Socialist Resistance

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Socialist Resistance was launched in 2002

Socialist Resistance is a monthly Marxist newspaper founded in October 2002 by two organisations in Britain (the Socialist Solidarity Network and International Socialist Group) and some individuals.

The rationale for the new publication was that "We think this is necessary to express and build support for a distinct political position which, despite differences among us on secondary issues, we share. We want to deepen the fight for a broad socialist party in England on the model of, for example, the SSP in Scotland and the Party of Communist Refoundation in Italy."[1]

Around 135 activists have subscribed to the newspaper's internal listserver [2], of whom around at least 65 can be assumed to be members of the ISG [3]; and at least 20 of whom are supporters of the SSN [4]. Its members also include the supporters in Britain of the Democratic Socialist Perspective and Socialist Voice.

The newspaper is controlled by an annual general meeting, held each September, which elects a steering committee and editorial board. It organises monthly public meetings in London, Oxford and Birmingham, as well as three national open forums each year. For example, it organised a June 2006 dayschool on the Bolivarian revolution addressed by Michael Lowy and Celia Hart, a September 2006 AGM, a December 2006 dayschool on "ecosocialism" and a March 2007 forum on the Middle East. These events often provide themes for books oublished by Resistance: it produced the first book of Celia Hart's writings in English, Ron Ridenour's 2006 book on Cuba, the first book on ecosocialism and a large collection on the Middle East, edited by Roland Rance and Terry Conway.

Resistance also publishes irregular broadsheets and pamphlets. Three leading activists in Resistance are on the editorial board of International Viewpoint.