The scope and content of BA’s leadership is reflected in his extensive body of work which includes more than a hundred articles, books, films and audio recordings. BA’s collected works are available at www.revcom.us/avakian and through The Bob Avakian Institute, TheBobAvakianInstitute.org.
The following are a few key works that provide an introduction to the body of work of BA and a deeper understanding of the core elements of the new synthesis of communism:
BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian (Chicago: RCP Publications, 2011). Available as a free eBook at revcom.us.
THE NEW COMMUNISM—The science, the strategy, the leadership for an actual revolution, and a radically new society on the road to real emancipation (Chicago: Insight Press, 2016). Insight-press.com.
Available as a PDF at revcom.us and TheBobAvakianInstitute.org.
Written by Bob Avakian, this work is described by the publisher as ‟a masterwork and a master class—it is a living laboratory of the new synthesis of communism developed by Bob Avakian. It is also striking in its ability to combine high level revolutionary communist theory and modeling of revolutionary leadership with a visceral, colloquial and passionate style that will resonate with and be accessible to a wide variety of readers.ˮ
Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America
(Draft Proposal) Authored by Bob Avakian, and adopted by the Central Committee of the RCP (Chicago: RCP Publications, 2010)
Available as a PDF at revcom.us and TheBobAvakianInstitute.org
The Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America is a visionary and concrete application of the new synthesis of communism. It provides a sweeping vision and concrete blueprint for the day after a revolution has established a socialist state.
BREAKTHROUGHS, The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism. A Basic Summary (Chicago: Insight Press, 2021) Insight-press.com. Published as an eBook and in PDF. Available as a PDF at revcom.us and at TheBobAvakianInstitute.org
BREAKTHROUGHS is a distilled discussion of the theory, strategic orientation and objectives of the communist movement as this was developed from the time of Marx and with its further development and synthesis with the new communism. It is a “basic summary,” rather than an attempt at a complete and final summary, because the development of the new communism is a work in progress, an important part of which is continuing to learn from and further synthesize what has come before, in the first great wave of communist revolution, beginning with the historic breakthrough by Marx.
“SOMETHING TERRIBLE,
OR SOMETHING TRULY EMANCIPATING:
Profound Crisis, Deepening Divisions,
The Looming Possibility Of Civil War—
And The Revolution That Is Urgently Needed
A Necessary Foundation, A Basic Roadmap For This Revolution” (2021)
Available at revcom.us and at TheBobAvakianInstitute.org
“REVOLUTION: A REAL CHANCE TO WIN” (2023)
A five part series of articles:
Part 1: We Are Serious
Part 2: A Scientifically Based Strategy
Part 3: Civil War and Revolution
Part 4: Hard Core Youth and the Revolution
Part 5: Winning and Winning
Available at revcom.us and TheBobAvakianInstitute.org.
BA Speaks: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS! Bob Avakian Live. Film of a talk given in 2012. For more on this film, to order the DVD set or to watch it online, go to revcom.us.
From Ike to Mao and Beyond
My Journey from Mainstream America to Revolutionary Communist: A Memoir by Bob Avakian
(Chicago: Insight Press, 2006). Insight-press.com.
“The New Synthesis of Communism: Fundamental Orientation, Method and Approach, and Core Elements—An Outline”
Available at revcom.us and TheBobAvakianInstitute.org.
This outline, written by BA in 2015, provides a basic sense of the scope, and of the essential scientific method and approach and strategic orientation and core elements, that mark the new synthesis as a further, qualitative development of communism. The outline is divided into four sections. Each section has core elements with a brief description, along with key works that can be studied to gain a deep understanding of the new synthesis. The main points of this outline are:
- Method and Approach: Communism as a Science—Further Development of Dialectical Materialism
- Internationalism
- The Strategic Approach to Revolution, Particularly in Imperialist Countries Such as the U.S.—But with Implications More Generally
- Building the New Society, Advancing to a New World
Away With All Gods! Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World
(Chicago: Insight Press, 2008) Insight-press.com
SCIENCE AND REVOLUTION: On the Importance of Science and the Application of Science to Society, the New Synthesis of Communism and the Leadership of Bob Avakian, An Interview with Ardea Skybreak (Chicago: Insight Press, 2015) Insight-press.com
Read a PDF online at revcom.us or TheBobAvakianInstitute.org
In the early part of 2015, over a number of days, Revolution [website/newspaper] conducted a wide-ranging interview with Ardea Skybreak, a scientist with professional training in ecology and evolutionary biology. Skybreak, a critical thinker with curiosity about the world and heart for humanity, is someone who based on her scientific and political inclinations developed a deep appreciation for BA and became a follower of BA. In this interview Skybreak brings alive what is most fundamental and pivotal in the new synthesis of communism—the scientific method and approach of BA. Skybreak also explores and argues for other key elements of the new synthesis. In accessible language and with revolutionary élan this interview makes the argument for why the new synthesis of communism and the leadership of BA matters to the future of humanity.