The Red Nation Podcast Western Marxism is not anti-colonial w/ Gabriel Rockhill
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Nov 18, 2024 Gabriel Rockhill, a philosophy professor and director of the Critical Theory Workshop, shares his insights on the limitations of Western Marxism in addressing anti-colonial issues. He discusses his journey from rural Kansas to radical thought, critiquing the disconnect between academia and real-world struggles. Rockhill emphasizes state power's role in revolutionary efforts, draws parallels between Vietnamese resilience and Indigenous struggles, and advocates for a revival of anti-colonial Marxist perspectives to confront current imperial challenges.
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Early Reading Habits
- Melanie Yazzie's mother was a teacher, instilling a love of reading early on.
- Limited resources led her to public libraries and books like Noam Chomsky's in high school.
Academic Shift
- Yazzie's academic journey began in the hard sciences, shifting to humanities after a negative experience with a history professor.
- This led to graduate studies where assigned Marxist texts sparked internal conflict about theory versus practical application.
Disconnecting Theory and Practice
- Western Marxism alienates working people because it is very complicated theory that appears disconnected from class struggle.
- This perceived disconnect between theory and practice can lead to disillusionment and a preference for archival research over theoretical engagement.