Monthly Review Press

The Socialist Imperative reviewed in CounterPunch

February 20, 2024

When the serious work of building a better world starts, we will have no choice but to use some of the bricks of the current world as we begin that construction.... When ideas become rooted in masses of people, they become a natural force, argues Michael Lebowitz in his latest book, The Socialist Imperative: From Gotha to Now. He uses the example of the “socialist triangle” to explicate a structure for a better, democratic system.

NEW! America’s Addiction to Terrorism

February 20, 2024

Railroading Economics reviewed in naked capitalism

February 20, 2024

Continuing our series of book reviews in time for the holiday gift-giving season, here’s a quick look at Michael Perelman’s Railroading Economics, a title, and a subject, that intrigued me for two reasons. Trivially, as readers know, I’m by way of being a rail fan; more importantly, when I was a mere sprat, I read Matthew Josephson’s Robber Barons. Josephson’s tales of Jim Fisk watering the stock of the Erie Railroad — 'Gone where the woodbine twineth' was Fisk’s answer to where the money went — and his running buddy Jay Gould — 'I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half' (attributed) — trying to corner the gold market would inoculate anyone from belief in the ideology of 'perfect competition.' They certainly did me.... This is a long and complicated story, and Perelman tells it well.

Laurence Shoup debunks the CFR on Redeye Radio, 100.5 FM

February 20, 2024

News stories and academic studies generally focus on the decisions made by presidents, prime ministers, and other world leaders. But where do those options decided upon come from in the first place? Why are some options never even considered? Behind the scenes, think tanks play a large part in what policies are considered by central governments. In the U.S., the most influential think tank of them all is the Council on Foreign Relations. From the 1920s right up until today, the CFR has been shaping policies, advising presidents, and helping ensure the U.S. remains the dominant superpower in the world.

The Socialist Imperative Wins OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC TITLE

February 20, 2024

These outstanding works have been selected for excellence in scholarship and presentation, the significance of their contribution to the field, and their value as important—often the first—treatment of their subject.

Peter Custers, 1949 – 2015

February 20, 2024

Your Time is Done Now reviewed in Repeating Islands

February 20, 2024

Polly Pattullo’s very important piece entitled Your Time is Done Now: Slavery, Resistance and Defeat: the Maroon Trials of Dominica (1813-1814), is an edited collection of original primary source documents with contextual commentary detailing the account of what has been known as Dominica’s Second Maroon War in 1813 and 1814. Pattullo, a British writer and creator of her own publishing company entitled Papillote Press, uses the actual court documents of the Maroon (runaway slave) trials as well as correspondences between the British colonial government officials to disclose to public the eventful conflict between the Maroons and the colonial government of Dominica in the second decade of the nineteenth century.

Rosalyn Baxandall Remembered by Ruth Milkman in Jacobin magazine

February 20, 2024

Hear Gerald Horne speak about his new book, Confronting Black Jacobins, at Tamiment Library, New York University, October 30

February 20, 2024