80 years ago, on May 15, 1943, Stalin dissolved the Communist International. This anniversary is an opportunity to explore key theoretical and historical questions that led to the Comintern's degeneration. In this three-part series, John Peterson digs deeper into the differences between genuine Bolshevism and Leninism, and its bureaucratic opposites of Zinovievism and Stalinism. Read the article on this topic: srev.org/comintern-degeneration . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.o...
May 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 71
Our comrade Tom Trottier was interviewed by Joe Attard from our international headquarters in London about the exciting developments in the US labor movement. We are borrowing this content from the International Marxist Radio podcast—all their weekly episodes are available at podcast.marxist.com . Read our interview of Chris Smalls: srev.org/chris-smalls . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
May 01, 2023•48 min•Ep. 70
More fuel has been poured into the dumpster fire of US politics. For the first time in history, criminal charges have been filed against a former president of the United States. The fact that Trump is the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination sends the country even deeper into “unprecedented” and “uncharted” waters as the crisis of the regime intensifies. Editorial for issue 39 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Join the fight ...
Apr 12, 2023•20 min•Ep. 69
In this episode, comrades Erica L and Josh Bennett talk about piracy, poverty, and why it's so difficult to make it as an artist under capitalism. Above all, they explore who is to blame for these problems, and how they can be addressed in a socialist society. Read the article: srev.org/capitalism-artists . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join . Watch the video "IMT vs. TPUSA": srev.org/imt-vs-tpusa . Booklet on "Art and the Class Struggle": marxistbooks.com/booklet-art ....
Mar 20, 2023•49 min•Ep. 68
The sad attempt at provoking a new Red Scare in Washington doesn’t have any serious traction. But the communists are, indeed, coming. They’re coming, not to reform capitalism, but to abolish it. Editorial for issue 38 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join .
Mar 06, 2023•13 min•Ep. 67
Marxists understand that mistakes in theory can lead to catastrophes in practice, and the Finnish Revolution is one of the most tragic examples. In this final episode, John Peterson explains how the White terror drowned the revolution in blood after the Social-Democratic leaders' vacillation prevented the working class from seizing power. Intro music: Finnish revolutionary song "Punaorvon Vala" ( youtu.be/VF3XqDQCPZA ). Read the article on this topic: srev.org/finnish-revolution . Join the fight...
Feb 15, 2023•32 min•Ep. 66
The second episode of this podcast series explores how, inspired by the Russian Revolution, the Finnish workers rose up and gained the upper hand on the streets and in the factories. Even though the revolution had broad support among the population, the Social-Democratic party leaders derailed the mass workers' struggle into parliamentary and constitutional channels. Intro music: Finnish revolutionary song "Punaorvon Vala" ( youtu.be/VF3XqDQCPZA ). Read the article on this topic: srev.org/finnis...
Feb 08, 2023•31 min•Ep. 65
Commonly referred to as the Finnish Civil War, the Finnish Revolution of 1917–18 is a proud chapter in the history of the international working class. Tragically, despite the tremendous energy expended by the masses, the forces of counterrevolution defeated the working class and drained the revolution in blood. What lessons can we draw from this experience? In this three-part series, Socialist Revolution editor John Peterson provides a Marxist overview and analysis of these events. Intro music: ...
Jan 31, 2023•24 min•Ep. 64
Wherever you look, it's doom and gloom for the serious analysts of capitalism. Combustible material is piled high everywhere, and any number of potential sparks will eventually set it alight. Editorial for issue 37 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join .
Jan 23, 2023•12 min•Ep. 63
This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USSR. In this episode, John Peterson provides a brief history and background on the USSR, what it was, and what it achieved—and why it was hated by the capitalist world. Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join . Reading list: The Revolution Betrayed (Leon Trotsky). Stalin (Leon Trotsky). If America Should Go Communist (Leon Trotsky). The History of the Russian Revolution (...
Dec 27, 2022•42 min•Ep. 62
What is the meaning of the "culture war"? Why is this racist, sexist, transphobic right-wing frenzy being whipped up, and is there an effective way to cut across it? In this talk from the 2022 NYC Marxist School, Laura Brown provides a perspective for how the working class can fight against these right-wing attacks and struggle collectively to end all forms of oppression. Watch full video here: bit.ly/vClassWar . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
Dec 17, 2022•49 min•Ep. 61
After a period of ebb in the class struggle, the US labor movement is taking the initial steps to reclaim the militant traditions of the past. In this talk from the 2022 NYC Marxist School, Mark Rahman provides an overview of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and draws on the lessons of this inspiring period of US history referred to as the "labor wars." Watch full video here: bit.ly/strike1877 . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
Dec 10, 2022•56 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, we take a look at how the impasse of capitalism is paving the way for a revolution in the US. This talk by Socialist Revolution editor Antonio Balmer was one of the sessions from the 2022 NYC Marxist School. This event brought together 130 socialists from across the US Northeast, Canada, and Puerto Rico, for a weekend of discussions on revolutionary theory and strategy. Watch full video here: bit.ly/us-revolution . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
Dec 06, 2022•53 min•Ep. 59
The inspiring struggles in Iran today are waking people up to the revolutionary potential of the Iranian working class. In this episode of Socialist Revolution podcast, we aim to provide an objective portrayal of what actually happened in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which is quite different from the stereotypes shown in the movies and on TV. Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join .
Nov 29, 2022•31 min•Ep. 58
With the 2022 midterms more or less behind us, the opening shots of the next presidential election campaign are already being fired. While the results shed some light on some processes, the political waters are, in many ways, even muddier than before. Editorial for issue 36 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Read article online: srev.org/2022-us-midterms . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
Nov 11, 2022•28 min•Ep. 57
The US government recently released a report on the horrific abuses in the American Indian boarding schools. While some seek to mend these travesties via “reconciliation” with the American government, Marxists believe that only a socialist revolution can lay the basis for genuine reparations for the genocide and oppression suffered at the hands of the capitalist state. Read the article: bit.ly/indian-schools . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
Nov 05, 2022•13 min•Ep. 56
Judging by the liberal press, the only way forward for humanity is to ensure the Democrats maintain control of Congress in the midterms. But an even more urgent crisis faces our species: climate change. Editorial for issue 35 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join .
Sep 29, 2022•11 min•Ep. 55
What is the Marxist position on mutual aid? Can it play a role in transforming society? What political tasks should revolutionaries prioritize today? In this round table discussion, Socialist Revolution editors Antonio Balmer, Bryce Gordon, and Tom Trottier take up some of these questions and more to clarify our views on the important topic of socialist strategy. FAQ Article: srev.org/faq-mutual-aid . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join ....
Sep 19, 2022•59 min•Ep. 54
Only the conscious efforts of the working class can ensure the victory of the world socialist revolution and bring order out of capitalism's chaos. Editorial for issue 34 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join .
Aug 02, 2022•11 min•Ep. 53
The US Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 decision protecting a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction. While this is a particularly egregious attack against working-class women, it is part of a broader assault on basic democratic rights and an attack on all workers and oppressed people. Editorial for issue 33 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe . Join the fight for sociali...
Jun 12, 2022•12 min•Ep. 52
With capitalism in its death agony, the world is experiencing turmoil: from the war in Ukraine, to the unresolved pandemic, to runaway inflation, and the threat of a new recession. In the following talk from the April national conference of Socialist Appeal, Fred Weston explains the fundamental driving factors of this crisis and how it is transforming consciousness, preparing the ground for an era of revolutionary upheaval. Watch video of the talk: srev.org/video-world-in-crisis . Join Socialist...
Jun 06, 2022•47 min•Ep. 51
The Supreme Court’s position on Roe v. Wade would ban abortion access for millions of people in the US. This attack on abortion rights is a stark wake up call for all workers—an injury to one is an injury to all! In this episode, Laura Brown of Socialist Revolution discusses with Joel Bergman of Fightback. Episode republished from Fightback , the Canadian section of the International Marxist Tendency. Join the fight for socialism in our lifetime: srev.org/join...
May 11, 2022•58 min•Ep. 50
Our comrade outlines her journey from feminism to a revolutionary, communist struggle against women's oppression. This is part of an ongoing series on membership in the IMT, in which comrades explain what drove them to reject the capitalist system and embrace revolutionary Marxism. Read the full article: bit.ly/feminism-marxism .
Apr 06, 2022•13 min•Ep. 49
As the war in Ukraine drags into a new month, revolutionary Marxists must be crystal clear on the fundamental class dynamics of the situation. Lurking behind the lofty lies and rhetoric, the cruise missiles and the artillery, lie the class interests of the capitalists: the pursuit of markets, spheres of influence, natural resources, labor power, and profits. Editorial for issue 32 of Socialist Revolution. Subscribe to the magazine: srev.org/subscribe ....
Mar 29, 2022•11 min•Ep. 48
In this episode, Antonio Balmer discusses the polarized debate over Critical Race Theory, the history of the mass struggles against racism in the US, and the fight against racism today. Read our article on this topic: bit.ly/marxism-crt . The episode is based on a session at the 2022 Montreal Marxist Winter School ....
Mar 22, 2022•40 min•Ep. 47
Since 2021, 137 bills have been proposed limiting what schools can teach. What does this say about the capitalists' confidence in their system? Editorial for issue 31 of Socialist Revolution magazine. Subscribe to our magazine: srev.org/subscribe .
Mar 08, 2022•8 min•Ep. 46
Postmodernism is an amorphous philosophical school of thought that has grown to become one of the dominant schools of bourgeois philosophy. This article, first published in the IMT’s theoretical journal, In Defence of Marxism , is the first in a series of articles analyzing the different aspects of postmodernism from a Marxist perspective. Read it on our website at bit.ly/marxpomo .
Mar 04, 2022•58 min•Ep. 45
The war in Ukraine, with the human misery and death it will cause, is a stark reminder of the sharp and sudden changes we will continue to see in this epoch of capitalist crisis—which coincides with the relative decline of US imperialism. Read the full article: bit.ly/war-ukraine .
Feb 28, 2022•17 min•Ep. 44
A tidal wave of class anger is building just beyond the horizon, and when the tsunami hits, the very shoreline will be transformed. Editorial for issue 30 of Socialist Revolution magazine, read it in full at srev.org/history-aint-over-yet .
Feb 01, 2022•12 min•Ep. 43
By harnessing the colossal potential of science and technology, freeing them from the chains of private ownership and the nation state, it will be possible to solve all the problems that oppress our world and threaten it with destruction. Read the article on our website: bit.ly/whymarx .
Jan 25, 2022•22 min•Ep. 42
