Fascism, Marxism and Israel | Enzo Traverso

Oct 29, 2024

Enzo Traverso, a prominent writer and political scientist from Cornell University, delves into his journey through radical leftist movements and the evolution of Marxist thought. He discusses the rise of new far-right groups and their distinctions from classical fascism, alongside insights from his latest book on revolutionary movements. The conversation touches on the complexities of left-wing melancholia and the fraught relationship between Jewish identity and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the context of the war in Gaza.

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Intro

00:00 • 5min

Left-Wing Ideologies in 1970s Italy

04:39 • 26min

Reassessing Krakauer and Critical Theory

30:25 • 20min

Revisiting Totalitarianism

50:38 • 8min

Exploring Fascism and Its Historical Roots

59:01 • 14min

Emerging Post-Fascism: A Modern Perspective

01:12:48 • 10min

Left Wing Melancholia: History and Reflection

01:23:07 • 10min

Jewish Identity in Crisis

01:33:02 • 6min

This week we have a special episode for you as part of our inter-season programming - an interview with Enzo Traverso. Of course, we’re still working hard to bring you more roundtable discussions with our wonderful Verso authors in our upcoming fourth series of The Verso Podcast, but until then we have some exciting interim episodes coming up for you. Enzo Traverso is a writer, political scientist, and professor of humanities at Cornell University. His previous books include Fire and Blood: The European Civil War, 1914 to 1945, The New Faces of Fascism: Populism and the Far Right, The Origins of Nazi Violence, and The End of Jewish Modernity. He sat down with verso editor Sebastian Budgen to explore his life, his work and his latest book, Revolution: An Intellectual History - released in a new paperback edition earlier this year. The book charts a new history of the revolutionary movements of the 19th and 20th centuries - from Alexandra Kollontai’s cries for sexual liberation in Russia, to Louis Auguste Blanqui’s barricades in France, to Ho Chi Minh’s independence proclamation in Vietnam. In drawing these examples together, the book seeks answers to the fundamental question of how to unmake and then remake the world - of what revolution means and what it demands from us. In this interview, Enzo talks about his intellectual beginnings, about the new global far right, the Frankfurt School, left wing melancholia, and Israel's war against Gaza. If you'd like to read more about how people down the ages have tried to change the world - and sometimes even succeeded - then Enzo’s book, Revolution: An Intellectual History is available now from Verso Books: https://www.versobooks.com/products/2783-revolution And don’t forget - be sure to subscribe to the show so you can be the first to know when season four drops - and so that you don’t miss any of the bonus content coming your way between now and then. If you enjoy The Verso Podcast please consider leaving a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts - it really helps us out!