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Britain was once the workshop of the world. Today, British capitalism is struggling with stagnant growth, declining productivity, collapsing public services and a deepening economic crisis. In this discussion, Adam Booth examines the decline of British capitalism and the historical roots of Britain’s economic problems. Why has British industry gone into decline? Why is productivity so low? What lies behind Britain’s weak economic growth, rising inequality and crisis-ridden politics? And can British capitalism overcome the contradictions that have brought it to this point? From the decline of the British Empire and the loss of industrial supremacy to the privatisation of the economy, this episode looks at British capitalism, imperialism, class struggle and the crisis of the British ruling class from a Marxist perspective.

In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Gliniecki, General Secretary of the RCP, outlines the Marxist theory of the state, explains why the Epstein revelations have exposed the true nature of liberal democracy, and discusses how a working-class alternative to bourgeois rule can emerge through dual power. Drawing on Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky, Ben explains how the capitalist state was born to defend minority class rule, and why it has always relied on a "veil" of ideology and reform to disguise that fact. He looks at how decades of economic crisis have stripped that veil away, and how the Epstein scandal, implicating politicians, diplomats, and academics across the political spectrum, is a symptom of that collapse, not an isolated case of corruption. Ben also examines the theory and history of dual power, from the Councils of Action in the 1926 General Strike to the Russian Revolution, and explains why the reformist leadership of the labour movement remains the central obstacle to revolutionary change today.

Did Napoleon change history? Did Lenin make the Russian Revolution? Or do individuals simply express much deeper historical forces? Jack Tye Wilson tackles one of the biggest questions in Marxist theory: the relationship between the individual and society. This episode explains how history is really made, and why understanding this matters for revolutionaries today.

The Frankfurt School has had an enormous influence on universities, culture and much of the modern left. But how does Critical Theory compare with the Marxist method? Daniel Morley examines the ideas of Adorno, Horkheimer and Marcuse, explaining where they came from, why they became so influential, and why Marxists reject their philosophical and political conclusions.

Trade wars, inflation, recession, debt and protectionism; the world economy has entered a new and unstable period. But why? Adam Booth explains the laws governing capitalism in the imperialist epoch, drawing on Marx, Lenin and Trotsky to explain why the system has entered an era of crisis, conflict and revolutionary upheaval. If you want to understand the world economy through the lens of Marxism, this is the place to start.

Silvia Federici has become one of the most widely read ‘socialist feminists’ of the last fifty years. But is her explanation of women's oppression Marxist, and does it work?  Sarah Vedrovitch examines Federici's ideas on housework, social reproduction and the origins of capitalism, comparing them with the revolutionary conclusions of Marx and Engels on freeing women. Frederici imagines she is building on Marx and Engels, looking at capitalism through a lens forgotten by orthodox Marxists. But is this actually true?  Books to delve deeper: Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State, The fall of woman, Women, Family and the Russian Revolution

Marx and Engels didn't develop their ideas in a vacuum. They built on centuries of philosophical development, including the ideas of the English materialists. Georgina Ryan explores how thinkers like Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke challenged religious explanations of the world and helped lay the foundations for modern science and, ultimately, Marxism. At the same time, she explains why Marxism goes beyond the limitations of mechanical materialism.

How did philosophy begin? And why are arguments from over 2,000 years ago still central to Marxism today? In this episode of Marxist Voice, Khaled Malachi traces the origins of materialism and idealism in Ancient Greece. From Plato's world of perfect ideas to Aristotle's more grounded approach, we explore the philosophical roots of dialectical materialism and why Marxists continue to study these thinkers. Whether you're new to Marxist philosophy or looking to deepen your understanding, this is an ideal introduction to one of the biggest debates in human history. Books to delve deeper:  History of Philosophy

Art is a necessity of life which is kept shackled by the profit motive. Art is something which workers yearn for. But what really is art? And can it change the world? What is the relationship between art and revolution, and revolutionaries?  In this talk from the RCP summer camp, Nelson Wan discusses all these questions.  Books to delve deeper: Art and Revolution, The necessity of art

The United States has existed as the dominant imperialist power for over 80 years. In that time it has meddled in countries across the entire globe, setting the world order. Now that is coming to an end. The American Empire is collapsing and the anger of the workers in the US is growing.  In this talk from the RCP summer camp, Will Collins discusses the prospects of a 3rd American Revolution.  Books to delve deeper: America: Revolution and Counter Revolution, Colossus: The Rise and Fall of US Imperialism, Marxism and the USA

Despite vast technological progress, modern society has yet to achieve abundance. Instead, global capitalism continues to drive deepening contradictions, regional conflicts, and an accelerating crisis of imperialism. In this talk from the RCP Summer School, Lubna Badi explores the main forces shaping today’s world: from the relative decline of US hegemony and the fracturing of Western alliances, to Europe's severe industrial downturn and the surge of class anger worldwide as working people seek a revolutionary way forward.

Since he came to power in September 2022, the leader of Burkina Faso’s military government, Ibrahim Traore, has attracted attention all over the world.  Echoing Thomas Sankara, the leader of the Burkinabé Revolution of 1983-87, Traore has used radical anti-imperialist and pan-Africanist rhetoric, calling for a determined struggle for genuine sovereignty and development for the people of Africa. In the Western media, Traore is often portrayed as a brutal dictator, who is rapidly losing control of the situation. However, on social media, you can find a huge amount of support for Traore and his programme. What is the reality? In this talk, Josh Holroyd discuses what has been achieved in Burkina Faso since Traore came to power, and the way forward for the fight against imperialism in West Africa.

Whilst the Chinese Communist Party rule over China, it works with a capitalist mode of production. This is a historic peculiarity which originates with the successful Chinese Revolution in 1949. This revolution overthrew capitalism, but without workers power. This meant a slow return to capitalism was inevitable without successful revolutions internationally. But how did they return to capitalism while keeping the CCP in place? In this talk, RCP Central Committee member Tom Crozier, explains the process.

The relative decline of US imperialism is a process having enormous effects on every corner of the globe and every capitalist market. The US is struggling through its death agony which is resulting in a deeply unpredictable world. From wars to trade wars, to foreign policy on truth social, anger is building towards the US government rapidly. This exists in countries imperially dominated by the US, but has now spread to the US and its allies. Huge social explosions have begun, and the RCI is trying to take this process to its logic conclusion: revolution.  In this talk, given at the Central Committee meeting of the RCP last weekend, Fred Weston explains these processes.

Those on the left are increasingly being pushed the idea that we must support, vote for and publicly defend the 'lesser evil' in politics. Many liberal politicians orient their campaign around the idea that they are not as bad as the other candidate.  This is not a new phenomenon but a rehashing of the ideas of the Popular Front, popularised by Stalin in the 1920s/30s to excuse his distaste for international revolution.  Importantly, it has never worked in defeating either fascism or the right wing populists of today such as Trump or Farage. In fact, the left aligning themselves with the liberals, ie. the representatives of capitalist crisis, has only opened the road further to those on the right presenting themselves as the anti-establishment candidates.  In this talk, delivered to the newly elected RCP Central Committee this weekend, Rob Sewell discusses different examples of lesser evilism and the popular front and their failures, linking this to how this bankrupt idea has informed the political situation in the West today.  Rob Sewell is a member of the Executive Committee of the RCP and the International Secretariat of the RCI.