Issue 1 Winter 2007

COMMENTARY

 

What and where is the working class in Britain?

HELEN CHRISTOPHER

The state of Britain's coal Industry and its workforce

BARRY JOHNSON

Mandela's continuing walk to freedom

VERNE HARRIS

Breaking the silence over the "Miami Five"

GINA NICHOLSON

INDIA: Divide and Rule Britannia

KARL MARX: The Revolt in the Indian Army From the New York Tribune, July 15th 1857

NEIL STEWART: Imperialism and the Indian Army From the Labour Monthly, May 1947

R PALME DUTT

Read the PDF version of Issue 1

Articles featured in Issue 1


  • End of British Rule in India
    Friday, September 1, 2017

    The end of colonial rule in India was not a magnanimous gesture by British imperialism. In fact it had no choice as it faced a popular upsurge against its rule. To preserve its interests and influence it reached agreement with the Indian capitalist and landowning classes which passed power to them. Just as in Ireland it utilised partition to create divisions and hamper progressive development. The independence of Burma likewise was engineered do that Britain retained access to its economy and military bases. it was also saddled with a huge debt.
    Read more...

  • Imperialism and the Indian Army
    Thursday, August 31, 2017

    Following the revolt the Indian Army against British domination in 1857 the imperial power set out to learn lessons. The central one was that the policy of divide and rule must be rigorously enforced in the army and in civil life. So that different groups would not make common cause they were separated into different fighting units and differences and antagonisms were actively encouraged. Conflicts of religion, caste and nationality were nurtured as tool of British rule.
    Read more...

  • Pakistan in Crisis
    Thursday, August 31, 2017

    After partition Pakistan was ruled by highly reactionary and repressive forces. The country moved into the orbit of US imperialism and the web of influence that it was building in Asia. However a general election in 1954 lead to an overwhelming victory for democratic parties. The reaction was the suspension of parliament by the Governor-General and the establishment of a dictatorship.
    Read more...

  • The Revolt in the Indian Army
    Wednesday, August 30, 2017

    Karl Marx gives a contemporary account of the 1857 revolt of the Indian Army against British colonial rule. 160 years later his insights into its importance are still valid. In particular how opposition to imperial domination overcame the British tactic of divide and rule and Hindus and Muslims fought together against their oppressor.
    Read more...