1Dime Radio The Rise of Neo-Stalinism (Ft. Ross Wolfe)
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Dec 5, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Ross Wolfe, a writer and researcher specializing in Marxism and Soviet history, dives into neo-Stalinism and its modern resurgence. They explore the influence of Domenico Losurdo, critically examining his views and methods. Wolfe points out historical inaccuracies in Losurdo's interpretations, highlights the complexities of state power in Marxism-Leninism, and debates the implications of contemporary China as a 'nationalist developmental state.' The conversation also touches on the appeal of neo-Stalinism in today's political climate.
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Geopolitics Replaces Class Struggle
- Neo-Stalinism replaces class struggle with geopolitics and cheerleading for states opposing U.S. imperialism.
- Ross Wolfe and Tony argue this tendency prizes anti-imperial loyalty over socialist principles.
Losurdo's Partisan Historiography
- Domenico Losurdo shaped neo-Stalinist thought by defending 'actually existing socialism' and downplaying atrocities as understandable.
- Wolfe finds Losurdo's method tendentious, using selective quotes and broad comparatistics to justify present politics.
Presentism Undermines Domestic Appeal
- Losurdo applies a presentist Cold War lens that treats the U.S. revolutionary tradition as illegitimate to fit an anti-imperialist narrative.
- Tony warns this delegitimization alienates potential domestic supporters by making socialism seem foreign.
