The inaugural lecture of Marilyn Butler, the new King Edward VII Professor of English Literature at the University of Cambridge, has appeared in TLS (4-10 Dec 87) under the title “Revising the Canon.” It opens by pointing out that however far Britain may have sunk in importance, the dominance of the United States assures literature… read more »
(Reprinted from the Socialist Leader 10 November 1951. Copy supplied by Ellis Hillman. – GW) In the cloud of emotional dust raised by Len Collier there is still left, when the dust has settled, a very real and vital problem for all socialists to consider. The problem is not new, but it is of vital… read more »
MONEY IC has been distributed without charge. The offers of financial support received have been warmly appreciated but only a few, made in special circumstances, have been accepted. One subscription-scheme was devised but it proved unworkable, and subscriptions received under it were returned – with a good deal of embarrassment on all sides. As circulation… read more »
Revision of June 1987. Ideological Commentary is devoted to the development and exposition of systematic ideology, a theory originated and largely developed by the late Harold Walsby. We do not claim final or exhaustive understanding of it; the formulation that looked like the ultimate last month needs alteration now, and the partial account given here… read more »
IC holds out a continuing invitation: We undertake to print any statement of up to 1,000 words carrying the approval of this party, or one of its branches. Letters from individual members will appear if they are cogent, interesting and concise, and if space permits. If you want your letter to appear unedited or not… read more »
On the piece HOMO? HOMA? HOMESS? in IC30: Whatever the readers of IC may suggest it seems likely that homo sapiens, old- fashioned and mannered to modern ears, will soon go into the trash-can, to be replaced by a trendy new phrase that includes females. Changing words to include both sexes is becoming commoner. Why? Because… read more »
This letter left us with ambivalent feelings, and after a time we began to see why. Although written as a whole, it falls into two parts. The first consists of the ideas Austin would have us accept. These are not to be swallowed unquestioningly – he would not want that – but they are all… read more »
Dear George, We received your #29. Let’s talk together on these topics. 1. On page 17 you ask if Lord Acton, as a religious person, could have applied his famous remark to the concept of an all-powerful deity. If there is in this world an inverse correlation between powerfulness and purity, would not an all-powerful… read more »
While we serenely analyse the behaviour of parties and movements, where does IC stand? Every issue makes it clear that we are opposed to the (A-)SPGB (and, though this is less emphasised, also to other “purist” anarchists and anarcho-socialists) and that locates us on the side of existing society in all its variety and with… read more »
In IC30 we quoted Walsby’s mention of the response – it can almost be called a mechanism – that tends to maintain conformity among the great bulk of the people in a state. He said: If… there arises a comparatively strong, critical faction… which threatens the group with dissension and disruption, the mass suggestion will increase… read more »