Jacobin Radio Dig: A Conversation w/ Jean-Luc Mélenchon
10 snips
May 10, 2025 Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France Insoumise and author of 'Now, The People,' discusses the radical left's strategies to confront the growing far-right in France. He critiques the political landscape, emphasizing grassroots movements and the importance of unity among leftists. Mélenchon delves into the historical ties to fascism, the decline of traditional labor, and the need for reevaluating class dynamics within capitalism. He advocates for inclusive political strategies that respect individual beliefs while emphasizing collective action on pressing social issues.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Fascism as Failed Domination
- Fascism arises when the political right can no longer dominate society traditionally and must use violence and normalized inequality.
- Racism, sexism, and blame are tools to maintain domination through atomizing the people.
French Rejection Sparks New Left
- In 2005, the French rejected a neoliberal European constitution by 55%, but elites overrode the vote.
- This betrayal awakened a politically dormant populace, sparking a new left movement including La France Insoumise.
People Over Class Alone
- The working class is not the sole revolutionary force; the broader people form the revolutionary actor.
- Capitalism functions through networks affecting everyone, revealing a shared human interest especially due to ecological crisis.
