Soviet Union

Re-examining Lenin’s writings on the national question: An early Marxist critique from the imperial periphery

Hanna Perekhoda revisits Lenin’s pre-1917 writings on the right of nations to self-determination from the perspective of his Ukrainian contemporary, Lev Yurkevych.

Reimagining socialism: An interview with David Kotz

David Kotz dissects the lessons from the Soviet model, explains why capitalism cannot be reformed and makes a case for democratic socialism.

Boris Kagarlitsky on the Soviet Union, one-party states and the need for a new left bloc in Russia

From a Russian penal colony, Boris Kagarlitsky responses to questions about socialist democracy, one-party systems and the need to adapt party forms to the realities of today's working class.

‘A “black swan” will inevitably alight’: Boris Kagarlitsky on why the left movement will have to be constructed afresh

From a Russian prison, Boris Kagarlitsky puts forward his views on the rise of the far right and reasons for the left's crisis.

Armed women from one of the revolutionary militias defending the revolution against US backed jihadists

When Afghanistan was red!

Imran Kamyana — The Saur Revolution of 1978 is a ray of hope in these dark times, and proves that even in the most backward regions and most difficult situations, this system of oppression and exploitation can be challenged and overthrown.

The restoration of the imperial idea in Stalin’s USSR

Vadim Rogovin — The internationalist doctrine of Marxism suffered the most ruthless annihilation in Stalin's ideology. To fill the resulting ideological vacuum, Stalin orientated his propaganda machine to appeal to the national-state stereotypes rooted in mass consciousness.

How pioneer Communists assessed the Russian Soviet Republic

By John Riddell

February 6, 2021 — Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal reposted from John Riddell's Marxist Essays and Commentary — The Communist International (or Comintern) was founded in Moscow in 1919, with the goal of helping to extend the socialist revolution that had taken place in Russia across Europe and around the world.

The Russian Communist (Bolshevik) party that had led in establishing Soviet power was respected in the International as a prime source of strategic and tactical guidance. Yet the Comintern’s statutes did not accord any primacy to the Russian Communist Party (RCP). Like other Comintern sections, the Russian party was answerable to the International’s world congresses.

Nuclear disaster at Chernobyl: reality and unreality