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Marxist Voice

Revolutionary Communist Partycommunist.red
Marxist Voice is the official podcast of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in Britain. We discuss Marxist theory, revolutionary history, and current events. Head to our website for daily news and analysis, as well as links to join and support the party, and to subscribe to our various publications.
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Episodes

Mao Zedong: His life, legacy, and limits

There is no doubt that the Chinese revolution is one of the greatest events in human history. It freed China from the shackles of imperialism after a heroic, decades-long struggle. This revolution was the fruit of the tremendous determination and spirit of sacrifice of the Chinese masses. And at the head of this movement was Mao Zedong. Since Mao’s death, capitalism in China has been gradually restored by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bureaucracy. Mao is seen to have led a struggle against ‘...

Apr 21, 202654 min

The Chartist Revolution

“Let there be no blinking the question. These are not the times to be nice about mere words: the fact is that there is but one mode of obtaining the Charter, and that is by insurrection .” George Julian Harney Chartism was the first time ever that British workers fixed their eyes on the seizure of political power: in 1839, 1842 and again in 1848. In this struggle, they conducted a class war that at different times involved general strikes, battles with the state, mass demonstrations and even arm...

Apr 14, 202652 min

The Easter Rising of 1916

The Easter Rising of 1916 is one of the most inspiring events in Irish revolutionary history. The rising saw Europe’s first Red Army, the Irish Citizen’s Army, fight the forces of British Imperialism on the streets of Dublin and sacrifice their lives for the cause of a free Ireland for the Irish workers and poor. When Lenin got news of the Rising, he criticised those who wrote it off as a ‘putsch’ saying ‘Whoever expects a ‘pure’ social revolution will never live to see it. Such a person pays li...

Apr 07, 202643 min

The Reformation: religion, revolution and the rise of the bourgeoisie

“The long fight of the bourgeoisie against feudalism culminated in three great, decisive battles. The first was what is called the Protestant Reformation…” Engels When Martin Luther pinned his ninety-five thesis to the door of a church he set in motion a struggle on a scale that he did not foresee nor desire. Starting as a theological debate on doctrine, it became an ideological struggle against the Roman Catholic Church, and from there a series of revolutions, wars and civil wars. This explosiv...

Mar 31, 202647 min

For an independent revolutionary art: Marxism and Surrealism

Surrealism was a revolutionary artistic movement founded in 1922 and led by writer and poet André Breton. The movement produced and influenced a galaxy of the 20th centuries finest artists. Surrealist artwork deals in the bizarre and the strange. On the surface, it can seem as if this is all it is - though, it stands for something much deeper. In this talk, Will Collins from the RCP Central Committee explains how surrealism grew out of the general feeling of malaise and anger that existed across...

Mar 24, 202644 min

How to end women's oppression

Sunday March 8th marked International Working Women's Day. This day was created by Socialists and Communists to highlight the role of working women under capitalism and in overthrowing it. Communists have always been at the forefront of the struggle against women's oppression. But what is it that we actually say on this topic? How can women's oppression be overthrown? In this talk from Revolution Festival 2025, Manon Powrie, leading RCP member, spoke on this topic.

Mar 10, 202643 min

How do Marxists view history?

From the comfort of their cosy armchairs and university lecterns, the well-learned professors of bourgeois academia throw all manner of wild accusations at the Marxist view of history. Fatalistic, teleological, economically deterministic, class reductionist, Messianic... there’s no end to the high-sounding mutilations that Marx’s ideas receive at the hands of their adversaries. But these are all misunderstandings, distortions, and lies. The Marxist method of historical materialism is, in reality...

Mar 03, 202649 min

The British General Strike: A Communist History

Hear the author of A Communist History of the British General Strike talk on the contents of his new book. And order your copy of the book. In May 1926 the working class of Britain moved in its millions. Whispers of a new world — one run by the workers, without the need for bosses, bankers or politicians — were in the air. Britain, an island supposedly lacking in revolutionary traditions, was on the brink of an almighty upheaval. For nine days, British workers defied the state and their employer...

Feb 24, 202653 min

Does Britain have free speech?

Questions of free speech and state repression have reared over the recent period. The right wing cynically uses the idea of free speech to pretend figures like Farage are being silenced. In reality, however, those defending the needs of capitalism and the status quo are given all the free speech they need. In the mean time, elderly protestors have been arrested for standing against genocide. Last week the High Court ruled that Palestine Action could no longer be brandished as terrorism, coming a...

Feb 17, 202644 min

Year One of the Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution was the greatest event in human history, where the workers took power into their hands and grasped the state. But revolution is never a one act drama, it is a transition from one mode of production into another. This means that the revolution does not create socialism or communism overnight. The was abundantly clear in Russia, with its underdeveloped economy. This was the topic of a discussion at the latest Central Committee meeting of the Revolutionary Communist Party. Li...

Feb 10, 20261 hr 1 min

Sudan: From Revolution to Barbarism

Friedrich Engels once said 'bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism.' In many countries, this barbarism is already upon us. This is the topic of the latest In Defence of Marxism magazine. Here we share the author of the lead article, Thomas Soud, discussing his lead article on the Sudanese revolution and counter revolution of 2019. If you would like to get your own copy of this magazine, click here....

Feb 03, 202641 min

Imperialism in the Middle East

The middle east has been the playground of western imperialism for decades. With tensions raising in Iran, and western imperialism attempting to use this for its own gains, it is the job of communists to understand the role of imperialism in this region. For this reason, we publish here Lubna Badi's talk from Revolution Festival 2025. Lubna is a Central Committee member of the RCP who regularly writes and speaks on the middle east. If you would like to learn more on this topic we reccomend readi...

Jan 27, 202639 min

Europe in crisis: How the working class can win

In September and October 2025, 2 million workers came to the streets of Italy to fight against the genocide in Palestine. This is representative of the crisis in Europe which has plagued the European working class in 2025. It is clear that actions such as these in Italy are the way forward. We have uploaded this talk by Jorge Martin, RCI International Secretariat member, from our Revolution Festival last year, which covers the current crisis in Europe and how to fight it. Here we also link an ar...

Jan 19, 202651 min

Monopolies and imperialism

2026 has started with an almighty imperialist bang. Given the current actions of US imperialism, kidnapping the president of Venezuela and threatening the rest of Latin America and Greenland, it is clear that imperialism is something communists must understand. Liberal media will tell you that this is the madness of Trump, but we know it is deeper than that. Imperialism does not start or end with the personality traits of its representatives. Rather, it is sewed into the fabric of capitalism. In...

Jan 12, 202643 min

Hands Off Venezuela

On Saturday January 3rd 2026, Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped from his home by the United States. This is a clear act of Western Imperialist aggression which all communists should be opposed to. But why is it happening? What does this mean for US imperialism, world capitalism and countries like Venezuela? Speaking at an open meeting of the RCP in London, Jorge Martin, Secretary of the Hands Off Venezuela campaign and leading member of the RCI, explains the method in this madness. If you would like ...

Jan 08, 202650 min

What do communists say about migration?

Every day the news in the Western world is full of stories about migration. Major political parties are forming their messaging around anti-migrant rhetoric. At the same time, the left is organising protests and holding signs which say 'refugees are welcome here'. But migration didn't come out nowhere, it is a product of capitalisms need for cheap labour and foreign wars. So what is the communist position on this question? At Revolution Festival last year, Fiona Lali from the RCP Executive Commi...

Jan 05, 202653 min

The Origins of Christianity

Merry Christmas! But what is Christmas? What is Christianity, and where did it come from? From a small, radical sect, to the world's most popular religion, spanning from West to East. Here, we republish a talk from 2 years ago given by Alan Woods, theoretical leader of the RCI, on the origins of Christianity. Here, he tracks from the early and radical start of Christianity, through to the bureaucratisation of Christianity and its use to colonise the world. Just a reminder, WellRed Britain is hav...

Dec 22, 202559 min

Shostakovich: The musical voice of the Russian Revolution

From this year's Revolution Festival, Peter Kwasiborski, introduces Shostakovich. Stalin's bureaucracy waged a campaign of hate against artists who defied their narrow doctrine of 'Socialist Realism'. Dmitri Shostakovich's 'Anti-formalist Rayok' lambasts these cultural crimes, and defends the spirit of cultural freedom unleashed by the October Revolution. 🔗 ⁠Head to our website for more analysis on the topic⁠ ✊ ⁠Join the Revolutionary Communist Party⁠ 📰 ⁠Subscribe to The Communist and the In D...

Dec 19, 202543 min

Lenin and Trotsky: What they really stood for

Lenin and Trotsky stand as two of the most slandered men in history. Whether from the bourgeois, or from the Stalinists, their ideas are constantly misappriopriated. Stalinists have spent a century trying to divide Lenin and Trotsky. But was there really any difference between their ideas? In this talk, Olivia Ruadh, RCP Central Committee member, explains the real legacy of Lenin and Trotsky

Dec 15, 202544 min

The Russian Revolution of 1917

Whatever you think of the Russian Revolution, it transformed the 20th century. For us, this event is the greatest in human history. Where the masses not only entered the scene of history but took their lives' into their own hands. This incredible event is rich in lessons for how to overthrow capitalism today. In this talk, Georgina Ryan, RCP Central Committee comrade, gives life to this important year in history. If you want to learn more about 1917, we would recommend these books from WellRed B...

Dec 08, 202544 min

Understanding Marx's Capital

Marx's masterpiece, Das Kapital, is dripping with the most important lessons for humanity to understand. How does capitalism, the system we live under, actually work? What are the contradicitions inherent in how our economy runs, and how does this impact our lives as workers? At Revolution Festival this year, Adam Booth, who has just rewritten his guide to capital, explains Marx's writing for the modern reader. You can purchase Adam's guide here ....

Dec 01, 202544 min

Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution

Recently there has been a renewed effort by the US to clamp down on Venezuela. Given this, we are publishing a talk by Jorge Martin from this year's Revolution Festival on the history of the Bolivarian Revolution and Hugo Chavez. This incredible event is rich in lessons for those wanting to fight imperialism and capitalism today.

Nov 19, 202555 min

The 1917 Russian Revolution

Continuing with our series on the Russian Revolution of 1917, we republish here an episode from our sister podcast Spectre of Communism. In this discussion Fred Weston, alongside host Joe Attard discuss this monuments event; the first time the workers took power into their hands. This episode is also available at Marxist Voice on Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.

Nov 17, 20251 hr 40 min

In Defence of Lenin: special Q&A episode with Rob Sewell

In honour of the anniversary of the Russian Revolution, Marxist Voice is proud to present a special episode. This Q&A with Rob Sewell, author of In Defence of Lenin , was recorded last night in front of an audience of communists in London eager to hear about the life and ideas of Lenin. The crisis of world capitalism clearly raises the need to train the next generation of Leninists. As we celebrate the Russian Revolution this year, it is clear that our task is to study the lessons of history...

Nov 07, 20251 hr 4 min

1905 and the Permanent Revolution

In the latest In Defence of Marxism magazine, Trotsky's theory of the Permanent Revolution is explained. This theory has gone down in history, as Stalin used it to try and divide Lenin and Trotsky. By the time these debates arose, the question had already been solved by history, in Trotsky's favour. Trotsky's theory was first written in his book Results and Prospects and was based on the experience of the 1905 revolution in Russia. The new magazine begins with this revolution and the formation o...

Nov 03, 202535 min

Lessons of the Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War was one of the greatest revolutionary struggles of the 20th century—and one of its greatest betrayals. At the RCP Summer Camp , Joe Russell explained how the working class of Spain rose against fascism and capitalism, only to be betrayed by the Stalinists, the reformists, and the centrist leadership of the POUM. Joe outlines the main lesson of 1936–39: without a revolutionary party rooted in the working class and Marxist theory, even the most heroic struggles can be defeate...

Oct 27, 202543 min

How apartheid was ended

The struggle against South African apartheid is a source of inspiration across the world. However, the understanding of how it was overthrown is limited, especially in the West. With the struggle to free Palestine, this topic holds a particular importance, as many on the left explain their support for the Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement on the lessons of South Africa. But what does this period really tell us about how our struggle today can be successful? In this talk from Revolution Festival...

Oct 20, 202546 min

How to free Palestine

The genocide of Palestinians over the last 2 years has become a lightening rod for all the accumulated anger in society. People have been exposed to the bombing of hospitals, videos of mothers pulling their babies from the rubble and the vile response from governments internationally - that Israel 'has the right to defend itself'. Since October 7th 2023, millions across the world have come out to defend Palestine with demonstrations and encampments. It is clear that more is needed. The general s...

Oct 13, 202535 min

Can AI have consciousness? │Revolution Festival 2024

Is artificial intelligence truly conscious—or is it just hype? At Revolution Festival 2024 , Daniel Morley applies the Marxist method to cut through the illusions surrounding AI. While tech billionaires claim AI is a revolution on par with human thought, Marxism shows that consciousness is not simply data processing but a product of labour, society, and material conditions. By examining the difference between artificial intelligence and human consciousness, the talk explores what makes humans un...

Oct 06, 202547 min

Reason in revolt | Summer camp '25

Marxism is not just a political programme—it is a scientific world outlook. At the RCP Summer Camp, Khaled Malachi explains the role of Marxist philosophy and why dialectical materialism is the most advanced method for understanding reality. From physics to biology, science confirms the revolutionary insights of Marxist dialectics. While bourgeois philosophers remain trapped in idealism and formal logic, Marxists uncover the processes of contradiction, transformation, and revolutionary change at...

Sep 29, 202540 min
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