Education

Guide & Disclaimer

This education list is intended as a recommended reading guide and resource for members and branch education officers, and a general resource for non-members.

Links to works have been provided where possible. Summaries are still being added.

Lists are typically sorted primarily by length, and categories are sorted alphabetically.

The CYM also organises internal education events alongside public and semi-public events.

Disclaimer: The inclusion of authors or organisations does not imply any organisational connection or endorsement on the part of the CYM.

 

Beginners: For those wanting to familiarise themselves with concepts, generally short

Ireland

    • Connolly/Walker Controversy, James Connolly – The famous debate which outlines the difference between the socialist-republican position and Walkerite “Labour Unionism”.

Women

Marxist Theory & Economics

    • Where Do Correct Ideas Come From?, Mao Zedong – Short piece from Mao Zedong which summarises the dialectical-materialist theory of knowledge that recognises the primary role of practice and experience in developing understanding.

Imperialism & Anti-Imperialism

Revolutionary Attitude

    • Combat Liberalism, Mao ZedongShort piece that explores how individualist attitudes manifest and how they are detrimental in revolutionary organisations.

Queer Liberation

Ecology

 

Useful Resources:

    • Marxist Paul: 101 Series
    • Trademark: Political Economy Podcasts

 

Intermediate: For those who want to have a deeper exploration of issues

Ireland

    • Ireland, Colonialism and Unfinished Revolution, Robbie McVeigh and Bill Rolston
    • Labour in Irish History, James ConnollyJames Connolly’s attempt to explore Irish history through a historical materialist lens. Whilst not without its historiographical flaws it remains one of the most significant contributions to Irish Marxism.
    • Liam Mellows: Selected Writings
    • Sins of the Father, Conor McCabe

Women

Marxist Theory & Economics

Imperialism & Anti-Imperialism

Revolutionary Attitude

    • Activist Study/Araling AktabistaPart of the Filipino revolutionary curriculum that compiles easy-to-understand lessons on revolutionary attitude, revolutionary analysis, the mass line and democratic centralism.

Queer Liberation

Ecology

 

Advanced: Longer Reads

Ireland

    • Arming the Protestants, Michael Farrell – A detailed history of how the Orange State cemented its existence through force in the form of paramilitaries and the Ulster Special Constabulary.
    • Ireland Her Own, T. A. JacksonA broad but detailed outline of a Marxist history of Ireland, covering from ancient Gaelic Ireland through to the 20th century.
    • The Orange State, Michael Farrell – A detailed exploration of the period of Unionist rule in the six counties from 1921-1972, looking at how the Orange state developed and functioned.

Marxist Theory & Economics

    • Soviet Textbook on Political EconomyEasy-to-read (but long) textbook covering Marxist political economy. Best consulted for its first section on pre-capitalist and capitalist political economy, as the section for political economy under socialism was (and is) subject to extensive debate.

Imperialism & Anti-Imperialism

    • Imperialism in the 21st Century, John Smith

 

Interesting & Useful Reads

    • Che Guevara: The Economics of Revolution, Helen Yaffe
    • Lost Revolution, Brian Hanley

Interesting Watches

    • Das Anderen Leben – A series of interviews with former East German citizens from all walks of life reflecting on what life was actually like on the other side of the “Iron Curtain”.
    • No Go! – 1973 docudrama set around the No Go zones of Derry before the 1974 OIRA-INLA split.
    • Prolekult – YouTube channel creating documentaries on the modern world with Marxist analysis.

Useful Links

    • Marxists.org