1960s
The Black Panther Party for Self Defense
A short history of and comment on the revolutionary black American socialist organisation, the BPP, which at its height reached around 5,000 members, before disintegrating due to a campaign of state terror and internal problems.
(For a more critical look at the Panthers and their times see James Carr, The Black Panthers, & All That).
1958-1990: Operation Gladio, Italy
The history of the secret neo-fascist army in Italy set up ostensibly to resist Soviet invasion, but in reality to be used in the event of the working class growing too strong once again.
Following the end of World War II, the Italian workers’ movement was rapidly gaining strength. In some towns the fascists had been kicked out by Resistance forces (as before the war, these were usually led by socialists and anarchists), and embryonic workers’ councils were governing.
1969-?: The Strategy of Tension in Italy
Information about the Italian state's "Strategy of Tension" policy in which it carried out terrorist attacks against its own people in order to blame the left and anarchists.
1935-1980s: The reign of Haile Selassie in Ethiopia
A critical look at the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, regarded by many as progressive, and by some as God incarnate!
Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia (full title "His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings and Elect of God") has almost universally been remembered as a kindly benefactor, yet the evidence suggesting otherwise is overwhelming.
1960-today: Skinhead culture
A short history of Skinhead culture from its birth in 1960s Britain, and its relation to racist, anti-racist and working class politics.
Oi Oi Oi! A brief history of skinheads
1966: The Blake prison escape
A short history of the miraculous prison break of Soviet double-agent George Blake from a British jail, organised by two libertarian activists.
In 1966, the most notorious prisoner in Britain was sprung from jail. George Blake was a British double-agent serving 42 years for spying for the Soviet Union. At the time this was the longest jail sentence ever imposed by a British court.
1968 : - a chronology of events in France and internationally
A short chronology of the events which swept France in May and June 1968. Starting as a student revolt, the events culminated in mass workplace occupations and a general strike of 10 million workers.
Followed by a short international chronology.
1957-1975: The Vietnam War
Howard Zinn's short history of the war in Vietnam from the beginning of the Communist insurgency in 1957 until the defeat of US and South Vietnamese forces in 1975.
Following the partitioning of Vietnam into the pro-independence Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the North, and the US puppet state the Republic of Vietnam in the South in 1954 (see our short history of Vietnam from 1945 to 1957) elections were due to be held on re-unification.
18. The Impossible Victory: Vietnam
From 1964 to 1972, the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the history of the world made a
maximum military effort, with everything short of atomic bombs, to defeat a nationalist
revolutionary movement in a tiny, peasant country-and failed. When the United States fought in
Vietnam, it was organized modern technology versus organized human beings, and the human
beings won.
17. "Or Does It Explode?"
The black revolt of the 1950s and 1960s-North and South-came as a surprise. But perhaps it should
not have. The memory of oppressed people is one thing that cannot be taken away, and for such
people, with such memories, revolt is always an inch below the surface. For blacks in the United
States, there was the memory of slavery, and after that of segregation, lynching, humiliation. And it
