From Egypt to America: Revolution, class struggle and the return of history

February 2011 will go down as a turning point in world history. At the beginning of the month, the Middle East and North Africa were gripped by mass protests of workers and youth that culminated, on February 11, in the forced resignation of the long-time US backed dictator of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak. The entire region has been convulsed by social upheavals—including Bahrain, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Iraq and Tunisia.

Before the month was over, the US state of Wisconsin saw the eruption of mass protests of workers the likes of which have not been seen in the US in a quarter century. Workers throughout the United States confront a coordinated attack on social programs and jobs, under both the Democrats and Republicans, overseen by the Obama administration.

These struggles will expand and portend colossal changes in the coming year. History—as written in the Communist Manifesto: “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle”—has returned. In every country—above all in the United States—workers face massive social inequality and a political system that is impervious to their interests. What program and perspective is needed to lead these struggles of workers to victory?

David North, chairman of the editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party, and other leading members of the SEP, will address these questions in a series of meetings throughout the US.