James Connolly's writings

[Brownfist]

I was wondering whether anyone knew where I could get the two volume Collected Works of James Connolly? I know that they have been out of print for many years, but I was wondering whether anyone knew where to get second-hand copies. Also, I was wondering why James Connolly's works went out of print, dont people read him anymore?

[More Fire for the People]

Here: http://marxists.org/archive/connolly/.

[Brownfist]

Yeah, I know that they are available online. However, I prefer to get physical copies of these books just because they are easier to read, and I like taking notes in the margins.

[Vanguard1917]

This selection of Connolly's writings is quite good (though not exactly cheap): James Connolly: Selected Writings (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/074530267X/sr=8-2/qid=1145329516/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2752835-5171129?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 02:16 AM
Yeah, I know that they are available online. However, I prefer to get physical copies of these books just because they are easier to read, and I like taking notes in the margins.
I'm going to send you a bunch of stuff, comrade. I'll include The Workshop Talks, Socialism Made Easy which is a collection of his best speeches to fellow workers. It's as the name implies, Connolly's arguments for comrades on the job and so on.

I'll also send you some old copies of the Starry Plough which discuss Connolly's ideas and contributions to the socialist movement, as well as the magazine Connolly Forum.

[Zingu]

Marxists.org is your freind! :)

[Brownfist]

Yeah thanks REPOMAN for sending me the stuff. I was just wondering whether people knew how to get their hands on second-hand copies of the Collected Works. Also, how has James Connolly influenced socialist/communist thought outside of Ireland? Has he played any such theoretical role? I mean is there such a thing as Marxist-Leninist-Connollyism?

[Vanguard1917]

Also, how has James Connolly influenced socialist/communist thought outside of Ireland? Has he played any such theoretical role? I mean is there such a thing as Marxist-Leninist-Connollyism?

He was influential in socialist politics in Scotland. I don't know of his influence elsewhere. But he was a member of International Workers' of the World (IWW).

Lenin was also supportive of Connolly. Connolly was one of the few members of the Second International not to support the imperialist world war. There may not be 'such a thing as Marxist-Leninist-Connollyism' but Connolly's brand of socialist, secular and militant republicanism had a lasting legacy on significant sections of the republican movement in Ireland.

[Brownfist]

I am kind of interested in knowing how Connolly's ideas on republicanism and socialism have been adopted in Scotland, partly because I was under the understanding that the anti-colonial Scottish independence movement has largely been dissipated. Could you please elaborate? Do people in Scotland consider Scotland an independent country, or is it still seen as being under colonial rule. What would be the socialist anti-colonial party in Scotland, and what are its relations like with the IRSP?

[Vanguard1917]

I am kind of interested in knowing how Connolly's ideas on republicanism and socialism have been adopted in Scotland

I really don't know much about this.


Do people in Scotland consider Scotland an independent country, or is it still seen as being under colonial rule.

Well, some 'power' was devolved to the Scottish parliament (as well as to the Welsh) under Tony Blair's government. But Scots have generally realised that the parliament is a sham, and much of the Scottish electorate (more than 50% in 2003) do not participate in elections. The real policies are made in Westminster. The Scottish parliament's powers are relatively trivial - banning smoking in public places, education policy, etc. It has no power to change the constituion according to its own interests, it is highly limited in what it can do domestically, and it has no power over foreign policy.


What would be the socialist anti-colonial party in Scotland

There is a very timid nationalist party in Scotland (SNP) and a not very effective socialist party (SSP). But, most importantly, the labour movement in Scotland is in a very diminished state - it is not what it once was and it does not have an impact on politics to the extent that it once did.

[Vanguard1917]

BTW, there's actually a good article (published recently) in the Weekly Worker (Britain) about the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 - of which Connolly was a leading member, and for which he was executed by the English imperialist authorities. You might find it useful/interesting.

Here's the link (http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/620/easter%20rising.htm)

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2006, 12:24 AM
BTW, there's actually a good article (published recently) in the Weekly Worker (Britain) about the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 - of which Connolly was a leading member, and for which he was executed by the English imperialist authorities. You might find it useful/interesting.

Here's the link (http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/620/easter%20rising.htm)
I was going to post that article myself; it's by a member of the IRSP.