Guerrilla History

In this insightful discussion, Leo Zeilig, Editor of the Review of African Political Economy and seasoned researcher on African politics, shares his expertise on the intricate history of African revolutions and decolonization. He highlights the lasting effects of colonialism and neo-imperialism, raising questions about true independence. The conversation explores mass politics, the influence of key figures, and the psychological scars of colonization. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on these themes as they prepare for deeper explorations of African liberation movements.

In this wonderful crossover episode between Guerrilla History and The Majlis, we bring on Dr. Ali Al-Assam to discuss the legendary Iraqi Communist leader Ibrahim Allawi's work Al-Mushtarak (The Commons), which Ali has just translated an edited edition in English, available from Iskra Books!  This conversation covers the life and work of Allawi, his book Al-Mushtarak, and the fascinating fusion of Islamic culture and socialist politics contained within.  Really a great discussion, you're going to want to check this out (and pick up the book!). Ali Al-Assam is founder and Secretary of NewsSocial Cooperative and member of the Friends of Socialist China - Britain Committee.  Be sure to check out the Mushtarek platform and the NewsSocial Cooperative.  You can follow Ali on twitter @aliassam, and get the book Reading In Al-Mushtarak from Iskra Books.  Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

In this critically important episode, we bring back our friend Comrade Booker from the Communist Party of Kenya to discuss the breaking news of his arrest and charges against him by the Kenyan governing apparatus.  In addition to discussing his personal case, he analyses and describes the wider repressive nature of the Kenyan government, and how the Communist Party of Kenya is operating in the environment of mass public discontent.  A fascinating, timely, and important conversation! Also, be sure to listen to the other episodes we have with Booker - History and Class Analysis of Kenyan Elections Dispatch, and Building the Communist Party of Kenya. Booker Omole is the National Vice Chairperson and National Organizing Secretary of the Communist Party of Kenya.  He can be found on Twitter @BookerBiro. Support the Communist Party of Kenya! You can follow them on Twitter @CommunistsKe, on Facebook, YouTube, or on Instagram.  You can also check out their website at https://www.communistpartyofkenya.org/. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

In this discussion, Professor August Nimtz, a political science expert, unpacks the electoral theories of Marx and Lenin. He delves into how these revolutionary figures viewed electoral engagement as a strategic tool rather than a moral choice. The conversation highlights the evolution of Russia's state DUMAs, critiques the Democratic Party's handling of protests, and emphasizes the importance of mass mobilization to counter capitalism. Nimtz also explores the relevance of Lenin's insights to modern political struggles and the need for a vanguard in today's class battles.

In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring back on our friend Vijay Prashad to talk about one of the latest newsletter articles from the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, titled Ten Theses on the Far Right of a Special Type.  Here, we have a bit of a theoretical discussion before diving in and discussing each of the theses in turn.  Be sure to read the article, critically engage with it, and critically engage with our discussion here as well!   Also, check out our previous episodes with Vijay, Washington Bullets, COP26 Dispatch (alongside Chris Saltmarsh), and The Fragility of US Power (alongside Noam Chomsky)!   Vijay Prashad is director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, editor of LeftWord Books, and the chief correspondent for Globetrotter, author of numerous books, and is a multiple-time guest of Guerrilla History.  Follow him on twitter @VijayPrashad. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

Ju-Hyun Park, a writer and activist with Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, dives deep into American imperialism’s impact on Korea. The discussion covers Korea's historical struggle for liberation, emphasizing the independence movements and the brutal legacy of the Korean War. Ju-Hyun critiques South Korean leadership under Yoon Suk-yeol and highlights rising tensions with North Korea. They also stress the importance of activism in the anti-imperialist movement, urging support for the US Out of Korea campaign.

In this episode of Guerrilla History, we have the opportunity to discuss a fabulous new book, Subjectivity and Decolonisation in the Post-Independence Novel and Film with its brilliant author Sarah Jilani.  Through examinations of novels and film from Africa and South Asia, Frantz Fanon's materialist approach to self and representations of subjectivity and decolonization are discussed.  Really an outstanding conversation, we really hope Sarah will join us again for future conversations!  Another project Sarah is involved with is Revolutionary Papers, and we look forward to discussing this project in weeks to come.   Sarah Jilani is a Lecturer in English at City, University of London, and a 2021 AHRC/BBC New Generation Thinker. She is the author of several articles on postcolonial literatures and film that have appeared in Textual Practice, Interventions, and Journal of Commonwealth Literature, amongst others, and a widely published culture journalist.  Keep up to date with Sarah by checking out her website for more of her work, and follow her on twitter @sarahjilani. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

In this timely episode of Guerrilla History, Adnan discusses Defiance: Fighting the Far Right w/ Rajesh Thind, a director & producer of the three part Channel 4 documentary series produced by Rogan Productions in association with Riz Ahmed’s Lefthanded Films. The series is an immersive social history that brings the South Asian activists who combatted and organized successfully against far right racist and anti-immigrant violence in the 1970s & early 1980s to our screens.  Exclusive to Guerrilla History, one of those veteran activists Shahnaz Ali joined the conversation to talk about her experiences organizing in the late 1970’s and 80’s in Bradford, and since then, fighting for equality and justice in UK society and the National Health Service specifically. This history is incredibly relevant for the resurgence of far right violence and rioting being witnessed right now on city streets across the UK.   In addition to watching Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, you should also listen to our two related previous episodes, African & Caribbean People in Britain - A History w/ Hakim Adi, and  Black & Brown Resistance in the UK (1960s-80s) w/ Preeti Dhillon.   Rajesh Thind is an award-winning director, writer & producer of films, tv, stage & prose known for tackling challenging & complex subjects.  Keep up to date with his work by checking out his website and by following him on twitter @RajeshThind Shahnaz Ali OBE is former Director of Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights NHSNW. Now a freelance consultant Making Equality Work and Lay Council member for University of Bradford.  You can read more about her work at the Nursing Narratives website, her Wikipedia page, and on LinkedIn. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

Joined by Abdullah Shehadeh from al-Fida'i Media, an expert on geopolitical issues, and Matteo Capasso, a scholar focused on Libyan politics, the discussion dives deep into the assassinations of key figures like Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr. They analyze the impact on Palestinian unity and resistance movements, the rising support for militant groups, and the geopolitical ramifications of targeted killings. The conversation also touches on China's increasing global influence and the shifting dynamics in Middle Eastern politics, revealing the complexities of liberation struggles.

Luiz Manuel Hernandez Aguilar and Sarah Bracke, co-editors of significant academic works on right-wing ideologies, delve into the complex landscape of far-right conspiracy theories. They explore themes of demographic fears, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the interplay between Islamophobia and nationalism. The conversation highlights the historical roots of these ideologies and their modern expressions, emphasizing the critical need for interdisciplinary analysis in combating societal tensions. They also discuss the cultural implications of biopolitics and the urgent call for new narratives around equality.