The Center for Economic Research and Social Change (CERSC) is dedicated to a better understanding of today's world, and helping to put forward the vision of a better future. Our central goal is education. By highlighting alternative voices, especially those that have pushed to the margins, we hope to contribute to a greater insight and awareness of the injustices that exist in society, and the many efforts at the grassroots to right these wrongs. The Center's projects include the book publisher Haymarket Books, the bimonthly magazine International Socialist Review, and the annual Socialism educational conference. We hope you'll support the activities of the Center by clicking on the links below to find out more about these projects.

Haymarket Books is a progressive book distributor and publisher. We believe that activists need to take ideas, history and politics into the many struggles for social justice today. We take inspiration and courage from our namesakes, the Haymarket Martyrs, who gave their lives in 1886, fighting for the eight hour day and a better world. As August Spies, one of the Martyrs who was targeted for being an immigrant and an anarchist, said: “If you think that by hanging us you can stamp out the labor movement,” Spies told the judge, “then hang us. Here you will tread upon a spark, but here, and there, and behind you, and in front of you, and everywhere, the flames will blaze up. It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out. The ground is on fire upon which you stand.”

Socialism is the name of the annual weekend conference sponsored by CERSC, usually in June of each year. More than 1,000 people attend the three days of events to debate, discuss and decide how to change the world. Some 100 plenary sessions and workshops take up topics ranging from today's struggles to the socialist tradition to political theory-speakers include many of the best-known progressive authors and activists from around the U.S. and across the world.