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Socialist library: PDFs for study & education

Rosa Luxemburg in her house
Rosa Luxemburg, age 36, at her desk in her Berlin apartment. 1907. Photo: International Institute for Social History, Amsterdam.

Introduction

The following titles have been made available by a collaboration between Socialist Alliance and the non-profit socialist publisher Resistance Books.

Resistance Books specialises in books and pamphlets of interest to the left and progressive movements, all in cheap and accessible editions. These titles take up questions of history, analysis, theory, strategy and tactics in the struggle for fundamental social change.

Most of the titles listed here have PDFs which you can download at no charge. You can also purchase a print copy of most of these titles from Resistance Books using the links provided.

For ease of access, we have listed the titles in categories. Obviously, many titles span more than one category.

The works listed here represent a tremendous resource for socialists and activists. If you are able to make a donation to Socialist Alliance to further our publishing work, it will be greatly appreciated.

Australia: History & politics

  • 25 Years of Secondary Student Revolt 1968-1993 by Greg Adamson. 2019, 32pp
  • Asylum! A Socialist View of the Refugee Crisis by Dave Holmes et al. 2022, 44pp, $10
  • Australia’s First Socialists by Jim McIlroy. 2003, 56pp, $5.95
  • Conflict in the Unions The Communist Party of Australia, Politics & the Trade Union Movement 1945-60 by Douglas Jordan. 2013, 312pp, $30
  • Green Politics at an Impasse by Lisa Macdonald. 1996, 39pp
  • Nationalise the Banks by Jim McIlroy. 2019, 20pp (A4), $5
  • The Picket Tasmanian Mine Workers Defend Their Jobs by Renfrey Clarke. 1984, 168pp, $4.95
  • Privatisation is Theft The Looting of NSW Public Assets by Jim McIlroy. 2018, 28pp (A4)
  • The Red North Queensland’s History of Struggle by Jim McIlroy. 2015, 32pp, $5
  • The Red North The Popular Front in North Queensland by Diane Menghetti. 2018, 164pp, $25
  • Refugees Exposing Howard's Lies by Sarah Stephen. 2002, 43pp
  • Refugees & the Rich-World Fortress by Sarah Stephen. 2005, 60pp, $6.50.
  • Towards a Socialist Australia Programmatic Document of the Socialist Alliance. 2019, 36pp, $5

Australia: Indigenous struggle

  • The Aboriginal Struggle & the Left by Terry Townsend. 2009, 104pp, $15
  • Bludgers in Grass Castles Native Title & the Unpaid Debts of the Pastoral Industry by Martin Taylor. 1997, 40pp, $5
  • Charter of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Rights (Socialist Alliance Policy). 2009, 28pp, $3
  • Racism What It Is & How to Fight It by John Tully et al. 2016, 40pp, $5

Australia: Socialism & the Labor Party

  • Labor & the Fight for Socialism (Document of the Democratic Socialist Party). 1984, 80pp, $3.95
  • The Origins of the ALP A Marxist Analysis by Jim McIlroy. 2004, 60pp, $5.95
  • A Short History of Social Democracy From Socialist Origins to Neoliberal Theocracy by John Rainford. 2015, 184pp, $20

Capitalism & imperialism

  • Introduction to Marxist Economic Theory by Ernest Mandel. 2002, 64pp, $5.95
  • Marxist Economics A Handbook of Basic Definitions. Introduction by Allen Myers. 1998, 44pp, $4.95
  • Meltdown! A Socialist View of the Capitalist Crisis by Tony Iltis et al. 2009, 56pp, $6
  • Neoliberal Globalisation & the Third World by Fidel Castro. 2000, 52pp, $5.95
  • Oppose Corporate Tyranny! Why the World Bank, The IMF & the WTO Should be Abolished by Sean Healy et al. 2000, 58pp
  • WTO Globalisation at Gunpoint by Eva Cheng. 2003, 44pp, $4.95

The Cuban Revolution

  • Building Socialism in Cuba Seven Speeches by Fidel Castro. 2021, 168pp
  • Cuba How the Workers & Peasants Made the Revolution by Chris Slee. 2008, 56pp, $6
  • Cuba Revolution Under Attack by Ian Ellis-Jones. 2021, 46pp
  • Cuba as Alternative An Introduction to Cuba's Socialist Revolution by Neville Spencer et al, 2000, 112pp
  • The Cuban Revolution & Its Leadership A Reply to a Sectarian Criticism by Doug Lorimer. 2000, 64pp, $6.75
  • The Cuban Revolution Defying Imperialism, Building the Alternative (Document of the DSP). 2005, 64pp, $6.75
  • Rainbow Cuba The Sexual Revolution Within the Revolution by Rachel Evans. 2012, 48pp, $6

Ecology & climate change

  • Change the System, Not the Climate! A Socialist View of Global Warming by Dave Holmes, Terry Townsend & John Bellamy Foster. 2007, 52pp, $5.50
  • Debating Population Articles & Arguments on Population, Immigration & Climate Change by Ian Angus et al. 2012, 48pp, $6
  • Dollars for Death Say No to Uranium Mining & Nuclear Power by Jim Green et al. 2012, 44pp, $6
  • Environment, Capitalism & Socialism (Document of the DSP). 1999, 212pp, $17.95
  • How to Make an Ecosocialist Revolution by Ian Angus. 2011, 20pp, $4
  • If the Climate Were a Bank, It Would Have Already Been Saved by Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, et al. 2010, 44pp, $5
  • Stop Uranium Mining Australia’s Decade of Protest 1975-85 by Greg Adamson. 1999, 48pp, $5.50
  • Sustainable Agriculture Versus Corporate Greed Small Farmers, Food Security & Big Business by Alan Broughton & Elena Garcia. 2017, 104pp, $15

Feminism & gender politics

  • Abortion: A Woman’s Right to Choose The Case for Law Repeal by Pip Hinman & Claudine Holt. 1998, 36pp, $3.95
  • The Dispossession of Women A Marxist Examination of New Evidence on the Origins of Women’s Oppression by Pat Brewer. 2017, 44pp, $6
  • Feminism & Socialism Putting the Pieces Together (Document of the DSP). 1997, 96pp, $9.95
  • The Road to Rainbow Liberation Marriage, Sex & Gender Rights Today by Farida Iqbal et al. 2012, 44pp. $6
  • Women of Steel Gender, Jobs & Justice at BHP by Carla Gorton & Pat Brewer. 2015, 76pp, $10

International

  • Behind the Cold War on China by Dave Holmes, Chris Slee & Peter Boyle. 2021, 44pp, $10
  • Behind the US War on Afghanistan by Dave Holmes & Norm Dixon. 2001, 64pp, $5.95
  • Bosnia, Kosova & the West The Yugoslav Tragedy: A Marxist View by Mike Karadjis. 2000, 256pp, $24.95
  • Capitalism & Workers’ Struggle in China by Chris Slee. 2020 (3rd edn), 36pp
  • The Catastrophe of Ukrainian Capitalism How Privatisation Dispossessed & Impoverished the Ukrainian People by Renfrey Clarke. 2022, 176pp, $25
  • The Class Nature of the People's Republic of China by Doug Lorimer. 2004, 44pp, $4.95
  • Comrades in Arms Bolshevik Women in the Russian Revolution by Kathy Fairfax. 2017, 40pp, $5
  • Forward Ever! Three Years of the Grenadian Revolution Speeches of Maurice Bishop. 1982, 288pp, $25 (hb)
  • The Kurdish Freedom Struggle Today by Dave Holmes & Tony Iltis. 2015, 44pp, $6
  • Palestine, Israeli Apartheid & Antisemitism by Doug Lorimer et al. 2021, 48pp, $10
  • The Palestinian Struggle, Zionism & Anti-Semitism by Doug Lorimer et al. 2002, 56pp, $5.95
  • Rojava & the Kurdish Fight for Freedom by Dave Holmes et al. 2021, 48pp, $10
  • The Tamil Freedom Struggle in Sri Lanka by Chris Slee et al. 2012 (updated edition), 44pp, $6
  • Ukraine Resists! Left Voices on Putin's War, NATO and the Future of Ukraine. Fred Fuentes ed. 2023, 176pp, $25
  • Venezuela Diary of a Revolution by Paul Benedek. 2005, 32pp, $3.50
  • Venezuela The Revolution Unfolding in Latin America by Jorge Jorquera. 2003, 44pp, $4.95
  • The Vietnamese Revolution & Its Leadership by Allen Myers. 2004, 64pp, $6.75
  • Voices from Venezuela Behind the Bolivarian Revolution by Jim McIlroy & Coral Wynter. 2008, 332pp, $25

Marxist theory

  • Can the Working Class Make a Socialist Revolution? by Ernest Mandel & George Novack. 2002, 64pp, $5.95
  • The Collapse of ‘Communism’ in the USSR Its Causes & Significance by Doug Lorimer. 1997, 48pp, $5.50
  • The Communist International in Lenin’s Time by John Riddell. 2008, 44pp, $5
  • Fascism What It Is & How to Fight It by Leon Trotsky. 2002, 52pp, $5.95
  • Fundamentals of Historical Materialism The Marxist View of History & Politics by Doug Lorimer. 1999, 216pp, $17.95
  • How to Make a Revolution Liberalism, Ultraleftism & Mass Action by Peter Camejo. 2017, 40pp, $5
  • Ideas for the Struggle by Marta Harnecker. 2016, 40pp, $5
  • Imperialism in the 21st Century War, Neo-Liberalism & Globalisation by Doug Lorimer. 2002, 44pp, $4.95
  • Imperialism, War & Terrorism by Doug Lorimer & Dave Holmes. 2007, 40pp, $4.50
  • Introduction to Marxism by Peter Boyle, 2019, 40pp, $6
  • Know Your Enemy How to Defeat Capitalism by Michael Lebowitz. 2021, 29pp
  • Revolutionaries & Parliament by Maurice Sibelle. 1993, 30pp
  • State Capitalism A Marxist Critique of a False Theory by Barry Sheppard & Ernest Mandel. 2007, 48pp, $5
  • Terrorism A Marxist Perspective by Dave Holmes. 2002, 36pp, $3.95
  • The Origins of Racism A Marxist Perspective by Iggy Kim. 1996, 21pp
  • Trotsky’s Theory of Permanent Revolution A Leninist Critique by Doug Lorimer. 1998, 80pp, $8.50

Miscellaneous

  • The Balkan Wars (1912-13) The War Correspondence of Leon Trotsky edited by George Weissman & Duncan Williams. 1980, 524pp. $29.95 (pb) $39.95 (hb)
  • Christianity, Islam & Atheism Reflections on Religion, Society & Politics by Michael Cooke. 2014, 124pp, $15
  • Education: For Slavery or Liberation? A Socialist Perspective by Jo Williams. 1999, 22pp
  • Nationalism & Revolution in Iran by Ahmad Heydari & Cyrus Paydar. (1973) 25pp
  • The Party The Socialist Workers Party 1960-1988, Volume 1 The Sixties A Political Memoir by Barry Sheppard. 2005, 372pp. $29.95
  • A Radical Life A Memoir by Jim McIlroy. 2021,344pp, $30
  • The Revolutionary Press by Dave Holmes. 1998, 20pp
  • Role of the United Front Tactic by Doug Lorimer. 1995, 21pp
  • Writings from the Frontline Selected Articles 1991-2008 by Jim McIlroy. 2022, 36pp (A4), $10
  • Writings from the Frontline Vol. 2: Selected Articles from Green Left Weekly 2009-14 by Jim McIlroy. 2023, 48pp (A4), $10

Problems of party building

  • Building the Revolutionary Party An Introduction to James P. Cannon by Dave Holmes et al. 1997, 104pp, $9.95
  • Building the Revolutionary Party Jim Percy Selected Writings 1980-87 by Jim Percy. 2008, 212pp, $20
  • DSP Traditions, Lessons & Socialist Perspectives by Jim Percy. 1994, 128pp, $6.95
  • Lenin & the Bolshevik Party A Reply to Tony Cliff & the International Socialists by Bruce Landau. 2002, 64pp, $5.95
  • Organisational Methods & Political Principles A Case Study of Clique Politics in a Revolutionary Party by Joseph Hansen. 2000, 88pp, $8.95
  • Socialism, Revolution & the Working Class by Graham Matthews & Dave Holmes. 2007,40pp, $4.50

Resistance Marxist Library

Contemporary editions of the Marxist classics with special introductions, appendices and notes.

  • ‘Left-Wing’ Communism — An Infantile Disorder by V.I. Lenin. 1999, 152pp, $13.95
  • The Birth of Bolshevism Volume 1 Lenin’s Struggle Against Economism by V.I. Lenin. 2004, 288pp. $23.50
  • The Birth of Bolshevism Volume 2 Bolshevism Versus Menshevism by V.I. Lenin. 2020, 266pp.
  • The Class Struggles in France From the February Revolution to the Paris Commune by Karl Marx. 2003, 328pp, $24.95
  • The Communist Manifesto & Its Relevance Today by Karl Marx & Frederick Engels. 2017, 104pp, $15
  • Democracy & Revolution by V.I. Lenin. 2001, 224pp, $18.95
  • The Fight Against Fascism in the USA by James P. Cannon et al. 2003, 240pp, $19.95
  • Fighting for Socialism in the ‘American Century’ by James P. Cannon. 2000, 280pp, $21.95
  • Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism by V.I. Lenin. 1999, 152pp, $13.95
  • Marxism & Nationalism by V.I. Lenin. 2002, 280pp, $21.95
  • Marxism Versus Anarchism by Karl Marx et al. 2001, 240pp, $19.95
  • Marxism, Socialism & Religion by Karl Marx et al. 2001, 160pp, $14.95
  • Marxist Writings on History & Philosophy by George Novack. 2002, 272pp, $21.95
  • On the Emancipation of Women by V.I. Lenin. 2003, 184pp, $15.95
  • The Origin of the Family, Private Property & the State by Frederick Engels. 2004, 184pp, $15.95
  • Socialism on Trial by James P. Cannon. 1999, 212pp, $17.95
  • Socialism: Utopian & Scientific by Frederick Engels. 1999, 112pp, $10.95
  • The State & Revolution by V.I. Lenin. 1999, 112pp, $10.95
  • The Struggle for a Proletarian Party by James P. Cannon. 2001, 304pp, $23.95
  • Their Morals & Ours The Marxist View of Morality by Leon Trotsky et al. 2000, 104pp, $9.95
  • The Transitional Program & the Struggle for Socialism by Leon Trotsky. 1999, 80pp, $8.50

From the archives: DSP & Resistance

  • Croatian Nationalism & the Fight for Socialism by Dave Holmes et al. 1983, 43pp
  • The Democratic Socialist Party & the Fourth International by Jim Percy & Doug Lorimer. 2001, 52pp, $5.95
  • Education for Socialists Class Guides for the Study of Marxism Volume 1. 2002, 48pp
  • Education for Socialists Class Guides for the Study of Marxism Volume 2. 2002, 43pp
  • Organisational Principles & Methods of the Democratic Socialist Party by Reihana Mohideen et al. 1998, 104pp, $9.95
  • Program of the Democratic Socialist Party. 1994, 168pp, $9.95
  • Resistance A History of the Democratic Socialist Party & Resistance 1965-72 by John Percy. 2005, 364pp, $29.95
  • Revolutionary Strategy & Tactics in the Trade Unions (Document of the DSP, 1984). 2001, 52pp, $5.95
  • Socialism & the Struggle for the Rights of Lesbians & Gay Men (Document of the DSP). 1997, 52pp, $5.95
  • What Socialists Stand For An Introduction to the Democratic Socialist Party & Resistance, 1998, 37pp