This lecture was delivered by Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (US), to the SEP (US) International Summer School, held between July 30 and August 4, 2023.
Joseph Kishore•
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The following report was delivered by David North, national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US) and chairman of the World Socialist Web Site, to the opening session of the SEP summer school last week.
David North•
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Perspective
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Scientists raise alarm over global spread of new highly-mutated COVID-19 variant
As COVID-19 cases surge throughout the world, scientists are warning of the emergence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Despite months of promotion by the US media, Ukraine’s “Spring offensive” has produced nothing but a blood-drenched debacle.
Andre Damon•
Union of Left Forces — For a New Socialism Party (SLS) head speaks with the WSWS about the persecution of his party, the growing anti-war sentiments in Ukraine, and the impact of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians on society.
Clara Weiss•
Honda Wang, a Democratic Party operative, put out the call on Twitter: “The left media ecosystem needs to cover DSA convention because the only group pushing coverage is WSWS and people are believing their made-up bulls--- [sic] because they’re the only ones reporting on it.”
Eric London•
Beginning last year, student and teacher unions diverted the fight against Bolsonaro’s attacks on education towards Lula’s election; today they are covering for the successive austerity measures of the new Workers Party (PT) government.
Guilherme Ferreira•
Washington’s objectives in seeking some sort of accommodation with Iran are to disrupt growing ties with Russia that cut across US geostrategic interests and to ease escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Jean Shaoul•
The BJP and its Hindu supremacist allies are inciting communal strife across India to divert mass social anger and as part of its strategy for the 2024 national parliamentary election.
Martina Inessa, Kranti Kumara•
An ECOWAS spokesman warned, “If push comes to shove we are going into Niger with our own contingents and equipment and our own resources to make sure we restore constitutional order.” In a veiled reference to the US, Fance and other imperialist powers, he added, “If other democratic partners want to support us they are welcome.”
Thomas Scripps•
The tearing up of all testing and monitoring measures, and depriving millions of people of access to vaccines, places the entire population in danger.
Robert Stevens•
With the end of voting next Tuesday, the Teamsters bureaucracy is engaged in a desperate, last-ditch effort to ensure the passage of the sellout contract for 340,000 workers at UPS, combining a public relations blitz on social media with intimidation tactics against rank-and-file opponents.
Tom Hall•
The founding online meeting of the Railworkers’ Rank-and-File Committee took place on Tuesday evening, attended by over 60 rail workers, along with active and former transport workers from other companies and other supporters.
Our reporters•
Many dockworkers told the WSWS they will be voting down the tentative agreement, setting the stage for a fight against the shipping companies, the ILWU bureaucracy that endorsed the deal, and the US government.
Our reporters•
China is being hit by two interconnected developments: a worsening property market, a mainstay of the economy, and an accelerating liquidity crisis in the shadow banking system that has the potential to spread more broadly.
Nick Beams•
Over 50 percent of the country’s 5.2 million population are being driven to the financial brink by the class war policies of the ruling elite.
John Braddock•
Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the Twenty-First Century
The essays in this book, though written over the span of more than 40 years, are connected by a central argument: Leon Trotsky was the most significant figure in the history of socialism during the first four decades of the twentieth century, and his legacy remains the critical and indispensable theoretical and political foundation of the ongoing contemporary struggle for the victory of world socialism.
Order your print or epub version of the book from Mehring Books today.
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SEP 2023 Summer School Opening Report
Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the Epoch of Imperialist War and Socialist Revolution
The following report was delivered by David North, national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US) and chairman of the World Socialist Web Site, to the opening session of the SEP summer school last week.
David North•
SEP 2023 Summer School Lecture
The Historical and Political Foundations of the Fourth International
This lecture on the origins of the Fourth International was delivered by Clara Weiss and Johannes Stern at the 2023 SEP (US) international Summer School.
Clara Weiss, Johannes Stern•
Socialist Equality Party Summer School: The lessons of history in the fight for socialism today
The Socialist Equality Party Summer School, held between July 30 and August 4, was animated by the understanding that the assimilation of the history of the Trotskyist movement is the basis for a theoretically guided practice.
Joseph Kishore•
Leon Trotsky commemoration in Prinkipo to be livestreamed August 20
“An Island at the Center of World History” will feature David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS; Ulaş Ateşçi, an editor of Mehring Yayıncılık and leading member of Sosyalist Eşitlik Grubu in Turkey; and Eric London, an editorial board member of the WSWS. It will be moderated by Professor Mehmet Ö. Alkan, the chairman of the History Foundation in Turkey
Our reporters•
Biden’s response to the Maui wildfire: The ruling class indifference to mass death
Like the response of the previous three occupants of the White House during natural disasters, President Biden has demonstrated incompetence and indifference to the wildfire catastrophe on the Hawaiian island Maui.
Kevin Reed•
UAW president grovels before Biden, as opposition builds among autoworkers
Fain’s reply deliberately covered up the purpose of Biden’s intervention in the auto contracts, which is to ensure that the profit interests of the corporations are protected and that the class struggle is contained.
Marcus Day•
Thousands of refugees dying amid fascistic European anti-migrant campaign
The European ruling class is at war with the mass of humanity deprived of the most basic conditions of life by imperialist violence and capitalist inequality.
Thomas Scripps•
Gregor Link•
Patrick Martin•
Barış Demir•
Jean Shaoul, Chris Marsden•
Anthony Torres, Samuel Tissot•
GEO calls meeting to browbeat grad students into accepting sellout contract
U-M strikers: Vote no on contract betrayal! Form a rank-and-file strike committee to expand the struggle!
The graduate student instructors should reject the sellout contract that will be presented to them on Monday. But voting down the contract is only the first step.
Matthew Brennan, Luke Galvin•
Founding meeting of the German Railworkers’ Rank-and-File Committee agrees to fight against arbitration result and against division of the workforce
The founding online meeting of the Railworkers’ Rank-and-File Committee took place on Tuesday evening, attended by over 60 rail workers, along with active and former transport workers from other companies and other supporters.
Our reporters•
Amazon JFK8 workers at a crossroads: Which way forward?
The struggle of workers at Amazon’s JFK8 facility in Staten Island, New York, is at a turning point, and a different strategy is necessary to wage an effective fight against the trillion-dollar company.
Elliott Murtagh, Erik Schreiber•
Strong opposition as dockworkers finish voting on West Coast contract
Many dockworkers told the WSWS they will be voting down the tentative agreement, setting the stage for a fight against the shipping companies, the ILWU bureaucracy that endorsed the deal, and the US government.
Our reporters•
Alex Findijs•
The UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee•
Railworkers’ Rank-and-File Committee•
Laura Tiernan•
"We refuse to give up"
US actors, writers speak about lengthy strike and the crisis facing their profession
The WSWS talked to several actors and writers at picket lines, and over the phone, in Los Angeles this past week. They spoke about the strike but also the broader struggles of the working class erupting across the country.
Kimie Saito, Gabriel Black, Jacob Crosse•
Writers Guild of America seeks to sabotage strike as secret in-person negotiations continue
The over 100-day strike, which was joined by actors last month, is in danger of a major sellout as long as the negotiations between the major studios and the union remain secret to the rank and file.
Jacob Crosse, Hong Jian, Karsten Schneider•
Detroit singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez who won acclaim in South Africa dead at 81
The subject of a 2012 biography about his South African audience searching for him, Rodriguez died at 81 years of age.
James Brewer•
100 days of the writers’ strike: What is the way forward?
As the strike has gone on and the corporations have dug in their heels, actors and writers have made statements pointing to the broader issues involved, but it is necessary to draw out the implications.
Jacob Crosse, Joseph Kishore•
David Walsh•
David Walsh•
Fred Mazelis•
Paul Bond•
Our reporters•
UK wage growth cannot conceal escalating cost-of-living surge and social inequality
Headline inflation figures give a distorted picture as the cost of basics, including food prices are still surging. Those already in the highest-paying jobs account for the lion’s share of the wage increase.
Robert Stevens•
Ukrainian government persecutes pacifist, while Zelensky meets with neo-Nazi leader
The NATO-backed government continues its campaign of political repression while touting meetings with neo-Nazis.
Jason Melanovski•
Germany’s Left Party parliamentary chair resigns
The resignation of Amira Mohamed Ali as co-chair of the Left Party’s parliamentary faction means a split seems only a matter of time.
Peter Schwarz•
Spain’s capitalist parties all pledge austerity following July general election
Whatever government is eventually formed in Spain, it will be committed to waging war on the working class.
Alice Summers•
Clara Weiss•
Robert Stevens•
Thomas Scripps•
Steve James•
Markus Salzmann•
US, Japan, and South Korea hold trilateral summit in preparation for war with China
Washington has long-sought to bring Tokyo and Seoul together, conscious that it would be unable to wage war against China without cooperation between its two allies.
Ben McGrath•
Australian Labor Party conference endorses AUKUS military pact
Any pretence of an “anti-AUKUS” push, let alone of opposition to a potentially cataclysmic US-led nuclear war on China, disintegrated at the conference.
Mike Head•
Survey shows majority of New Zealanders struggling financially
Over 50 percent of the country’s 5.2 million population are being driven to the financial brink by the class war policies of the ruling elite.
John Braddock•
Leaked inquiry report into aborted Australian #MeToo trial deepens legal crisis
While findings have been made against other legal practitioners over the years, the breadth of those against Director of Public Prosecutions Drumgold is somewhat unprecedented and could include criminal conduct.
Cheryl Crisp•
Thilaka Gamage, Aruna Malalagama•
Max Boddy•
Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committee•
Oscar Grenfell•
Mike Head•
Australian advocate for scientifically-based COVID-safety measures dies
Mary-Louise McLaws won popular support between 2020 and early 2022 when she and other leading medical scientists, amid mounting working-class anger, compelled Australian governments to adopt limited COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Richard Phillips•
As new school year begins
Los Angeles school district officials encourage sick students to attend school and spread infection
Smita Malhotra, chief medical director of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), published a tweet Sunday encouraging parents of the district’s 565,000 students to their children into school even if they were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses.
Dan Conway•
World Health Organization reports 80 percent rise in global COVID infections
The WHO has confirmed that a wave of COVID infections is washing across the globe. They warn that without a public health edifice to track these latest variants, viral evolution poses an existential threat.
Benjamin Mateus•
How COVID killed thousands in Michigan nursing homes, as Whitmer administration stood by
The Democratic-controlled state government has only recently released documents about the nursing home deaths in 2020, after stalling for years to protect the owners and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Michael Anders•
Tom Peters•
Allison Smith•
Steve James•
Evan Blake•
Benjamin Mateus•
Trump incites threats of fascist violence against grand jurors and judges
In a clear and obvious threat of violence, supporters of ex-president Donald Trump have posted on the internet the names and addresses of every member of the Fulton County, Georgia grand jury that indicted Trump.
Patrick Martin•
With mounting evidence of his attacks on the 2020 election, Trump faces fourth indictment in Georgia
Unlike the federal case against Trump on election charges, the Georgia case is expected to include the indictment of more than a dozen co-defendants.
Patrick Martin•
Utah Trump supporter who threatened to assassinate Biden, Democrats killed in FBI raid
Craig D. Robertson doubled down on his fascistic death threats after FBI agents first contacted him this past March after Truth Social, ex-President Donald Trump’s social media platform, reported him to the FBI.
Jacob Crosse•
States, districts across US expand police presence in schools
One of the most reactionary and alarming efforts to police the schools is taking place in Florida. In Broward County, the district is hiring civilians as armed school guards.
James Vega and Emma Arceneaux•
David Rye•
Barry Grey•
Our reporters•
Patrick Martin•
Omri Wolfe•
Trudeau government spending tens of billions to rearm Canadian imperialism; ruling elite clamours for more
Canada’s Liberal government–which is propped up in parliament by the trade union-sponsored New Democratic Party–is carrying out a massive rearmament program at the expense of the working class.
Graham Beverley•
Under threat of flames, 22,000 flee Northwest Territories as Canada's record shattering wildfire season continues unabated
Driven by the effects of capitalist-induced climate change, Canada’s wildfire season has continued at an unprecedented pace and scope since unusually intense fires erupted on the East Coast in Nova Scotia in early May.
Niles Niemuth•
San Diego bans homeless encampments, erects caged parking lot "solution"
A recent ban on homeless encampments by the San Diego City Council and backed by Democrat Mayor Todd Gloria will only worsen the social crisis in the city.
Kevin Martinez•
Over 1,000 people still missing as Maui fire death toll, and social anger, continue to rise
Survivors' pain and anguish over the massive loss of life is turning into anger over the lack of government response before, during and after the preventable catastrophe.
Jacob Crosse•
Renae Cassimeda•
Laurent Guttierrez•
Jacob Crosse•
John Andrews•
Benjamin Mateus•
Heatwave and agricultural crisis hit Ukraine
Skyrocketing temperatures hit Ukraine this past week as the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to push forward an obviously botched counteroffensive that has already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers.
Jason Melanovski•
White House requests another $24 billion for Ukraine war
As the scale of Ukraine’s military disaster is becoming undeniably clear, the US continues to pump billions of dollars in weapons to inflame yet another homicidal “endless war.”
Andre Damon•
Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles to be used in attacks on Russia
The German government is preparing to provide Taurus medium-range missiles to Kiev, which are capable of reaching Russian territory.
Johannes Stern•
Oppose the arrest of Boris Kagarlitsky!
In opposing the arrest of Kagarlitsky and calling for his release, the YGBL and WSWS do not extend any support to his reactionary politics and we reject his designation as a “left-wing” critic of the Putin regime and the war in Ukraine.
Andrei Ritsky, Clara Weiss•
David Benson, Clara Weiss•
Andre Damon, David North•
Tom Mackaman•
Andre Damon•
Andre Damon•
US Labor Department uses spurious arguments to reject Will Lehman’s election complaint, sanctions disenfranchisement of UAW members
The August 8 letter from the Office of Labor-Management Standards Enforcement ignores the widespread evidence of voter suppression by the UAW bureaucracy.
Jerry White•
Support grows among autoworkers for lawsuit demanding UAW elections be re-run: “This entire election needs to be tossed”
In an indication of the seriousness with which the suit is being taken, several articles about Lehman’s suit have appeared in leading legal news outlets over the past week.
Marcus Day•
Will Lehman and attorney discuss lawsuit against Biden admin demanding re-run of UAW election
In this video, Will Lehman and his attorney discuss the lawsuit Lehman filed Monday against the Biden administration’s Department of Labor over the fraudulent UAW election.
Will Lehman•
Bluster from UAW President Fain as Ford receives $9 billion federal loan for electric vehicle production
The unprecedented low-cost loan to Ford by the Biden administration reveals the extent to which the transition to EV production is being underwritten by the capitalist state.
Shannon Jones•
Our reporters•
Eric London•
Marcus Day•
Will Lehman•
Barry Grey, Tim Rivers•
Meeting: End political censorship at Sydney’s Macquarie University! Affiliate the IYSSE!
The IYSSE urges students and staff to take a stand against management’s censorship of the only socialist and anti-war club on campus. Attend our meeting on campus on Thursday September 7.
As University of Michigan rejects GEO/AFT counteroffer
Joint Michigan educators-IYSSE meeting calls for mobilization of workers and students behind grad student strikers
Monday’s meeting marked a step forward in the struggle to defeat the conspiracy of the union leadership and the Democratic Party to impose sellout contracts, pledging to establish rank-and-file control and unite the struggles of U-M grad student instructors and Detroit teachers.
Judy Ryden, Matthew Brennan•
New York University hosts segregated “anti-racism workshops”: The logic of identity politics exposed
The workshop demonstrates that the logic of identity politics is not to eliminate prejudice, but to enshrine it as the central axis of society.
Tim Avery•
Academics at Sydney’s Macquarie University protest management’s political censorship of the IYSSE
“One can only conclude that the university is seeking to silence the only socialist and anti-war club on campus, with a long record of activity and meetings. This anti-democratic act must be opposed.”
Our reporters•
Our reporter•
Our reporters•
Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists•
Eric Ludlow•
Our reporters•
Forty years since the beginning of civil war in Sri Lanka
The 26-year bloody war contains important strategic lessons for the working class in Sri Lanka and internationally.
R. Ranges, K. Ratnayake•
Sri Lankan workers and youth discuss Wije Dias’ decades-long struggle for Trotskyist principles
Workers and youth who attended the memorial meeting to honour Wije Dias spoke with the World Socialist Web Site about the key political role he played in the SEP and the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Our correspondents•
Sri Lankan SEP pays tribute to Wije Dias on first anniversary of his death
The SEP held a well-attended and moving meeting last Saturday honouring the life of former general secretary Wije Dias and his decades-long political struggle for Trotskyism.
Our reporters•
Sri Lankan free trade zone workers protest against new labour laws
While workers want to fight to defend their rights, trade union leaders are calling for the establishment of corporatist bodies that will impose the demands of companies and the government.
Our reporters•
W.A. Sunil•
Saman Gunadasa•
Jothipala Dedigama, S. K. Keerthi•
Our reporters•
W.A. Sunil•
Growing pressure on Xi as China’s economic woes mount
China is being hit by two interconnected developments: a worsening property market, a mainstay of the economy, and an accelerating liquidity crisis in the shadow banking system that has the potential to spread more broadly.
Nick Beams•
Deepening problems for the Chinese financial system
The pickup in the Chinese property market at the start of the year, following the lifting of COVID public health measures, has been short-lived with a major property developer missing an interest payment on a debt.
Nick Beams•
Chinese exports slump amid global downturn and US trade war
China’s economic slowdown is not just the result of low global growth and faltering global trade but of the US economic warfare aimed at undermining the Chinese economy and in particular crippling its hi-tech industries.
Peter Symonds•
Moody’s announces significant downturn in ratings of mid-sized banks
A report by the rating agency Moody’s on the status of 27 banks, including some of the largest, has pointed to the growing problems in the US banking and financial system.
Nick Beams•
Shannon Jones•
Jean Shaoul•
Nick Beams•
Nick Beams•
Nick Beams•
French troops ordered out of Niger
France has already been forced to withdraw 2,400 soldiers from Mali and 400 from Burkina Faso following military coups in May 2021 and September 2022, drastically reducing its military presence in its former colonial territories.
Athiyan Silva, Thomas Scripps•
The Niger crisis and the global threat of war
The impoverished West African state of Niger is the latest flashpoint in the struggle by the imperialist powers for a redivision of the world.
Thomas Scripps•
West African states step back from immediate military action against Niger due to popular opposition
The threat of war remains, driven by the global conflict between the imperialist powers and Russia and China erupting in different flashpoints and via various proxies across the globe.
Thomas Scripps•
West African states to hold Thursday summit on Niger intervention
ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security Abdel-Fatau Musah warned Friday, “All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out.”
Thomas Scripps•
Jean Shaoul•
Athiyan Silva, Jean Shaoul•
Kipchumba Ochieng•
Ben McGrath•
Jean Shaoul•
Blinken’s denunciation of Assange exposes Australian government’s phony posturing
While the Secretary of State made crystal clear that the US is proceeding with its legal lynching of Assange, Australian PM Albanese absurdly claimed Blinken’s comments were of no importance.
Oscar Grenfell•
Australian Labor MP calls for Assange to plead guilty to frame-up US charges
In the most cynical and mealy-mouthed fashion possible, Hill was signaling that the Labor government will do nothing more to secure Assange’s freedom.
Oscar Grenfell•
FBI trying to pressure British journalists into giving evidence against Assange
The activities of the FBI in London indicate an escalation of the campaign against WikiLeaks and Assange, now being spearheaded by the Biden administration.
Oscar Grenfell•
British High Court rejects Assange appeal: Extradition an imminent threat
Assange has only one option of appeal remaining within the British legal system and it could be rejected next week.
Oscar Grenfell•
Oscar Grenfell•
WSWS International Editorial Board•
Richard Phillips, Oscar Grenfell•
Richard Phillips, Oscar Grenfell•
Oscar Grenfell•
This week in history: August 14-20
This column profiles important historical events which took place during this week, 25 years ago, 50 years ago, 75 years ago and 100 years ago
70 years since the end of the Korean War
The lessons of the Korean War should not be forgotten. It is a graphic demonstration of the ruthlessness with which US imperialism will pursue its economic and strategic interests with complete disregard for human life and suffering.
Ben McGrath•
“There has been a shift in the historical profession”
An interview with economic historian Stephen Wheatcroft on the Soviet famine and historical falsification
In this interview, Wheatcroft discusses his findings on the Soviet famine, the attacks on the concept of historical objectivity, and the current climate in academia.
Clara Weiss•
Introduction to Lawrence Porter’s Marcus Garvey and the Reactionary Logic of Racialist Politics
Mehring Books is pleased to announce the publication of Marcus Garvey and the Reactionary Logic of Racialist Politics by Lawrence Porter, assistant national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (US).
Tom Mackaman•
Shannon Jones•
Johannes Stern•
Peter Schwarz•
Johannes Stern•
Chris Marsden•
Netanyahu’s coalition rams through judicial coup law in Israel despite largest ever protest movement
Police opened fire with water cannon on protests throughout Israel against the passage of the law.
Jean Shaoul•
Congress, Biden embrace Israeli racists and warmongers
While Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution denying that Israel is a racist state, the White House invited the racist-in-chief, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to make an official visit to Washington..
Patrick Martin•
Israel turning Palestinian territories into “open-air prison” says UN Special Rapporteur
Albanese said the high number of criminal convictions for Palestinians stems from “violations of international law and criminalization of ordinary acts of life. There is no other way to define the regime that Israel has imposed on the Palestinians—which is apartheid by default—other than an open-air prison.”
Jean Shaoul•
10 years since the military coup in Egypt
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the military coup in Egypt. On July 3, 2013, the then-military chief General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi took power with the support of the imperialist powers and established one of the most brutal and bloodiest regimes in the entire globe.
Johannes Stern•
Jean Shaoul•
Jean Shaoul•
Jean Shaoul•
Jean Shaoul•
Jean Shaoul•
State of emergency declared in Ecuador after killing of presidential candidate
While it is still unclear who was behind Villavicencio’s killing, it is evident that its effect will be to discredit the elections as a whole, creating the potential for their being overturned.
Andrea Lobo•
Congressional inquiry into Brazil’s January 8 coup attempt marked by secrecy and cover-up for the military
The ruling Workers Party (PT) tried to avoid the convening of the commission at all costs in order to hide the true extent of the plot to overthrow constitutional rule.
Miguel Andrade•
Latin American bourgeois nationalist, pseudo-left parties gather at São Paulo Forum in Brazil
Created in 1990, the São Paulo Forum claims to have inaugurated a “renewal” of Latin America’s nominal left.
Guilherme Ferreira•
Protests resume against US-backed Boluarte regime in Peru
The July 19 protests were the largest nationwide since March, but still dominated by indigenous peasant groups and students as the official “left” refuses to mobilize the working class.
Andrea Lobo•
Eduardo Parati•
Andrea Lobo•
Miguel Andrade•
Andrea Lobo•
Andrea Lobo•
20 years since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq
March 20 marks 20 years since the beginning of the US invasion of Iraq, launched on the basis of lies. At the time of the initial invasion, the WSWS published many statements on the background of the war, its history and its implications. This page features some of the most important statements.
Read
The Canadian forest fires and global climate change: a conversation with forest fire scientist Dr. Ellen Whitman
The WSWS had the opportunity to speak to Canadian forest fire scientist, Dr. Ellen Whitman, on the recent unprecedented fires raging across the Canadian boreal forests.
Benjamin Mateus•
The past 20 days have been the hottest ever recorded
The simultaneous heatwaves across the world are a direct result of global warming.
Bryan Dyne•
On the first year of astronomical discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope
Rho Ophiuchi is the nearest star-forming region to Earth and includes dozens of young stars, the majority of which are estimated to be less than 1 million years old.
Bryan Dyne•
Record-breaking US heat wave demonstrates the growing dangers of climate change
Temperatures in excess of 110 degrees are posing a risk to human health with over 100 million people affected by extreme heat across much of the United States.
Alex Findijs•
Bryan Dyne•
Don Barrett•
Kevin Reed•
Philip Guelpa•
Bryan Dyne•
On the 25th anniversary of the World Socialist Web Site
Twenty-five years ago, the International Committee of the Fourth International began posting the World Socialist Web Site. In this video, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North explains the background to the WSWS, reviews its record and contemporary significance and makes an appeal to all readers to donate to the WSWS and expand its readership.
Watch now
New charges in Mar-a-Lago documents case intensify political crisis in US
Following the release of the updated indictment, Trump once again denounced the Justice Department investigations as political harassment and election interference and vowed to continue his bid for a new term in the White House, even if he is a convicted felon.
Barry Grey•
While on bail for attempted murder
North Carolina neo-Nazi sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting police on January 6
While on bail for attempted murder after shooting a 17-year-old Hispanic teenager in the head, then 20-year-old Beddingfield travelled to D.C. with his father to participate in the coup.
Jacob Crosse•
Heavily armed January 6 insurrectionist arrested outside Obama’s home after Trump posts his address on social media
Prosecutors allege 37-year-old Taylor Taranto had two firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a machete in the van he drove to Obama’s house.
Jacob Crosse•
Senate report confirms support for Trump’s coup at FBI and Department of Homeland Security
Despite receiving dozens of specific tips warning of an imminent attack on Congress, neither the FBI nor the Department of Homeland Security issued a threat assessment prior to January 6.
Jacob Crosse•
Patrick Martin•
Jacob Crosse•
Jacob Crosse•
Jacob Crosse•
Jacob Crosse•
Statement of the Editorial Board
For a Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Inquest is necessary to break through the cover-up, lies and misinformation that have been used to justify policies responsible for the avoidable deaths of millions.
Find out more
Clarios workers return to work, angered over UAW sellout of their strike
The United Auto Workers shut down the powerful 40-day strike after pushing through a concessions-laden contract, which workers had decisively rejected two times before.
Jerry White•
UAW President Shawn Fain falsely touts “massive gains” as his administration sells out Clarios and other strikes
It has taken less than three months for UAW President Shawn Fain and his administration to demonstrate conclusively where they stand: on the side of the corporations and opposed to the interests of the workers they claim to represent.
Marcus Day•
UAW rams through sellout deal, shuts down 40-day Clarios strike
The sabotage by the United Auto Workers bureaucracy of the courageous strike by workers at the Toledo, Ohio, area auto battery plant is a warning to autoworkers facing their own contract battle this September.
Jerry White•
Vote NO on the UAW-Clarios sellout contract! Reject corporate slavery and launch a workers’ counteroffensive throughout the auto industry!
It is already clear that the deal is nothing more than a repackaging of the first two sellout agreements brought back by the UAW bureaucracy, which workers courageously voted down by overwhelming margins.
WSWS Autoworker Newsletter•
Jerry White•
Jerry White•
Jerry White•
Jerry White•
Shannon Jones•
2023: The global capitalist crisis and the growing offensive of the international working class
In 2022 the accumulating pressure of these intersecting elements of the world capitalist crisis attained the equivalent of critical mass: that is, they have reached the point where the dynamic of crisis has passed beyond the ability of governments to control the movement toward a social cataclysm.
Read statement
May Day 2023: For the international unity of the working class against national chauvinism and war!
The following is the text of the opening report delivered by David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, to the International May Day Online Rally 2023, held Sunday, April 30.
David North•
The ICFI’s May Day 2023 online rally: A milestone in the building of a global, working class movement against war
Together, the speakers set out a political programme capable of uniting the international working class and mobilising its immense social power in a struggle against the world’s major corporations and governments.
Thomas Scripps•
The developing struggle to bring down the Macron government in France
This is the report delivered by Alex Lantier, national secretary of the Parti de l’égalité socialiste (PES), to the 2023 International May Day Online Rally held on April 30.
Alex Lantier•
The struggle for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses in Sri Lanka
This is the report delivered by Deepal Jayasekera, the General Secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka, to the 2023 International May Day Online Rally held on April 30.
Deepal Jayasekera•
Stepan Geller, Andrei Ritsky•
Andre Damon•
Joseph Kishore•
Tom Peters•
Keith Jones•
NOW AVAILABLE
COVID, Capitalism, and Class War: A Social and Political Chronology of the Pandemic
Mehring Books, the publishing arm of the Socialist Equality Party (US), is proud to announce the publication of Volume 1 of COVID, Capitalism, and Class War: A Social and Political Chronology of the Pandemic, a compilation of the World Socialist Web Site's coverage of this global crisis.
Read the introduction
Enthusiastic response by Sri Lankan workers and students to upcoming international May Day online rally
“Nowadays May Day is used as political propaganda by the trade unions and the capitalist parties. In fact, May Day belongs to the workers and it should be a day that brings together workers in struggle in every country.” –Kandy Hospital nurse
our reporters•
SEP (Australia) holds well-attended post-election public meeting
The SEP held an important meeting Sunday afternoon entitled: “After the NSW Elections—How to fight AUKUS, War & Austerity!”
Our reporters•
World Socialist Web Site launches its Ukrainian-language edition
The Ukrainian edition of the WSWS will publish critical historical and programmatic documents that will create the foundations for a Ukrainian section of the ICFI.
World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board•
Watch SEP online memorial meeting: A Tribute to Regina Lohr – Australian Trotskyist
The SEP held an online memorial meeting to pay tribute to the life of Regina Lohr, who passed away on October 10 at the age of 66.
Socialist Equality Party (Australia)•
Our reporters•
A call to youth throughout the world: Build a mass movement to stop the Ukraine war!
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality—the student and youth movement of the Socialist Equality Parties, the national sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International—calls for the building of a mass global movement of young people to end the reckless escalation toward World War III.
Read statement
NSW election: Australian workers and youth speak about COVID, war and social crisis
One worker said: “I think it’s a good idea to have an international movement for the working class against war and for democratic rights, for workers to unite, it makes sense.”
Our reporters•
Australia: After media lies about a Labor landslide, NSW election likely to result in minority government
The media misinformation was aimed at covering up the crisis of the two-party system and trying to ensure a “stable” government to implement budget austerity.
Oscar Grenfell•
SEP (Australia) election campaign finds intense opposition to war and austerity in northern NSW
Among those who spoke out were victims of last year’s floods in Lismore, a regional city, where thousands of residents are still living in substandard accommodation more than a year after the floods.
Mike Head•
Australia: NSW election sees further crisis of Liberals, but no landslide to Labor
Contrary to media claims, the result is no ringing endorsement of Labor. Instead it expresses a deepening of the crisis of the two-party set-up.
Oscar Grenfell•
Our reporters•
Socialist Equality Party (Australia)•
Our reporters•
Max Boddy, SEP candidate for Bankstown in NSW•
Oscar Grenfell•
The definitive left-wing critique of the 1619 Project. This volume includes interviews with eminent historians and essays from the World Socialist Web Site exposing the New York Times’ racialist falsification of history.
Former Montgomery, Alabama teacher testifies about the forced reopening of schools in 2020-21
In this interview, Tynisa Williams, former teacher in Montgomery, Alabama, describes the experience of being forced to teach in-person in the fall of 2020 and winter of 2021. She and her coworkers waged a courageous struggle to stop the deadly return to in-person learning that cost the lives of eight educators in the district.
Emma Arceneaux, Evan Blake•
Accomplices to social murder
The international pseudo-left and the lifting of Zero-COVID in China: Part 1
The pseudo-left’s hostility to public health and support for imperialism found sharp expression in their universal demand—echoing that of the Western corporate media and political establishment—that China abandon its Zero-COVID strategy.
Evan Blake•
Accomplices to social murder
The international pseudo-left and the lifting of Zero-COVID in China: Part 2
The pseudo-left’s hostility to public health and support for imperialism found its sharpest expression in their demand—echoing that of the Western corporate media and political establishment—that China abandon its Zero-COVID strategy.
Evan Blake•
Immunocompromised mother in Manhattan speaks to Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic
Melanie, whose children attend public schools in New York City, spoke to the WSWS about the toll the “let it rip” policy toward the pandemic has taken on her and her family.
Tim Avery•
George Kirby•
Tom Peters•
Dylan Lubao•
Evan Blake•
Tom Peters•
Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands: Right-wing propaganda disguised as historical scholarship
This five-part series and historical timeline exposes Snyder’s Bloodlands as a work of falsification, aimed at justifying the imperialist proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and the alliance of US imperialism with the Ukrainian far-right.
Read
The Wuhan lab lie: “Weapons of mass destruction” redux
In an uncanny instance of history repeating itself, the lies used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq based on false claims about “weapons of mass destruction” are being used to promote the United States’ unprecedented military buildup around China.
Andre Damon•
A discredited conspiracy theory about the origins of COVID-19
The Wuhan Lab Leak slander being resurrected to bolster US war drive against China
The Wall Street Journal disclosed that the Department of Energy has shifted its opinion on the origin of the coronavirus to it being most likely a result of a lab leak. However, unnamed sources who have read the report indicate the evidence is of low confidence.
Benjamin Mateus•
Republicans revive discredited Wuhan Lab Leak theory and call Anthony Fauci to testify
Republicans have demanded Former Biden chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci testify on the Wuhan lab leak theory.
Benjamin Mateus•
Anthony Fauci gives aid and comfort to COVID-19 “lab leak” conspiracy theory
Fauci’s aim in lending credence to the conspiracy theory, which he knows to be a lie, is to distract attention from the antiscientific policies carried out under the Trump and Biden administrations that led to the deaths of over a million Americans.
Andre Damon•
Andre Damon•
Benjamin Mateus•
Kevin Reed•
Frank Gaglioti•
Timeline of thirty years of war: The historical background to the US-NATO conflict with Russia
This interactive timeline presents some of the most important events that have brought humanity to the brink of World War III. It includes links to critical articles and statements produced by the International Committee of the Fourth International over the past 30 years.
View the Timeline
The 1619 Project and the New York Times’ promotion of the racialist ideology of Ukrainian nationalism
The racialist historical revisionism of the Times and the racialist ideology of the Ukrainian neo-Nazis share a common premise: the mythological reimagining of history as a struggle of “the nation” and “the race.”
Tom Carter•
Oppose political censorship of antiwar views at Howard University!
We call on all students, faculty and staff members at Howard University to oppose this censorship and demand that the IYSSE be allowed to hold its planned meeting on campus.
International Youth and Students for Social Equality•
Marcus Garvey and the reactionary logic of racialist politics
More than one hundred years after the formation of his Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Marcus Garvey's legacy remains highly relevant in the struggle to overcome efforts to divide the working class along racial lines.
Lawrence Porter•
1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones was paid over $1 million to speak about race at colleges in 2022
The race-obsessed middle class layers which Hannah-Jones epitomizes are fundamentally fearful of and hostile to the growing movement of the working class. The last thing they want is for the party to end when there is yet so much money to be made.
Dominic Gustavo•
Tom Mackaman•
Douglas Lyons•
Tom Mackaman•
Tom Mackaman•
Tom Mackaman•
Report to Seventh Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US)
The historical and political principles of the socialist opposition to imperialist war and the Putin regime
This report was given by Clara Weiss to the Seventh Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US) in support of the resolution, “Mobilize the working class against imperialist war!”
Clara Weiss•
Report to Seventh Congress of Socialist Equality Party (US)
The historical background of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight for global elimination
This report was given by Evan Blake to the Seventh Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US) in support of the resolution titled “The COVID-19 pandemic and the fight for socialism”
Evan Blake•
America’s “New World Order”— The historical and social roots of US plans for war with Russia and China
The following is a report given by Andre Damon to the Seventh Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US) in support of the resolution titled “Mobilize the working class against imperialist war!”
Andre Damon•
Report to Seventh Congress of Socialist Equality Party (US)
Build rank-and-file committees, the organs of 21st century working class struggle!
This report was given by Eric London to the Seventh Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US) in support of the resolution titled “Build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees! For a global counteroffensive of the working class!”
Eric London•
Ulaş Ateşçi•
Tom Peters•
Keith Jones•
Tomas Castanheira•
Forty-five years since the assassination of Tom Henehan (1951-1977): A Revolutionary Life
October 16 marked the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Tom Henehan, a member of the Political Committee of the Workers League—the predecessor of the Socialist Equality Party in the US. We are republishing here a tribute delivered by David North at a meeting in 1997.
WSWS readers demand Facebook reverse ban on SEG in New Zealand
Readers have expressed outrage at the social media company’s anti-democratic censorship of the Trotskyist Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand.
Facebook blocks Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand from advertising
We call on readers to oppose Facebook’s blatant political censorship of the Trotskyist movement in New Zealand.
Tom Peters•
Elon Musk’s Twitter abruptly reverses ban on promotion of alternative social media platforms
After instituting a ban on sharing links from competitive social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and Mastodon, Elon Musk canceled the policy less than 24 hours later.
Kevin Reed•
Musk continues to ban from Twitter journalists who criticize him
Twitter owner and fascistic billionaire Elon Musk acknowledged late Thursday that he had shut down the accounts of numerous prominent journalists earlier in the day, claiming falsely that they had violated a new policy on the platform against “doxxing."
Kevin Reed•
Kevin Reed•
Dominic Gustavo•
Eric Ludlow•
Our reporter•
Kevin Reed•
Wije Dias: A fighter for Trotskyism (1941-2022)
Comrade Wije Dias, the longtime general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), died in Colombo on July 27, 2022. This exhibit includes two tributes to Wije by WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North as well as a selection of Wije’s most significant articles and speeches.
A historic advance in the fight for Trotskyism
The International Committee of the Fourth International accepts application of the Sosyalist Eşitlik Grubu to become its section in Turkey
The June 19 decision followed extensive discussions with representatives of the International Committee in Istanbul on the development of the fight for Trotskyism in Turkey and the Aegean and Black Sea regions.
Read more
An interview with Harvard anthropology Professor John Comaroff—Part one
We spoke recently to South African-born John Comaroff, the Hugh K. Foster Professor of African and African-American studies and of Anthropology, and Oppenheimer Research Fellow in African Studies, Harvard University.
David Walsh•
Harvard UAW, pseudo-left groups organize provocation against professor John Comaroff
The right-wing witch-hunt of John Comaroff at Harvard University continued Tuesday with a stage-managed protest during his first class of the semester.
Mike Ingram•
Defend Harvard professor John Comaroff against the right-wing witch-hunt!
This shameful campaign reached new heights Tuesday when concerted efforts were made to prevent Comaroff from teaching. Provocations were organized both inside and outside the classroom.
Socialist Equality Party (US), International Youth and Students for Social Equality•
The politically driven campaign against Harvard anthropologist John Comaroff
The attack on Harvard anthropology professor John Comaroff has taken to a new level the campaign to purge American colleges and universities on the basis of anti-democratic identity politics.
David Walsh•
David Walsh•
James McDonald, Sam Wayne•
Mike Head•
Matthew Brennan, Barry Grey•
Barry Grey•
The fight for Trotskyism and the political foundations of the World Socialist Web Site
The WSWS is publishing the report delivered by David North 25 years ago, on February 1, 1997, motivating the proposal to end publication of the SEP’s printed newspaper and replace it with an international website; as well as North’s reply to the National Committee ‘s discussion of the proposal.
Russia downs British-supplied long-range missile as Zelensky and Sunak declare “jets coalition”
Central to NATO’s plans to defeat Russia and force regime change in Moscow is aerial supremacy over the Ukrainian battlefield. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Zelensky said, “We want to create this jet coalition.”
Robert Stevens•
Pentagon national strategy document targets China
The US military published a series of documents Thursday outlining US plans for war with Russia and China, and asserting the central role of nuclear weapons in US warfighting.
Andre Damon•
Australia dispatching military “trainers” to aid the US-NATO war against Russia
Australia, already the largest non-NATO funder of the war in Ukraine, is escalating its involvement amid warnings that the conflict could result in a nuclear catastrophe.
Oscar Grenfell•
German President Steinmeier delivers war speech to the nation
Steinmeier's remarks to invited soldiers, journalists, think tank representatives and leading politicians can only be described as a “war speech to the nation.” The focus was de facto a declaration of war on Russia and the Russian population.
Johannes Stern, Christoph Vandreier•
Jordan Shilton•
Tom Peters•
Jean Shaoul•
Peter Symonds•
Tom Peters•
Germany’s secret service intensifies persecution of war opponents and warns against “Trotskyism”
The latest “Constitutional Protection Report” published by the Verfassungsschutz (Germany’s domestic intelligence service) at the end of June aims to silence anyone who criticises the mass death being organised by the NATO powers, calls social inequality by its name, and rejects the government’s pro-war narrative.
Gregor Link•
Peace activist sentenced for criticizing German war policy in Ukraine
The Berlin-Tiergarten District Court has sentenced peace activist Heinrich Bücker for a speech he gave on the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion on the Soviet Union.
Justus Leicht•
Large-scale raid against right-wing terrorist network reveals the extent of the fascist danger in Germany
Around 3,000 officers from the special police forces stormed 137 locations in 11 federal states on Wednesday morning and arrested 25 people. Another 27 people are being investigated. The state prosecutor has accused them of being members or supporters of a terrorist organisation.
Peter Schwarz•
German secret service operates hundreds of far-right social media profiles
Regardless of whether the pending investigations can demonstrate that the agents gave the impetus to the planned terrorist attacks, a picture emerges of a right-wing extremist milieu organized and controlled by the state.
Christoph Vandreier•
Christoph Vandreier•
Justus Leicht•
Statement of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei•
Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (UK)•
Peter Schwarz•
WSWS Review
Thirty years since the dissolution of the USSR
Review the most critical essays, lectures and letters produced by the ICFI in the course of its intervention in response to the crisis of Stalinism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Read more
Scientists raise alarm over global spread of new highly-mutated COVID-19 variant
As COVID-19 cases surge throughout the world, scientists are warning of the emergence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Evan Blake•
Biden’s response to the Maui wildfire: The ruling class indifference to mass death
Like the response of the previous three occupants of the White House during natural disasters, President Biden has demonstrated incompetence and indifference to the wildfire catastrophe on the Hawaiian island Maui.
Kevin Reed•
Thousands of refugees dying amid fascistic European anti-migrant campaign
The European ruling class is at war with the mass of humanity deprived of the most basic conditions of life by imperialist violence and capitalist inequality.
Thomas Scripps•
Georgia indictment of Trump exposes the rot of American political system
Dozens of top officials, campaign aides and Georgia Republicans were engaged in a conspiracy, headed by Trump, to steal the 2020 presidential election.
Patrick Martin•
Marcus Day•
Kevin Reed•
Thomas Scripps•
Jacob Crosse, Joseph Kishore•
Marcus Day•
Eighty years since the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union
The WSWS has published a feature page incorporating a selection of essential essays from its own archives, and other documents produced contemporaneously by the Fourth International.
Read more
Police locate more bodies in New Zealand’s Pike River mine
The police investigation into the 2010 disaster that killed 29 mineworkers has been dragged out until at least the end of 2023, with no guarantee that anyone will be charged over the avoidable deaths.
Tom Peters•
New Zealand police extend investigation into Pike River mine disaster until the end of 2023
Police are delaying their decision on whether to lay charges over the 2010 Pike River mine disaster that killed 29 people, until after the October election.
Tom Peters•
Nine dead, 44 still missing in mine collapse in China
The disaster tragically exposes the brutal working conditions faced by miners in China in the reckless drive for profits ahead of lives and safety.
Jack Wang•
New Zealand: Court action over Pike River mine disaster
The fathers of two of the 29 workers killed in the 2010 Pike River mine disaster are campaigning for the release of documents and correspondence relating to a 2013 decision to drop charges against Pike River CEO Peter Whittall.
Tom Peters•
Tom Peters•
Tom Peters•
Tom Peters•
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand)•
Tom Peters•
Cliff Slaughter: A political biography (1928-1963)
By David North
Cliff Slaughter died on May 3, 2021, in Leeds, England, at the age of 92. His enduring contribution in the 1960s to the defense of Trotskyism stands in tragic contrast with his subsequent political opportunism and repudiation of revolutionary Marxism.
Die Insel (The Island): A harrowing account of the European Union’s murderous refugee policy
Thanks to her lively depictions and her factual, yet sensitive descriptions, the author brings to life the "hell of Moria".
Carola Kleinert•
Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023): Chronicler of American carnage
His works are so permeated with misanthropy and a hostility to human progress that his literary output represents a step back from the great American writers of the 20th century.
Eric London•
Author Elizabeth Gilbert suspends novel’s publication due to protests by Ukrainian nationalists
Gilbert explained she was “removing the book from its publication schedule” because of complaints about its Soviet-Russian setting.
David Walsh•
John McWhorter’s Woke Racism: An argument about how to secure privilege
McWhorter's book offers biting criticism of racialism, but it explains neither where this ideology comes from nor how to combat it.
Andrea Peters•
James McDonald•
Sandy English•
Margaret Rees•
Sandy English•
James McDonald•
Sylvia Ageloff and the assassination of Leon Trotsky
With David North and Eric London
North and London discussed the significance of the latest revelations of the the Security and the Fourth International investigation into Trotsky’s assassination.
Watch the video