Militarism, Imperialism, and Self-Determination: Marxist Debates on the War

During World War I, the Marxist movement had a rich debate on the questions of militarism, imperialism, and self-determination. Those discussions help inform some of the current issues around the war in Ukraine.

Luxemburg, Zetkin, and Revolutionary Feminism against the War

This year, International Women’s Day takes place amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here, we revisit some of the debates among Marxists and socialist feminists in the lead up to the First World War.

A World to Win: Sign Up for Left Voice’s Intro to Marxism Reading Group

Join us this spring in an Intro to Marxism Reading Group. Meetings will be held every Sunday at 6 pm ET.

Rosa Luxemburg: A Revolutionary Eulogy by Clara Zetkin

The great Polish-German revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg was murdered on this day in 1919. Her comrade Clara Zetkin wrote this brief tribute some months later.

Sometimes Rosa Luxemburg Was Depressed Too

Rosa Luxemburg was known as a ball of energy — "like a candle burning at both ends." But like every person, she also suffered moments of despair.

Rosa Luxemburg at 150: No “Harmless Icon”

Rosa Luxemburg was born on March 5, 1871. She is often presented as a pacifist, a democrat, and an opponent of the Russian Revolution. None of this is true. She was a revolutionary communist.

Was Rosa Luxemburg an Opponent of the Russian Revolution?

Rosa Luxemburg is often presented as an opponent of the Russian Revolution, but this is a deliberate misunderstanding. In fact, she was no more and no less than a critical Bolshevik.

Police Attack the Luxemburg Liebknecht Demonstration in Berlin

On Sunday, 2,000 people gathered in Friedrichshain for the traditional "LL-Demo." They were brutally attacked by police, who made 35 arrests. The justification was absurd. The responsibility lies with the SPD and Die LINKE.

“My Third Christmas under Lock and Key”: A Letter by Rosa Luxemburg

Below is a beautiful letter written by revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg from her prison cell in Breslau prison around Christmas 1917. Rosa writes to Sophie Liebknecht, wife of fellow German revolutionary Karl Liebknecht, and discusses her love for life despite spending her third Christmas imprisoned.