The Dig

Richard Seymour discusses the global politics of the Palestinian struggle and Israel's war on Gaza. They explore the tension between agency and humanitarianism, the complexity of understanding Hamas, and the impact of Zionism on antisemitism. They also discuss the devaluation of Palestinian lives, the need for transversal coalitions, and the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. The podcast covers the relationship between geoeconomy and geopolitics, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and concludes with an introduction and acknowledgment of Richard Seymour.

Richard Seymour, expert on global politics of the Palestinian struggle and Israel's war on Gaza, discusses the influence of factors on the mass response against Israel, the role of the nation state in revolutionizing society, and the contradiction between the public and political class. The chapter explores the recent protests in support of Palestine, highlighting their magnitude, frequency, and global nature.

Beverly Gage, an expert on J. Edgar Hoover, discusses his role as the Director of the FBI, his membership in Kappa Alpha fraternity, the Palmer raids, McCarthyism, FBI tactics to suppress left-wing ideas, the relationship with Joseph McCarthy, and the revelation of secret FBI operations.

Tareq Baconi, expert on Hamas, discusses the importance of understanding its political aspirations separate from violence. They also explore the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hamas's shift towards armed struggle, the emergence of suicide bombings, their rise to power in Gaza, and the challenges they face as a governing authority.

The podcast explores various topics related to Palestine and Israel, including the history and displacement of Palestinians, the concept of self-determination, the impact of the Great Revolt, the motivations behind the establishment of a Jewish state, the new nationality law in Israel, the role of media in legitimating Israeli apartheid, discussions on Zionism's civil war, the nature of Israeli democracy, and personal accounts of living through Israel's bombing of Gaza.

Noura Erakat and Arielle Angel discuss the severity of Israeli assaults in Palestine, the US-Israel relationship, and the historical context for US support of Israel. They also challenge perspectives on Israeli civilian deaths and Hamas's violence, emphasizing the need to dismantle Israeli apartheid colonialism.

Vincent Bevins discusses why mass protests did not lead to revolution, the crisis of representation and anti-politics in movements, the perception of Ukrainian protesters, the role of far-right groups in the Ukrainian revolution, Chilean President Gabriel Borage's response to social uprisings, the feminist movement in Chile, and the failure of the left's proposed constitution.

Vincent Bevins, author of If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution, discusses the absence of disciplined Leninist organizations in global mass protests. Topics include the rise of right-wing power after protests, the concept of Leninism and efforts to avoid mistakes of the Bolshevik Revolution, the influence of the horizontalist model on mass protests, media's role in shaping the narrative of the Arab Spring, misunderstanding of protests in the global South, and the intersection of social media and police repression in mass protests.

Jo Guldi, expert on the global history of the long land war, discusses topics such as occupancy rights, tenant protections, land reform politics, the impact of neoliberal ideas, the rise of urban squatting, and the challenges and prospects of agrarian reform in the face of climate crisis.

Featuring guests Alex Han, Astra Taylor, and Rachel Gilmer, this live Dig interview at a Socialism Conference discusses organizing and socialist strategy. They explore topics such as building a movement of movements, the importance of cadre organization, political education, navigating challenges, and organizing in relation to debt.