1Dime Radio Building a Political Party (Ft. Chris Cutrone)
Oct 10, 2025
Chris Cutrone, a notable Marxist theorist and founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society, discusses his vision for a socialist party. He delves into the differences between democratic socialism and social democracy, emphasizing the need for ideological clarity. The conversation tackles contemporary anti-imperialism, the political roles of figures like Bernie Sanders and Trump, and critiques of movements like Occupy. Cutrone advocates for grassroots organizing and the importance of engaging with community dynamics to build a viable socialist framework.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Populisms Are Petty-Bourgeois Movements
- Both Bernie and Trump expanded the electorate toward petty-bourgeois discontent rather than producing genuine proletarian socialist politics.
- Cutrone sees these movements as expressions of petty-bourgeois radicalism, not working-class socialism.
Transform Facts On The Ground First
- Changing facts on the ground via civil-social organizing is the first-order political tactic, not immediate seizure of state institutions.
- A strong socialist movement will transform society long before it gains state power.
Party-Building Reveals Capitalism's Contradictions
- Overcoming capitalism won't mirror capitalism's emergence; building a socialist party under capitalism will expose capitalism's contradictions.
- Cutrone expects a socialist party to create conditions where the choice of taking state power becomes manifest.
