In and Against the State (2nd Edition)

- Blurb -

Originally published as a pamphlet in 1979 and again by Pluto in 1980, In and Against the State brought together questions of working class struggle and state power, exploring how revolutionary socialists might reconcile working in the public sector with their radical politics. Informed by autonomist political ideas and practices that were central to the protests of 1968, the book' s authors spoke to a generation of activists wrestling with where to place their energies. Forty years have passed, yet the questions it posed are still to be answered. Socialist activists continue to face a wave of Tory-led austerity measures involving hospital closures, a deepening housing crisis and attacks on social welfare provision. However, a new form of politics is emerging in the shadow of the neoliberal assault, one that may yet provide solutions. This edition includes a new introduction by Seth Wheeler and an interview with John McDonnell that reflect on the continuing relevance of In and Against the State and the questions it raises.