Wednesday 26 June 2013

Socialist History Society AGM and lecture

Socialist History Society AGM and lecture SHS AGM is to be followed by a talk 'The Economics of Killing – How the West Fuels War and Poverty in the Developing World' 1pm AGM; 2pm talk, Saturday, 29 June, 2013 Speaker Vijay Mehta, peace activist and author of a book on the same title as above Venue Marchmont Centre, Marchmont Street near Russell Square.

Saturday 15 June 2013

Making Freedom / Emancipation 1838 conference

e1838 CONFERENCE INVITATION With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Windrush Foundation is organising a Conference, 'MAKING FREEDOM', at the University of London, Chancellor's Hall, Senate House, Malet Street, London,WC1E 7HU, on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July 2013 from 10am to 5pm. The programme will feature contributors from a wide range of specialists, and will include Carol Dixon, Sharon Tomlin (Genealogist), Dr Denise Noble (Ohio State University, USA), Dr Christer Petley (University of Southampton), Dr Robbie Shilliam (Queen Mary, London University), Dr Hakim Adi (University of Chichester), Dr Kimani Nehusi, Dr Lez Henry, Dr Ron Ramdin, John Siblon, Professor Gad Heuman (Warwick University), Sir Keithlyn Smith (Author of: To Shoot Hard Labour), and others. This Conference, which is one of the project's major events, will be of special interest to members of the community, school teachers and students with an interest in studies of the Caribbean and its people, as well as the connection with Britain and the Windrush generation. Conference topics include: EMANCIPATION 1838:Caribbean Freedom (?), Caribbean Family Life after 1838, Finding Caribbean Ancestors, Indentureship, Education, Religion, Emigration (from the Caribbean), Labour Relations, Employment, Race Relations, Caribbean Identity, etc. The event is hosted by the INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF THE AMERICAS. ADMISSION FREE LIMITED SEATS. ALLOCATION ON FIRST-COME BASIS AVAILABLE ONLY via http://makingfreedomconference.eventbrite.co.uk/# CLOSING DATE: 12 July 2013 Further information from: windrush.event@gmail.com Tel: 075 0890 3634

SHS talk: Greg Claeys on JS Mill and 'family values' - cancelled

Socialist History Society talk - Thursday 20 June 2013 Gregory Claeys speaks on Family Values? Mill on Liberty Reconsidered. Greg Claeys is Professor of the History of Political Thought at Royal Holloway, specialising in late 18th and 19th century English radical thought, particularly Tom Paine and Robert Owen. He is the author of numerous studies, most recently Searching for Utopia: the History of an Idea (2011). He has also edited some fifty volumes of primary sources, chiefly in the history of utopianism and radicalism. His talk will focus on some issues addressed in his forthcoming book, Mill and Paternalism, in particular how Mill's thinking on socialism, marriage, the family and 'overpopulation' was influenced by his contacts with feminists like Harriet Taylor. Meetings organised by the SHS in partnership with Bishopsgate Institute are now part of the their cultural programme. The venue for the meeting is: Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH. Nearest station: Liverpool Street. Meeting starts at 7.00 p.m. Tickets £2. Advance booking is recommended as places are limited. Booking at www.bishopsgate.org.uk or call 020 7392 9200 Edited to add: This meeting has had to be cancelled at very short notice due to the sad death of the speaker's mother. Apologies Mike Squires - Socialist History Society

Women's History conference in Manchester

The North West Labour History Society is celebrating 40 years of activity promoting labour history with a conference on women’s history on 23 November in Manchester. There will be sessions on topics such as music, trade unionism, socialism, Votes for Women, socialism and feminism. The speakers will include Lindsey German, Claire Mooney, Alice Nutter, Louise Raw, Rae Street and Sonja Tiernan. The fee for the day will be £10 waged/£5 unwaged. For more information see here

Thursday 6 June 2013

Socialist History at Marxism 2013

The timetable for Marxism 2013 (11-15 July, central London) is now online - well worth checking out - lots of meetings on subjects ranging from fighting fascism to class struggles in modern South Africa - but highlights for socialist historians include Andy Stone and Katherine Edwards on 'After Hobsbawm - People's History or Gove's history?', Brid Smith, John Newsinger and Paul O'Brien on 'The Dublin Lockout of 1913', Paul Le Blanc on 'History and future of Leninism' and 'The murals of Diego Rivera', Will Kaufman on Woody Guthrie (a 'live documentary with music), Ralph Darlington on his new book Revolutionary Syndicalism: Limits and Potential, Andy Durgan on 'Spain 1936', Ian Birchall on 'Lessons of the German Revolution', Talat Ahmed on 'Why didn't capitalism develop in the East?', Phil Marfleet on 'Colonialism, resistance and the origins of Islamism', John Rose on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, Celia Hutchinson on 'Chartism: the first mass workers' movement', Ken Olende on 'where does racism come from?', Norman Strike and Paul Simons on 'The Miners Strike of 1984' and (to end on a more uplifting note) Pete Jackson on '1972-74: When workers brought down the Tories'.

Modern Day Protest

18 July, 7.30pm Bishopsgate Institute, London:

Shaking things up! Modern Day Protest

The world has always seen protest and dissent but in these difficult and changing times, how can the voices that challenge authority really be heard? How can a message reach the widest number of people? Which forms of resistance have the greatest impact? How can support be generated and who is really listening? From protests, rallies and direct action to worldwide digital petitions and 'armchair activism', our panel of experienced campaigners discuss methods of protest in today's modern world.

Speakers include Ian Palmer (38 Degrees), Trenton Oldfield (This is Not A Gateway) and Nadine El-Enany (Birkbeck, University of London and Defend the Right to Protest). Additional speakers to be announced

Sunday 2 June 2013

Clara Zetkin - Book Launch and Talk

Book Launch and Talk:
 Clara Zetkin
12 June 2013, 7.00pm
Speakers John Partington and Marilyn Boxer, who contributed to Socialist History Society Occasional Publication 31 on Clara Zetkin, will discuss her life and legacy.
Venue Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 - near King’s Cross Station