Introduction
Issue 1
Welcome to the first edition of The Connolly Forum. The idea for this publication came out of an annual event the San Francisco chapter of the Irish Republican Socialist Committees, North America held each June called the “Connolly Forum.” The purpose of the event was to explore various issues of concern and interest to Socialists across a wide spectrum of topics. Forums were held on revolutionary tactics, women, culture, political prisoners, and the Spanish Civil War. The Connolly Forum brought together not only members at supporters of the IRSM, but other Irish activists and other Socialists, in an effort to explore differences and possibly to find common ground.
Unfortunately, over the last few years, the Connolly Forum had been suspended, for various reasons. This year, we decided to resurrect the Forum. We chose to adopt a print format and to make it a North American-wide endeavor. This format allows for greater participation and a larger audience than just having a single event, in one location.
We chose June as the month for the Forum as a way of honoring Connolly’s life, rather than to mourn his death. We recognize that James Connolly was involved in many different aspects of the Socialist struggle. He wrote on labor, armed struggle, Loyalism, Nationalism, women and culture. He wrote dialectics, poetry, and plays. James Connolly was a founder-member of the Industrial Workers of the World and, to honor that fact as well as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the IWW this year, we have included an article on his participation in that organization. We also have articles on his role in the international Socialist movement and on his contributions to working-class culture.
As the Connolly Forum was established to explore various issues, discuss, and debate, we invite you to send comments to the IRSN. We hope you find this periodical to be of interest.
Welcome to the first edition of The Connolly Forum. The idea for this publication came out of an annual event the San Francisco chapter of the Irish Republican Socialist Committees, North America held each June called the “Connolly Forum.” The purpose of the event was to explore various issues of concern and interest to Socialists across a wide spectrum of topics. Forums were held on revolutionary tactics, women, culture, political prisoners, and the Spanish Civil War. The Connolly Forum brought together not only members at supporters of the IRSM, but other Irish activists and other Socialists, in an effort to explore differences and possibly to find common ground.
Unfortunately, over the last few years, the Connolly Forum had been suspended, for various reasons. This year, we decided to resurrect the Forum. We chose to adopt a print format and to make it a North American-wide endeavor. This format allows for greater participation and a larger audience than just having a single event, in one location.
We chose June as the month for the Forum as a way of honoring Connolly’s life, rather than to mourn his death. We recognize that James Connolly was involved in many different aspects of the Socialist struggle. He wrote on labor, armed struggle, Loyalism, Nationalism, women and culture. He wrote dialectics, poetry, and plays. James Connolly was a founder-member of the Industrial Workers of the World and, to honor that fact as well as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the IWW this year, we have included an article on his participation in that organization. We also have articles on his role in the international Socialist movement and on his contributions to working-class culture.
As the Connolly Forum was established to explore various issues, discuss, and debate, we invite you to send comments to the IRSN. We hope you find this periodical to be of interest.