We Make Our
Own History: Marxism and Social Movements in the Twilight of Neoliberalism
by Laurence Cox and Alf Gunvald Nilsen (Pluto, 2014) is now
available at 40% off this week (as are other Pluto titles) – click here
to apply a 40% discount on orders from www.plutobooks.com.
For the Dublin launch, rather than focus exclusively on the
book there will be a discussion with Irish activists about the state of
movements and our possible futures. Chaired by John Bissett, there will be
short talks from Margaret Gillan, Andrew Flood and Fergal Finnegan to open a
wider discussion. The launch event takes place in Connolly Books (East Essex
St, Temple Bar) at 6 pm on Wednesday 9th December. Admission is free
and all are welcome.
Reviews and endorsements:
Cox and Nilsen set themselves the audacious goal of
reclaiming activist knowledge through filling a void in studies of social
movements. They have succeeded: We
Make Our Own History is recommended reading for activists serious
about bringing into being a better world. – Pete Dolack, Counterpunch
At once handbook and provocation, We Make Our Own History
will reach a broad spectrum of readers in many parts of the world, benefiting
analysis, strategy, and action. – Ruth Wilson Gilmore, author of Golden
Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California
A stunning read, one that every activist – and anyone
concerned with the world around us – should read. – Jai Sen, Critical Action:
Centre in Movement, New Delhi
Readers will be vastly rewarded by this outstanding book and
its understanding of the class struggles of social movements and their
campaigns and projects across the past, present, and future transformations of
capitalism. – Adam David Morton, Professor in Political Economy, Sydney
In We Make Our Own History the authors provide an
inspiring analysis of the contradictions and struggles that have shaped our
society under capitalism, with an emphasis on the social forces that have
opposed one another and contributed to its concrete development. The result is
an extraordinarily interesting and insightful book. – Asbjørn Wahl,
International Transport Workers’ Federation
A hugely important book, a must-read for those interested in
movement-relevant theorising with the goal of engaging in praxis leading towards
a future beyond capitalism. – Andreas Bieler, Professor of Political Economy,
Nottingham
Essential reading for labour and trade union studies
students who wish to gain some sense of the historical and contemporary
relevance and interrelationship of workplace inspired/based protest/action and
wider protest/action/movements for social justice and of oppositional
politics.” – Ian Manborde, International Labour and Trade Union Studies, Ruskin
College Oxford
We Make Our Own History by Laurence Cox and Alf Gunvald
Nilsen makes a spirited case for the enduring relevance of Marxism to
understand protest movements, however ‘new’ they may aspire to be. The strength
of the writing however lies in the necessity the authors recognise for Marxism,
and Marxists, to change if it is to retain its unique combination of analysis
and action. – Mark Perryman, Philosophy Football
