This volume is a collection of the four papers presented in the Second Arvind Memorial Seminar which was held on 26–28 July, 2010 in Gorakhpur on the topic “The Working Class Movement in India in the Twenty-first Century: Continuity and Change, Orientation and Possibilities, Problems and Challenges.”

It is an undisputed fact that especially during the last two decades of the previous century, there have been significant changes in the modus-operandi and structure of the world capitalism, in the internal equations and political scenario of the imperialist world, the character of transnational corporations and the role of the nation-states and also in the strategies of extracting surplus. The fundamental cause of these changes has been the internal dynamics of the capitalist mode of production, however, the defeat of the first series of proletarian revolutions and the conditions resulting from the global reversal have also played an important role. The parasitic, unproductive, predatory and decadent character of capital has emerged in an all new form today. The form of its structural crisis also differs from the past. But the problem lies in the fact that the camp of labour is unable to post an effective challenge to the Capital.

In fact, this is not possible until a new strategy of proletarian resistance is developed on the foundations of an in-depth understanding of the present modus-operandi of capital, its economic policy and politics and its ever new ways of establishing ideological, political and cultural hegemony. The question is not limited to determining the agenda for the common struggles of the immense majority of the unorganised working class and the revolutionary reorganisation of trade union movement. The question is also related to acquaint the working class with its historical mission, once again sowing the seeds of the ideology of proletarian revolution in the working class movement and the rebuilding of its vanguard. It is important to learn from the in-depth study and review and summation of the proletarian revolutions and class struggle in the twentieth century, but equally necessary is to study the new conditions with independent critical wisdom.

The papers presented in this volume are an effort in this direction. We believe that this collection will provide very valuable material for activists and scholars of the workers movement and all those who are interested in it.

Contents

Publishers Note

New Forms and Strategies of the Working Class Movement and Resistance in the Era of Globalization

The Working Class Movement and Communist Movement of India : Lessons from the Past ; Possibilities and challenges of the Present

Changes in the Structure and modus-operandi of world Capitalism and the Working Class Movement of India : Challenges of a Revolutionary Resurgeence

New Orientation of the Working Class Movement Prospects, Problems and Challenges