The Dissenter

#1149 Sean McMeekin: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Communism

9 snips
Sep 12, 2025
Guest
Sean McMeekin
In this discussion, Sean McMeekin, Francis Flournoy Professor of European History and Culture at Bard College, delves into the intricate history of communism. He reveals the ideologies that sparked its rise, including early revolutionary figures and the profound impacts of the Russian Revolution. The conversation also explores the fall of communist regimes in the late 20th century and the surprising resurgence of communist ideals today. McMeekin even draws parallels between modern surveillance tactics and historical oppressive regimes, urging caution about individual freedoms.
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INSIGHT

Communism Deserves A Fresh Look

  • Sean McMeekin argues communism's story needed re-examination after initial claims it was dead in the 1990s.
  • He wrote To Overthrow the World to reassess communism's endurance and resurgence.
INSIGHT

Violence Is Central To Revolutionary Vision

  • McMeekin traces communist roots to radical Enlightenment and figures like Gracchus Babeuf, not only Marx.
  • He emphasizes that forcible social equality and political violence were explicit parts of early revolutionary thought.
INSIGHT

Lenin Saw War As Revolutionary Tool

  • Lenin deliberately saw war as the catalyst for revolution and wrote about turning imperialist wars into civil wars.
  • He advocated arming soldiers and promoting mutiny to trigger class warfare and global conflict.
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