London Review Bookshop Podcast Tariq Ali & Oliver Eagleton: You Can’t Please All
Jul 9, 2025
Tariq Ali, a Pakistani-British political activist and author known for his work in the New Left Review, is joined by Oliver Eagleton, an associate editor and author. They discuss Ali's colorful past, including his vibrant experiences during the revolutionary movements of the 1970s. The conversation delves into the evolving dynamics within the Labour Party and the ideological battles faced by leftists today. They also examine the interplay between politics and poetry as tools for resistance and reflect on the muted responses from Sunni regimes regarding ongoing geopolitical crises.
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Era of Revolution Ends, Resistance Begins
- The 70s were filled with revolutionary optimism inspired by successful anti-imperialist struggles in Vietnam, Latin America, and Portugal.
- The defeat of these movements and rise of Thatcher and Reagan marked a global shift to a new consensus of political defeat and resistance.
Sideways Shift to Cultural Activism
- Tariq Ali transitioned sideways from street activism to cultural work like novels and TV after leaving the Fourth International.
- Offers from Time Out and Channel 4 came unexpectedly, leading to influential programs without censorship.
Satire Novel as Political Therapy
- Tariq Ali wrote his satire novel Redemption in two weeks after reading about Trotskyist faction fights over Gerry Healy's body.
- Despite losing some friends, his close relationship with theoretician Ernest Mandel survived, with humor about character details.
