countries
United States - further reading guide
libcom's guide to further reading around the United States, its history, its colonial past and the struggles of workers, women, African Americans and other ordinary people.
A. General American History
*A People's History of the United States - Zinn
America's Revolutionary Heritage - Novack
*Contours of American History - W.A. Williams
*The Tragedy of American Diplomacy - W.A. Williams
Who Built America? (2 vols.) - H.C. Gutman
Letters To Americans, 1848-1895 - Marx/Engels
Lenin On The United States
The Politics of History - Zinn
A People's history of the United States - Howard Zinn
The full text of Howard Zinn's superb People's History of the United States, 1492 to the present.
We did host the full text of Howard Zinn's book here, but unfortunately lawyers for the publisher HarperCollins sent us a threatening letter demanding that we remove it. Consequently, we have had to take it down.
However, you can still read the full text for free online here:
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html
1914-2001: A people's history of Argentina
A working class history of Argentina from its "golden era" through Peronism, military dictatorship up until the uprising of 2001.
This article is an extract of Picket and pot banger together: class recomposition in Argentina? by Aufheben
Class conflicts in the transformation of China
Aufheben's excellent account of the development and transformation of China and the Chinese working class from the time of Mao until today.
In PDF format. Plaintext version coming soon.
The agonising transformation of the Palestinian peasants into proletarians
Article looking at the formation of the Palestinian working class, and the creation of the Israeli state.
The creation and evolution of the Israeli state are depicted by the bourgeoisie as one of those idyllic epics for which it has a strong predilection. Haven't the insufficiently praised virtues of this tiny people, its toil, its courage and perseverance, made the deserts bloom?
Migration, industry and struggles in Poland, 1956-2005
An analysis of Poland, its economy, its social and political history and how it has been shaped by workers' struggles past and present.
Behind the Border
It is only a one hour journey from Berlin to the German-Polish border, the supermarkets in Berlin offer Polish food, immigrants from Poland are part of daily life in the German capital - nevertheless there are not many direct contacts (apart from perhaps the punk scene). The ‘iron curtain’ is slow to dissolve, due to languages and the geographical location.
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.
1904-2003: History of Iraq
A short history of Iraq, focusing on foreign intervention, imperialism and attempts by Western powers to control oil and other resources in the country and the rest of the Middle East.
See also our 1900-2000: Iraq timeline
1945-1957: Vietnam
Howard Zinn's short history of Vietnam from the defeat of Japan in 1945 through the installation of the US puppet government in Saigon to the beginning of the Vietnam War.
1850-today: Thailand
A brief people's history of Thailand over the past 150 years from its feudal past to its current state as a parliamentary capitalist democracy.
The historical processes that have transformed Thai society, and which are still in the process of transforming it, are no exception from the general world trend. Thailand has been changed out of all recognition during the last 150 years.
