What does the expansion and intensification of nighttime labor say about the workings of capitalism, and what did Marx say about wage labor done in the wee hours? Paul Apostolidis draws from the working-day chapter in Marx’s Capital an emphasis on social reproduction, which he believes should be a key focus of contemporary worker struggles. (Encore presentation.) Paul Apostolidis, The Fight for Time: Migrant Day Laborers and the Politics of Precarity Oxford University Press, 2019 (Image on main page by Rwendland.) The post Nighttime Labor appeared first on KPFA.

Our world is replete with problems, calling out for repair and change. Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have solutions at the ready – tech fixes and innovations that they claim will make a difference. Scholar Julie Guthman discusses the problem with such solutions, and the mindset that has permeated institutions of higher learning which reward the development of such fixes over critical thinking and systemic change. Resources: Julie Guthman, The Problem with Solutions: Why Silicon Valley Can’t Hack the Future of Food UC Press, 2024 The post Silicon Valley’s Quick Fixes appeared first on KPFA.

Hala Khouri, an expert in trauma and self-care, is joined by Tessa Hicks Peterson, co-editor of a transformative healing book. They explore how unaddressed trauma hinders justice and social progress. Khouri emphasizes the essential role of embodied practices in healing, while Peterson discusses collective strategies for systemic change. The discussion highlights human trauma responses, resilience, and the importance of embracing vulnerability. Together, they envision a more liberated future through emotional awareness and community engagement.

Hatim Rahman, a sociologist of work and technology, sheds light on the rising influence of digital labor platforms, where even highly educated professionals are managed by algorithms. He discusses the paradox of flexibility versus unpredictability and how ratings can dictate a worker's visibility. Rahman explores the diminished protections for contract workers, emphasizing the role of opaque evaluations in job opportunities. The conversation also highlights the impact of algorithms on daily life and the necessity for collective action to ensure transparency and accountability.

Join Ernst Bloch, the visionary German philosopher, along with Jon Greenaway, Mat Callahan, and Yvonne Moore, as they unravel the essence of utopian thought. They dive deep into Bloch's philosophy, exploring how hope is essential for human consciousness and political engagement. The conversation highlights the seductive nature of fascism and the critical role of the working class in revolutionary movements. They also discuss the need for innovative utopian ideas to address today's challenges, igniting aspirations for social justice and a brighter future.

The pandemic highlighted the vital importance of care work—whether childcare, nursing home care, medical care or schooling – and the struggles many people face to get sufficient care. Would more public investment solve the crisis? Historian Premilla Nadasen argues that the problem lies with contemporary capitalism itself, as care has become an enormous arena for corporate profit, in which the state is often deeply complicit. (Encore presentation.) Resources: Premilla Nadasen, Care: The Highest Stage of Capitalism Haymarket Books, 2023 The post Profiting from Care appeared first on KPFA.

What happened to California’s prisons and jails when the Covid pandemic struck? Why did so many people die behind bars, and why were so many on the outside affected (and afflicted)? Hadar Aviram sheds light on multiple aspects of California’s Covid-19 correctional disaster, including activist efforts to prevent it. (Encore presentation.) Hadar Aviram and Chad Goerzen, Fester: Carceral Permeability and California’s COVID-19 Correctional Disaster University of California Press, 2024 (Image on main page by Annette Teng.) The post Covid Carceral Calamity appeared first on KPFA.

Economic inequality in the United States is vast and unyielding. Despite much fanfare about tight labor markets and wage growth, the top 1% own more wealth than the entire middle 60% of households by income. How did we get here? Historian Steve Fraser discusses capitalism, class, and our new gilded age. The post Our Gilded Age appeared first on KPFA.

How did residents of shack settlements in South African cities like Durban become a formidable political force? Yousuf Al-Bulushi lays out the operating principles, goals, and methods of Abahlali, one of the most well-known radical formations in all of Africa. Yousuf Al-Bulushi, Ruptures in the Afterlife of the Apartheid City Palgrave Macmillan, 2024 (Image on main page by Dexs1991.) The post The Shack Dweller Movement appeared first on KPFA.

While it would seem like the crisis of the political establishment would provide fertile ground for the left, instead we have seen the ascendancy of right-wing figures around the world, who denounce the establishment while shoring up the capitalist order. Often these figures are businessmen like Donald Trump and Silvio Berlusconi, who position themselves outside of the discredited status quo. Sociologist Leslie Gates asks why such capitalist outsiders win, looking at the very different trajectories of Venezuela and Mexico. She contrasts the victories of Hugo Chavez and Vicente Fox — the latter whose election heralded the rise of more leaders in his mold. (Encore presentation.) Resources: Leslie C. Gates, Capitalist Outsiders: Oil’s Legacies in Mexico and Venezuela University of Pittsburgh Press, 2023 The post Electing Capitalist Outsiders appeared first on KPFA.