Cosmopod

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

Luke and Donald join Alexander Gourevitch, author of From Slavery to Cooperative Commonwealth: Labor and Republican Liberty in the 19th Century, for a wide-ranging discussion about the republican conception of freedom and how republicanism was taken up by workers in the United States. They begin by discussing older conceptions of freedom and slavery and how those ideas evolved. They consider the Workingmen’s Parties and the Knights of Labor as examples of ‘labor republicans’ who saw wage labor as a form of slavery. They discuss Supreme Court rulings that embody the distinction between ‘laissez-faire’ and ‘labor republicanism,’ as well as different conceptions of ‘civic virtue.’ They conclude by exploring the potential for a universal struggle under the banner of freedom from domination and all forms of servitude. 

Jackson, Rudy and Steve sit down to talk about political education in the communist movement. They explore their personal experiences with education in both formal  and political settings, highlighting the contrasting dynamics. Delving  into the models of political education within a party, they emphasize  the significance of cultivating a shared language and vision. The trio  generously shares practical examples and tips for organizing engaging  and diverse reading and study groups, ensuring a captivating learning  experience that transcends demographics.

Splits and purges are no solution to the problem of disagreement in the socialist movement. Marisa Miale calls for unity in diversity in the context of the DSA. Read By: LC Intro Music: ворожное озеро Гроза vwqp remix Outro Music: We are Friends Forever performed by Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment.

Rudy joins Adela Cedillo, co-editor of Challenging Authoritarianism in Mexico Revolutionary Struggles and the Dirty War, 1964-1982, and author of several studies on the Mexican dirty war such as El Fuego y El Silencio, Historia de las Fuerzas de Liberación Nacional Mexicanas (1969-1974), for a conversation on this period of history. We discuss the mixed legacy of the Mexican revolution, the state of the left after the progressive presidency of Lazaro Cárdenas, the two periods in Mexican insurrectionism: before and after the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre and how the left responded to this event. We continue by discussing the origins of the Frente de Liberación Nacional (FLN), how its strategy evolved, and how it laid the base for the Zapatistas. We finish by briefly discussing how the Zapatistas are different from their predecessors and how the dirty war slowly evolved into the drug war.

Renzo Llorente engages with contemporary advocates of Democratic Socialism and argues that they ultimately fail to demarcate between liberal and socialist visions of democracy, resulting in capitulation to the liberal status quo.  Read By: Will Intro Music: ворожное озеро Гроза vwqp remix Outro Music: We are Friends Forever performed by Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment.