May 1, 2026
Andy Merrifield reflects on Nikolai Gogol's short story "The Overcoat," tying it to "a distinctively Marxist problematic." In the protagonist of the tale, a Russian counsellor whose life is forever changed by the acquisition of a new overcoat, Merrifield finds a character who, like Marx, knows firsthand what a single coat can tell us about the structures of society.
April 1, 2026
This article examines the resurgence of interest in Mao Zedong among China's youth, particularly at elite universities. This "Mao fever" reflects a complex mindset: indignation toward social inequality, uncertainty within a brutal job market, and a firm anti-imperialist and patriotic stance amidst the "New Cold War." In Mao’s legacy, a new generation is finding the guidance to navigate the sharpening contradictions of the present day.
April 1, 2026
Michael Viola explores the building of the Filipino identity in the context of U.S. imperialism. The broad-reaching effects of this "deadliest phase of imperialism," combined with pervasive anti-Asian racism in the United States, fuels the idea of a collective political project that "comes with the praxis, the power, and the price of a unique lineage" extending across an ocean and intimately connected to the dark history of U.S. militarism abroad.
April 1, 2026
A new poem by Marge Piercy.
February 1, 2026
Paul Buhle reviews Insectopolis: A Natural History, a new graphic novel by Peter Kuper. In the book, Kuper, a prolific producer and publisher of left-wing comics, spins a tale of two siblings who find themselves in a world of insects. Through encounters with butterflies, beetles, ants, and more, Kuper reveals the deep entanglements between human society—at its best and worst—and the creatures of its living environment.
December 1, 2025
Sigurd Allern echoes Robert W. McChesney's call for an insurgent communication scholarship that extends beyond the borders of academia and understands media not just as an industry, but as a public good and—critically—key infrastructure for functioning democracy.
December 1, 2025
Mandy Tröger and Sydney L. Forde explore the impact that Robert W. McChesney's work has had on both the communication field and on their work as the new generation of scholars. "To honor [McChesney]," they write, "is not to look up in awe, but look out…toward the unfinished work of building a more democratic field and society."
December 1, 2025
Writing upon the fiftieth anniversary of his graduation from Pomfret School in Connecticut, Robert W. Chesney shares in his own words the story of his intellectual development, from his teen years through his studies at The Evergreen State College, and how they shaped his career as a journalist and activist—including his role as coeditor of MR.
November 1, 2025
Helena Sheehan reflects on the evolution of her intellectual political relationship to China, a journey that began with limited knowledge of a seemingly far-away land and ends with a nuanced understanding grounded in her on-the-ground experiences as a visiting professor at Peking University. Through political and cultural analysis, Sheehan gives readers a peek into what how the Chinese Revolution continues to unfold.
