The Association of Communist Workers was an anti-revisionist

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. It originated in 1969 as a split from the Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist League around Harpal Brar, together with his close comrades Kathy Sharp, Ella Rule, Iris Cremer and Godfrey Cremer. Prominent Marxists Ranjeet Brar and Joti Brar were also members of this organisation and also Carlos Martinez. Initially regarded as

Maoist Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic o ...

, it spent time working in the

women's movement The feminist movement, also known as the women's movement, refers to a series of social movements and political campaigns for radical and liberal reforms on women's issues created by inequality between men and women. Such issues are women's ...

through its "Union of Women for Liberation". Through Brar, the group was closely linked with the

Indian Workers Association The Indian Workers' Association (IWA) is a political organisation in Great Britain which consists of Indian immigrants to Britain and their descendants. IWA branches are organised in some major cities such as Birmingham and London. As one of t ...

, the Association of Indian Communists and the

Stalin Society The Stalin Society is a British discussion group for individuals who see Joseph Stalin as a great Marxist–Leninist and wish to preserve his legacy. The society originated as a consequence of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and what the mem ...

. The group increasingly moved from Maoism to anti-revisionism, and in 1997 they officially dissolved the ACW and joined the Socialist Labour Party (SLP). When many of them left the SLP in 2004, they founded the

Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) The Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist), abbreviated CPGB-ML, is an anti-revisionist Marxist–Leninist communist party in the United Kingdom, active in England, Scotland, and Wales. The CPGB-ML was founded by Harpal ...

. The CPGB-ML was the founder of the broad electoral front of the Workers Party, together with George Galloway in 2019. The organisations formally separated, however in 2021.

References

*Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, ''Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations'' Anti-revisionist organizations Defunct communist parties in the United Kingdom Political parties established in 1969 Defunct Maoist parties Maoist organisations in the United Kingdom Political parties disestablished in 1997 {{UK-party-stub

See also

References