Classes/Events
The Necessity of Social Control by István Mészáros
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NY“We are living in a time of unprecedented historical crisis, which affects all forms of the capital system, not just capitalism. It is easy to understand, then, that the only thing that could produce a viable solution to the contradictions that we have to face would be a radical socialist alternative to capital’s mode of social metabolic control.” István Mészáros
The Embrace of Capital with author Don Milligan
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYThe "spectre of communism" which Karl Marx confidently evoked in 1848 is now nothing more than a ghostly and ghastly nightmare, without form or substance. This is because working people have developed a love-hate relationship with capitalism. They hate insecurity, inequality, and greed, and love civic and political freedom. They love mass consumption, and accept the logic of commerce. Barreling along through wars, revolutions, epidemics, and crises of all sorts, working people in their millions have consistently dumfounded and dismayed the left, by their refusal to countenance any alternative to the capitalist mode of life. We have to ask: Is it possible to reverse this reality, and once again talk of the necessity of communism?
Socialist Register 2022: Polarization and Socialism: The Direction Forward
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYVISHWAS SATGUR on Epidemiological Neoliberalism in South Africa
JAMES SCHNEIDER and HILARY WAINWRIGHT on Finding a Way Forward: Lessons from the Corbyn Project
ADOLPH REED, JR. and TOURE REED on “Race” and Racial Justice under Neoliberalism
SAM GINDIN on American Workers and the Left after Trump: Polarized Options
Socialist Register 2022 — Polarization and Socialism: The Direction Forward
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYIt is a truism that electoral politics and political identity in the USA and Europe today are polarized to a degree unknown since the 1930s. It is a commonplace among the pundits of the ruling class that somehow “both sides” must return to “moderate” common sense to avoid a violent rupture of our society. They seldom question the underlying causes of this polarization, let alone whether it is rooted in the very nature of late capitalism.
This is not the case with the contributors to the 58th volume of Socialist Register. From different perspectives, they ask us to think about the deep social contradictions exposed by increasing polarization of the most economically developed societies along lines of wealth, race, gender, nation-state, and region. Members of this class meet once each month for four months to discuss selected articles from SR 58 with editor Greg Albo, joined by various authors organized around the following themes on one Sunday a month from March 20 through May 115, 2022. The recording of the February 20 session is available by writing to info@marxedproject.org
From Science Fiction to Visionary Fiction: Learning from Octavia Butler
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYWriting in the years of momentous change from 1971 to 2006, Octavia Butler embodied the emergence of "visionary fiction" as a new way to write, read and draw inspiration from science fiction. This spring, the Marxist Education Project's first literature reading group devoted to science fiction will read Kindred (1979) and Parable of the Sower (1993), both now graphic novels and soon film and streaming series. Fifteen years on since her passing, Butler's influence continues to grow. We will also read NK Jemisin’s Fifth Season (2015) and Martha Wells’ All Systems Red (2017) to explore some of Butler's lasting legacy. We will also make room to explore related short stories, graphic novels, essays, films, and more.
The Necessity of Social Control by István Mészáros
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NY“We are living in a time of unprecedented historical crisis, which affects all forms of the capital system, not just capitalism. It is easy to understand, then, that the only thing that could produce a viable solution to the contradictions that we have to face would be a radical socialist alternative to capital’s mode of social metabolic control.” István Mészáros
State Forms and Forming States: A 2-day presentation
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYIn a two-part presentation, the Yale Working Group on Globalization and Culture will share our collective research on states: states of governmentality, states of matter, states of being. States move through us, states congeal borders, states govern, states violate, states intervene, states organize abandonment, states let die. States also signal a condition of being–states of emergency, states of grace, states of matter, statelessness. What a sorry state you’re in!
State Forms and Forming States: A 2-day presentation
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYIn a two-part presentation, the Yale Working Group on Globalization and Culture will share our collective research on states: states of governmentality, states of matter, states of being. States move through us, states congeal borders, states govern, states violate, states intervene, states organize abandonment, states let die. States also signal a condition of being–states of emergency, states of grace, states of matter, statelessness. What a sorry state you’re in!
Hegel for Radicals: Part 1—History
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYIt has often been said that that Marx turned Hegel on his head. In this series we will explore the meaning of that phrase and its implications for those of us who are confronting problems of a world on fire. The problems we face today in this epoch of the decay of capitalism, imperialism, war, a global pandemic, economic crisis, the return of fascism, climate change are unprecedented.
We will begin by introducing the very idea of History, a unique contribution of Hegel to our understanding of the world. We will read some key writings of Hegel from the Philosophy of History and the Phenomenology of Spirit and explain their significance for our time.
4 Month Pass Offering Through September 30, 2022
Online: Zoom link will be provided to registered participantsThe four month pass is now $50 less than when initiating these passes. All events, classes and more for stated sliding scale fees until end of day, September 30, 2022.
A close reading of Karl Marx’s Writings on Alienation
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYIn this anthology Marcello Musto focuses in on Marx’s later economic works, in which his thoughts on alienation were elaborated rather differently than in his philosophical manuscripts. Additionally, the writings collated in this volume are unique in their presentation of not only Marx’s critique of capitalism, but also his suggestions about communist society. This wide-ranging collection of Marx’s ideas on alienation provides an important critical tool both for understanding the past and for building a critique of contemporary society.
From Science Fiction to Visionary Fiction: Learning from Octavia Butler
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYWriting in the years of momentous change from 1971 to 2006, Octavia Butler embodied the emergence of "visionary fiction" as a new way to write, read and draw inspiration from science fiction. This spring, the Marxist Education Project's first literature reading group devoted to science fiction will read Kindred (1979) and Parable of the Sower (1993), both now graphic novels and soon film and streaming series. Fifteen years on since her passing, Butler's influence continues to grow. We will also read NK Jemisin’s Fifth Season (2015) and Martha Wells’ All Systems Red (2017) to explore some of Butler's lasting legacy. We will also make room to explore related short stories, graphic novels, essays, films, and more.
Corporate Capitalism and the Integral State
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYVideo available: https://youtu.be/-t2O5SmzCr4
Steve Maher’s new book uses the relationship between the American state and General Electric from 1880 to 1980 to develop an original conception of what Gramsci called the “integral state.” It shows how state power has been critical for the development and evolution of corporate organization.
The Necessity of Social Control by István Mészáros
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NY“We are living in a time of unprecedented historical crisis, which affects all forms of the capital system, not just capitalism. It is easy to understand, then, that the only thing that could produce a viable solution to the contradictions that we have to face would be a radical socialist alternative to capital’s mode of social metabolic control.” István Mészáros
Hegel for Radicals: Part 1—History
On-Line via Zoom You will receive Zoom link by email before the event., NYIt has often been said that that Marx turned Hegel on his head. In this series we will explore the meaning of that phrase and its implications for those of us who are confronting problems of a world on fire. The problems we face today in this epoch of the decay of capitalism, imperialism, war, a global pandemic, economic crisis, the return of fascism, climate change are unprecedented.
We will begin by introducing the very idea of History, a unique contribution of Hegel to our understanding of the world. We will read some key writings of Hegel from the Philosophy of History and the Phenomenology of Spirit and explain their significance for our time.