New Books in Critical Theory cover image

New Books in Critical Theory

Steve J. Shone, "Dangerous Anarchist Strikers" (Brill, 2023)

Nov 25, 2024
In this thought-provoking discussion, Steve J. Shone, a Political Science lecturer at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and author of "Dangerous Anarchist Strikers," dives into the impactful stories of radical women in labor history. He sheds light on figures like Virginia Bolten, Helen Armstrong, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, emphasizing their often-overlooked contributions to labor strikes across the Americas. Shone also explores the intersection of anarchism, feminism, and democracy, challenging conventional narratives and advocating for a re-examination of historical activism.
47:53

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast emphasizes the need to reassess historical narratives to accurately recognize the contributions of overlooked figures like Virginia Bolten and Helen Armstrong in anarchist discourse.
  • It critiques the misconception that voting alone ensures democratic governance by highlighting issues of mass incarceration and the true values of justice and fairness in society.

Deep dives

The Connection Between Anarchism and Democracy

The podcast discusses the relationship between anarchism and democracy, particularly how voting is often misinterpreted as an indication of a democratic society. Anarchists argue that mere voting does not equate to fairness or justice in governance. For instance, the speaker highlights troubling statistics about mass incarceration in the United States, emphasizing that high incarceration rates among marginalized communities suggest a lack of true democratic values. This challenges the conventional belief that electoral processes alone can signify a functional democracy.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode