International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Understanding Alexei Navalny

David Mandel — 2021-02-08T09:59:51Z

“ Although Russians are far from enamoured with the present regime, in the traditional Russian fashion, based on historical memory, they fear what might come to replace it.”

- IV553 - February 2021 / Russia

Elections in Russia, 2018: Managed Democracy?

David Mandel — 2018-04-11T07:31:38Z

This article examines the bases of popular support for recently re-elected Russian president Vladimir Putin. Although this support is strenuously “cultivated” by the regime by various illicit means, it nevertheless has a genuine basis that needs to be understood by people on the left who are trying to develop an enlightened position in the escalating confrontation between the “West” and Russia.

- IV519 - April 2018 / Russia

The Legacy of the October Revolution

David Mandel — 2017-11-07T07:06:17Z

A hundred years later, the question of the historical legacy of the October Revolution is not an easy one for socialists, given that Stalinism took root within less than a decade after that revolution and the restoration of capitalism seventy years later met little popular resistance. One can, of course, point to the central role of the Red Army in the victory over fascism, or to the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the capitalist world that broadened the space for anti-imperialist struggles, or to the moderating effect on capitalist appetites of the existence of a major nationalized, planned economy. Yet, even in these areas, the legacy is far from unambiguous.

- IV514 - November 2017 / Marxism, Historical events and figures

Between “Popular Uprising for Democracy” (Canadian government version) and “Fascist Putsch” (Russian version)

David Mandel — 2014-08-24T07:14:49Z

Let's begin with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's version. One can think what one likes about deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, but his election in 2012 was recognized as legitimate by international observers and, after a certain hesitation, by the defeated candidate, Yulia Timoshenko. In fact, relatively honest elections were just about the only positive outcome for ordinary people of the last big mobilization on Maidan Square, the “Orange Revolution” of December 2004.

- IV475 - August 2014 / Russia, Canada, Ukraine

The Russian Revolution - Ninety Years On

David Mandel — 2007-11-05T20:21:15Z

The October Revolution of 1917 was the most influential political event of the twentieth century. But since history is written by the victors, it is not well known that October was the opening shot of a vast and powerful challenge to capitalism that swept the industrial world and had echoes in the colonial countries.

- IV394 - November 2007 / Russia, Trotsky, Historical events and figures

Social Partnership and Class Independence in the Post-Soviet Labour Movement

David Mandel — 2005-05-28T19:53:19Z

David Mandel takes a long hard look at the post-Soviet labour movement, and explains how union leaders' concepts of 'social partnership' undermined class independence and thus workers social and economic position.

- IV368 - June 2005 / Russia, Ukraine, Belarus