Fred Feldman
Encyclopedia
Fred Feldman is a Marxist activist in the United States
, and a former leader of the Socialist Workers Party (USA).
Feldman came into political activity through the Student Peace Union at the University of Pennsylvania
, which was led by supporters of the Trotskyist Young Socialist Alliance
such as Feldman and Robin Maisel. Maisel and Feldman joined the YSA late in 1964, after supporting
the SWP campaign against Johnson and Goldwater. He was arrested seven times during the Maryland Freedom Rides.
He later joined the SWP, becoming a writer on international politics for its publications and for Intercontinental Press
/Inprecor
. In 1973 he wrote, with George Johnson, 'On the Nature of the Vietnamese Communist Party' (International Socialist Review, Volume 34, no 7, July/August 1973, pp4–9, 63-90) and later 'Vietnam, Stalinism and the Postwar Socialist Revolutions' (International Socialist Review, Volume 35, no 4, April 1974, pp26–61). These two articles helped develop a deep discussion in the Fourth International
on the topic.
In 1974 he co-authored 'The first three Internationals, their history and lessons' with George Novack
and Dave Frankel. Between 1974 and 1978 he edited 'Towards a History of the Fourth International', a series of educational bulletins.
His best known work, written in 1989 with Georges Sayad, is Palestine and the Arabs' Fight for Liberation.
After a period of deep changes in the SWP were made under the leadership of Jack Barnes
, Feldman left the SWP, arguing that SWP had become a much less effective current in the workers movement. He has since joined Solidarity (US)
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a former leader of the Socialist Workers Party (USA).
Feldman came into political activity through the Student Peace Union at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, which was led by supporters of the Trotskyist Young Socialist Alliance
Young Socialist Alliance
The Young Socialist Alliance was a Trotskyist youth group of the Socialist Workers Party in the United States of America. It was founded in 1960, although it had roots going back several years earlier. It was dissolved in 1992...
such as Feldman and Robin Maisel. Maisel and Feldman joined the YSA late in 1964, after supporting
the SWP campaign against Johnson and Goldwater. He was arrested seven times during the Maryland Freedom Rides.
He later joined the SWP, becoming a writer on international politics for its publications and for Intercontinental Press
Intercontinental Press
Intercontinental Press was a weekly news magazine produced on behalf of the United Secretariat of the Fourth International between 1963 and 1986. The magazine was founded as "World Outlook" in 1963 under the editorial direction of Joseph Hansen, Pierre Frank and Reba Hansen. A parallel edition in...
/Inprecor
Inprecor
Inprecor is a multilingual monthly Marxist magazine published by the reunified Fourth International. Its name is a contraction of International Press Correspondence and indicates that the magazine translates articles and letters from revolutionaries around the world.Inprecor was established by the...
. In 1973 he wrote, with George Johnson, 'On the Nature of the Vietnamese Communist Party' (International Socialist Review, Volume 34, no 7, July/August 1973, pp4–9, 63-90) and later 'Vietnam, Stalinism and the Postwar Socialist Revolutions' (International Socialist Review, Volume 35, no 4, April 1974, pp26–61). These two articles helped develop a deep discussion in the Fourth International
Fourth International
The Fourth International is the communist international organisation consisting of followers of Leon Trotsky , with the declared dedicated goal of helping the working class bring about socialism...
on the topic.
In 1974 he co-authored 'The first three Internationals, their history and lessons' with George Novack
George Novack
George Novack was an American Communist politician and Marxist theoretician....
and Dave Frankel. Between 1974 and 1978 he edited 'Towards a History of the Fourth International', a series of educational bulletins.
His best known work, written in 1989 with Georges Sayad, is Palestine and the Arabs' Fight for Liberation.
After a period of deep changes in the SWP were made under the leadership of Jack Barnes
Jack Barnes
Jack Whittier Barnes is an American Communist and the National Secretary of the Socialist Workers Party. Barnes was elected the party's national secretary in 1972, replacing the retiring Farrell Dobbs. He had joined the SWP in the early 1960s as a student at Carleton College in Minnesota and...
, Feldman left the SWP, arguing that SWP had become a much less effective current in the workers movement. He has since joined Solidarity (US)
Solidarity (US)
In left-wing politics in the United States, Solidarity is a socialist organization associated with the journal Against the Current. Solidarity is an organizational descendant of International Socialists, a Trotskyist organization based on the proposition that the Soviet Union was not a "degenerate...
.