In the latter part of the 20th century, a determined Irish Trotskyist was sincerely believed by a group of radical socialists to be the one who would guide the British working class to political authority. Aidan Beatty’s insightful and captivating new publication delves into how this unlikely scenario came into being, and ultimately, its downfall.
Gerry Healy, who stands at the centre of this book, was a Galway-born man who spent the majority of his life in England, particularly in London. Healy headed a number of Trotskyist factions, such as “the Club” and the “Workers Revolutionary Party.” The frantic revolutionary and secretive nature of these groups was largely reflective of Healy’s own character. However, the so-called ‘Healyist’ groups were never able to achieve a following that could compete with their Soviet-backed rivals in the Communist Party of Great Britain. Furthermore, the members of Healy’s faction who attempted to secure political positions often failed miserably, with most struggling to muster even a paltry 1% of the vote share.
So how is the narrative of Gerry Healy and his movement pertinent today? According to Beatty, while this book centralizes on ‘Trotskyism’, it also serves as a warning about the potential for misuse of power, a inclination towards autocracy, mistrust and the deification of leaders, issues that affected many militancy groups in the 20th century. Readers are given an insight into how Healy’s leadership and personality allowed paranoia and violence to infiltrate and define his movement. As such, the book paints a much larger picture; how groups intended to advocate for justice and equality can give rise to monstrous outcomes.
Beatty’s comprehensive research and clear writing style turn this narrative into a startling and unexpected piece of well-explained history. About midway through, Beatty mentions, “There are many crimes here, and many victims, but very few heroes.” Like the author, I found this leader and the movement surrounding them to be far from likable. However, Beatty’s meticulous research and knack for highlighting the most intriguing aspects of the story – from accounts of famous followers to disclosures about unexpected alliances in Iraq, Libya and Iran – kept me hooked till the humiliating finale of Gerry Healy’s story.
Short commentary on books: A soothing hypothesis about mortality; and captivating profiles of two notable Irish thespians.
Weekly Verse: July 2024, written by Louis de Paor.
This represents a grim period in Ireland’s history of its fervent expatriates, one worth keeping in mind for adverse reasons. Beatty formulates his deductions confidently and persuasively, marking this as crucial literature for contemporary leftists.
– Maurice J Casey, writer of Hotel Lux: A Personal Account of Communism’s Overlooked Radicals.