Sounds like Paul Foot was ultimately a Pom, but that couldn't be helped. Some are just born that way.

Wonder what he thought of the fall of Soviet bloc communism and increasing capitalism in China by the early 90s?

To hold hopes of world revolution after those reversals of socialism surely shows departure from reality.

Lifetstyle determines belief. Most journalist like leftist pollies are happy to live the capitalist life styles they so decry.

Hi Plantagenet

Foot was a Trotskyite, so the demise of the Soviet Union and the revelations about its brutality would not have surprised him in the least. Trotskyists’ loathing for capitalism is surpassed only by their loathing for the Stalinist “mainstream” Communist Parties. The fierceness of the sectarian rivalries of the far left is astonishing. An ex-Pom myself (will you allow such a thing?), I remember the battles on the left in the 1970s and 1980s between “Trots” and “Tankies” (who supported the Soviets sending tanks into Hungary, tanks into Czechoslovakia …)

I didn’t share Foot’s politics, but I had great respect for him as a journalist

So he didn't shoot himself in the Foot ?

Hi Rhian

Your ex Pommism is excused - partly because I'm about 90% Pom blood with ancestors settling in Australia since 1860.

To the "clean because never ruled" Trotskyites (like Greens?) and pro-Tank Stalinists (Putin?) can be added the "mystical Oriental" Maoists. All three groups seem to be following historical reality towards extinction due to their inherent ideological contradictions.

I think in the case of China the Maoists are natural bedfellows of the rising Chinese Capitalists. Both groups rate materialism and Capital as important forces. I don't know if both groups now tacitly admit their bedfellow status?

Pete