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.
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Left Is Pre-Political, Not Ready
- The left has been largely pre-political and stuck in pseudo-activity rather than building durable social power in civil society.
- Chris Cutrone argues we must convert post-political energy into practical civil-social organizing before party-building.
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.
Apprentice To Civil Society Groups
- Do apprentice to existing civil-society organizations (NGOs, churches, immigrant centers) to learn practical organizing skills and exploit political gray zones.
- Use those learned tactics to create facts on the ground that force mainstream politics to respond.
