.
Across the planet, capitalism is in crisis. Economic chaos and environmental catastrophe have become the norm. Imperialist wars rage in one region after another. And far from being a paragon of stability and reason, Britain is rapidly becoming one of the most volatile, turbulent countries worldwide.
More and more people – particularly amongst the youth – are coming to the realisation that this system offers them no way forward and are turning to the ideas of communism.
On the other side, having watched the rise and fall of honest ‘socialists’ such as Corbyn, many today identify ‘socialism’ with the failures of reformism.
Consequently, ever-larger layers are looking towards Marxism, revolution, and communism for a solution, as we have seen with the success of our ‘are you a communist?’ campaign.
We have smashed our 1000 member target. 1101 IMT comrades in Britain. #RevolutionFestival pic.twitter.com/WUMYD8CFJU
— Socialist Appeal (IMT) (@socialist_app) November 11, 2023
Revolutionary weapon
On the back of this bold recruitment drive, and through years of determined activity and hard work, the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) has now reached 1101 comrades in Britain.
For all these reasons, we have decided that now is the time for the launch of a new paper – for a revolutionary weapon befitting of the epoch of sharpening class struggle that we are entering into.
And therefore, at last weekend’s inspiring Revolution Festival, it was announced that from the end of January, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the death of Lenin, comrades of the IMT in Britain will be armed with a new paper: The Communist.
The launch of The Communist, in turn, will provide the prelude and platform for the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party in May of next year – a bright, fresh communist uniform to replace our well-worn socialist clothing, as we continue our forward march.
Workers’ paper
The Communist is not merely a rebranding exercise. We are not simply changing the name of our primary publication.
Rather, we are launching a brand new paper: a red flag that comrades can raise ever more boldly and proudly; a beacon for revolutionary workers and youth, to reach wider layers with our ideas and programme.
Above all, The Communist will aim to provide a genuine voice to the working class. It will not just be a paper for workers, but a true workers’ paper.
Our first-grade theoretical material will remain, with exciting articles about history, philosophy, culture, and more in every issue.
Similarly, our editorial team and writers will provide razor-sharp Marxist analysis covering all the latest developments in the class struggle, in Britain and internationally.
But all of this will be supplemented and enriched by contributions from you, our readers.
The Communist is coming! 25.01.24#imt #communism #revolution pic.twitter.com/64KdkehILt
— Socialist Appeal (IMT) (@socialist_app) November 17, 2023
We want to reflect the militant mood brewing in society, with letters detailing the daily injustices and toil of life under capitalism.
We want to reveal the real, rotten conditions that workers face in their workplaces and communities, and expose the stinking hypocrisy and lies of the bosses and their representatives.
And we want reports from the frontlines; from the movements erupting around us; from those out on the protests and picket lines – on the streets and on the strikes breaking out across the country.
Under capitalism, our ‘free’ media will always remain a tool of the ruling class; a mouthpiece that speaks in the interests of the bankers and bosses.
The outbreak of the war in Gaza has clearly underlined this. The BBC and other establishment papers have gone into overdrive: pushing the propaganda of British imperialism, and silencing and smearing those who dare to speak out for the Palestinian people.
The only way to cut across this capitalist cacophony is to build our own revolutionary press, to tell the truth and provide a clear class perspective for the exploited and oppressed who otherwise have no voice.
Build the forces of communism
All current readers and supporters of Socialist Appeal should start getting involved now in the launch of this new communist paper in Britain, and help us build the revolutionary press.
Send us contributions at newsdesk@socialist.net to help fill the pages of The Communist.
Subscribe to the paper: not only to ensure that you get the historic first issue of The Communist delivered straight to your door or inbox, but also to bolster the financial footing of the paper going forward.
Donate to our fighting fund to further strengthen our financial foundations, and to help us in our campaign to found the Revolutionary Communist Party.
Get in touch at subscribe@socialist.net to discuss taking out a bulk subscription to the paper, so that you can spread these revolutionary ideas in your workplace, school, or university, and help build a communist cell in your area.
And finally, join us. If you are a communist who is sick of the lies of the capitalist press and who wants to get organised, then get in touch straight away and help us to build the forces of communism.
