Tariq Ali is a British-Pakistani historian and author whose work primarily delves into political and historical subjects. His novels and non-fiction writings are characterized by incisive analyses of contemporary global events and a profound understanding of historical contexts. Ali's style is noted for its critical sharpness and its ability to connect complex societal phenomena with personal narratives. His works provoke reflection on the nature of power, ideology, and international relations.
This memoir offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a prominent political activist, reflecting on transformative experiences and pivotal moments from the 1960s. The author delves into personal struggles, social movements, and the quest for justice, providing a compelling narrative that intertwines personal anecdotes with broader historical contexts. Through vivid storytelling, the memoir captures the essence of activism and the enduring impact of the sixties on contemporary society.
Set against the backdrop of political upheaval, this memoir chronicles the transformative journey of a young individual who becomes deeply engaged in revolutionary activities. It explores themes of identity, social justice, and the quest for change, detailing the personal struggles and ideological awakenings that shape the protagonist's beliefs. Through vivid storytelling, the author offers insights into the motivations behind activism and the impact of historical events on personal growth, making it a compelling read for those interested in the intersection of youth and political movements.
The revolutionary world leader’s extraordinary life, published for the centenary of Lenin’s death Commissioned by Oliver Stone in 2015 to commemorate the Russian Revolution, Tariq Ali’s captivating screenplay of the life and times of Vladimir Lenin puts flesh on the bones of the historical record and gets its pulse racing. From the author of The Dilemmas of Lenin, the drama captures the enigma of its central character. Ali shows Lenin in his rush from Switzerland to Petrograd by train to grasp his moment in history and the force of his personality on the tumult he found there. He made a revolution and remade a nation. Interwoven with the politics is an exploration of Lenin’s personal life, especially his love for Inessa Armand. In the introduction, Ali argues that, despite the difficulties, a serious cinematic assessment of Lenin is still needed. Unfortunately, two very different attempts to film one failed. This first draft provides the basis for something on a grander scale at some stage in the future. Praise for The Dilemmas of Lenin ‘Aims to rescue Lenin from both liberal caricature and Soviet hag- iography by recovering the realism and dynamism of his political thought’ David Sessions, Nation ‘An incredibly powerful, panoramic, and insightful study of the central revolutionary figure of the twentieth century’ Paul LeBlanc, author of Lenin and the Revolutionary Party
The life and crimes of the last, great Imperialist
The BBC commissioned Tariq Ali to write a three-part TV series on the circumstances leading to the overthrow, trial and execution of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the first elected prime minister of Pakistan. As rehearsals were about to begin, the BBC hierarchy--under pressure from the Foreign Office--decided to cancel the project. Why? General Zia ul Haq, the dictator at the time, was leading the jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. He was backed by the USA. According to expert legal opinion, there was a possibility of a whole range of defamation suits from the head of state to judges involved in the case. In consequence, it was decided not to broadcast this hard-hitting and provocative play. The Leopard and the Fox presents both the script and the story of censorship.
Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) is considered one of the great rationalist thinkers of the seventeenth century. His magnum opus, Ethics, in which he criticized the dualism of Descartes, solidified his reputation and greatly influenced the Enlightenment thinkers who would build from his work. Born in Amsterdam into a family of Sephardic Jews who had to take refuge there after they were expelled from Portugal, the precocious young scholar imbibed skepticism at an early age. By the time he was twenty-four, he had challenged what he called the “fairy tales” of the Old Testament and was excommunicated by the Synagogue. In this biographical play, Tariq Ali contextualizes Spinoza’s philosophy by linking it to the turbulent politics of the period, in which Spinoza was deeply involved. Ali originally wrote The Trials of Spinoza as part of a series on philosophy for British Channel Four television, and this publication also includes a DVD of that original television production. This work will be welcomed as a testament to the continuing interest in and relevance of Spinoza’s work and as an example of Ali’s eloquent and always politically engaged writing.
During the late Seventies and Eighties a new logo began to jostle for space with the more traditional landmarks on high streets throughout Britain. It was the badge of a remarkable Third World Bank...the BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International). BCCI soon become a global corporate empire with former US Presidents, ex-British Prime Ministers and a range of dictators on its payroll, all helping with promoting the company. Tariq Ali was the first public voice to warn that the Bank was not all it seemed to be. Indeed, many of its own employees called BCCI the "Bank of Crooks and Cheats Incorporated". Some political analysts also predicted the company ́s collapse. The Bank finally imploded amidst a welter of scandal. This revealing screenplay presents an account of the rise and fall of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. Here, Ali reveals how BCCI lasted so long, how financial regulators failed to see what was going on and how BCCI pioneered a mode of operation that prepared the way for an even greater financial cataclysm, the fall of Enron.
Who killed Mrs Gandhi? We know the name of the assassins, but did they act alone? In this fictional filmscript, Tariq Ali suggests that larger forces were at work, exploiting genuine Sikh grievances to settle their own score with a prime minister who, whatever her faults, was fiercely independent of Washington and safeguarded Indian sovereignty with a zeal inherited from her father. Provocative and suggestive, this script planned as the second of a series was never completed. The Assassination is published here for the first time and completes Ali's trilogy, with The Leopard and The Fox and A Banker For All Seasons.
Tariq Ali has not lost the passion and vim which made him a symbol of the spirit of '68 ... has not seen fit to join forces with the terminally cynical, or set up a graven god that can be accused of failing ... Ali has spent much of his life documenting America as the arsenal of counter-revolution. -Christopher Hitchens, Observer We need to remember the sixties, and Tariq Ali's book is valuable and well presented evidence of the time ... as Ali points out the transition from revolutionary to arch-conservative is nothing new ... we may frequently have been misguided, but nothing is sadder than a generation without a cause. -John Mortimer, Sunday Times Has me rapt on the hearthrug, peering into the embers of memory ... the memoir proposes that the overriding themes were the confrontation with US imperialism ... the efforts of a generation to shake off the shackles of social-democracy and conduct war on capitalism à l'outrance. -Alexander Cockburn, Guardian Street Fighting Years is readable, informative and also inspirational ... the recollections of a person who has remained true to himself. -Sydney Morning Herald
Pakistan 1968: the history of a revolution The story of what happened in 1968 in Pakistan is often forgotten, but is proof of a global revolutionary moment. In that year, following years of tumult, a radical coalition - led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - brought down the military presidency of Ayub Khan. Students took on the state apparatus of a corrupt and decaying military dictatorship backed by the US. They were joined by workers, lawyers, white-collar employees, and despite the severe repression, they took hold of power. Through a series of strikes, demonstrations and political organising a popular uprising was born. In his riveting account of these events, Tariq Ali offers an eye witness perspective to history, showing that this powerful popular movement was one of the most revolutionary moments of the twentieth century. The victory led to the very first elections in the country, and the birth of a modern nation.