Category: Monthly Review Press /

Beyond enthusiasm for an imagined anti-capitalism (Los Angeles Review of Books reviews “Can the Working Class Change the World?”)

Beyond enthusiasm for an imagined anti-capitalism (Los Angeles Review of Books reviews “Can the Working Class Change the World?”)

February 20, 2024

It is with this attentiveness to the historic shortcomings and duplicity of left organizations that Yates rejects so-called democratic socialism, which even in its heyday failed to fundamentally challenge capitalism. Setting our sights on the mere (and, as history shows, inevitably temporary) reform of a fundamentally exploitative system instead reflects a colossal failure of imagination akin to the prisoner who spends all his energy advocating for a larger window in his cell...

The American “regime change” manual (Countercurrents reviews “Washington Bullets”)

The American “regime change” manual (Countercurrents reviews “Washington Bullets”)

February 20, 2024

A common line of argument from the contemporary American left is that “socialism has never been tried.” It’s understandable that Western socialists would make this argument to members of the US proletariat, who have been deeply affected by years of red scare propaganda. This argument however, ignores the millions who have struggled and died in an effort to move beyond the contradictions of capitalism...

“Tells the Bosses We’re Coming” breaks out of the box (New Solutions)

“Tells the Bosses We’re Coming” breaks out of the box (New Solutions)

February 20, 2024

"....Don’t read 'Tell the Bosses We’re Coming' expecting to find a “how to” list of the steps you must take to build power in your union or you’re likely to be disappointed. Instead, read it to be challenged to explore the ways your union, your Central Labor Council, your state federation, and the whole labor movement is narrowing the avenues for worker power in the United States. And then start working to broaden them."

A bold call for reorganising the global working class (Global Labour Journal reviews “Can the Working Class Change the World?”)

A bold call for reorganising the global working class (Global Labour Journal reviews “Can the Working Class Change the World?”)

February 20, 2024

Throughout 'Can the Working Class Change the World? 'Yates demonstrates that “Capitalism is a system of stark individualism.” Only radical thinking and acting, he argues, “have any chance of staving off accelerating levels of barbarism.” Therefore, in the last part of the book, Yates offers suggestions about what organisations can do in the class struggle, pointing out that “the ‘I’ must be suppressed and the ‘We’ must come to the fore”...

The Venezuelan microcosm: A U.S. propaganda apparatus at work (Black Agenda Report interviews coauthors of forthcoming book, “Extraordinary Threat”)

The Venezuelan microcosm: A U.S. propaganda apparatus at work (Black Agenda Report interviews coauthors of forthcoming book, “Extraordinary Threat”)

February 20, 2024

Never "underestimate the need to be extremely careful in assessing governments that the US government vilifies; and to never underestimate how convincing, formidable and dishonest the propaganda apparatus is that supports US imperialism....Moreover, we hope they realize that the allegations, even if true, can rarely justify war or the kinds of economic sanctions the US has imposed on Venezuela, which are essentially criminal acts of war...."

The teeth in the Labor Law trap (Marx & Philosophy Review of Books reviews “Tells the Bosses We’re Coming”)

The teeth in the Labor Law trap (Marx & Philosophy Review of Books reviews “Tells the Bosses We’re Coming”)

February 20, 2024

....not concerned to diagnose the cause of workers’ problems, Richman’s analysis implicitly centers work law as the principal culprit responsible for the labour movement’s predicament. He makes a strong case that labour law, rather than balancing the power disparities between employees and employers and protecting worker rights, has instead become a ‘trap’ favoring bosses and impeding worker organization. He deftly analyzes the teeth in the trap...

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