rs21: Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st century

FESTIVAL OF THE OPPRESSED 2026 20-21st June London South Bank University TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: /events/rs21/2071575

Liberatory coalitions have historically been powerful forces against oppression, as seen in Fred Hampton’s Rainbow Coalition. But ruling classes have long used race and nationalism to divide the working class, curbing solidarities. In part one of a two part article, Shanice McBean shanice_om explores the contradictions of the capitalist crisis and the left strategy needed to overcome them. This article was first published on Shanice McBean’s blog.

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June, join us for Festival of the Oppressed 2026! Over the weekend, we’ll take part in collective discussion, investigation and fun! Through workshops and talks, we’ll consider how we can work together to resist and transcend all forms of oppression.  We’ll be announcing more speakers soon, so keep your eyes peeled for further updates! Buy tickets and find out more at revsoc21.uk/foto-2026 or through the link in our bio!

FESTIVAL OF THE OPPRESSED 2026: SESSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT 📣 On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June, join us for Festival of the Oppressed 2026! Over the weekend, we’ll take part in collective discussion, investigation and fun! Through workshops and talks, we’ll consider how we can work together to resist and transcend all forms of oppression.  We’ll be announcing more sessions and workshops soon, but so keep your eyes peeled for further updates! Buy tickets and find out more at revsoc21.uk/foto-2026 or through the link in our bio! More info to come tomorrow at 17:00… #festivaloftheoppressed #foto2026 #politicaleducation

University students and graduates in the UK are currently facing a student loan crisis. involves millions of graduates facing debts exceeding £50,000–£100,000, driven by high-interest rates and frozen repayment thresholds. Many graduates, particularly on “Plan 2,” face decades of repayments—often into their 50s—which hinder ability to buy homes or save for retirement, making it a growing long-term financial strain. And graduates have been completely mis-sold: the terms of student loans, such as trhe freeze on the salary threshold, have been changed after the loans had been taken out. This is a scam. And long term, this will push us back towards an increasingly elitist university system – the only people higher education will be worth it for are those who can afford to pay up front. If nothing changes, we face the risk of higher education being reserved solely for the most fortunate, limiting the working class to only accessing ‘unskilled’ (typically low-paying, zero-hour contracted) work. This subjects the working class to further exploitation. Therefore, it is vital in the current moment that we take collective action and resist against this exploitation. Ignite conversations on campus and encourage fellow students and graduates to join the forces advocating for a reduction in interest rates, a cap on the interest paid and ending the freeze on the salary repayment threshold. Everyone deserves access to higher education. Rianka, rs21 London #studentloans #studentsupport #ukgraduates

Festival of the Oppressed: Why is it important? 6 Weeks Remaining. /events/rs21/2071575

INTERVIEW | Climate Harry (rs21 London member) discusses the politics of the climate crisis, and the importance of organising around climate change. #climate #climateorganising

In this short pamphlet, Harry Wicks recounts his experience of the 1926 General Strike. This first-hand account details the build up to the strike, including Wicks’ memories of Battersea in this turbulent period, where workers would queue outside town hall to listen to speeches by Communist MP Shapurji Saklatvala or attend Marxist classes by the Plebs League. The period before the strike is one of attempting to re-mobilise workers following the First World War and the preceding years of the Great Labour Unrest from 1911-1914. In this pamphlet, Wicks guides you through the events that lead up to the strike and the feelings of triumph amongst workers celebrating May Day 1926 and the start of the General Strike. However, all of that is quickly lost following the capitulation of right-wing trade union leadership, despite the resilience of workers, even after the strike is called off. This pamphlet is part of a month of reflection for the centenary of the General Strike, which should also make revolutionaries consider their own position in labour history. To think about the stories we will recount in the future and also how to ensure that encounters with labour history remain inclusive to all workers and oppressed people. Full Article: /2026/05/04/review-harry-wicks-the-general-strike/ Purchase the Pamphlet: https://is-history.site/the-general-strike-by-harry-wicks/

100 years ago, some 3 million workers went out on indefinite strike. Most of them didn’t have a direct stake in the dispute - they were doing it in solidarity with the miners, who were refusing to accept pay cuts, longer hours and national bargaining. On 3rd May 1926 train, tram and bus drivers, dockers, iron, steel and chemical workers, printers, builders and many more stopped working and started picketing en masse. Full Article: /2026/05/03/one-hundred-years-since-the-general-strike/

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Sam Kelly, host of @medicine_red and South London branch member, discusses Health Communism. #healthcare #nhs #healthcommunism #universalhealthcare

Die Linke in Germany has established itself as the main left-wing force over two decades, but its model of extreme pluralism offers hard lessons for the left elsewhere. Full article: /2026/04/08/the-charms-and-pitfalls-of-extreme-pluralism-lessons-from-die-linke/