Organizing Insurgency: Workers Movements in the Global South - Review of book by Immanuel Ness!

How can working class gains obtained in struggle from employers be secured more permanently? How can capitalism be challenged successfully on a road towards a socialist future? In his book Organizing Insurgency: Workers Movements inthe Global South (Pluto Press, 2021), Immanuel Ness is clear in his answer. Workers require a more permanent organization, including a strong trade union and political party: “If workers form a strong revolutionary organizational force, that resistance will be sustained and far more successful” (p. 62). In other words, working class power is reflected in strong organization. According to Ness, “[c]lass struggle is inevitable, but working-class power requires the strength of organization of a union and political party to advance and consolidate its interests” (p. 100). In this review, I will highlight several key contributions of the volume, but also make some critical observations.