I. Communists: Problems of communist history. Radicalism and revolution in Britain French communism. Intellectuals and communism. The dark years of Italian communism. Confronting defeat: the German Communist Party -- II. Anarchists: Bolshevism and the anarchists. The Spanish background. Reflections on anarchism -- III. Marxism: Karl Marx and the British Labour Movement. The dialogue on Marxism. Lenin and the "aristocracy of labour." Revisionism. The principle of hope. The structure of capital. Karl Korsch -- IV. Soldiers and guerrillas: Vietnam and the dynamics of guerrilla war. Civilians versus military in twentieth-century politics. Coup d'état -- V. Insurrectionaries and revolution: Hannah Arendt on revolution. The rules of violence. Revolution and sex. Cities and insurrections. May 1968. Intellectuals and the class struggle.