Imtv Radio - Marxist Ideas. Fighting For Revolution.

In this session, Natasha Sorrell discusses how it is the working class who produce all the wealth in society. The capitalists, meanwhile, are mere parasites. That is why we need to fight for a socialist economic plan – one where workers are in control. In ‘normal’ times, the capitalists would have us believe that it is the bosses and ‘entrepreneurs’ who are essential to society. But the pandemic has shown who plays the really essential role: the nurses, carers, and cleaners – in short, the working class, without whom not a lightbulb shines, not a wheel turns, and not a telephone rings. Hypocritically, Boris Johnson and his ministers have even come out clapping for NHS staff – the very same workers who are underpaid and overworked thanks to Tory austerity and attacks. At the same time, left-wing writers like David Graeber talk about a proliferation of ‘bullshit jobs’ nowadays, with vast sectors such as advertising and marketing contributing nothing genuinely useful to society. And yet, they are essential fr

For this week's episode of Marxist Voice, we are joined by Fiona Lali - lead organiser at the Marxist Student Federation - who will be interviewing Olive and Tori - two Marxist students playing a leading role in the ongoing rent strike movement. With young people being lured back into universities by the Tory government and corruption university management, rent strike movements have exploded on campuses up and down the country. Students are rightly rising up in indignation at their shameful treatment. Having been deceived with false promises of continued in-person teaching, many have been left trapped in shoddy accommodation buildings, with little to no support, to receive reduced-quality teaching by underpaid and overworked academic staff. This comes as no surprise: although the coronavirus pandemic triggered these events, the incessant drive towards marketisation of our universities has long been a feature of the British education system, affecting both staff and students alike. The Marxist Student Fed

In this recent talk to Socialist Appeal supporters, Antonio Balmer (from the Socialist Revolution USA editorial board) discusses the recent dramatic events in Washington, which are yet another symptom of the decline of American capitalism - and a harbinger of revolutionary explosions to come. The storming of Capitol Hill by a mob of Trump supporters on 6 January is a graphic illustration of the deep crisis gripping US capitalism and the whole system of American bourgeois democracy. The fact that these unprecedented events can occur within the 'belly of the beast' has sent shockwaves across the world, undermining the very foundations of US imperialism. Similarly, this extreme political polarisation to the right will embolden and radicalise those on the left. This 'insurrection' has exposed the fragility of the capitalist state, bringing the police and the army into question once again. At the same time, as Antonio explains, Joe Biden and the Democrats offer no way forward for workers and youth in the USA. T

In this session, Ellen Morton of the Glasgow Marxists discusses how these crises are laying the basis for revolution in these islands. The task ahead is to build a Marxist leadership in Britain and beyond. The coronavirus crisis has hit Britain harder than most. The UK is a world leader in terms of ‘excess deaths’ from the pandemic, and is experiencing a deeper recession than almost any other developed capitalist country. On top of this, Boris Johnson is presiding over the ongoing shambles that is Brexit, which will be a devastating blow to UK big business. And the breakup of the Union is increasingly likely, as support for Scottish independence rises. All of these titanic events demonstrate the special crisis of British capitalism, which has been undergoing decline for over a century. Already the poodle of US imperialism on the international stage, ‘Great Britain’ will soon be reduced to ‘Little England’ – a humiliating fall for the former workshop of the world. So what lies ahead? And how should Marxist

In this session, John McInally – former vice president of the PCS civil servants’ union and veteran trade union activist – will discuss how, in these conditions, we can build a revolutionary trade union movement. The coronavirus crisis has accelerated class consciousness. Workers are getting organised to resist the tsunami of job cuts and austerity that is coming. Already, tens of thousands have joined both the NEU teachers’ union and Unison, Britain’s largest public sector union. Members of the NEU are now at the forefront of the struggle against the government's inept handling of the pandemic, forcing the government into another policy U-turn in the first week of 2021. Council workers in Tower Hamlets and culture sector workers at the Tate and Southbank have shown the way forward with long-running strikes. At the same time, key unions such as Unison, Unite, and the GMB are all set to see a change of leadership in the coming year. This could have a profound impact on the entire labour movement. Paul Hol

In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we speak to Dr Raj Mistry - a junior doctor in a hard-hit hospital in South East England - about the COVID catastrophe that is currently pushing the NHS to breaking point. The Tories have attempted to blame a new, more infectious strain of the virus for the current crisis. But, in reality, it is Tory cuts and privatisation that have created this dire situation inside the NHS, with chronic staff shortages and a long-term decline in bed numbers. This is why the labour movement must mobilise to kick out the Tories - and fight for socialist policies to save our NHS and tackle the pandemic. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal YouTube - youtube.com/c/SocialistNet1917 Twitter - twitter.com/socialist_app Podcast - wavve.link/marxistvoice

In our latest episode of Marxist Voice, we're joined again by Natasha Sorrell - a teacher and NEU activist - to discuss the ongoing battle between the teachers and Tories over the reopening of schools. Thanks to a mass campaign by the National Education Union, the teachers have forced the Tory government into another U-turn, with remote learning now due to take place until the February half-term. But the struggle for safe schools continues. Rather than listening to those who know best, the Tories are picking fights with teachers and their unions. And the Starmer Labour leadership has scandalously failed to back the teachers. Tune in to an important discussion about how activists can support teachers in the fight to put lives before profits. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal YouTube - youtube.com/c/So

The Black Death resulted in up to 200 million deaths in the 14th century, making it the deadliest pandemic ever recorded. To many at the time, the plague seemed like the end of the world. What we now know is that it was not the world that was ending, but the decrepit feudal system, which was dying on its feet even before the plague hit. Out of the contradictions and class conflicts that were ruthlessly exposed by the Black Death there later arose momentous uprisings of the poor and oppressed. These set the final seal on serfdom in many parts of Europe, setting in train a process that would culminate in the rise of the bourgeoisie and the birth of capitalism. In this talk, Josh Holroyd traces the impact of the Black Death on society and the developments that gave rise to the death of feudalism, drawing out the parallels between the 14th century plague and the COVID-19 pandemic today. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the bankruptcy of capitalism and the need for socialism. Already, out of the horror and b

Six years after the beginnings of the Black Lives Matter movement, the death of George Floyd in the USA has sparked an international movement against racism and police violence. The repression and injustices experienced by BAME communities day-in, day-out was captured by the last words of George Floyd and Eric Garner: “I can’t breathe!” The protests against institutional racism have spread like wildfire to Britain, with militant demonstrations insisting that ‘the UK is not innocent’. But the question facing activists now is: how do we channel this incredible energy and potential power into real, lasting change? In this session, Hamid Alizadeh explains why the struggle against racism must be fought on a class basis – by uniting workers and youth into a mass movement capable of overthrowing capitalism: a system that has oppression, violence, and exploitation built into its very fabric.

Labour’s election defeat last year, followed by a sharp shift to the right in the party under Keir Starmer, has opened up a period of introspection and questioning on the Left. Many are asking: what now? Into this context, self-appointed advisors to the movement have been quick to put forward their own ‘new’ prescriptions. One such idea – put forward by Paul Mason and other ‘left’ commentators – is that ‘values’ now form the fundamental dividing line in British politics, as opposed to class interests. This is a picture similar to the so-called ‘culture war’ fought between conservative Republicans and ‘progressive’ Democrats. In reality, however, this argument only mirrors the Labour right wing’s own insistence that reactionary anti-immigrant and nationalist rhetoric is the only way to win back former strongholds in the North and the Midlands. As Joe Attard of Socialist Appeal explains in this session, these snake oil remedies offer nothing to the Left and the working class in Britain, or anywhere else.

In this talk from the International Marxist University, Ben Gliniecki - a leading activist of Socialist Appeal - discusses the Marxist morality and the question of whether Marxists should aspire to be pacifists. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. One of the many slanders hurled at the Bolsheviks is that they were bloodthirsty intriguers who got their way through violent means. This is a criticism shared both by the hypocritical bourgeois, and elements on the left. These pacifists say that we need peace, love and understanding to counter the brutal repression of capitalism, not violent revolution. But will the ruling class ever really relinquish power without a fight? What is the real Marxist attitude to violence and pacifism? Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal YouTube - youtube.com/c/S

To celebrate Engels' 200th birthday, we are republishing this talk from 2014, in which Rob Sewell discusses Engels' life and ideas - and in particular his outstanding contributions to Marxist theory. The greatest birthday present we can offer Engels is to learn from his legacy: to continue the struggle for socialism and build the forces of Marxism today. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal YouTube - youtube.com/c/SocialistNet1917 Twitter - twitter.com/socialist_app Podcast - wavve.link/marxistvoice

28 November this year marks the 200th anniversary of Engels’ birth. To commemorate this, Adam Booth discusses the vital role that Friedrich Engels played in developing the revolutionary ideas of Marxism. Alongside Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels was one of the founding fathers of ‘scientific socialism’. Though often considered as playing second fiddle to Marx, there can be no doubt of Engels’ extensive and outstanding contribution to Marxist theory. His collaboration with Marx was far from one-sided. The life of Friedrich Engels contains a wealth of vital lessons for those looking to continue the fight for socialism today. The greatest birthday present we can offer Engels on this bicentenary, therefore, is to learn from the incredible legacy of his life and writings, and to apply his revolutionary ideas in building the forces of Marxism worldwide. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Tw

In this talk from the International Marxist University, Yola Kipcak - a leading activist of Der Funke, the Austrian section of the IMT - provides a Marxist analysis of Queer Theory. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. Marxism defends the unity of peoples across all gender and sexual lines in the fight against the oppressive capitalist system. But Queer Theory holds that our gender and sexual identities are a fiction produced by discourses and oppressive power in society: a learned performance. What does this idea mean for the liberation struggle? Is Queer Theory compatible with Marxism? This discussion tackles these issues. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal YouTube - youtube.com/c/SocialistNet1917 Twitter - twitter.com/socialist_app Podcast - wavve.link/marxistvoice

In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Alex Grant - a leading member of Fightback, the Canadian section of the IMT - analyses the role of religion in society. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. One of Marx’s best-known quotes is “religion is the opium of the people”, but that is not the end of the question. Marxism rejects all forms of superstition. Religion plays a profoundly reactionary role in society. But it cannot be overcome by argument alone. We must instead dismantle its social basis: the class system itself, which causes such misery and hardship that many people can only cope through the promise of an eternal reward after death. With the creation of a just and decent existence on earth, religion would serve no purpose. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal

The revolutionary traditions of the British working class are glossed over by the establishment. One such tradition is that of the Chartists. Decades before the formation of the TUC, the British working class dramatically entered onto the stage of history, threatening the ruling class with a mass insurrectionary movement and a general strike. In the process, the Chartists succeeded in building the political party of the working class in history, which drew the support of the young Marx and Engels. In this session, Rob Sewell presents his new book, Chartist Revolution, which delves into this radical episode in British history. He analyses the moment when the working class began to flex its muscles and demand key political rights, such as the right to vote, and how revolutionary conclusions were forced in the struggle itself. In this we find a tremendous legacy. We stand on the shoulders of giants. It is only by rediscovering our revolutionary past that we can learn the lessons that will serve to educate and

In this talk from the International Marxist University, Hamid Alizadeh - a leading activist of the International Marxist Tendency - explains the problems with postcolonialism and combats the view that Marxism is 'eurocentric'. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. Marxists are often accused of ‘Eurocentrism’ and ‘class reductionism’ (particularly in academic circles) when we argue for the struggle of workers of all races and nations against capitalism. It is said our emphasis on international working-class solidarity ignores the experience of people from the former colonial world, who must ‘decolonise’ their minds of Western-imposed ideas (Marxism included), and fight their own battles for liberation. But what is the best way forward for oppressed peoples throughout the world? This talk will explore these debates from a Marxist perspective. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook,

Fred Weston, editor for marxist.com, discusses the most polarised US election in living memory. Biden's victory is no cause for celebration for workers and youth. Donald Trump and his supporters are not going away anytime soon. With little genuine enthusiasm for Joe Biden, the highest number of people in a century turned out to essentially vote either for or against Donald Trump. It appears as if Biden has narrowly scraped through to take the presidency, in an election that has thoroughly exposed the rottenness of US ‘democracy’. What this entire experience shows is the need for the working class to form its own political party. Although the choice at the election was ultimately between two shades of the right wing, an enormous layer is looking towards the left, as evidenced by the mass support for Bernie Sanders (before he capitulated to Biden). It is therefore the urgent task of the labour movement to set about building a mass working-class, socialist party. Only this can cut across the reactionary polit

In this talk from the recent International Marxist University, Fred Weston - a leading activist of the International Marxist Tendency - introduces the history of the IMT. Visit podcast.marxist.com for the full recordings. The International Marxist Tendency traces its roots all the way through the First, Second, Third and Fourth Internationals. In the postwar period, there was a general retreat by the forces of genuine Marxism, and the left was dominated by the distortions of Stalinism and reformism. While other groups were preparing for a Third World War or denying the existence of the working class, our tendency put up a firm defence of the theories and traditions of Marxism; which at every turn, were proved to be correct. By building on the firm basis of theory, our organisation is today emerging as the strongest revolutionary force amongst workers and youth worldwide. Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow

In a special broadcast of Marxist Voice, Rob Sewell discusses the incendiary events surrounding the release of the EHRC report into Labour and anti-semitism. The suspension of Jeremy Corbyn is a declaration of war against the left. This reveals how hollow Keir Starmer’s rhetoric of ‘unity’ really is - and always was. Grassroots activists must not – and will not – stand for this! We must take the fight to the right. Defend Corbyn! Fight for socialism! Join us in the fight for socialism: Join - socialist.net/join Donate - socialist.net/donate Subscribe - socialist.net/subscribe Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and our podcast, Marxist Voice: Facebook - facebook.com/SocialistAppeal YouTube - youtube.com/c/SocialistNet1917 Twitter - twitter.com/socialist_app Podcast - wavve.link/marxistvoice