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From International Socialism, No.57, April 1973, p.6.
Transcribed & marked up by by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
This is the fourth of the new monthly International Socialism. When the change was made from the quarterly, which typically contained three or four long articles, it was decided to increase the number of topics dealt with in each issue and to keep all articles short. Discussion with readers suggests that this policy was broadly correct but that it has been carried too far, that a certain number of longer articles are needed on questions of marxist theory. It has therefore been decided to keep the present style but to include in each number one longer article on such an issue.
The first of these, Tony Cliff’s Lenin on Party Organisation, will appear in May. In June Michael Kidron critically examines Unequal Exchange: A Study in the Imperialism of Trade (by A. Emmanual) and in July Jim Higgins will contribute a major piece on The Work of Revolutionaries in the Unions.
The May number will also have features on the steel industry, the Labour Party, Ian Birchall on Gaullism, Steve Jefferys on the recent role of the Communist Party and part five of Reg Groves’ Against the Stream. Articles on The International Monetary System (by John Ure) and Crisis in Southern Africa (by Basker Vashee) will appear in June.
Our August issue will be a special. It will be double size, contain none of the usual features and consist entirely of unaltered reproductions of some of the major theoretical articles which have appeared in the journal over the years (and which are now unobtainable) together with explanatory introductions. These articles include two very important contributions by Tony Cliff: Permanent Revolution (IS 12, Spring 1963) and Crisis in China (IS 29, Summer 1967). The first examines Trotsky’s most original theory in the light of events since his death, particularly the Chinese, Cuban and Algerian revolutions, and explains what remains valid and what must be discarded. The second is a marxist analysis of the Maoist regime, from its early attempt to imitate the Russian Stalinist method of industrialisation (without the catastrophe of forced collectivisation), through the ‘Great Leap Forward’ and its collapse, to the ‘Cultural Revolution’. Two key articles by Michael Kidron: Imperialism: Highest Stage But One (IS 9, Summer 1962) and International Capitalism (IS 20, Spring 1965), basic to an understanding of post-world war two capitalism, are also included. There will be, in addition, a consolidated cross-index for all articles from IS 1 to IS 57. Full details will be given in our next issue.
Finally, comment and criticism from readers is always welcome. Our Controversy section is meant to be just what its name states.
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Last updated on 15.2.2008