Episodes
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In this episode, Pam sits down with Platypus members, Ethan and Gabe, to discuss Trump's reelection and the Republicans' victory in Congress, the Left's nostalgia for Bernie along with its efforts to "critique" the Democrats, and the new multiracial coalition behind the GOP.
In the second part, Daniel and Itsï sit down with Carlos Garrido, Director of the Midwestern Marx Institute and Secretary of Education for the American Communist Party, founded this year. They discuss American Marxism, W.E.B. DuBois, the launch of the ACP, and why now might be the moment for a communist party.
Our volume "Marxism in the Age of Trump" is now on sale and available to purchase here:
https://platypus-publishing.square.site/product/marxism-in-age-of-trump/5?cs=true&cst=custom
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"The Left and the 2024 Election" (10/30/24 panel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IbzY1kaG2c
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Eugene V. Debs - The Negro In the Class Struggle (1903)
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1903/negro.htm
Constitution of the American Communist Party (2024)
https://acp.us/2024-constitution.pdf -
This episode comes in two parts. At the beginning of this year the PAS published its second installment of the Platypus Review Reader. This volume, in addition to Marxism in the Age of Trump and Chris Cutrone's recent publication The Death of the Millennial Left, are a curated selection of articles in our monthly publication spanning between 2013 and 2017. In the first segment, we present a roundtable with Platypus members involved in the curation, publication and digestion of the Platypus Review Reader 2, opening up a discussion about the long history of the Platypus Review, the denouement of the Millennial Left, and how we make this history meaningful as the Zoomer Left enters the mid-2020s. In the second segment, Pam N. sits down for an interview led by our German members, Kat and Lara, to discuss the teach-in she gave in November 2023, after the October 7th attacks, and take up the horizons of possibility of the Millennial Left, the new forms of politicization and depoliticization, and the task of political education by Platypus today.
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Platypus Review Reader 2 Roundtable links:
"The Platypus Review Reader" 1 and 2 and "Marxism in the Age of Trump" are available at
https://platypus1917.org/publishing/
Full table of contents for the PRR2 available at https://platypus-publishing.square.site/product/pr-reader-ii-soft-/4?si=true
"Editorial Statement" for the Platypus Review: https://platypus1917.org/platypus-review/editorial-statement/
Some key articles mentioned:
"Program and Utopia" Platypus Panel (July 2013) https://platypus1917.org/2013/07/01/program-and-utopia/
"What is a Political Party for the Left?" Platypus panel (2015) https://platypus1917.org/2015/08/30/political-party-left-3/
Teo Velissaris., "Ghosts of national sovereignty: SYRIZA and the Left in the current situation" (September 2015)
https://platypus1917.org/2015/09/01/ghosts-national-sovereignty-syriza-left-current-situation/
"1917-2017" Platypus Panel (September 2017) https://platypus1917.org/2017/08/29/1917-2017/
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Nogales Interview links:
Pamela C. Nogales C., “Helplessness without history: Political education after the Millennial Left” in the Platypus Review 170 (October 2024)
https://platypus1917.org/2024/10/01/helplessness-without-history-political-education-after-the-millennial-left/
Pamela C. Nogales C., “Ohnmacht ohne Geschichte: Politische Bildung nach der Millenial Linken” Die Platypus Review 33 (September/Oktober 2024)
https://platypus1917.org/2024/10/01/nogales_ohnmacht_ohne_geschichte/
SPS #67 Interviews with encampment participants
https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society/ep67
“Beyond Left and Right,” Platypus public panel, London, (July 2024)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25pD9iyQmr0&t=84s
Benjamin M. Studebaker, “Beyond Bonapartism: Breaking statephobic thought taboos” in the Platypus Review 166 (May 2024)
https://platypus1917.org/2024/05/01/beyond-bonapartism-breaking-statephobic-thought-taboos/
Pamela C. Nogales C., “Platypus at #Occupy: Lessons learned from the death of the Millennial Left” in the Platypus Review 137 (June 2021)
https://platypus1917.org/2021/06/01/platypus-at-occupy/
Efraim Carlebach, “The unchanging core of Marxism: An interview with Ian Birchall” in the Platypus Review 102 (December 2017 – January 2018)
https://platypus1917.org/2017/12/02/unchanging-core-marxism-interview-ian-birchall/
James Heartfield “The anti-political party, Book Review: Ian Birchall. Tony Cliff: A Marxist for His Time. London: Bookmarks, 2011” in the Platypus Review 55 (April 2013)
https://platypus1917.org/2013/04/01/the-anti-political-party/
Erin Hagood, “Have we unlearned how to learn? 1968 and today” in the Platypus Review 168 (July - August 2024)
https://platypus1917.org/2024/07/01/have-we-unlearned-how-to-learn-1968-and-today/
50 Years of 1968, Platypus public panel series (2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMYuijyS19Q&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmXgnewb_tYfhp8_YTn_c9F&pp=iAQB -
Missing episodes?
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On this episode of SPS, Pamela N. and Platypus member Adrienne F. interview Nadine Strossen, an American legal scholar and civil liberties activist. Strossen served as the president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from 1991 to 2008; she is currently a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Education Expression (FIRE); and is the author of Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know (2023). We discuss her history on the Left, her relationship to the antiwar movement, the Students for a Democratic Society, and radical & progressive positions today. We also take up the recent illiberal turn in society, and what if any effect it has had on the ACLU, as well as her proposed solutions. Finally, we take a critical look at demands by the Left to reform the Supreme Court. If you live in the East Coast, Platypus is hosting its annual East Coast Conference in Boston on Oct 11-13. There will be a variety of panels, teach-ins and social gatherings. Panels include, "The American Revolution and Communism" held at Boston College on 10.12 and "The Role of Theory in Defeat," at Harvard University on 10.13. More information will be available at: https://www.facebook.com/platypusbc | https://x.com/BcPlatypus | https://www.instagram.com/platypusbc/The French chapter of Platypus is holding a virtual panel, on "Popular Front Politics Today," held in French on Sat Sept 28 via Zoom. The panel will feature, Gilles Candar, Aymeric Monville, and a member of the Spartacist League. More information will be available at: https://www.instagram.com/platypusfranceLINKS- Strossen, Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know (2023)https://global.oup.com/academic/product/free-speech-9780197699652- Strossen, Hate: Why We Should Resist It With Free Speech, Not Censorship (2018)https://www.amazon.com/-/en/Nadine-Strossen/dp/0190859121- Strossen, Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex, and the Fight for Women's Rights (1995, new ed. 2024)https://nyupress.org/9781479830763/defending-pornography/ - Nogales, âThe Cancel Wars: The Legacy of the Cultural Turn in the Age of Trumpâ in Platypus Review 131 (November 2020)https://platypus1917.org/2020/11/01/the-cancel-wars-the-legacy-of-the-cultural-turn-in-the-age-of-trump/- ACLU Case Selection Guidelines (2017) https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/field_document/aclu_case_selection_guidelines.pdf- Strossen, âThe First Amendment Doesnât Protect White Supremacists Behind Violent Charlottesville Rallies,â LA Progressive Newsletter, Dec. 7, 2021 - Strossen, âCharlottesville Three Years Later: The First Amendment Confronts Hate and Violence,â Los Angeles Review of Books, Aug. 10, 2020 - Strossen, âThe Interdependence of Racial Justice and Free Speech for Racists,â 1 Journal of Free Speech Law 51-70 (2021)- Moyn, âSocialists Have Long Fought to Disempower the Supreme Court. Thatâs More Urgent Than Ever Now,â Jacobin (2020) https://jacobin.com/2020/09/supreme-court-socialists-ruth-bader-ginsburg-death- Cotlin, âMayor Eric Adams, DSA agree: expand the courtâ City & State New York (2023)https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2023/02/mayor-eric-adams-dsa-agree-expand-court/383006/- Lazare, âA central driverâ in the Weekly Worker (2021)https://weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/1337/a-central-driver/- Strossen on SCOTUS term limits, in âForum: Whatâs the Matter With the Supreme Court? And what can be done to fix it?â in The Nation (2018) https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/forum-whats-the-matter-with-the-supreme-court/- Sublation Media with Doug Lain, âNadine Strossen Talks to Marxistsâ (2023)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gd5-KoOosA- âThe Politics of Free Speech,â (04/06/24) Platypus International Convention 2024 panel, Chicago, IL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anorBcUZ-uE- "Free Speech and the Left," Platypus virtual panel (05/02/24), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9xc0IIKUz8
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On this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pam hammer out whether or not Kamala Harris IS brat. They discuss the Republican National Convention and the consolidation of the new Republican Party under Trump. In the main segment, Andreas W and Pam N. sit down with Platypus members Ali (Australian National University), Hayes (University of Chicago) and Eli (University of Leipzig) to reflect on the recent pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The episode features recorded interviews with protestors led by Platypus members from around the globe including, Australia, Germany, and the United States. However, these are but a small sample of the on-site conversations led by our members. If you’d like to hear the rest of the interviews, you can find them here: https://t.ly/Fqg53
Episode Links:
Platypus Israel-Palestine panels after October 7, 2023
- 11/29/24 Corvallis: https://youtu.be/lDnRfYh5tLs?si=Iu5wQ8p30LqT91cq
- 11/29/23 UChicago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw0Rc_3Hn88&t=6487s
- 12/3/23 German online panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGkf83h52MY&t=289s
- 12/06/23 Santa Cruz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IuYSQqasSg&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwn1wDxSIXSSX-S1MKyhNKPu&index=21
- 12/14/23 London: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbkjXoH-jdo
- 3/7/24 Northwestern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaTBLI-ACl0
- 3/11/24 NYU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r3Ye10EyOE&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwn1wDxSIXSSX-S1MKyhNKPu&index=18
- 7/20/24 online panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3brvk76nV4&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwn1wDxSIXSSX-S1MKyhNKPu&index=22
- “Jews and the Socialist Movement” (5/21/24), a Platypus teach-in at the University of Chicago, led by Tony Michels (Professor of American Jewish History, University of Wisconsin). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uigzH4eMA5s
- Erin Hagood, “Have we unlearned how to learn? 1968 and today,” originally given as a teach-in at Columbia University and at the New School occupation in April 2024, published in Platypus Review 168 (July - August 2024). https://platypus1917.org/2024/07/01/have-we-unlearned-how-to-learn-1968-and-today/
Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy
Editing work by Michael Woodson
To learn more about Platypus, go to platypus1917.org -
Episode 66 comes in two parts.
In our first segment, Lisa sits down with German members Jan and Henry to discuss post-neoliberal transformations in German politics, understood through the AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht's split from Die Linke.
In the second segment, Andony talks with fellow West Coast members Octavio, Colin, Ishmael, and Hoang about anarchism on the West Coast, reflecting on the Heart of the Valley Anti-Capitalist Bookfair held in Corvallis, Oregon, and the inaugural Platypus West Coast Conference held in San Diego this February. They discuss the resurgence of anarchism under the Biden presidency in the context of long-standing anarchist traditions on the West Coast.
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Further discussions of German politics (in German):
- Was ist DIE LINKE? (13.6.21 Frankfurt)
transcript: https://platypus1917.org/2022/08/31/podium_2021_linkspartei/
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZZb7BZp_bY
- Redefreiheit und die Linke (4.11.23 Leipzig)
audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rf7K5h3h64
Further materials on anarchism:
- Heart of the Valley Anti-Capitalist Bookfair (19-21 January 2024): https://hotvbookfair.noblogs.org
- Dual Power: A Strategy To Build Socialism In Our Time (DSA Libertarian Socialist Caucus, 2018): https://dsa-lsc.org/2018/12/31/dual-power-a-strategy-to-build-socialism-in-our-time/
- Reimagining Revolutionary Organizing: A Vision for Dual Power (Institute for Anarchist Studies, 2019): https://anarchiststudies.org/reimagining-revolutionary-organizing-a-vision-for-dual-power/
- Against dogmatic abstraction: A critique of Cindy Milstein on anarchism and Marxism (Platypus Review, 2010): https://platypus1917.org/2010/07/01/against-dogmatic-abstraction/
- Social anarchism or lifestyle anarchism: an unbridgeable chasm (Murray Bookchin, 1995): https://libcom.org/article/social-anarchism-or-lifestyle-anarchism-unbridgeable-chasm-murray-bookchin
- Whither anarchism? An interview with Kristian Williams (Platypus Review, 2021): https://platypus1917.org/2021/03/01/whither-anarchism-an-interview-with-kristian-williams/
- Reform, Revolution, and “Resistance:” The problematic forms of “anticapitalism” today (2/18/24 San Diego)
audio: https://archive.org/details/reform-resistance-revolution-san-diego -
Episode 65 comes in two parts: In the first segment, Andreas talks with Platypus members Clay (Chicago) and Ethan (Philadelphia) about the upcoming Platypus International Convention, taking place in Chicago April 4-7 under the title "What is Left after Trump?". They discuss the various panel topics of this year's 16th Platypus Convention as well as why we keep hosting them. More information can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/whatisleft2024
In our second segment we welcome a triumphant return of the Shit Platypus Does segment - Lisa and Rebekah sit down with members Thuy Linh (Berlin), Noah (Cologne) and Liv (New School) to reflect on the European Conference, held in Berlin at the end of January this year: What did we learn about "The Legacy of Lenin" ?
Panels from the 2024 European Conference:
Legacy of Lenin panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoX0unyoPX4
Building a Marxist Mass Party Anew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ban_NkqrEVE
Krise im sozialistischen Lager (in German): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiYby-ScT8U
Further videos of events can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@PlatypusAffiliatedSociety
Visit our website at http://platypus1917.org -
In this episode of Shit Platypus Says, we introduce the first segment of Reds, a series examining the growth of new communist organizations around the world.
Hosts Tamas, Lisa, and Rebekah discuss the impetus for such a series: the sudden growth of self-styled communist organizations after a decade of social democratic activity on the Left and a dissatisfaction with liberal politics; a related revision occurring within Trotskyist organizations; and the historical echoes and discontinuities raised by the transition from the Millennial to the Zoomer generation.
For the bulk of the segment, our inaugural segment of Reds, Melbourne Platypus members Ryan and Tom sit down with Jamie and Anthony of the Revolutionary Communist Organisation and its Collective of Leninist Youth, based in Australia, for a discussion about its current outlook, challenges, and tasks.
The RCO appeared on a panel discussion held by Platypus Melbourne:
“Imperialism: What is it, and why should we be against it?” (Dec 2 2023 panel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSj2IZOgpg
More info about the Revolutionary Communist Organisation (RCO):
Program: https://www.revcomorg.info/general-clean
Publication “Direct Action”: https://directactionnewcastle.wordpress.com/direct-action-rco/
Queer liberation paper: https://www.revcomorg.info/projecto-1
Collective of Leninist Youth (CLY):
Publication “Red Youth Spectre”: www.tinyurl.com/redyouthspectre -
Andreas sits down with Berlin-based members Jakob and Tamas to discuss the upcoming sixth annual Platypus European Conference, set to take place January 25th through the 27th.
Further info can be found at:
https://100yearsafterlenin.com
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A century after Lenin’s death, the Platypus Affiliated Society aims to critically examine the legacy of the failure of world revolution. Our sixth annual European Conference provides the time to reflect on the nightmare of the twentieth century through teach-ins, panel discussions, and presentations by international Leftist organizations. We hope thus to contribute to overcoming the present obstacles to any future emancipatory Left.
The Left is dead! Long live the Left!
Ein Jahrhundert nach dem Tod Lenins sucht die Platypus Affiliated Society nach einer kritischen Auseinandersetzung mit dem Erbe der gescheiterten Weltrevolution. Unsere sechste europäische Konferenz bietet Raum zur Reflexion über den Albtraum des Zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts – mit Teach-ins, Podiumsdiskussionen und Präsentationen internationaler linker Organisationen. Wir hoffen, damit einen Beitrag zur Überwindung der Hindernisse zu leisten, die heute der Formation einer emanzipatorischen Linken entgegenstehen.
Die Linke ist tot! Lang lebe die Linke! -
This special holiday episode of SPS comes in three parts: (1) In order to make sense of the present, Platypus is hosting an international series of panels "Left Perspectives on the Israel-Palestine Conflict". In the first segment, member Gabe G. and Pamela N. reflect on the first panel of the series, which took place at the University of Chicago. They take up disagreements as well as the assumed agreement and the response from the audience. (2) In the second segment you'll hear soundbites and brief interviews from pro-Palestine rallies recorded by our members in Philadelphia and Auckland, New Zealand. (3) The third part is a deep dive into the Platypus archives. The current conflict has prompted Rebekkah and Lisa to speak with our member Ian M. about past engagements from our archives. They talked about the founding moment of Platypus as well as past panel initiatives on the politics of solidarity and decolonization.
References from the Segment Reflecting on the Israel-Palestine Panel
- Teach-in Pamela N.: History and Helplessness (UChicago, 09 November 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BX4HGK1m8&t=148s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety
- Left Perspectives On The Israel Palestine Conflict (Platypus UChicago, 29 November 29 2023)
https://youtu.be/Nw0Rc_3Hn88?si=OX1c-WYyfWvSIb7Sâš
- Left Perspectives On The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Platypus Oregon State University, November 29, 2023)
https://youtu.be/lDnRfYh5tLs?si=qtf2XnPfjLs5jsG
- Imperialism! What is it, and why should we be against it? (Platypus Melbourne, 02 December 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/live/rLSj2IZOgpg?si=S4QMnYg_NpH5mgeF
- Linke Perspektiven auf den Nahostkonflikt (Platypus Germany, 03 December 2023)
https://youtu.be/OGkf83h52MY?si=BHi0Dz_WKWl2_lGX
- Left Perspectives On The Israel Palestine Conflict (Platypus London, 14 December 2023)
https://archive.org/details/left-perspectives-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict-platypus-london
- The Politics of War and Peace (Platypus Northwestern University, 17 November 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACIzgf-mEi8&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety
References from the Archive Segment:
- 2006: Moishe Postone, “History and helplessness: Mass mobilization and contemporary forms of anticapitalism”
https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/readings/postonemoishe_historyhelplessness.pdf
- 2008: Ian Morrison, “Ba’athism and the history of the Left in Iraq: Violence and politics”
https://platypus1917.org/2008/03/01/baathism-and-the-history-of-the-left-in-iraq-violence-and-politics/
- 2010: Against the status quo: An Interview with Iranian trade unionist Homayoun Pourzad
https://platypus1917.org/2010/01/08/against-the-status-quo-an-interview-with-iranian-trade-unionist-homayoun-pourzad/
- 2021: Panel "The Politics of Solidarity: Israel, Palestine, and the Left" w/ Yoav Gal Tamir (Da'am Workers' Party), Arash Azizi (Left Party of Iran {People's Fedaian), Marco (Angry Workers of the World), Moshé Machover (founder - Israeli Socialist Organisation and its publication Matzpen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoCuGAPheQ&t=12s
- 2010: Which Way Forward for Palestinian Liberation? (w/ Richard Rubin, Joel Kovel, Hussein Ibish)
https://platypus1917.org/2010/04/08/which-way-forward-for-palestinian-liberation-platypus-review/
- 2023: Panel "Decolonisation and the Left" w/ Ralph Leonard, James Heartfield, Andrew Sanchez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfScpu06K_o
- ââ2010: Initiative Sozialistisches Forum, “Communism and Israel”
https://platypus1917.org/2010/10/08/communism-and-israel/
- 2023: Teach-in Pamela N.: History and Helplessness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BX4HGK1m8&t=148s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety
- 2023: Teach-in Lucy P.: The Anti War Movement, Platypus And The Death Of The Millennial Left
https://archive.org/details/antiwarmovementteach-in
Platypus European Conference, 25 - 27 Jan. 2024 in Berlin
https://100yearsafterlenin.com/ -
We discuss this year's protests in France around police brutality, pension reform, and cost of living with our members Lucas from Bretagne and Paul from Vienna, as well as check in with Parisian protestors with Kristian.
To stay up to date with Platypus France, get in touch at:
platypusfrance [at] gmail [dot] com
or visit:
https://www.platypusfrance.org -
On this special back-to-school episode of SPS, Pamela & Laurie discuss the recent Russell Brand controversy. Brand has been in the news lately, under some heat, as a result of public allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. We take this up in the context of the ongoing sex panic and the ongoing transformation of feminism after #metoo, which leads us to discuss the Barbie movie. On the second part of the episode, our members Evan and the current president of Platypus, Erin, sit down with Benjamin Studebaker, the author of the recently published book, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut (2023). Studebaker explains that the crisis of American democracy is deeply embedded in the America economic system, and develops a theory of âlegitimacy crisisâ. They take this up in their interview and ask some questions about the current state of American politics as well as his formulations of the ends of a Left political movement. We hope you enjoy this expanded edition of SPS, if you like it, leave us a comment and maybe youâll find more of these longer episodes in the future. If you like the podcast share it and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, it helps us get the word out about the pod. Links:- System Update w/ Glenn Greenwald: âNew Russell Brand Accusations Deserve Scrutiny & Due Process; Yoel Roth Wails Over Censorship-Regime Backlash; & 4 Republicans Demand Insane Ukraine Escalationâ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-russell-brand-accusations-deserve-scrutiny-due/id1669610956?i=1000628426173-Benjamin Studebaker, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut (2023) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-28210-2- âWhat is Marxism for?â A Panel with Benjamin Studebaker, Donald Parkinson, James Heartfield, and Chris Cutrone, PR# 153 (February 2023)https://platypus1917.org/2023/02/01/what-is-marxism-for/- âMarxism and liberalismâ A Panel with James Heartfield, Spencer Leonard, Anthony Monteiro, and Benjamin Studebaker, PR #150 (October 2022)https://platypus1917.org/2022/10/01/marxism-and-liberalism-2/Original soundtracks by Tamas VilaghyEditing work by Michael Woodson
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In this episode of SPS, Tamas sits down with Aram Shakkour (@ShaqArama) of the Szikra Movement (@SzikraMozgalom), an oppositional movement based around Budapest, Hungary. They discuss the state of leftist politics in Hungary after the oppositional coalition which Szikra supported, United for Hungary, failed to stop Viktor Orbán’s FIDESZ from winning a two-thirds parliamentary majority. With over 54% of the vote, FIDESZ received the highest vote share of any party since the fall of communism. They reflect on the three decades since the “system change,” as the events of 1989 are known in Hungary, and the deeper history of the Left in Hungary in the 20th century
- Szikra's : www.szikramozgalom.hu/about_us
- SPS #44: After the Freedom Convoy & the Hungarian Left Today - https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society/ep44 -
In this episode, the Editor-in-Chief of the German Platypus Review, Tobias Rochlitz, sits down with Platypus members Stefan H, Jan BH, and our co-host Lisa M, all of whom contributed to the content of the special PR issue on Gender, to discuss an reflect upon the interview with Koschka Linkerhand, Tove Soiland and the panel discussion 'Gender and the Left‘ with Platypus member Stefan H, Roswitha Scholz and Sara Rukaj. They talk about how the ideas of the New Left survived and continued in the Millennial Left generation, the Heideggerian aspect of Lacan and about the Millennial Left’s focus on so-called “Materialism”.
German-language Platypus Review #23:
https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/ausgabe_23.pdf
Interview with Koschka Linkerhand:
https://platypus1917.org/2023/01/19/interview_linkerhand/
Interview with Tove Soiland:
https://platypus1917.org/2023/01/19/interview_soiland/
Panel: Gender and the Left with Roswitha Scholz, Sara Rukaj and Stefan Hain:
https://platypus1917.org/2023/07/01/gender-and-the-left/
[German: https://platypus1917.org/2023/01/19/gender_podium/ ]
References:
Gary Mucciaroni, Sherry Wolf, Kenyon Farrow, and Greg Gabrellas (2010): Which way forward for sexual liberation?
https://platypus1917.org/2011/02/01/which-way-forward-for-sexual-liberation/
Roxanne Baker, Judith Shapiro, and Sarah McDonald (2018): Marxism and feminism
https://platypus1917.org/2018/05/04/marxism-and-feminism/
Cornelia Möser, Lucy Parker, Ursula Jensen, and Joy McReady (2015): Women: the Longest Revolution
https://platypus1917.org/2016/03/07/women-longest-revolution-frankfurt/
David Faes (2018): Transgender liberation? A movement whose time has passed
https://platypus1917.org/2018/11/02/transgender-liberation-a-movement-whose-time-has-passed/
Stefan Hain and Andreas Wintersperger (2021): Psychoanalysis and Marxism https://platypus1917.org/2022/07/03/psychoanalysis-and-marxism/
Max Horkheimer (1926–31): “The Little Man and the Philosophy of Freedom,” in Dämmerung
https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/readings/horkheimer_dawnex.pdf
Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy
Editing work by Michael Woodson
Design by Max Hörügel -
In this episode Pamela and Laurie discuss the Trump indictment, DeSantis, and the conservative âresolutionâ to the crisis of neoliberalism through the Culture Wars. In our main segment, Platypus members from Vienna, Berlin, Melbourne and Chicago reflect on the Platypus panel, "A Century of Critical Theory: The Legacy of György LukĂĄcs,â (April 1st, 2023), the closing plenary of the 15th Platypus International Convention. The centenary marking the publication of his magnum opus, History and Class Consciousness: Studies in Marxist Dialectics (1923), offers the occasion to ask: What is the meaning of LukĂĄcs and HCC today? Over the last 100 years, various claims have been made of HCC. On the one hand, it is said to have inaugurated âWestern Marxismâ and set the foundation for the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School. On the other, people have accused it of giving philosophical justifications for terroristic or opportunistic tendencies within MarxismâLeninism. We asked our panelists to consider the following: What is the relationship between political practice and theory that LukĂĄcs articulated in the revolutionary period of 1919â1925, based on his close reading of Lenin and Luxemburg? What in his critique of reification and defense of Marxist orthodoxy did the later LukĂĄcs disavow? What can we make of LukĂĄcs's legacy today? How have we received his investigation and elaboration of the problematic of Marxism? What are the essential issues raised for our time?"A Century of Critical Theory: The Legacy of György LukĂĄcs" Platypus 15th annual international Convention. Feat. Chris Cutrone, Andrew Feenberg, Mike MacnairRecording: https://youtu.be/K9Zfn2CZz_Y"The Politics of Critical Theory,â December 3rd, 2021, hosted by the New York City chapters of the Platypus Affiliated Society, feat. Jay Bernstein (New School); Jonathon Catlin (PhD student in history at Princeton University); Erin Hagood (Platypus Affiliated Society)https://www.youtube.com/live/pXgFDfJbgdM?feature=shareâThe Politics of Critical Theory,â April 3, 2021, Platypus Affiliated Society International Convention, with Chris Cutrone (Platypus Affiliated Society), Dennis Graemer (Association for the Design of History), Douglas Kellner (UCLA, author of Herbert Marcuse and the Crisis of Marxism), and Doug Lain (Zer0 Books).https://platypus1917.org/2021/10/01/the-politics-of-critical-theory-2/âThe Politics Of Critical Theory,â University of Vienna, 3rd annual Platypus European Conference, feat. Chris Cutrone(Platypus Affiliated Society); Martin Suchanek (Workers Power, Berlin); Haziran Zeller (Berlin)https://archive.org/details/platypus_politicscriticaltheoryeuroconferencevienna021717_2/platypus_politicscriticaltheoryeuroconferencevienna021717_1.MP3âThe Politics of Critical Theory,â Third Annual Platypus International Convention with Chris Cutrone, Andrew Feenberg, Richard Westerman, and Nicholas Brown (Platypus Review 37, July 2011). Edited transcript: https://platypus1917.org/2011/07/09/the-politics-of-critical-theory/âLukĂĄcs' Marxismâ a panel discussion organized by the Platypus Affiliated Society, held on March 19, 2011, at Left Forum, Pace University.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9164kAaFTPI&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSocietyMarco Torres, âPolitics as a Form of Knowledge: A Brief Introduction to Georg LukĂĄcsâ Platypus Review #1 (November 2007)https://platypus1917.org/2007/11/01/politics-as-a-form-of-knowledge-a-brief-introduction-to-georg-lukacs/SPSon Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4ftkDeIALI2l8k2A49OVcson Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sps/id1305502112on Soundcloud: @platypus-affiliated-societyon IG: @shitplatypussaysSPS is hosted by Andreas W. & Pamela N., with original tracks by Tamas Vilaghy, and editing assistance by Michael Woodson and Tamas Vilaghy. Our Sh-t Platypus Does team is Lisa M. and Rebekah P. To learn more about Platypus, go to platypus1917.org
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In the first part of this episode, Lisa is joined by our German members Jakob, Nezam and Sebastian to discuss the crisis and history of DIE LINKE. They reflect on Platypus panels, interviews, and PR articles to think about the recent manifestations of the crisis within DIE LINKE and the radical Left's relation to the party. They talk about the international influence of the party and its impact on the entire Millennial Left generation. âšThe second part of this episode features interviews conducted by our member Nezam at the conference of the faction „Revolutionärer Bruch“ („revolutionary split/break”) in January of this year. The faction was founded by members of DIE LINKE and its youth organization Linksjugend solid to discuss various strategies for moving forward and to deepen the assumption that DIE LINKE might no longer be a political home for the Left.
References:
âš> 2022: quoted ISA article: https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2022/12/germany
> 2023: Panel Berlin: “War das schon der heiße Herbst?” (w/ Marek Schauer – Jurist und Journalist, Marcus Staiger – Heizung, Brot & Frieden, Wilhelm Schulz – GAM, Peter Nowak – freier Journalist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK2wLePamSk
> 2023: Panel Leipzig: "Heißer Herbst und die Linke" ( w/ Tim – "Jetzt Reichts" Linksjugend, Jonathan Eibisch, Revolution, Internationale Jugend/FKO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb52w0agoJ0
> German Platypus Review #6 in occasion of the General Election 2017: https://platypus1917.org/category/ausgabe-6/ including interviews w/ Sascha StaniÄiÄ, Wolfgang Gehrcke (see below), Werner Dreibus and Dietmar Bartsch
> 2022: Panel “Was ist DIE LINKE” (w/ Georg Fülberth, Thies Gleiss, Bernd Riexinger und Martin Suchanek) https://platypus1917.org/2022/08/31/podium_2021_linkspartei/
> 2022: Panel “Reform, Revolution, Resistance” (w/ Anna, Michael Brie, Dennis Graemer, Alexander Neupert-Doppler)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmSpjxaiGFk
> 2013: Panel "Conversations on the Left: What is to be done?" (w/ Bhaskar Sunkara, James Turley, and Ben Blumberg)https://platypus1917.org/2013/06/01/conversations-on-the-left-what-is-to-be-done/ and on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y_dldZ1oZM
> 2017: Interview w/ Wolfgang Gehrcke: "Der Fortschritt der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft muss verteidigt werden" https://platypus1917.org/2017/08/12/der-fortschritt-der-burgerlichen-gesellschaft-muss-verteidigt-werden-interview-mit/
> 2013: Panel "Reform, Revolution, Resistance" (w/ Thomas Seibert, Norbert Trenkle, Daniel Loick, und Janine Wissler) https://platypus1917.org/category/platypus-review-authors/janine-wissler/
> 2023: quoted TAZ interview w/ Katja Kipping: https://taz.de/Kipping-ueber-Berlin-und-die-Linke/!5910197/
Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy
Editing work by Michael Woodson
Design by Jakob Trescher -
On this episode of SPS, Pamela & Andreas interview Spencer Leonard. Spencer is a founding member of Platypus and has recently published a two-volume selection of Marx & Engels journalism. The first volume focuses on Bonapartism, with selections from 1851–1859, and the second focuses on their writings on imperialism, with selections from 1856–1862. He speaks to us about the democratic revolution, liberalism, and the self-contradiction of bourgeois society. Spencer challenges the thesis put forth by Domenico Losurdo of an advancing "de-emancipation" alongside emancipation, and raises the problem of Marxism in the 20th century, and its legacy in the 21st.
Links:
Marx and Engels on Bonapartism, Selected Journalism, 1851–59
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781666928044/Marx-and-Engels-on-Bonapartism-Selected-Journalism-1851
Marx and Engels on Imperialism, Selected Journalism, 1856–62
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498559232/Marx-and-Engels-on-Imperialism-Selected-Journalism-1856
Domenico Losurdo in the Platypus Review (May 2012)
https://platypus1917.org/2012/05/01/liberalism-and-marx-domenico-losurdo/ -
On this episode of SPS, we first focus on our Annual International Convention (March 29–April 1), which will take place in Chicago, at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, & the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Planning committee members, Ryan & Ethan introduce the convention theme, panels, and historical concerns across the upcoming events. Our second segment is a deep dive into the Platypus archives on the question of imperialism & anti-imperialism, prompted by the one-year anniversary of the Ukrainian War, and the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. Members, Sunit & Farsad, join Lisa and Rebekah to reflect on the Platypus panels on the Ukraine crisis a year ago, and on the recent developments of the anti-imperialist and anti-fascist Left. They go back to the founding moment of Platypus and the very first panel "Imperialism: what is it, why should we be against it?" (2007).
Platypus International Convention 2023 program:
https://platypus1917.org/platypus-international-convention/15th-annual-platypus-international-convention-history-and-class-consciousness/
Convention Segment Links:
> Mike Macnair "The Philosophy Trap" (2013):
https://weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/987/lukacs-the-philosophy-trap/
> CPGB/Platypus dialog in full (2013):
https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cpgbcontralukacs031513.pdf
> Chris Cutrone "CPGB Contra Lukacs" (2014):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyAx32lzC0U
(in the PR: https://platypus1917.org/2014/02/01/why-still-read-lukacs-the-place-of-philosophical-questions-in-marxism/)
Imperialism & Anti-imperialism Segment Links:
> 2007: Panel: Imperialism: What is it, why should we be against it?https://platypus1917.org/2010/07/09/imperialism-what-is-it-why-should-we-be-against-it/
> 2022: Chris Cutrone "Ukraine: More of the same" https://platypus1917.org/2022/04/01/ukraine-more-of-the-same/
> 2022: Crisis in Ukraine and the Left Panel iterations:
>>> Frankfurt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIPr7AyMWak&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmAmGIlzqMgDuAkQNP-T0sW&index=4
>>> online in German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiFxUcBxYqQ&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmAmGIlzqMgDuAkQNP-T0sW&index=7
>>> online in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3js9LcbDTY0&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmAmGIlzqMgDuAkQNP-T0sW&index=6
> 2007: Interview with Tariq Ali by Chris Cutrone https://archive.org/details/TariqAliInterviewedByChrisCutronePlatypusChicago
> 2020: Panel “Imperialism and the Left” https://platypus1917.org/2020/07/01/imperialism-and-the-left/ and ââhttps://platypus1917.org/2020/09/01/imperialism-and-the-left-2/
> debate between Tariq Ali and Christopher Hitchens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5atWb_LD-2I
> 2016: Panel "Was ist Imperialismus? Warum sollten wir dagegen sein?" https://platypus1917.org/2016/06/24/podiumsdiskussion-vom-16-06-2016-ist-imperialismus-warum-sollten-wir-dagegen-sein/ -
This episode includes an interview with Platypus founding member Chris Cutrone, who was interviewed by Johannes K. and Lisa on his article “The end of the Gilded Age: Discontents of the Second Industrial Revolution today”. They talked about the history of progressivism, the deferred problems of the Gilded Age that still impact us today, the unfulfilled task of the Left, as well as the things that led Chris to write this article back in 2017.
Links:
> 2017: Chris Cutrone, The end of the Gilded Age: Discontents of the Second Industrial Revolution today https://platypus1917.org/2017/12/02/end-gilded-age-discontents-second-industrial-revolution-today/
> 2017: Chris Cutrone, The Millennial Left is dead https://platypus1917.org/2017/10/01/millennial-left-dead/
> 2020: "The Legacy of the American Revolution", a Platypus Lecture Series https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNc4xGUuaRwkwEdVEwLV6X8NxT49XEtx8
SPS episodes contain original tracks by Tamas Vilaghy, and editing assistance by Michael Woodson and Tamas Vilaghy. To learn more about Platypus, go to platypus1917.org -
In the first part of this episode, Lisa & Rebekah are joined by members, Laurie R. & Jasper to talk about how Platypus has captured the relationship between the Left & the elections. They have gone into the archives of the Platypus Affiliated Society, and have asked how our work can help us to think about these inflection points on the Left across the elections, namely, 2008 (Obama); 2016 (Brexit; Trump; AfD); 2020 (Trump & Biden, Corbyn & Boris); and the coming 2024 election. In the second segment, Pamela sits down with the Platypus Review Editor-in-Chief, Lou S., to discuss what is in the Dec 2022âJan 2023 issue, including the interview with Vivek Chibber, his perspectives on ideology, the task of the Left today, and the DSA & the elections, as well as a book review of Chibber's book by Russell Jacoby, and the interview with Enzo Traverso.Election & the Left Links:2008: "Obama: Progress in regress: The end of 'black politics'" https://platypus1917.org/2008/09/01/obama-progress-in-regress-the-end-of-black-politics/ 2016: "Why not Trump?"https://platypus1917.org/2016/09/06/why-not-trump/2016: Teach-in: "Anti-trumpism: what does it mean for the Left?"https://archive.org/details/TeachinAntitrumpism2017: "The Millennial Left is dead"https://platypus1917.org/2017/10/01/millennial-left-dead/2019: Panel "Democracy and the Left" with Benjamin Studebaker (Cambridge University, What's Left podcast), Marjorie Mayo (Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths University), James Heartfield (Independent author, Spiked!) and Adam Buick (Socialist Party of Great Britain) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzd_0dy2Tz4Platypus Review 152 (December 2022-January 2023)https://platypus1917.org/category/pr/Interview with Vivek Chibberhttps://platypus1917.org/2022/12/01/confronting-capitalism-an-interview-with-vivek-chibber/Book Review of Chibber by Russell Jacobyhttps://platypus1917.org/2022/12/01/shadowboxing-a-review-of-vivek-chibbers-the-class-matrix/Interview with Enzo Traversohttps://platypus1917.org/2022/12/01/we-were-orphans-an-interview-with-enzo-traverso/
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On this special holiday episode, SPS brings to you reports from protests in the USA, Germany and Austria. We include shotgun interviews with participants and reflections by our members. In the first segment, our West Coast members interview the academic workers part of the strikes at the University of California. They ask the strikers at the LA and Santa Barbara campuses about their participation in the strike and their views on the relationship between this labor struggle and the long-term vision for the Left. On the second segment, our members Marius, Lisa and Andreas went to several university occupations organized by “End fossil: Occupy!” –– a climate justice movement with the goal to put an end to the fossil fuel economy. Students occupied lecture halls in different cities for several weeks to draw attention to their demands and to initiate negotiations with their respective university administrations.
Links:
(1) On December 15th, 2022 the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a public forum in New York City called "Labor and the Left." This conversation was hosted in the immediate wake of the 2022 strike at The New School for Social Research.
Recording: https://youtu.be/f7o1XKt2mpc
(2) "The Concept of the Left and Right" a Platypus panel. Edited transcript printed in Platypus Review 68 (July 2014) https://platypus1917.org/2014/07/04/concept-left-right/
(3) G.M. Tamás, "Telling the truth about class" in Vol. 42: Socialist Register 2006: Telling the Truth, https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/tamasgm_tellingthetruthaboutclass.pdf
(4) "End Fossil: Occupy!" website
https://endfossil.de - Show more
