With over 150 enthusiastic revolutionaries present, the school Marxism 2021, which took place last weekend in Gothenburg, was a resounding success. It was organized by Revolution, IMT in Sweden, and was centered on Marxist theory, to arm those present for the coming class struggles. “This is a preparation for intensified class struggle, for socialist revolution in our lifetime,” comrade Thea Wilhelmsson explained in her speech to the first session.

Revolutionary opportunities were the theme of this session, entitled “The world on fire: pandemic, crisis and revolution”, led by Niklas Albin Svensson from International Marxist Tendency. He stressed that the wave of class struggle throughout the world is rooted in the fact that the capitalist mode of production has become an obstacle to the further development of mankind:

The question is not whether the coronavirus pandemic is worse than previous pandemics: the question is whether society with its current resources should have been able to handle it better? There is no doubt that the answer is: ‘yes’. [The ruling class] cut stocks – it was an unnecessary cost. Any surplus of personal protective equipment was an unnecessary expense. Previous research on SARS was an unnecessary expense. Capitalism cannot use society’s resources efficiently – and the result is that millions die prematurely. “

These millions of deaths disproportionately affect the poorest parts of the world. Of a population of 1.2 billion people in Africa, only 77 million have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine. At the same time, the economic consequences of the crisis of capitalism are brutal: mass unemployment, poverty and famine. All this creates the basis for rising class consciousness and militancy.

The question is not whether the coronavirus pandemic is worse than before: the question is whether society with its current resources should have been able to handle it better? There is no doubt that the answer is: ‘yes’ “/ Image: Revolution

Many speakers emphasized the strength of the enormous mass movements that have swept the world since 2008 and marked the beginning of a revolutionary period. But as Lenin explained, there can be no revolutionary movement without revolutionary theory. Marxist philosophy is at the heart of scientific socialism, which is why the session “In Defense of Materialism” was devoted to dialectical materialism, developed by Marx and Engels as a weapon for the working class.

Comrade Stefan Kangas explained in his introduction that in a society divided into antagonistic classes, there will inevitably be different and opposing worldviews. Under capitalism, this means one worldview that reflects the interests of the ruling class and another that reflects that of the revolutionary proletariat. Our task is not to quarrel over words and formulations, but to fight to change reality through a socialist revolution. But to change society, we must first understand it.

Sessions such as “Marxism or Postmodernism” and “Capitalism on Steroids: Keynesianism and the MMT” deepened participants’ understanding of the Marxist method and how capitalism works. The importance of theory was in focus for sessions such as “Left Populism or Revolution: Can Capitalism Be Reformed?” and “Cuban Revolution and the Imperialist Threat”.

There were also discussions about some of the most important developments in the world-class struggle. For example, Comrade Fredrik Albin Svensson emphasized that we must defend the gains from the Cuban revolution, which is facing pressure from a counter-revolutionary protest movement, supported by imperialism:

“Cuba abolished capitalism and became a source of inspiration for the oppressed masses throughout the world. A small island successfully stood up to the world’s most powerful imperialist power – and the bourgeoisie will never forgive them for this. In the labor movement, in schools, on the streets: every revolutionary must defend the Cuban revolution against the attacks of the imperialists. “

Lotta Angantyr, a supporter of the Socialist Appeal in Britain, emphasized the conclusions that young people around the world draw in her leadership of the session “The Struggle in Labor: Keir Starmer against the Marxists”. Among young people in the UK, 67 percent would do so prefers to live under a socialist economic system. “There has never been a better time to be a Marxist,” Angantyr concluded.

As Lenin explained, there can be no revolutionary movement without revolutionary theory / Image: Revolution

Many spoke in particular about the session “Queer theory, transphobia and radical feminism: a Marxist answer”. Ylva Vinberg emphasized that the fight against oppression is an inseparable part of the class struggle: “The small benefits that some workers can get by not suffering from a certain oppression are nothing compared to what can be gained through collective struggle based on shared class interests.”

On Sunday afternoon, there was a session called “Fires, Droughts and Floods: Climate Disaster or Revolution?”, In which the speaker, Comrade Jennifer Österman, pointed out that only 100 large companies are responsible for 71 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which emphasized. that the fight against capitalism must go hand in hand with the fight against the climate crisis:

“We have the technology and knowledge needed to save the planet, but the bourgeoisie has no interest in using it. Their interest is to make a profit at any cost. We can not solve the crisis with the bourgeoisie in power: we must take power and solve it ourselves. “

This was also the message from Ylva Vinberg in the weekend’s last session, “Socialism in our lifetime”. She quoted the Spanish revolutionary Durrutti:

“We are not in the least afraid of ruins. We will inherit the earth, there is not the slightest doubt about it. The bourgeoisie can blow up and destroy its own world before leaving the stage of history. We carry a new world, here, in our hearts. That world is growing this minute. “

All the conditions for a successful socialist revolution exist in the world – all except a revolutionary leadership. Ylva Vinberg noted the deteriorating conditions for workers in Sweden and the processes that take place all over the world both under the surface and in open class struggle, and ended the weekend with a fiery appeal to be organized:

“If we decide to do everything in our power to build the organization needed to carry out a socialist revolution. Then we will overthrow capitalism. Then we will save humanity. Then we will see socialism under our lifetime.”

“If we decide to do everything in our power to build the organization needed to carry out a socialist revolution. Then we will overthrow capitalism. Then we will save humanity. Then we will see socialism. during our lifetime ”/ Image: Revolution