The Twenty-Third Carnival of Socialism

The Red Mantis is proud to host the twenty-third edition of the Carnival of Socialism. After a much needed revival led mostly by Jim Jepps of The Daily (Maybe) and John Angliss of the Labor Left Forum, the Carnival has had a strong showing from all of its hosts. For May Day, the Carnival self-hosted a special edition to commemorate the big day. With all of this exciting activity, I humbly present the next edition of the Carnival of Socialism. Here's hoping it measures up.

While May Day is still fresh in our minds, I would like to direct you to an article on Power to the People. Blackstone, a self-described African revolutionary socialist and the host of P2tP, recently examined the origins of May Day and the police crackdown at the original Haymarket protest in 1886. What makes his analysis so unique is the analogies he draws to modern day South Africa. A similar police crackdown resulted when the people of a local township, Sebokeng Ward 2, launched a campaign of civil disobedience against contractors promoting harmful development in the area. Blackstone provides a solid analysis of the situation.

The recent Parliamentary election in Britain drew many comments from some of our European leftists. The Carnival's very own Jim Jepps felt that the election results have put the last nail in coffin for the Labor Party, at least as it stands under Prime Minister Brown. Leftwing Criminologist reposted an article from the Socialist Party of Wales which examines the potential ramifications of the election as they pertain to the New Labor movement.

Turning our eyes to America for a moment, it is clear that another opportunity has been extended to the socialist left. With continued economic downturns, the President and Congress have moved quick to provide a quick, supply-side fix known as the Economic Stimulus Act. I encourage the socialist blogosphere to address the American question at one time or another. I was encouraged to run across a blog recently that has done just that. One-Dimensional Society, run by a blogger who goes only by the alias Theory&Praxis, addressed both the ESA and the implications of U.S. fiscal policy.

A few bloggers have taken note of the Bolivian situation. As the nation's politics become more complex, especially with the recent Santa Cruz autonomy-movement, the left has a unique opportunity to provide a solid analysis of the growing trend towards socialism in the region. Jim Jepps is already underway, with an article entitled Tearing at Bolivia Until It Breaks. Renegade Eye re-posted an article examining the recent developments within the context of the broader Bolivian socialist movement.

Loyal Carnivalista Jack Stephens of The Mustard Seed did some excellent work in a live update examining a worker revolt in Egypt connected to the recent resource shortages. Furthermore, The Mustard Seed also had a fantastic commemorative post for Marx's 190th birthday (May 5).

To conclude, I would like to highlight a few recent pieces from one of my favorite bloggers, JDHURF. Proudly representing the libertarian socialist wing of the left, JDHURF consistently makes compelling arguments for Pannekoek/Rocker-type socialism. He has found a unique balance between a traditional Marxist world outlook and Bakunin's anarcho-communist philosophy, especially evident in a post a month ago describing his beliefs. Just six days ago he posted a continuation called Anarcho-Syndicalist Council Communism. His blog contains some of the best work on the socialist left of the blogosphere.

This concludes the twenty-third edition of the Carnival of Socialism. Join us in a fortnight at whatever happened to leon trotsky? for the twenty-fourth edition. Hasta la victoria siempre!

*Remember, you can always access back issues of the CoS at the main blog.