For the working class, against Bolshevism: Once more on the class nature of the Soviet Union in reply to cde Chris Malikhane Paper prepared by Lucien van der Walt for the Lesedi Socialist Study Group [This paper was, in fact, never presented as Lesedi got caught up in 2000 in the struggle against the neo-liberal … Continue reading [DISCUSSION]: Lucien van der Walt, ca. 2000, “For the Working Class, Against Bolshevism: Once more on the class nature of the Soviet Union in reply to cde Chris Malikhane”
Author: Lucien van der Walt
I teach at Rhodes University, the Eastern Cape. I’m 10th generation South African, born and bred. I have long been involved in union and working class education, and have a background in social movement and left-wing activism, the Workers’ Library and Museum, the Anti-Privatisation Forum, and the National Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU).
I’ve presented or published 450+ papers, including conferences and workshops, co-edited 4 journal specials (on global and African labour history, and the left), and produced five books. Southern Africa editor for the 2009 'International Encyclopaedia of Revolution and Protest' (Blackwell). I won the 2008 international ‘Labor History’ PhD thesis prize, and the 2008/2009 Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) award for best African dissertation, for my thesis on South African anarchism, syndicalism and black militants. I have also done research in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
[PHOTO / WORKSHOPS]: With other committee (and Bikisha Media) members at the Workers Library & Museum, Johannesburg, ca. 2001
Workers Library & Museum committee members pictured, all of them Bikisha Media Collective other than comrade CM, second from left. More on the Workers Library & Museum here
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2016, “Why Workers’ Education? Why Trade Unions and What’s Next?”
Lucien van der Walt, 2016, "Why Workers’ Education? Why trade unions and what’s next?," South African Labour Bulletin, 40 (5): 46-48. p.46 WHY WORKERS' EDUCATION? WHY TRADE UNIONS AND WHAT'S NEXT? In these grim times, both globally and locally, it is important to reaffirm the centrality of workers’ education, and the need for a strong … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2016, “Why Workers’ Education? Why Trade Unions and What’s Next?”
[Briefing for UPM]: Lucien van der Walt, “One Year after the 2015 Grahamstown Riots against Foreign Traders: Attacks Hurt Working Class and Poor, Only Capitalists and Politicians Benefit”
Lucien van der Walt, 2016, "One Year After the 2015 Grahamstown Riots against Foreign Traders: Attacks Hurt Working Class and Poor, Only Capitalists and Politicians Benefit, Anarkismo, 15 December. Text commissioned by Unemployed People’s Movement, Grahamstown, October 2015. Edited version, November 2016, published December 2016. A year ago, starting 20 October 2015, around 75 small shops were … Continue reading [Briefing for UPM]: Lucien van der Walt, “One Year after the 2015 Grahamstown Riots against Foreign Traders: Attacks Hurt Working Class and Poor, Only Capitalists and Politicians Benefit”
[JOURNAL]: van der Walt, 2016, “Alternatives from the Ground Up: Globalization School Input on Anarchism/Syndicalism and (Black) Working Class Self-Emancipation in Post-Apartheid South Africa” (WorkingUSA: Journal of Labour and Society)
Lucien van der Walt, 2016, "Alternatives from the Ground Up: Globalization School Input on Anarchism/ Syndicalism and (Black) Working Class Self-Emancipation in Post-Apartheid South Africa" Get the PDF here p. 251 ABSTRACT: This commentary, an input at a Globalization School debate in Cape Town, engages current labor and Left debates on building alternatives, drawing on … Continue reading [JOURNAL]: van der Walt, 2016, “Alternatives from the Ground Up: Globalization School Input on Anarchism/Syndicalism and (Black) Working Class Self-Emancipation in Post-Apartheid South Africa” (WorkingUSA: Journal of Labour and Society)
[WORKSHOP]: With comrades at the 2016 ‘Vuyisile Mini’ Winter School, Eastern Cape
With comrades on the 16 July 2016, last day of the Vuyisile Mini Winter School on "Labour and Social Policy," organised by the Neil Aggett Labour Studies Unit, and the Institute for Social and Eocnomic Research, at Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
[PHOTO]: With comrades at the NUMSA-Wits graduates colloquium
With comrades at the 8 October 2016 colloquium of graduates from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Afeica (NUMSA)-University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) "Social Theory and Research" programme. This ran from 2010-2015, and will be followed by similar initiatives in 2017.
[WORKSHOP]: With Oupa Lehulere at Global Labour University school – plenary on “Racial Capitalism” & “Workers’ Movements” in South Africa
With Oupa Lehulere on plenary on "Racial Capitalism" & "Workers' Movements" in South Africa. At Global Labour University’s almuni Summer School for unionists, 2 October 2016, Bronkhorstspruit.
[WORKSHOP]: July 2016 Vuyisile Mini Winter School in Makhanda/ Grahamstown
I participated as a facilitator on worker education at the July 2016 Vuyisile Mini Winter School in Grahamstown/ Makhanda. The School's theme was "Labour and Social Policy," and it was organised by the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) and the Neil Aggett Labour Studies Unit (NALSU), Rhodes University. There is a photo of … Continue reading [WORKSHOP]: July 2016 Vuyisile Mini Winter School in Makhanda/ Grahamstown
[SPEECH]: Lucien van der Walt, 2006, “Internationalism, Solidarity and the Struggle for Zimbabwe”
I gave this talk at the"Freedom in our Lifetime" resistance festival in Newtown, Johannesburg, 10 December, 2006 It was previously published online, uncredited, at http://www.anarkismo.net/article/4424 Internationalism, Solidarity and the Struggle for Zimbabwe Lucien van der Walt, 2006. How to fight for freedom in Zimbabwe? How to avoid another Mugabe coming into power? How to fight … Continue reading [SPEECH]: Lucien van der Walt, 2006, “Internationalism, Solidarity and the Struggle for Zimbabwe”
[TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, “Κολλεκτίβες στην Επαναστατική Ισπανία”
Greek translation of http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/spain/coll_l.html Κολλεκτίβες στην Επαναστατική Ισπανία Sunday July 24, 2016 at Anarkismo Το κράτος δεν παρέχει μία εναλλακτική οδό στον καπιταλισμό ούτε ο καπιταλισμός στο κράτος. Και οι δύο αυτές δομές κοινωνικής οργάνωσης συνδέονται εσωτερικά και αλληλοσυμπληρώνονται. Δεδομένου του γεγονότος ότι καμία από τις δύο δομές δεν είναι επιθυμητή αναδύεται η ερώτηση: υπάρχει … Continue reading [TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, “Κολλεκτίβες στην Επαναστατική Ισπανία”
[TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, 2016, “Πώς ο ιμπεριαλισμός και η μετααποικιακή άρχουσα τάξη καταλήστευσαν την Αφρική: Η ταξική πάλη και η αναρχοκομμουνιστική λύση”
Πώς ο ιμπεριαλισμός και η μετααποικιακή άρχουσα τάξη καταλήστευσαν την Αφρική: Η ταξική πάλη και η αναρχοκομμουνιστική λύση From the Greek anarchist street paper Apatris, number 34, 2016 here *This is a translation of Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “How Imperialism and Postcolonial Elites have Plundered Africa: And the Class Struggle, Anarchist-Communist Solution,” Tokologo, numbers … Continue reading [TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, 2016, “Πώς ο ιμπεριαλισμός και η μετααποικιακή άρχουσα τάξη καταλήστευσαν την Αφρική: Η ταξική πάλη και η αναρχοκομμουνιστική λύση”
[TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “Ενάντια στον ιμπεριαλισμό – Με την εργατική τάξη”
Ενάντια στον ιμπεριαλισμό - Με την εργατική τάξηTrans. of [Statement, 2015] Lucien van der Walt, “With the Working Class, Against Imperialism and Terror Attacks,” which can be found here and here. Με την εργατική τάξη, ενάντια στον ιμπεριαλισμό και τις τρομοκρατικές επιθέσεις Η πολιτική θα πρέπει να προσεγγιστεί με έναν απλό κανόνα: αποτελεί μια δράση … Continue reading [TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “Ενάντια στον ιμπεριαλισμό – Με την εργατική τάξη”
[TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “Come L’imperialismo e le Classi Dirigenti Postcoloniali Hanno Saccheggiato l’Africa: La Lotta di Classe ed il Comunismo Anarchico come Soluzione”
Come L'imperialismo e le Classi Dirigenti Postcoloniali Hanno Saccheggiato l'Africa: La Lotta di Classe ed il Comunismo Anarchico come Soluzione Trans. from Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “How Imperialism and Postcolonial Elites have Plundered Africa: And the Class Struggle, Anarchist-Communist Solution,” Tokologo, numbers 5/6, pp. 17-19, which is here Più o meno 50 anni fa … Continue reading [TRANSLATION]: Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “Come L’imperialismo e le Classi Dirigenti Postcoloniali Hanno Saccheggiato l’Africa: La Lotta di Classe ed il Comunismo Anarchico come Soluzione”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “Imperial Wars, Imperialism and the Losers: A Critique of Certain ‘Labour Aristocracy’ Theories” (Zabalaza: A Journal of Southern African Revolutionary Anarchism)
Lucien van der Walt, 2015, "Imperial Wars, Imperialism and the Losers: A Critique of Certain ‘Labour Aristocracy’ Theories," Zabalaza: A Journal of Southern African Revolutionary Anarchism, number 14, pp. 26-28. Also here Get the PDF here. Text below. As the 100th anniversary of the outbreak in August 1914 of World War One fades, let … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2015, “Imperial Wars, Imperialism and the Losers: A Critique of Certain ‘Labour Aristocracy’ Theories” (Zabalaza: A Journal of Southern African Revolutionary Anarchism)
