Ben Lewis
Articles by Ben Lewis
Second International: Imagination, inspiration and betrayal
May 09 2013
Ben Lewis reviews: Kevin Callahan, 'Demonstration culture: European socialism and the Second International, 1889-1914' Troubador Publishing, 2010, pp324, £24.95
Women and socialism: Bebel’s forgotten legacy
April 25 2013
Ben Lewis reviews: Anne Lopes and Gary Roth, 'Men’s feminism: August Bebel and the German socialist movement', Amherst, 2000, pp261, £28
SPEW: Peter Taaffe and his own scandal
March 14 2013
Ben Lewis discusses SPEW’s version of ‘democratic centralism’
Alex Callinicos: haunted by the real Lenin
March 07 2013
Ben Lewis observed few signs of ‘revolt’ at last weekend’s SWSS day school
Socialist Party: Taaffe’s significant silence
February 21 2013
The Socialist Party in England and Wales appears to have decided to effectively ignore the SWP crisis. But why? Ben Lewis investigates
SWP: No return to normal
January 24 2013
The fight for democracy and accountability in the SWP is gaining ground, reports Ben Lewis
The left: Rebellion, regroupment and the party we need
January 17 2013
Ben Lewis surveys the British left’s response to the crisis gripping the SWP, and calls for a radical change of culture
Solidarity marathon: Running through the pain
December 06 2012
Ben Lewis calls for more donations to support the solidarity efforts of Workers Fund Iran runners
Durham Debate: Stalinism reinforces capitalist apologetics
October 25 2012
Ben Lewis spoke at the Durham Union Debating Society
Robin Hood and solidarity
October 04 2012
Ben Lewis reports on comrades running the Nottingham half-marathon in support of Workers Fund Iran
What kind of party do we need? - Ben Lewis
September 06 2012
Fighting on two fronts - Ben Lewis of the CPGB gives his view, taken from a speech to Communist University 2012
Permanent revolution and the battle for democracy
August 09 2012
Ben Lewis reviews: D Gaido and R B Day (editors and translators) Witnesses to permanent revolution: the documentary record Haymarket books, 2011, pp682, £25.99
Doing it better than our enemy
July 26 2012
Many on the left see sport as nothing else than another way for the bosses to dupe the workers. Ben Lewis disagrees, and argues for a workers’ sport movement
A dead end and dishonest initiative
May 10 2012
James Turley and Ben Lewis argue that there can be no short cuts to building the mass, Marxist student movement we need
Ditch sects and fronts
May 03 2012
Last Saturday's launch of the Anti-Capitalist Initiative provided further evidence of an increasingly fractured, rightward-drifting left. Ben Lewis reports
Another split, another sect
April 26 2012
The left must organise on the basis of genuine democratic centralism, argues Ben Lewis
Breaking with the cold war consensus
April 05 2012
Has today's anti-Stalinist left sleepwalked into a Stalinoid conception of 'Bolshevism'? This is an edited and expanded version of the speech delivered by the CPGB's Ben Lewis to the March 31-April 1 Platypus convention in Chicago
Iran: all options remain on the table
March 01 2012
Rhetoric about Iran is all too reminiscent of the prelude to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, warns Ben Lewis
Holy trinity of reaction
February 23 2012
The queen's jubilee is a timely event for the forces of reaction in an age of austerity, argues Ben Lewis. For its part, the workers' movement needs to rediscover the tradition of militant republican democracy
Opposing imperialism does not mean supporting oppression
February 02 2012
Anti-war protest disrupted by attack on supporters of the Iranian green movement. Ben Lewis reports
Left rhetoric and reformist illusions
December 01 2011
The 1891 Erfurt programme adopted by the Social Democratic Party of Germany was regarded as a 'return to Marxism', writes Ben Lewis. If only the same could be said of Die Linke's 2011 version
Debating the republic and extreme democracy
November 17 2011
Ben Lewis reports on some interesting exchanges at the 'Historical Materialism' weekend
Kautsky: From Erfurt to Charlottenburg
November 10 2011
Ben Lewis introduces Karl Kautsky's 'Guidelines for a socialist action programme'. This is the first published English translation
Living in the end times
October 27 2011
Ben Lewis reviews Lars von Trier's Melancholia (Nordisk Films, 2011, general release)
Mind over matter
September 29 2011
Runners at the 38th Berlin marathon raised EUR350 for Workers Fund Iran. Ben Lewis was there to cheer them on
Batting and bowling for Iran's workers
September 15 2011
Ben Lewis took part in an annual event that has become a key part of the extremely important work done for Workers Fund Iran
A victorious debate
September 08 2011
The 1920 Halle congress of the Independent Social Democrats of Germany (USPD) was a turning point for our movement. It was also a moment of triumph for Grigory Zinoviev. This is an excerpt from Ben Lewis's introduction to a new book, 'Zinoviev and Martov: head to head in Halle'
COR conference: Missing perspective
July 14 2011
Ben Lewis attended a workshop on 'Unions and the anti-cuts movement'
Marxism 2011: Impressions from sectarian alley
July 07 2011
Ben Lewis found the SWP a lot less hostile than in previous years
London: Grounds for optimism
July 07 2011
Hopefully it will be a rather hot autumn, writes Ben Lewis
Pace, race, and resistance
June 30 2011
Ben Lewis reviews director Stevan Riley's 'Fire in Babylon' (2011, DVD,
Striking together
June 02 2011
Ben Lewis looks forward to a bold show of mass opposition to austerity on June 30
The Second Empire and the Paris Commune
May 26 2011
This is the final excerpt in the current series from Karl Kautsky's 'Republic and social democracy in France', translated by Ben Lewis[1] and published in English for the first time. Kautsky begins his discussion of the Commune by examining the situation in France under emperor Napoleon III
Truth, memory and distortion
May 26 2011
Ben Lewis reviews Peter Watkins's (director) 'La Commune' 2000, DVD
Same hymn sheet
May 19 2011
Ben Lewis introduces another excerpt from his translation of Karl Kautsky's 'Republic and social democracy in France'- published in English for the first time
Second Republic and the socialists
May 19 2011
The second part of Karl Kautsky's 1905 work, 'Republic and social democracy', translated by Ben Lewis
Republic and social democracy in France[1]
April 28 2011
For the first time in English, an extract from Karl Kautsky's 'Republic and social democracy in France', translated by Ben Lewis
Getting things into perspective
April 14 2011
The defeat of Clare Solomon offers us a snapshot of the student movement, argues Ben Lewis
Beyond disunity
March 24 2011
In seeking to prop up their crisis-ridden system, the capitalist class is united around cuts, cuts and more cuts. If we are to fight back and win, our class must also unite, argues Ben Lewis
Capitalism with Chinese characteristics
March 17 2011
Ben Lewis wonders why some still consider China a model for socialist development
Mobilise the majority
February 10 2011
Ben Lewis reports on the lack of ambition witnessed at the seventh London Student Assembly
Keeping up the pressure
February 03 2011
Ben Lewis reports on a promising weekend of student action and plans for the battles ahead
No to fake new regime
January 20 2011
London-based Tunisian socialist Nadim Mahjoub looks forward to an Arab revolution. Ben Lewis spoke to him
Wider and deeper
January 13 2011
On Sunday January 12 around 150 student activists attended the fifth London Student Assembly at the University of London Union. Ben Lewis reports
Apathy or boredom?
December 16 2010
Ben Lewis reviews 'The Trotsky', Jacob Tierney (dir), Alliance Films (general release in Canada)
Illusion of being a master of strategy
December 02 2010
Ben Lewis reviews John Rees 'Strategy and tactics: how the left can unite to transform society' Counterfire, 2010, pp65, £4
Lies will not help the anti-war movement
November 04 2010
Ben Lewis reports on the Stop the War Coalition's annual conference, where underhand methods were once again deployed to reject the affiliation of Hands Off the People of Iran
Subtext and loyal opposition
July 08 2010
How far does John Molyneux's critique of SWP bureaucratic centralism go? Ben Lewis reports
Where now for the left?
June 10 2010
The Labour left has a constant tendency to look to its right for allies, writes Ben Lewis
Regime paranoia
June 10 2010
Ben Lewis reports on the campaign to free all political prisoners in Iran
See no evil, hear no evil
May 27 2010
Ben Lewis is astounded by the PCS call for the state and employers to be granted more power over the workforce in the name of anti-fascism
Panahi stages hunger strike
May 20 2010
Ben Lewis reports on the campaign to free the outspoken film maker imprisoned by the Iranian regime
Confidence and conscience clauses
April 29 2010
Around 120 people attended the 'Women's question time' organised by Tower Hamlets Respect on Wednesday April 21. Ben Lewis was among them
Limits of Labourism
April 22 2010
Ben Lewis reviews Labour Representation Committee's 'A people's agenda: a pamphlet for the general election 2010'* pp12, donation
Critical vote for Abjol
March 25 2010
Respect's general election challenge is warming up in east London. Back from the campaign trail, Ben Lewis takes a look at Respect's politics and the people involved
Reactionary realignments and a left in crisis
March 11 2010
Ben Lewis reports on the latest CPGB aggregate, where discussion of the looming general election dominated the agenda
Why we should not call for jailing of Tony Blair
February 04 2010
To effectively oppose imperialist wars we must avoid the trap of legalism, argues Ben Lewis
Some thoughts on the proposed charter
January 28 2010
Ben Lewis welcomes the initiative of Communist Workers of Iran and offers some fraternal criticisms
Ecology and economism
January 21 2010
Ben Lewis reviews Martin Empson's Marxism and ecology: capitalism, socialism and the future of the planet Bookmarks, pp32, £1.50
Taking Labour seriously
January 21 2010
The Labour Representation Committee has just published a list of Labour candidates that it will be actively supporting in the coming general election. It is a starting point, argues Ben Lewis
Supplement: Kautsky, Lenin and the 'April theses'
January 14 2010
Could Karl Kautsky - the 'pope' turned 'renegade' of orthodox Marxism - have influenced Vladimir Ilych's 'April theses'? Here we print a Karl Kautsky article from April 1917, translated into English for the first time by Ben Lewis. It is introduced by Lars T Lih, a historian based in Canada, who has been at the forefront of re-examining the complex relationship between these two widely misunderstood figures of the 20th century workers' movement
Coming out for Wales
January 07 2010
In 2010 we might just see a sporting world where homosexuality is at least less of a taboo, and for this we must thank Alfie Thomas, writes Ben Lewis
Blue wave needs red vision
December 10 2009
On Saturday December 5, around 50,000 activists took part in the London 'blue wave' demonstration against climate change. Ben Lewis was there
Green and red solidarity
December 10 2009
Ben Lewis reports on the green movement protest outside the Iranian embassy in London and the positive reception Hopi received
Hopi: fight on two fronts
November 26 2009
Ben Lewis makes a call to truly champion the cause of the Iranian masses
How not to stop the BNP
July 23 2009
The continued rise of the British National Party raises key questions about the left's strategy. Ben Lewis takes a look at the Socialist Workers Party's analysis and argues for a root-and-branch rethink
Getting real about the BNP
March 20 2008
Benjamin Klein takes issue with comrades Jim Grant and Dave Isaacson on the nature of the far right and the threat it poses
Pro-imperialists snubbed
February 28 2008
Hopi's steering committee unanimously rejected holding a joint meeting with the AWL's Education Not for Sale at the NUS conference on Iran and the imprisoned students, proposing instead an ENS v Hopi debate. Ben Lewis looks at the issues
Posing left or defending principle
December 06 2007
David Broder, a member of the Alliance for Workers' Liberty, has responded to an article by Tina Becker on the campaign for democracy in the National Union of Students. Ben Lewis continues the debate
Reject exclusion of Communist Students
October 18 2007
Ben Lewis takes Owen Jones (Socialist Youth Network) to task over his enthusiastic support for the undemocratic exclusion of Hopi and Communist Students from the Stop the War Coalition
Support Die Linke - but organise to fight
June 21 2007
As of June 16 the two dominant forces on the German left, the Linkspartei.PDS and the WASG, formally ceased to exist and joined forces to create the new left party, Die Linke. Ben Lewis reports from Germany
Whatever happened to student radicalism?
April 05 2007
The National Union of Students annual conference was held from March 27-29. Ben Lewis and Dave Isaacson report on the consolidation of rightwing control
No strategy for free education
December 07 2006
Go home and write to your MP
November 02 2006
The October 29 student demonstration against the further marketisation of higher education was uninspired and timid. Ben Lewis and Dave Isaacson report
On the road to social democracy
October 05 2006
Ben Lewis reports from the Hanover programme convention of L.PDS and WASG
German left punished for coalitionism
September 21 2006
The poor performance of the reformist left, mass electoral apathy and the rise of the far right in the September 17 elections in two German states highlight the urgent need for a Marxist alternative. Ben Lewis reports
Fight on two fronts
August 10 2006
July 29 saw the official launch of the election campaign for the September 17 Berlin regional elections, where the local WASG (Electoral Initiative for Labour and Social Justice) and the governing Linkspartei.PDS are to stand against each other. Ben Lewis reports from Germany
Wanted: principled opposition
June 15 2006
There is a joint left opposition emerging in the two German groups, WASG and Linkspartei.PDS, coming together in a new workers' party. But is it prepared to take on the existing leaderships in both organisations? Ben Lewis reports from the June 10 conference in Berlin, 'For an anti-capitalist left'
Merger in jeopardy
May 18 2006
Tina Becker and Ben Lewis reply to Sascha Stanicic (Sozialistische Alternative) on the questions of his organisation's role in the Wahlalternative Arbeit und Soziale Gerechtigkeit
Berlin haunts proceedings
May 04 2006
Tina Becker and Ben Lewis report from the April 29-30 conference of the Wahlalternative Arbeit und Soziale Gerechtigkeit (WASG) in Ludwigshafen. Intended to smooth the way for unity with the Linkspartei.PDS, it was marked by discontent, threats and the profound disorientation of the left opposition
Ben Lewis
May 04 2006
CPGB comrade Ben Lewis stood as a candidate in the elections for the six vacant posts on the WASG national executive
Difficult birth pangs
April 20 2006
April 29-30 will see conferences of WASG and the Linkspartei.PDS. Both are crucial for the working class in Germany. The formation of a fused party will be at the core of proceedings. Ben Lewis reports from Germany
'Reformism from above'?
April 13 2006
April 29-30 will see conferences of WASG and the Linkspartei.PDS. Both are crucial for the working class in Germany. The formation of a fused party will be at the core of proceedings. Ben Lewis reports from Germany
Merger opportunity
April 06 2006
Ben Lewis, a member of the CPGB and the German left party WASG, reports on the result of the Urabstimmung (membership ballot) within the WASG, which highlights widespread discontent over the leadership's bureaucratic manoeuvres in pursuing the merger with the Linkspartei.PDS ballot
Fight for unity, fight for principle
March 30 2006
Ben Lewis (a member of the CPGB and the German left party, WASG) reports on last week's regional elections in three German federal states and the local elections in the state of Hesse, which give a useful snapshot of the soon-to-be-united left
Approaching crisis point
March 09 2006
The European Social Forum is in real danger of disintegrating. All democrats and communists must work hard to prevent this. Despite our many criticisms of the process, it is currently the only real avenue that exists for the cooperation of the European left. Tina Becker and Ben Lewis report from the latest preparatory meeting in Frankfurt, which took place from March 3-5
