ON October 15, 2017, the Venezuelan people went to the polls to elect their regional governors. Tensions swept through not only Venezuela, but across Latin America. Would the attrition of the Bolivarian project in Venezuela now be complete? Would this presage the defeat of the government of Nicolas Maduro in the presidential elections to be held in October 2018? US President Donald Trump waded into the Venezuelan elections, calling for the defeat of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the party led by Maduro. He failed.

THE Russian Revolution marked a historic break from the dominant social democratic reformist current in Europe.  Lenin had hoped that the Russian Revolution would be succeeded by the German Revolution.  However, those expectations were dashed after the crushing of the revolutionary uprising in Germany in 1919.Before the Second World War, there was a keen tussle between the social democratic reformist parties and the Communist parties affiliated to the Third International for winning over the allegiance of the working class in their respective countries.The 1929-33 Great Depression and capit

“NEO-liberal capitalism” is the term used to describe the phase of capitalism where restrictions on the global flows of commodities and capital, including capital in the form of finance, have been substantially removed.

THE Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan, a national platform of mass, class and social organisations, movements and progressive individuals, organised marches across the country on October 30 to defend the democratic fabric of the country and for the rights of the people.The nationwide protest, ‘Jan Ekta Mashaal’ (Torchlight of People's Unity), was in support of the growing struggles of different sections of the people against the neo-liberal imperialist economic policies of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation and the communal, divisive politics of hate and violence.According to a stat

THE marches, organised by Bengal Platform of Mass Organisations, swept through villages and towns of West Bengal in 13 days. Thousands of people joined in the marches in respective areas, signifying new dimensions of popular mobilisation by Left forces in the state. Northern jathas which started from Coochbehar and Malda merged at Siliguri on November 1. Local and district level marches joined in the central rally in different locations. One of the main concern of these jathas was the problems of tea workers.