British imperialism, the oldest imperialist power, is in the throes of a deep economic and political crisis. Its economic and political interests are threatened by the international banking crisis, the growing inter-imperialist rivalries and the challenge to British imperialism from anti-imperialist movements throughout the world -- in particular from the Republican Movement in Ireland, and SWAPO and the ANC in Southern Africa.

In Britain, in these early stages of the crisis, British imperialism faces the challenge from the most oppressed sections of the working class, black and immigrant workers, particularly the youth.

In 1981 the British state faced the most serious political confrontation since the beginning of the crisis. The youth rose up throughout British cities in the spring and summer of 1981 and fought the racist British police on the streets with stones and petrol bombs. The lead of the most oppressed will eventually be followed by other workers as unemployment and cuts in public expenditure threaten to drive millions of families into dire poverty.

British imperialism will face a revolutionary challenge from within as new forces of revolution emerge in Britain itself.