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.