At the end of 2022 it is clear to see that we are living in a time of sharp turns, sudden changes, and great upheavals. War, pandemic, and economic turmoil are sharpening the contradictions of capitalism, and throwing the whole world into crisis. Increasingly, the working class is stepping onto the field of struggle, whether in the strike waves in Britain and the U.S.A., or the revolutionary movements in Iran, Sri Lanka, and beyond. The need for revolutionary, Marxist ideas, program, and organization is greater than ever before. 

The thirst for Marxist ideas was on display in February, when Fightback/La Riposte socialiste held our largest-ever Marxist Winter School, with almost 1,200 registered for the online event. With the return to in-person activity, we held our Western Marxist School in Edmonton last July, which was attended by 100 people. This success was followed by the IMT-hosted International Marxist University, which saw over 7,300 people register from 144 countries. These events brought together revolutionaries from across Canada and around the world and provided an invaluable experience of Marxist education (we will be holding the thirteenth annual Marxist Winter School in-person in Montreal this coming February, you can get your ticket here). 

In that spirit of education, we are finding ever more ways to spread revolutionary ideas and analysis, with a new podcast, new YouTube channel, and more new booklets both on struggles from Canadian history (like the Metis rebellions and the 1972 Quebec general strike) and contemporary issues (like the revolutionary struggle in Iran and the conflict in Ukraine).  If we are to meet the challenges set for us by history, we must be educated on the theory and tactics that can win, and that is exactly what we are doing. 

Of particular significance is our massive increase in Francophone Marxist literature. We published Anti-Duhring, Origins of the family, private property and the state, Alan Woods’ History of Philosophy and a selection by Lenin on the national question among others, bringing us to 36 French books on Marxism. This makes us the Marxist French publishing house in the country!

With the increase in strike activity, it has become vitally important to revive the militant traditions of the labour movement. That is why Fightback helped launch the “Picket Lines Mean Do Not Cross” campaign this year: to help rebuild the tradition of strong picket lines, and to spread education on why picket lines, the right to strike, and solidarity are necessary for the defence of the working class against attacks from the bosses. This is the slogan that we brought to Labour Day in Toronto, where we made headlines with our message. Our perspective was vindicated by the strike of Ontario CUPE education workers in November, when they proved that workers can defy back-to-work legislation and attempts to make strikes illegal, and win. As we have been saying, this is a lesson that must be spread throughout the labour movement. 

As the crisis of capitalism deepens, it is not surprising that a certain mood of pessimism has developed among the youth, who look around and see nothing but a system in decay. However, with a Marxist outlook, we understand the potential of the working class to transform society. This revolutionary optimism struck a chord on campuses this fall, when Socialist Fightback clubs across Canada met thousands of students eager to bring the misery of capitalism to an end. As Lenin said, “he who has the youth has the future,” and it is by building among the youth that we will build the organization necessary to lead the revolution. 

Fightback/La Riposte socialiste can only organize with the help of our members and supporters. With class struggle around the world and in Canada heating up, it is more important than ever that the working class have a source of news and analysis that is independent from the capitalist newsmedia. The revolutionary newspaper is a tool that brings together Marxist organizers, and spreads revolutionary ideas. If you support the work that we’ve done this year, and want to see us continue to organize, please get a subscription to our paper. With a monthly donation, not only will you be supporting the revolutionary press, but you’ll be helping to spread our organizing efforts across the country. Capitalism is not going to overthrow itself, but with your help we can build the necessary revolutionary organization to carry this struggle to a successful end.

Please support us today by taking a solidarity subscription or regular one here – or better, get one for yourself and for someone else as a Christmas present!

The Fightback editorial board will be taking a break over the holidays, and will resume publishing the week of Jan. 2.