Mike Taber – författare

Recent years have seen a massive growth of interest in socialism, particularly among young people. But few are fully aware of socialism ''s revolutionary history. For this reason, an appreciation of the Second International--often called the "Socialist International"--during its Marxist years is particularly relevant.From 1889 to 1912 resolutions of the Second International helped disseminate and popularize a revolutionary aim: the overturn of capitalism and its replacement by the democratic rule of the working class, as a first step toward socialism. Despite weaknesses and contradictions that led to the Second International ''s collapse in 1914, its resolutions during these years remain a resource for those studying the socialist movement ''s history and objectives. Many of the topics dealt with--war and militarism, immigration, trade unions and labor legislation, women ''s rights, colonialism, socialist strategy and tactics--remain just as relevant today.This book is the first English-language collection ever assembled of all the resolutions adopted by congresses of the Second International in its Marxist years.

An essential record from the Second International, expertly curated by Under the Socialist Banner editor Mike Taber.At its height, the Second International (1889-1916) represented the majority of organized workers in the world, and the largest of its affiliated parties counted over a million members. Its congresses drew delegates from across the globe, and its major victories—like the eight-hour work day—have long outlasted the organization itself. In this important collection of debates and resolutions from the Second International, Reform, Revolution, and Opportunism captures the International’s vibrancy and gives a snapshot of its strengths, weaknesses, and contradictions. Socialist militants turned to the Second International to deliberate on how best to combat the latest deprivations and excesses of capitalism, which was stretching beyond national boundaries for the first time. These new issues and the debates about how to respond to them—surging immigration; what to say about colonialism; how to relate to burgeoning struggles for women’s rights; the drive to intern-imperialist war—remain deeply contested over a hundred years later. Taken together with Under the Socialist Banner, Reform Revolution, and Opportunism offers a rounded view of the Second International and its legacy, showing it to be a living, breathing movement with crucial insights for contemporary radicals.