The sequel to Peter Taaffe’s ‘The Rise of Militant’

‘From Militant to the Socialist Party’ – new book now available

The launch party photo Mary Finch

The launch party photo Mary Finch   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

This general election campaign will see a choice for those opposed to Tory austerity.

The battle within Labour rages over Tony Blair’s legacy and those seeking to continue it, and supporters of Corbyn who want to see working class political representation.

In this battle, the influence of Militant has been a touchstone, showing how it is possible for working class people to organise and win.

‘From Militant to the Socialist Party’ covers developments from the New Labour takeover to the first rumblings of the world economic crisis of 2007-8, and is the sequel to ‘The Rise of Militant’.

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Stalinist regimes, capitalism’s representatives proclaimed “the end of history.” But the struggles of workers and young people continued.

From the Liverpool dockers’ strike to the mass movements against the invasion of Iraq, From Militant to the Socialist Party charts the fightback, and highlights the lessons of these movements for today.

As Blair and New Labour implemented neoliberal attacks, the fight for working class political representation is a fun-damental battle charted out here. As right-wing trade union leaders preached ‘par-tnership’ with the bosses, trade union militants showed that a fighting strategy was possible.

This book is not written from the sidelines, but by an active participant. From Militant to the Socialist Party offers unique insight into how Marxists organised, and the programme and strategy put forward at key stages of the struggle. The crucial discussions and debate among socialists at the time are drawn out here, to provide key lessons for those who want to build a force for socialist ideas today.

The author, Peter Taaffe, is the former editor of the Militant newspaper, and the general secretary of the Socialist Party. He was a founding member of the Committee for a Workers’ International, which now organises in 45 countries, on every continent.

As well as playing an active role in the struggles charted here, Peter is the author of several books, including The Rise of Militant, ‘Liverpool: A City that Dared to Fight’, ‘Cuba: Socialism and Democracy’, and ‘Marxism in Today’s World’.

From Militant to the Socialist Party

'From Militant to the Socialist Party' by Peter Taaffe, photo (Sarah Sachs-Eldridge)

‘From Militant to the Socialist Party’ by Peter Taaffe, photo (Sarah Sachs-Eldridge)   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

£15 from leftbooks.co.uk

Or call 020 8988 8789; write to PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD

Please make any cheques payable to ‘Socialist Books’

  • Watch the launch on Facebook
  • ‘Tories Out’ London public meeting and launch: 25 May at 7.30pm, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EP