Letters from Tomis

My Socialist Hall of Fame

During this chaotic era of vile rhetoric and manipulative tactics from our so-called bourgeois leaders, I am invigorated by the opportunity to reflect on Socialists, Revolutionaries, Philosophers, Guerrilla Leaders, Partisans, and Critical Theory titans, champions, and martyrs who paved the way for us—my own audacious “Socialism’s Hall of Fame.” These are my heroes and fore-bearers. Not all are perfect, or even fully admirable, but all contributed in some way to our future–either as icons to emulate, or as warnings to avoid in the future.

Alan Woods, born on October 23, 1944, in Swansea, South Wales, is a prominent British Marxist political theorist and author. Raised in a working-class family with strong communist traditions, he became actively involved in socialist politics at the age of 16 by joining the Young Socialists and embracing Marxist ideology.  

Woods pursued higher education in Russian studies at the University of Sussex and furthered his studies in Sofia, Bulgaria, and at Moscow State University. His academic background equipped him with proficiency in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Russian.  

In the early 1970s, Woods moved to Spain, where he actively participated in the struggle against Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. He played a significant role in building the Marxist movement within the Spanish labor movement during this tumultuous period.  

Upon returning to the United Kingdom, Woods became a leading figure in the Militant tendency, a Trotskyist faction operating within the UK Labour Party. In the early 1990s, following internal disagreements, he and his mentor, Ted Grant, parted ways with Militant and co-founded the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) in 1992. The IMT continues to advocate for Marxist principles within labor movements worldwide.  

Woods has been an ardent supporter of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and developed a close relationship with the late President Hugo Chávez. He founded the “Hands Off Venezuela” campaign to promote international solidarity with the Venezuelan revolutionary process.  

As a prolific writer, Alan Woods has authored numerous works on politics, economics, history, philosophy, art, music, and science. Below is a selected bibliography of his notable publications:

• “Lenin and Trotsky: What They Really Stood For” (1969) – Co-authored with Ted Grant, this work clarifies the ideas and contributions of Lenin and Trotsky.

• “Reason in Revolt: Marxist Philosophy and Modern Science” (1995) – Also co-authored with Ted Grant, this book explores the relationship between Marxist philosophy and scientific developments.

• “Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution” (1999) – A comprehensive history of the Bolshevik Party leading up to the October Revolution.

• “Marxism and the National Question” (2000) – Analyzes the complexities of national issues from a Marxist perspective.

• “Ireland: Republicanism and Revolution” (2005) – Discusses the history and future of Irish republicanism through a Marxist lens.

• “Reformism or Revolution: Marxism and Socialism of the 21st Century—A Reply to Heinz Dieterich” (2008) – A critique of contemporary reformist approaches to socialism.

• “The History of Philosophy: A Marxist Perspective” (2021) – Traces the development of philosophical thought leading up to Marxist philosophy.

Woods continues to serve as the political editor of the “In Defence of Marxism” website and remains an influential voice in international Marxist circles.