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revolutionary theory
This page is being set up to introduce you to socialist politics, and answer some of the questions you may have about it. We especially recommend the ABCs of Socialism section. This page will be a constantly expanding one, so check back soon to see what has been added. For essays and statments by SA check out Socialist Action newspaper. To see what YSA has to say on current events and contemporary issues check out our News & Views page.
The ABCs of Socialism
What Do Socialists Stand For? - a basic summary of what revolutionary socialists believe, and what we propose.
When America Goes Socialist - an essay put out by the Young Socialist Alliance in the 1960s that paints a picture of what a socialist society might look like.
How to Make a Revolution in the U.S. - a wonderful essay by Peter Camejo that lays out why we believe in the need for revolution, and how revolutions unfold.
Vanguard Parties - an essay by Ernest Mandel on what vanguard parties are and what seperates them from other types of organizations.
YSA's 10 Point Program - a bulleted outline of what we stand for.
What Socialists Propose - an essay by Paul Siegel on what we'd do different!
Socialists & Democracy
Who Should You Vote For?
The Precarious Character of American 'Democracy'
The Role of Money & the Mass Media in American Democracy
How the Rich Came to Rule America
What is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat?
Marxist vs. Anarchist Views on Political Parties
a One Party or a Multi-Party System?
Socialist Revolution and Democracy
Trotskyism vs. Stalinism on Democracy
Basic Marxist Theory
What Is Communism? - an essay by Ernest Mandel that explains the basic views of communism.
The Marxist Case 4 Revolution Today - an essay by Ernest Mandel that makes the case not only for the need for revolution, but argues that the conditions are ripe.
Beginners Guide to the Theory of Permanent Revolution - an introduction to Leon Trotsky's famous theory of revolution.
More on Permanent Revolution
What Makes Scientific Socialism Scientific? - an essay on what seperates revolutionary Marxism from other strands of socialism.
Introduction 2 the Main Concepts of Marxism -an excellent collection of links from the Marxist Internet Archives.
Marxist Economics
A Short Introduction to Marxist Economics
Marx's Economic Theory - General Approach & Influence
Marx's Theory of Surplus-Value
Philosophy of Marxism
A Definition of Dialectics
The next three essays are sections of "Philosophy of Marxism", a speech that was delivered at a Socialist Action summer school. It is based on Lenin's Three Component Parts of Marxism. The three different sections correspond with the three components laid out by Lenin.
Part 1 - Dialectical Materialism
Part 2 - Contradictions of Capitalist Production
Part 3 - Revolutionary Role of the Proletariat
Marxists and the State
Marxist Theory of the State - by Ernest Mandel
What is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat?
The Marxist View on Building Classless Societies
Marxists and War
Lessons From the Vietnam Anti-War Movement
Capitalism & War, Part I
Capitalism & War, Part II
Down With the Stalin-Hitler Pact! - text from a 1939 flier put out by Trotskyist youth.
Open Letter to the Young Communist League - text from another pre-World War II leaflet put out by Trotskyist youth in the U.S.
The French Trotskyists During WWII - a speech by Ernest Mandel laying out the difficult tasks facing our movment during World War II, and how we responded.
Womens' Liberation
The Nature & Origin of Women's Oppression - excerpts from the extensive 1979 Fourth International resolution on women's oppression.
The Struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment - a look at why the movement for the ERA failed
Lenin on Womens' Liberation Note - this page is on the Marxists Internet Archives website. To return to the YSA website hit the back button on your browser.
Trotsky on Womens' Liberation Note - this page is also on the Marxists Internet Archives.
Why Are Women 'Dying' To Be Thin?
The Challenge of Matriarchy - by Evelyn Reed
Oppressed Nationalities
How to Fight Racist Groups
Black Liberation & Socialism: A Transitional Program 4 Black Liberation - excerpt from a 1970s Socialist Workers Party resolution.
Black Self-Determination & Socialist Revolution in the U.S. - a Socialist Action resolution that lays out our views on Black oppression and what we think the solution is.
Towards a Transitional Program 4 Chicano Liberation
The Jewish Question: A Marxist Analysis - a classic essay by A. Leon
Leon Trotsky on the National Question
The Marxist Case for a Democratic, Secular Palestine
Lenin vs. Stalin on Oppressed Nationalities - yet another example of how Stalin broke from Marxist politics.
In Defense of Afrocentrism - a YSA leaflet defending the Afrocentrist movement in education.
Self-Determination for the Palestinians
10 Things You Should Know About Israel & Zionism
The Political Legacy of Malcolm X
GLBT
On Lesbian/Gay Liberation - a Fourth International draft resolution.
Ecology
Marxist Analysis of the World-Wide Ecological Crisis -a Fourth International resolution.
Cuba
Marxist Analysis of Cuba -excerpts from a Socialist Action resolution.
Revolutions
A Brief Look at the Paris Commune
An Extensive Look at the Paris Commune
The Russian Revolution
Lenin's Program for Revolution - a look at Lenin's "April Theses"
The Soviet System Under Lenin & Trotsky
Was Russia Socialist? - an essay that looks at how YSA views the ex-USSR.
The French near-revolution of May 1968
Lessons From Allende's Chile
A Look Back @ Allende's Chile
A Look at the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Marxist Case 4 Revolution Today
The Social Gains of Past Revolutions
Can American Workers Make a Revolution? - by George Novack
Revolutionaries
A Brief Bio of Karl Marx
A Brief Bio of V.I. Lenin
A Brief Bio of Leon Trotsky
A Longer Biographical Essay on Trotsky
"Memories of Trotsky" by Jake Cooper Jake was a member of Socialist Action who served as one of Trotsky's bodygaurds in Mexico.
Malcolm X: Fighter for Black Liberation
The Life & Struggles of Ernest Mandel
The Mixed Legacy of Huey Newton
Charlie Van Gelderen - a long-time British leader and founding member of the Fourth International.
The Revolutionary Movement
Socialist Action's Approach 2 Defending Victims of Frame-ups
"How to Win Strikes" by Harry DeBoer - Harry was active in the Trotskyist led 1934 Minneapolis Teamster strike.
Lessons From the 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike
Lessons From the 1934 Toledo Auto-Lite Strike
How the Fourth International was Conceived - an essay by Ernest Mandel on why the Fourth International was founded.
60 Years of the Fourth International - a speech by Charlie Van Gelderen on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International.
History of the American Trotskyist Movement
History of the Revolutionary Socialist Youth Mov't. in the U.S.
The Need for a Revolutionary Youth Group
Foundations of a Communist Youth League - text from a 1930s discussion by Trotskyist youth in the U.S.
Vanguard Parties by Ernest Mandel
Building the Revolutionary Movement: 1919-1969 - by George Novack
Lessons from the Trade Union Educational League of the 1920s
Ethics & Morality
Trotsky on Optimism & Pessimism
Study Guides
Study Guide for Mandel's "Vanguard Parties"
Study Guide for Lenin's "State & Revolution"
Reading Lists
Young Socialist Alliance Reading List From the 1960s
Recommended Pamphlets
List of Political Novels & Biographies
Science
Bio of Stephen Jay Gould
Role Played by Labor in the Transition From Ape 2 Man by Frederick Engels
'Morality' & the Patenting of Genes
Art & Culture
Trotskyism on Art a Manifesto by Leon Trotsky & Andre Breton
Andre Breton & the Politics of Surrealism
