Category: Monthly Review Press /

Renowned Marxist Economist Prabhat Patnaik: Capitalism cannot exist without imperialism (Watch: Break Through News)

Renowned Marxist Economist Prabhat Patnaik: Capitalism cannot exist without imperialism (Watch: Break Through News)

February 20, 2024

"When most people think of imperialism, they think of wars, and invasions to secure resources for the Global North, or they think of Lenin's definition of it as a stage of capitalism. But you argue that imperialism is an essential part of capitalism." Rania Khalek asks: "What do you mean when you say 'Imperialism?'" And: "How did the Global North end up dominating the Global South?" These are perhaps the quintessential starting point for the next generation of activists and organizers, just as they had been for those that came before - and perhaps far longer than any of us would like...

FORTHCOMING! “Extraordinary Threat: Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela” (Three reviews in one from the Orinoco Tribune)

FORTHCOMING! “Extraordinary Threat: Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela” (Three reviews in one from the Orinoco Tribune)

February 20, 2024

The book "Extraordinary Threat" will be here any minute! "Although the publication is not entirely a praise of the Bolivarian Revolution—the authors offer detailed critiques where criticism is deserved—overall the book stresses the importance for people of good conscience to defend the example of Venezuela. Through grassroots democracy and popular participation, Venezuela is trying to chart an independent course and overcome centuries of imperialist domination, a heroic resistance against the 'extraordinary threat' of the most powerful empire of modern times...."

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”...

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