Peter Lamb

Peter Lamb

@peterlamb1.bsky.social

I write about socialism, Marxism, International relations theory etc. Recent books: Historical Dictionary of Socialism, 4th ed (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024); Harold Laski, the Reluctant Marxist (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).

3.2K followers1.5K following609 posts

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Important contribution to democratic theory, making the case that an active role for workers is crucial to the success of workplace democracy, but also that the latter can only go so far without real economic democracy, which requires capitalist control of society to be restricted effectively.

Political Studies@polstudies.bsky.social

Can workplace democracy exist in practice or do democratic organisations inevitably devolve into new hierarchies? @timchristiaens.bsky.social argues channels for plebeian contestation from below are needed to withhold the formation of new hierarchies. OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/c0RacFk #polsky #polsci

buff.lyPlebeian cooperativism: Reconciling workplace democracy with the iron law of oligarchy - Tim Christiaens, 2026Worker cooperatives are often lauded as the ideal institutional form of workplace democracy. While the traditional firm subjects workers to hierarchical authori...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

An important resource for researchers and students in labour movement history.

MJ Herbert@mjherbert.bsky.social

"All help possible will be given" tells the story of the Manchester and Salford Women's Trades Union Council , 1895 to 1919 www.lulu.com/shop/bernade...

lulu.com"All help possible will be given"The Manchester and Salford Women’s Trades Union Council was established in 1895 to organise women into trade unions, and lasted until 1919. The Council employed organisers such as Sarah Dickenson, Eva...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Originally published in 1974, Harry Braverman's book Labour and Monopoly Capitalism is still relevant, interesting, and very readable today. In fact, I think I'll put it on my "to read" list and read it cover to cover again in the near future.

Matt Huber@matthuber.bsky.social

“In reality, machinery embraces a host of possibilities, many of which are thwarted, rather than developed, by capital” (159).

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

I just looked through the 10 titles of the papers. This is excellent, interesting and important work.

Jason Hickel@jasonhickel.bsky.social

Three years ago we started a new ERC-funded project called REAL, with three teams of brilliant researchers. Here are ten exciting papers involving my team that we've published so far, so you can see what we've been up to. And there's much more to come... stay tuned! 🧵

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

I very much enjoyed reading Matt McManus' book *The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism* , which I reviewed for Historical Materialism. My review is available to read online.

Historical Materialism Journal@histmat.bsky.social

Now online: Matthew McManus, *The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism* reviewed by Peter Lamb.

historicalmaterialism.orgLiberal Socialism, Marxism and the Limits of Liberalism - Historical MaterialismThe Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, Matthew McManus, Abingdon: Routledge, 2025. Reviewed by Peter Lamb Introduction Karl Marx engaged in political and intellectual competition with radical libe...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Indeed, Deleuze is an important and interesting philosopher of the left.

Robert W. Luzecky, PhD 🇨🇦@robluzecky.bsky.social

In this collection of essays, scholars analyze key aspects of Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy as it has been developed in his monographs, lectures, articles, and the works co-authored with Félix Guattari. It is difficult to overstate the importance of Deleuze’s thought.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

An important new paper!

Malissa Alinor@malissa-a.bsky.social

My new paper out in Social Forces shows how competency microaggressions—like “diversity hire” comments framed as jokes—shape Black workers’ collaboration in teams. academic.oup.com/sf/advance-a...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

I wonder if in your first sentence we should replace 'substitute for" with "symptom of". By all means argue about the wealth and power of the oligarchic class; but if in the meantime we chip away at the symptoms then surely this is a useful thing to do.

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

Almost everything we argue about is a substitute for the thing we should be arguing about: the immense wealth & power of an oligarchic class, which captures governments, ruins lives and wrecks the living planet. This class redirects our rage at scapegoats. To resist its lies is to resist its power.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This is a very interesting passage. The first three sentences look as though Horkheimer has an awareness of developments in quantum mechanics, and is weaving this into Marxism.

James Crane@jamescrane.bsky.social

Just stumbled on Horkheimer’s notes for the Lenin essay ( 🔗 ⬇️), & there Horkheimer traces his own concept of “the Marxist method” back to: (1) Marx-Engels on the camera obscura in The German Ideology intro (2) Lenin’s 4-pt. def of dialectical logic in the ‘21 “Once Again, On the Trade Unions”!

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This looks like an important article. It explores a crucial aspect of legitimation as a means of consolidating support or at least acceptance by significant sections of the populace.

Anna-Sophie Heinze@asheinze.bsky.social

🎉 New publication 😍 The 4th wave of the #farright is marked by #mainstreaming & #normalisation - but how can we distinguish between them? In our new article, @gefjonoff.bsky.social and I map the existing literature, introduce a conceptual framework & outline research avenues. doi.org/10.1017/S147...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Its refreshing to read cases of justice in today's world: paydayreport.com/rio-police-c...

paydayreport.compaydayreport.com
Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social

"Today, the Brazilian Supreme Court announced that they had convicted the masterminds behind the assassination of socialist Rio de Janeiro City Councilwoman Marielle Franco guilty on all counts." massive news in Brazil today, writeup by @mikeelk.bsky.social paydayreport.com/rio-police-c...

paydayreport.comRio Police Chief & Congressman Convicted in Assassination of Socialist Rio Councilwoman Marielle FrancoThe court found that the former Chief of Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Rivaldo Barbosa, Brazilian Congressman Chiquinho Brazão, and his brother, Rio State Auditor General Domingos Brazão, were responsib...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This makes Gramsci on hegemony as important and significant as ever or, perhaps, more important and significant than ever.

David William with a 'This IS my costume' pin@nrvscrcts.bsky.social

A key concept about generative AI that I try to bring into every educational situation is 'be critical of what the tools generates.' Going forward, I'm rephrasing this concept as 'no cognitive retreat, no cognitive surrender'

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This paper should be read not only by academics researching the far-right in contemporary politics, but also by mainstream politicians.

Teresa Völker@tevoelker.bsky.social

NEW PUBLICATION “How the Media Cordon Sanitaire Crumbles: Lessons from Germany” now out in @prxjournal.bsky.social 🔓 doi.org/10.1080/2474736X.2026.2621808 I’m very happy that this paper is out – this project is particularly important to me.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Rubio's neglect of and disrespect for the indigenous peoples of North America in his speech was disgraceful.

Edward Luce@edwardluce.bsky.social

“While Rubio’s tone was politer than the diatribe delivered by US vice-president JD Vance on the same stage the previous year….the substance of the US message was little changed.” So glad to see clear reporting from my colleagues. www.ft.com/content/9463...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This new book by George B. Radics looks very interesting, innovative and likely to generate much debate.

George B. Radics@georgeradics.bsky.social

It's been a long time coming. After several years of revisions, my book Emotional Filipinos is coming out on April 15th. Please share and retweet! It would really mean a lot to me. Preorder sales available here: ugapress.org/978082037545...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

A problem is that before capitalism eats itself, its vested interests defend it. Sometimes capitalism will resort to authoritarianism to defend itself. So if democracy has to be diluted in order to save capitalism, that is considered a price worth paying. Capitalism avoids eating itself.

Andrew James@a-bluejay.bsky.social

Capitalism eats itself! When nation states can no longer contain the greed of the oligarchs wealth becomes so concentrated it undermines the liquidity of the global economy and corrupts politicians further- vicious circle! www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...

theguardian.com‘The 0.001%’: a quick visual breakdown of the world’s wealthiest peopleAbout 56,000 people control three times as much wealth as half of humanity. Here’s one way to illustrate that
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Good to see Matt McManus' concise revival of R.H. Tawney, whose work was so influential on both Christian and non-Christian socialists.

Matt McManus@mattpolprof.bsky.social

My new piece for @smashmammon.bsky.social introducing R.H Tawney's Christian socialism christiansocialism.com/2025/12/08/h...

christiansocialism.comHas Capitalism Stolen Our Moral Vocabulary? Rediscovering R. H. Tawney’s Christian Socialist Ethics - Institute for Christian SocialismIn an age when capitalism defines virtue as profit, Tawney offers a forgotten moral language and creed for a left that has lost faith in both religion and justice.
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

We see the fascist manipulation of the concept of freedom very starkly If we go back to Italian fascism in the 1920s, where we find Mussolini and the fascist writers Rocco and Gentile arguing that the fascist state determines what freedom is at any particular time in any situation.

Jason Read@jasonread.bsky.social

...The key pleasure they offer is a practice of freedom without accountability, responsibility, or any sense of dependence on the well-being of others. In short, freedom is a promise of impunity as the glimmering hope of a fascist utopia." Zahid R. Chaudhary, Paranoid Publics

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Also listen to Paul Robeson's great rendition of "Joe Hill" www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Kx...

youtube.comPaul Robeson, "Joe Hill"YouTube video by Backroom Window Press
Green and Red Podcast@podcastgreenred.bsky.social

Remembering Joe Hill murdered by the state of Utah #TDIH in 1915. Labor agitator, songwriter & Wobbly. Amongst many others, he wrote the song, "There is Power in a Union." In a last letter to Big Bill Haywood, he said “I die like a true blue rebel. Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize!”

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

I'm always pleased to hear about new work published about the great socialist theorist and activist Harold Laski. Hence, I am delighted to announce the publication of a new monograph in Italian language by the brilliant scholar Pier Giuseppe Puggioni. See www.edizioniets.com/scheda.asp?n...

edizioniets.comL’obbligazione inesistente - Pier Giuseppe Puggioni9788846772787 | L’obbligazione inesistente - Pier Giuseppe Puggioni - Il volume propone una lettura filosofico-giuridica dell’opera dello storico britannico Harold J. Laski (1893-1950), cercando di ri...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

"The fact is that any Bill of Rights depends for its efficacy on the determination of its people that it shall be maintained." This quote from Harold Laski, "LIBERTY IN THE MODERN STATE (1930: p.53) is very topical today.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This is a very good article, making a great point very clearly and concisely.

Mainstream@mainstreamlabour.bsky.social

✍️NEW on the Mainstream blog: Cllr Cai Parry (@caiparry.bsky.social) on 'Why Rachel Reeves Should Implement a Land Value Tax'. Read it here: www.mainstreamlabour.org/blog/why-rac...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Sorry, I meant the Times rather than the Telegraph. So I meant: It was also only three months after Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party and thus leader of the opposition. So wasn't this stuff in the Times in 1975 part of the campaign to unseat the Labour government at the next election?

Peter Lamb@peterlamb1.bsky.social

It was also only three months after Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party and thus leader of the opposition. So wasn't this stuff in the Telegraph part of the campaign to unseat the Labour government at the next election?

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

It was also only three months after Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party and thus leader of the opposition. So wasn't this stuff in the Telegraph part of the campaign to unseat the Labour government at the next election?

Ben Wood@cosmichope.bsky.social

This kind of nostalgia is perhaps a form of what the psychologists call "learned helpless". It's a response to a perceived or real lack of control. We prefer the scripts with which we are familiar rather than engaging with the moving present. The feeling of paralysis is perversely comforting.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

For a good and very readable book on John Ball as a communist see William Morris, A Dream of John Ball www.marxists.org/archive/morr...

marxists.org William Morris - A Dream of John Ball
Loukas Christodoulou@loukas.bsky.social

One of my favorite lines from The Once and Future King is a passing reference to "that preacher John Ball, who says he's a communist." It's a claim that the peasants' revolt of 1389 could be seen in those terms. John Ball said, "when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?"

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Yes, preset hierarchies. The old adage of computing, 'Garbage In Garbage Out', still applies in the world of AI.

Josh Shepperd@joshshepperd.bsky.social

I see a lot of utility for AI, but I’ve stopped using it entirely. It gets things wrong. It’s glib. And AI sorts information and people into preset hierarchies. It’s this latter point that’s giving me the most pause. The current iteration of AI is also a social engineering project.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

The focus of this book on Marx's work on a wide range of parts of the world really makes very clear the worldwide scope of his revolutionary ideas.

Tim Howles@timhowles.bsky.social

“The Late Marx’s Revolutionary Roads: Colonialism, Gender, and Indigenous Communism” Kevin B. Anderson www.versobooks.com/products/325...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Having read the abstract I think this looks like a great article. Perhaps an interesting issue arising from the article is whether, and if so how, the openings mentioned at the end of the abstract will require the left to be ready to win a competition with the right to harness the moral disapproval.

Linus Westheuser@lwestheuser.bsky.social

Proper thread after the summer break– but if you were looking for a beach read about political reasoning in today's working class, look no further: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Yes, indeed, and Marx should also get more credit than he does for saying that such hollow phrases are the foundations of society.

Jo Wolff@jowolff.bsky.social

Marx wrote ‘hollow phrases can be twisted and turned”. I feel he doesn’t get enough credit for this extended metaphor.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Indeed, a key role for the local public sector is important. What is also worth mentioning is that it could be part of Community Wealth Building project, such as that in Preston (which is not far from Manchester).

Patrick Dunleavy@patrickdunleavy.bsky.social

Yet another piece by an apparently blinkered economist that fails to mention the key role of the local public sector (here in Manchester) for any regional “industrial” strategy - for Pete’s sake at least say “economic” strategy, to include services! www.economicsobservatory.com/the-uks-new-...

economicsobservatory.comThe UK’s new industrial strategy: what does it mean for Manchester? - Economics ObservatoryTo succeed, the industrial strategy needs to build strong local ecosystems in places where the eight priority sectors can thrive. The example of Greater Manchester shows why investment must be joined-...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Important research and article.

Julia Snell@snelljulia.bsky.social

New research published in @languageeducation.bsky.social, available open access here (tinyurl.com/bdf262jp) and a short thread on the work below. Many thanks to the reviewers & editors for their feedback and to @leverhulme.ac.uk for funding support.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Indeed, whatever one's political stance and beliefs, this editing of Hansard could make it almost useless as a primary source for historians, especially if they expect it to report parliamentary discussions verbatim.

Dolly Jørgensen@dollyjorgensen.bsky.social

Historians: this is a worrying development. Historians use the Hansard to analyze what was said in parliamentary discussions. If the Hansard is subject to editing out things that are politically unacceptable at the time, we (and future historians) have a problem.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

A person of Hegseth's position should know the US constitution off by heart. Its only a short document after all.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

BALDWIN: What is the authority that the administration is using to deploy active duty Marines to California neighborhoods? HEGSETH: The president has constitutional authority BALDWIN: Cite the provision of the Constitution HEGSETH: I'd have to pull up the specific provision

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

One way to consider this is as follows: Early theorists in a field are not necessarily better or worse than later ones. The early ones are, however important. By reading them we can see ideas the later ones built on, revised etc. So we thus get a fuller understanding of what later ones are saying.

Lee Cicuta@butchanarchy.bsky.social

Tbh I do not understand folks who prefer early theorists in a field (ex: anarchism, philosophy) over modern ones. In my experience most early theorists are worth getting to know in so far as gaining familiarity with them allows me to better understand modern theorists working within that tradition.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

It is very important that these issue concerning the conditions of platform gig workers is being discussed.

Tim Newman@tnewmsblues.bsky.social

New @hrw.org report based of interviews & survey of US-based platform gig workers: “Low wages, algorithmic control and barriers to unionizing trap many workers in economic insecurity, even as multi-billion-dollar companies expand their market share and revenue” www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

hrw.orgUS: Major Companies Violate Gig Workers’ RightsMajor digital labor platforms, also known as gig companies, operating in the United States misclassify gig workers as independent contractors, denying them labor rights.
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Great blog piece (or whatever a piece in a blog is called) by Phil Burton-Cartledge. As I read it I thought the following: Data as bourgeois morality (as Phil suggests) Data often as an important part of a commodity Data as bourgeois morality often involves commodity fetishism.

Phil Burton-Cartledge@philbc3.bsky.social

Data as bourgeois morality

averypublicsociologist.blogspot.comData as Bourgeois MoralityData pervades everything. For those of us whose employment does not produce data, our consumption does as phones, computers, televisions, an...
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This new book by Emma Amador looks brilliant!

Emma Amador@emmaamador.bsky.social

My book is in print! Yay! 🎉 The official publication date is May 20th, but a few copies arrived today from @dukepress.bsky.social. Thanks to everyone that helped me tell these stories! I am posting a link yo the book and a 30% discount code below.

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

This new book looks great. I've just read the description. Were I still running my MA Foreign Policy Analysis module, which followed me into retirement, I would certainly be updating the module and using this book.

Nikki Ikani@nikki-ikani.bsky.social

How does the EU change its foreign policy course? My book "Crisis and Change in EU Foreign Policy" is out now in paperback. Eery timing as Europe is scrambling to respond to its biggest security challenge since WWII. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182586/ ‪@manchesterup.bsky.social‬

Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Yes, fascism uses myths as a means to gain and build support. If science conflicts with their myths, it is science that gives way. Lets remember this on International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Dr Zoë Ayres@zjayres.bsky.social

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a reminder to not close your eyes and turn away from what is happening in the US right now. Fascism is an assault on scientific integrity, knowledge, and innovation. www.chron.com/news/space/a...

chron.comNASA to wipe mentions of women, Indigenous people from websitesNASA employees told to remove mentions of women, indigenous people, and environmental justice from websites.
Peter Lamb
@peterlamb1.bsky.social

Great words in a Guardian editorial today. Trump, the editorial suggests, "postures like a monarch because he's too weak to govern as a president." Add Discuss after the quote and I think that would be a brilliant exam question.