Imtv Radio - Marxist Ideas. Fighting For Revolution.

Fanon has been used by academics as a basis for a whole series of confused and reactionary ideas about “de-colonisation of the mind”. However, “Wretched of the Earth” is a book about revolutionary struggle against colonialism, arms in hand. In the book, Fanon issues very sharp and prescient warnings about the treacherous role of the bourgeoisie after independence, but at the same time he argues that the only revolutionary classes in colonial countries are the peasantry and the lumpen-proletariat, as opposed to the working class. In this talk, Jorge Martin will discuss how Fanon reached these conclusions, what role he played in the Algerian revolution, and why the strategy he advocated was wrong.

The history of the British Empire is littered with horrendous crimes. From the partitions of India and Ireland, to the suppression of the Mau Mau uprising, to the violent Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to its murderous role in the Easter Rising and Bloody Sunday; it is impossible to mention all the brutalities of British imperialism. Many brave anti-imperialists have fought and died for the cause of expelling British imperialism from their countries. It is our duty to learn from this history. Despite this, the legacy of the British Empire lives on, as does British Imperialism, though in a degenerate and pathetic form. Today, many previous colonies are still struggling to break free from the economic and political backwardness imposed upon them by the British state. In this episode, Sarah Vedrovich will discuss the rise and fall of the British Empire and the heroic attempts to fight back against British forces, opening up the arsenal of historical lessons which must be absorbed if we are to overthrow imperiali

With the founding congress only days away, we are joined by RCP national secretary Ben Gliniecki for the final episode of the series, to discuss the importance of this event, how the congress works, and what you can do to prepare for this historic weekend. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join

All across the world capitalism is in crisis. Climate change, imperialist war and the crushing poverty of the vast majority are exposing millions to the horror of the system and driving them towards revolutionary conclusions. But to bind these class fighters together and channel their anger into the fight for communism, a world party is needed, one that can create, school and orientate a leadership ready to successfully carry through the world socialist revolution. That is what we are building. In this session, Fred Weston will discuss the history of the International Marxist Tendency, and why, by building on the firm foundation of theory, it has been able to emerge as the strongest revolutionary force amongst workers and youth internationally.

The Iranian Revolution was one of the most inspiring revolutionary episodes of the post-war period. Without any pre-adopted plan, programme, or leadership, the Iranian masses swept away the Shah, and began to take charge of society for themselves through popular councils. And yet, this power was not consolidated, leading to the decline and defeat of the revolution. In this session, Hamid Alizadeh discusses this great historic drama, which holds a wealth of lessons for revolutionaries today — not only in Iran, but across the world where the working class is preparing to go onto to he offensive once again. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join

With only two weeks to go until the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, and with students heading back to campuses for a final term of university, we sit down with Fiona Lali and Lubna Badi – members of the RCP's campaigns department – to discuss how RCP branches can recruit and organise around universities. In this episode, we cover how the capitalist crisis is affecting young people, the tactics and methods we can use to build the Party on campus, as well as how students can face outwards towards the wider class struggle. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join

The powerful rise of the Scottish independence movement once struck fear into the British ruling class, threatening to break the United Kingdom and raise the rebellious spirit of the working class. Nearly ten years since the referendum that unleashed opposition to Tory Britain, and raised the Scottish National Party to unprecedented support, the movement is at a crossroads. The SNP leadership clique have proven themselves to be politically bankrupt, unable to retain their rosy reformist image as they carry out attacks on the working class, and completely lack any sincere strategy for the independence movement. In this session, Shaun Morris will discuss the crisis faced by Scottish nationalism, and why we can look toward the class struggle for a way forward for the fight for independence.

With less than three weeks to go until the founding of the Revolutionary Communist Party, we sit down with Jorge Martín, a leading member of the soon-to-be Revolutionary Communist International which is also being founded this summer. In this episode, we cover why the working class needs an international, the successes we've had in the recent period, as well as how the international works. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join

In June, the International Marxist Tendency will take the monumental step of founding a new Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), to provide communist workers and youth around the world with a bold rallying point in the struggle to overthrow capitalism. In doing so, the RCI will build on the immense revolutionary legacy left behind by the Third (Communist) International, founded by Lenin and the Bolsheviks as the world party of revolution.

The capitalist system is in a deep global crisis. Its decline has devastating consequences, not only in terms of social and economic conditions, but also the destruction of the planet. This is shaking millions of people to political life and it has driven an increase in political activity of all kinds. In particular, some are drawn towards the methods of ‘direct action’ and ‘civil disobedience’. In this talk, Joe Russell will examine the limits of ‘direct action’ groups like Just Stop Oil, XR and, even to some extent, the self-proclaimed communist organisations. By revisiting some of Lenin’s writings from the early 1900s, and by examining political developments today, Joe will present a Marxist approach to these struggles, which correspond to the period of revolution that is opening up before us.

As Lenin famously declared, "without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement." Defending the ideas of genuine Marxism is the bedrock of what we do here at the Revolutionary Communist Party. With just a month to go until the founding congress of the RCP, Fiona Lali and Jack Tye Wilson discuss why Marxist theory is essential to building the Party, as well as how communists can go about educating themselves. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join

In the first complete Marxist history of the Roman Republic, Alan Woods’ recently launched book provides a gripping and accessible analysis of the titanic struggles that shaped the Roman world, and continue to resonate today. Spanning more than a thousand years of development, the book delves into the fundamental processes which gave rise to the emergence of Rome as an imperial power, the crisis of the Late Republic and the rise of the Caesars. It also features additional material by the author on the eventual decline of the Roman Empire and the Marxist theory of the state. In this session, Alan Woods will discuss the treasure trove of history and theory covered in his new book, and why all serious revolutionaries must study these lessons to better equip themselves for the battles ahead.

The oppression of women is one of the most reactionary elements of class society and Marxists have always stood on the frontlines in the fight against it. Yet one the most common prejudices against Marxism is that it views the struggle for women’s emancipation as secondary. For example, Silvia Federici, who calls herself a Marxist-feminist, criticises Marxism and says Marx’s analysis of capitalism falls short andignores the sexual division of labour in capitalist accumulation. This could not be further from the truth. In this talk, Lotta Angantyr will explain what Marxists actually have to say about women’s oppression — both in terms of women’s role in family throughout history, and what we need to do to end it once and for all.

With six weeks to go until the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Joe Russell and Jack Tye Wilson sit down to discuss the importance revolutionary finance, how to raise funds for the Party, and why a Bolshevik organisation requires material sacrifice. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the RCP: https://communist.red/join

141 years ago this week, Karl Marx died. His ideas laid the scientific foundation of the revolutionary communist movement, and would transform the course of world history. Today, not only do these ideas continue to inspire millions, they also provide our sharpest theoretical weapons in the struggle to overthrow capitalism and bring the working class to power. In this talk, Josh Holroyd – editor for In Defence of Marxism – explores the theories and events that inspired and shaped the young Karl Marx.

With deep anger at the establishment everywhere we turn, and a general election on the horizon, we respond to a question from a listener: will the Revolutionary Communist Party run in the elections? ✊ Join the campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: https://communist.red/join

[Recorded in November 2023] With NATO staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat in Ukraine, the western imperialists' boastful jingoism has turned into its opposite. While some on the so-called 'left' continue to call for support for Zelensky's gang – thereby betraying the interests of workers everywhere – the Communists have taken a principled, internationalist position since day one. In this talk from last year's Revolution Festival, Hamid Alizadeh outlines the only way to fight imperialism and war: proletarian internationalism and socialist revolution. ✊ Join the Communists! Build the Revolutionary Communist Party: https://communist.red/join

In the age of the Enlightenment, the young, ascendant capitalist class began to stretch it's wings against the spiritual dictatorship of the church, and the feudal monarchies that they propped up. Breaking the chains of obscurantist medieval dogma, bold thinkers and pioneers like Locke, Newton, Diderot and Rousseau fought for rationality and science and in so doing, theoretically cleared the ground for the great bourgeois revolutions. Today, however, the capitalism is decrepit and dying and the ruling class has turned away from the reason of it's youth. In fact, the irrational capitalist system threatens to drag human society back to a new dark age. In this episode, Ben Curry will discuss and defend the Enlightenment, which despite it's limits was an enormous conquest for human thought. We as Marxists lay claim to the bold materialism and clarity of thought which characterised the Enlightenment as theoretical armaments in our struggle against our own rotten ruling class. ✊ Join our campaign to build a Rev

In episode two of 'Towards the RCP', we discuss why we have launched 'The Communist' newspaper, how we can use it as a tool to build the Party, and how we can pave the way for a weekly Communist paper. ✊ Join the campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: https://communist.red/join

With only 10 weeks to go until the founding Congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party, we are launching a new weekly podcast series dedicated to building the Party. Each episode, we will cover the key political events of the week, and delve into a particular aspect of communist organising – from Marxist education, to revolutionary finance, to building a workplace cell. This week, we cover why we are launching the RCP, what makes it different, and how to get started with recruiting new revolutionaries. ✊ Join the campaign to build a Revolutionary Communist Party: https://communist.red/join