Guerrilla History

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.

In this episode of Guerrilla History, we are lucky to be joined by a special guest in Cuba as well as a special guest host whom many of you will likely remember from past episodes of the show.  Here, we bring on Cuban journalist Liz Oliva Fernández from Belly of the Beast to discuss Bob Menendez (who was just convicted on corruption charges), US-Cuba policy, and how these are related. This episode is being based off of two documentaries that Liz hosted for Belly of the Beast - Hardliner of the Hudson which takes a deep look at Menendez, and Uphill on the Hill which is an examination of recent US-Cuba policy. Watch these, and subscribe to Belly of the Beast on YouTube! Adnan was not able to join Henry for this one, so we drafted in our friend and former guest Taylor Genovese as a special guest host.  Taylor is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Dutchess Community College, an editor at Iskra Books, and a documentary filmmaker.  You may remember Taylor as a guest from two previous episodes - Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and Art and the Working Class.  Major thanks to Taylor for coming in on relatively short notice for this one! Liz Oliva Fernández is a Cuban journalist and the presenter of The War on Cuba, for which she won a Gracie Award. Apart from her journalism and filmmaking, Liz is a dedicated anti-racist and feminist activist.   Follow Belly of the Beast on Twitter @bellybeastcuba to keep up with Liz's work. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring on the wonderful Professor Rashmi Sadana to discuss the Delhi metro system from a political economic, sociological, and ethnographic framework, based on her terrific book The Moving City: Scenes from the Delhi Metro and the Social Life of Infrastructure.  Talking about the political and sociological dimensions of infrastructure is a critically important topic for us to focus on, and one which we are trying to devote a bit more time to.  We recommend also checking out our recent conversation with Laleh Khalili on Red Sea Shipping & the Gaza Genocide to hear a bit more of our discussions on transportation infrastructure. Rashmi Sadana  is Professor of Anthropology at George Mason University and author of English Heart, Hindi Heartland: The Political Life of Literature in India.  Keep up to date with the Professor's work by checking out her faculty webpage. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

In this episode, we bring you an appearance we recently made on Revolutionary Blackout Network.  Adnan and Henry were invited to sit on a roundtable discussion alongside long-time Indigenous activist John Looking Glass to discuss a wide variety of topics. We highly recommend subscribing to RBN, and watching the video version of this conversation, which includes an additional 10 minute intro/discussion by RBN host Nick.  Find the video version here. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory