Cosmopod

Luke joins Douglas Egerton, author of The Wars of Reconstruction: The Brief, Violent History of America's Most Progressive Era, for a conversation about an epoch-defining period in U.S. history. Drawing from the lives of lesser-known actors, Douglas details attempts to transform the foundation of society following the Civil War and the vociferous resistance to those changes. Douglas provides an overview of Reconstruction, the forces involved, and, crucially, the way in which the period has been memorized and presented in academia and popular culture.

Rudy joins Matteo Capasso, author of Everyday Politics in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for a discussion on Libya with a focus on the period from 1969 to 2011. We delves into Matteo's  research on Libya, exploring the myths and stories surrounding Libya's history, aiming to dispel the notion of Qaddafi's authoritarianism and the concept of statelessness among the Libyan people. The conversation takes a historical journey, discussing the antecedents of the Libyan revolution, the formation of the "Jamahiriya," and Qaddafi's rise to power. They analyze the authoritarian nature of Qaddafi's rule, Libya's anti-imperialist role in the world, and key events that marked the decline of the revolution. The podcast also examines the role of Saif al-Islam, the framing of opposition in Islamic terms, the economic benefits of the revolution, and the surprising insights gained from conversations with refugees. Finally, the discussion delves into the complexities of the 2011 Libyan revolution and its enduring impact on Libyan politics, especially present with the recent floods.

This podcast delves into the Algerian revolution, tracing its roots back to French colonization and discussing key events during the war. It explores the myth of Algerian self-management and the fault lines within Algerian leadership. The episode also covers Ben Bella's economic and internationalist program. Part two will discuss Algeria through Boumédiène's government and the Civil War.

Gil Schaeffer responds to Renzo Llorente’s “The Contradictions and Confusions of ‘Democratic Socialism” and argues that socialists need to base their politics on a coherent ethical theory of democratic rights. Read by: Will Intro Music: ворожное озеро Гроза vwqp remix Outro Music: We are Friends Forever performed by Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment.

Rudy joins Immanuel Ness to discuss his recent work Migration as Economic Imperialism: How International Labour Mobility Undermines Economic Development in Poor Countries. We begin by explaining why migration is economic imperialism and addressing key questions about who migrates, their reasons, and destinations, highlighting evolving migration patterns. We explore how migration patterns are designed to meet labor demands and the role of recruitment agencies. Ness distinguishes between temporary and undocumented migrants, emphasizing the differences and discussing circular migration for highly-skilled individuals. Furthermore, he delves into the impact of skilled vs. unskilled migration on countries and the idea of migration as both individual freedom and national catastrophe. Ness also examines remittances, their framing by organizations like NGOs and the UN, their real-world implications, and how they tie into neoliberal ideology. We then discuss migration in the political realm: immigrant organization, their vulnerabilities, and reliance on personal actions or NGO support, with examples from the US and South Africa.

Hank Kennedy traces the ideological history of Superman, arguing that the populism of the character’s early iterations would eventually be shed as a result of commercial interests. Read by: Keir Intro Music: ворожное озеро Гроза vwqp remix Outro Music: We are Friends Forever performed by Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment.

Rudy joins authors Helen Hester and Nick Srnicek to explore their latest book, After Work: A History of the Home and the Fight for Free Time. The conversation commences with a clear definition of domestic work, setting the stage for the book's unique perspective on this issue in contrast to other theoretical frameworks. The dialogue delves into 20th-century trends in household labor within the global North, with a special focus on Cowan's paradox. Additionally, the episode explores the realm of electronic smart homes and introduces the "maids over machines" principle, highlighting regional variations in caregiving from the global North to the global South. The discussion culminates in an examination of alternative paradigms for addressing household labor, including historical collective infrastructure initiatives from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as contemporary endeavors like those found in Cuba.

Luke Pickrell of Marxist Unity Group emphasizes the centrality of radical democracy to the communist project and reintroduces the construction of the democratic republic as the foundational political goal for socialists today. He emphatically asserts that if socialists are to defeat the tricephalic hydra of capitalist domination, we must aim for the heart – “the source and parent of all the other atrocities” – the US Constitution.  Read by: Aliyah Intro Music: ворожное озеро Гроза vwqp remix Outro Music: We are Friends Forever performed by Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment.

Amelia, Amy, Steven, and Greg discuss the organization of DSA and the significance of the National Convention. They explore the inner workings of DSA, factions within the organization, and the outcomes of the convention. The podcast also delves into the Marxist Unity Group's strategic approach and their political aspirations.

Chas, Christian, Rudy, and James come together to delve into a comprehensive conversation about the Prague Spring, a significant Czechoslovak reform movement. Their discussion begins by tracing the roots of Czechoslovak communism, recounting the post-World War II Communist ascension to power, and elaborating on the gradual and intricate reform drive that eventually culminated in Dubček's rise to leadership during the Prague Spring of 1968. Subsequently, they explore the ideologies championed by key reformists, analyze the factors that prompted the Soviet Union's intervention, and dissect the shortcomings of the USSR's intervention strategy. Lastly, the conversation concludes by dissecting the reformers' envisioned goals and actual accomplishments. Bibliography: G. Golan - Reform Rule in Czechoslovakia: The Dubcek Era 1968–1969 J. Krejčí - Social Change and Stratification in Postwar Czechoslovakia V. Kusin - The Intellectual Origins of the Prague Spring: The Development of Reformist Ideas in Czechoslovakia, 1956-1967 V. Kusin - From Dubcek to Charter 77: A Study of 'Normalization' in Czechoslovakia, 1968-1978 Z. Mlynář - Nightfrost in Prague: The end of humane socialism O. Šik - Czechoslovakia: The Bureaucratic Economy. I. Svitak - The Czechoslovak Experiment: 1968 - 1969 K. Williams - The Prague Spring and its Aftermath: Czechoslovak Politics, 1968-1970