Everyday Anarchism

Constance Bantman, a historian specializing in transnational anarchism and political violence, joins the discussion to unpack the intricate history of anarchist terrorism, particularly through the lens of Luigi Mangione. They explore how nineteenth-century anarchist acts may illuminate contemporary incidents, like Mangione's assassination of a healthcare CEO. The conversation dives into the evolving tactics of anarchists, the moral dilemmas surrounding political violence, and the cultural perceptions of political assassins in America, highlighting their complex legacy.

Luke Kemp, a research affiliate at the University of Cambridge and author of "Goliath's Curse," joins the discussion to explore James C. Scott's insightful essays on anarchism. They dive into the joy and controversies of Scott's perspectives, encouraging those curious about anarchism to engage. The conversation highlights the power of everyday dissent, the critique of traditional historical narratives glorifying the elite, and the significance of small acts of disobedience. Kemp also teases his upcoming book on societal collapse, enriching the dialogue.

Christopher Isett joins me to discuss the rise of capitalism and "The Great Divergence," in which Christendom transformed itself from an obscure corner of the world into the dominant global power. Just how did that happen, what part did capitalism play in it, and why did capitalism develop in Europe? And what does China have to do with all of it?Chris gives his answers to all of these questions, especially drawing on the work of Robert Brenner. Here's Brenner's page on the Verso website, if you want the full story: https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/authors/brenner-robert

Today Mitch Abidor joins me to discuss Victor Serge: acclaimed novelist, anarchist, Bolshevik, anticommunist, and all-around 20th century contradiction. Mitch and I discuss the legend of Serge, what's true about it, and the ways that Serge fails to live up to the legend.You can find Mitch's writing all over the place, but here's a good place to start: https://jewishcurrents.org/author/mitchell-abidor And here's the NYRB page for Serge's work: https://www.nyrb.com/collections/victor-serge

What is capitalism?It's not efficient markets, factories, and free labor.It's the financialization of empire and slavery, using greed, shame, indignation, and debt.And that means the first great capitalists weren't British factory owners, but colonizing conquistadors.

Kim Stanley Robinson returns to discuss his novel Green Earth, a technothriller about a near future world in which scientists work to solve the global climate crisis. Stan and I discuss how the book went from a trilogy to a single volume, its similarity to The Ministry for the Future, and its place in the genre of naturalism. Plus Emerson and Thoreau!And yes, I get the title of The Ministry for the Future wrong every time I say it in this episode. Oops.

Mark Bittman, a renowned food writer and journalist, shares his vision for nonprofit restaurants with Community Kitchen, emphasizing community roots. He passionately discusses the health concerns surrounding seed oils and critiques political narratives in food politics. Bittman highlights urgent crises in the food system, advocating for grassroots activism and fair access to nutritious food. He reflects on historical injustices in food production, urging reforms to address the legacies of exploitation and strive for systemic change.

Shawn Vulliez from SRSLY Wrong joins to explore David Graeber's bold essays challenging conventional economic wisdom. They unpack the tyranny of economics and Graeber's influence on dissenting voices, especially in movements like Occupy. The duo critiques the disconnect between economic narratives and real struggles faced by the working class. They also ponder the absurdity of linking cultural events to economics and advocate for radical shifts like a four-hour workday to empower communities. The discussion is a refreshing call to rethink society's values against the backdrop of pressing political and climate issues.

A spectre is haunting the Everyday Anarchism series on the English revolution: the spectre of Christopher Hill's 1972 book The World Turned Upside Down. It turns out most of the ideas I've shared in this series came from Hill's book!Ann Hughes joins me to discuss the book, and we talk through the following questions:Did Hill invent the idea of the English revolution?How did the radicalism of the 1960s affect Hill's approach?Was Winstanley an anarchist?Was the English Revolution the beginning of modernity?Thanks so much to Ann and all the other guests in this year-long series, now (probably) concluded!

Eleanor Janega, the very first guest on the Graeber's Debt series, comes back on the show to discuss what the middle ages were, how they were a global phenomenon, and why they weren't as bad as you've heard