RSP Books

Preface That the revolts and revolutions that swept the countries of the Arab world, herein referred to Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is an inspiration to hundreds of millions of disenchanted working people, youths and the oppressed globally, is only an understatement. Indeed, it has changed the political landscape of not only the Arab world, but also indeed the whole world. It has brought back on a global scale the culture of revolts and mass movement. Tearing the theory of the Francis Fukuyama of this world to shreds, the revolts and revolutions in MENA has brought back to consciousness class struggles against iniquitous capitalism. The revolutions sparked off by the self-immolation of a young Mohammed Bouazizi, was given a class character when working and poor Tunisians decided to end the regime of corruption and perfidy. The world woke to the heroic mass movements of Tunisian workers and youths, who mobilized against the regime of Ben Ali. But the dust of Tunisian revoluti...

Glimpses of the Revolts Tunisia: the Spark The wave of revolts and revolutions in MENA started with the self-immolation of Mohammed Bouzizi in Sidi Bouzid in Tunisia. The young man, 26, lighted himself in protest against frustrating repression by police, which destroyed his petty trade and humiliated him (and his family) on the market street of Tunis. This action was only a spark for the already latent anger of the masses, especially the youth and the working class, who took the Bouzizi’s suicide approach to the level of massive protests in the country. Despite widespread brutality by the hated but chronically corrupt police force, the protests got stronger and wider with youths from communities, schools, and working class elements, organizing from the grassroots to the national levels. The strength of the protests compelled the pro-regime trade union leadership, UGTT, to declare a strike after much delay, which finally collapsed the regime. Before this time, workers from workp...

Revolt in Burkina Faso and the Challenge of Working People’s Alternative After what seems like atrophy in mass movements in Africa, aftermath of counterrevolutionary rise in countries of the Middle East and North Africa, the working people and youth of Burkina Faso have brought the issue of mass movement and revolution back to the political agenda. The attempt of corrupt and politically bankrupt Blaise Compaore to grant himself extra term(s) in addition to his 27-year old rule could now only bring the mass discontent already bottled up, to the fore. The working people, youth and the poor could not stomach a day extension for a government that would only assure more poverty and misery for the majority. Against all odds, and throwing their fears to the sea, the mass of working people and youth stormed onto the streets, and in a sign of clear revolutionary instincts, stormed the centres of power – the parliamentary building, the seat of government, Place de la Nati...

Introduction The events unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa (subsequently referred to as MENA) since December 2010 have been indeed breath taking. From Tunisia to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and in a limited but complicated situations, Syria, one autocratic regime after another was challenged by mass movements. Some of these mass uprisings were successful in ejecting dictators from the rented palaces they have used the sweat, blood and flesh of working people to forcefully (and seemingly perpetually) occupy. However, most of the movements were derailed. In places like Bahrain (despite brutal crackdowns), Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, Iran and Saudi Arabia, the working people, youths and the downtrodden in general challenged their dictators and corrupt rulers. The small rats of the Maghreb had hitherto assumed the statures of giants having been given magnifying mirrors by imperialism as gifts for their subservience and turning in of their peoples’ lands to imperialist f...

Ebola Virus Disease underscores the failure of global capitalism Nigeria has scaled the hurdles of Ebola virus disease, we are told. Nigerian capitalist politicians are quick to squabble over who to carry the trophy of the victory – Fashola or Jonathan. In other West African countries a la Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, where the disease has ravaged and is still ravaging the societies, the Western capitalist governments have tried to play the Mother Theresa, while the local capitalist ruling classes in these countries are playing the game of the victim. With over 5, 000 people dead, and still counting, the intervention of the western capitalist governments may seem plausible, and Nigerian capitalist class may seem pro-active. However, a careful analysis should show to us that far from the façade, the Ebola multinational epidemic reveals the bankruptcy of the capitalist class, and the various ruling classes superintending over the system, the world over. Nigeria and the C...