In this episode we are discussing Cybernetic Revolutionaries by Eden Medina (MIT Press, 2011), which examines the effort to create a cybernetic system of communication and industrial management during the socialist government of Salvador Allende in Chile, from 1970 to 1973.

Medina uses this fascinating case study to explore the relationship of two utopian visions: one socialist, and one technological, embodied in figures such as British cybernetics pioneer Stafford Beer and Fernando Flores, a member of Allende’s government and advocate of Beer’s ideas.

La Batalla de Chile

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You can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is one of Stafford Beer’s schematics for the Cybersyn project, which was displayed in the central operations room in Santiago.

In this episode we discuss Christopher Hill’s The World Turned Upside Down: Radical Ideas During the English Revolution, originally published in 1972.

This book is widely regarded as a seminal work of history from below, which popularised the concept of the English Revolution and helped to establish the ideas of the Levellers, Diggers, Seekers and Ranters as a key part of the radical tradition in England and beyond.

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You can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is a 17th century woodcut depicting a group of Ranters, one of the sects discussed by Hill.

THIS IS THE CORRECT AUDIO, PLEASE IGNORE EARLIER VERSION OF EPISODE 39

In this episode we discuss The Fall and Rise of the British Left (Verso, 2019) by Andrew Murray.

We originally intended this episode to coincide with the UK General Election in July 2024, seeing this as a good moment to reflect on the electoral turn of the left in Britain in the 2010s. While this scheduling didn't quite work out, we still felt this work, written by an advisor to Jeremy Corbyn at the peak of expectations for a left-wing Labour victory, would make for an interesting and (somewhat) timely discussion. 

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage. 

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation. 

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is from the 1985 Labour Party Conference. 

In this episode we discuss The Fall and Rise of the British Left (Verso, 2019) by Andrew Murray.

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here:

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is from the 1985 Labour Party Conference.

In this episode we discuss M. E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi’s speculative fiction Everything

We both really enjoyed this slight departure from our usual reading choices for the podcast, which provoked and stimulated how we think about history, and the experience and nature of post-revolutionary society.

You can find interviews authors of this book here:

https://positionspolitics.org/an-interview-with-m-e-obrien/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lSfPYDDsyuvRNB3DgvcIx?si=1T076vlXTC6hVfOfTrq6mQ

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here:

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is some of the cover art for Everything for Everyone.

In this episode we are delighted to be joined by Dr Alexandra Paulin-Booth, to discuss her book Time and Radical Politics in France, published by Manchester

You can see Alex’s profile and a list of her publications here.

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here:

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is the cover of an issue of La voix du peuple in 1905, which is used on the front cover of Alex’s book.

In this episode we speak to our longtime friend and comrade Jessica Thorne about her work on anarchist prisoners under the Franco regime in Spain.

Jess has recently completed a PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London on this subject, which is also discussed in an article recently published in European History Quarterly, available here.

See also Jess's brilliant article on football and radical politics in Franco's prisons, available via History Workshop here.

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio,  'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by Ronald Grigor Suny, one of the most distinguished scholars of the Russian Revolution in the world.

Suny has written extensively on a huge range of topics, including nationalism within the Russian and Soviet empires, the Armenian genocide and, in 2020, a monumental biography of the young Joseph Stalin, which was the starting point of our conversation.

A fuller sense of Suny's vast historical work can be found here: https://lsa.umich.edu/history/people/emeritus/rgsuny.html and here: https://political-science.uchicago.edu/directory/Ronald-Suny

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio,  'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode we discuss Sho Konishi's brilliant Anarchist Modernity: Cooperatism and Japanese-Russian Intellectual Relations in Modern Japan (Harvard University Press, 2013).

This book has been on our radar for a long time, and it was a pleasure to spend some time discussing Konishi's framing of anarchism as an alternative vision of modernity, as exemplified in the exchanges between radical thinkers and activists in Japan and Russia from 1880 to 1920.

You can read an extended interview with Konishi here: asiaarttours.com/anarchist-modernity-dr-sho-konishi-of-oxford-on-japan-russia-and-anarchism-part-1/

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio,  'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode we discuss our first ever ABC Edition pamphlet: a translation of Víctor García's ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography’.

Danny has taken the lead on this project, and introduces us to García (the pen-name of Germinal Gracia), his relationship with Xena, and the experiences of both through the Spanish Civil War and exile in Venezuela.

The pamphlet is available at cost price of £2.00, plus and postage costs. Email [email protected] to discuss placing an order.

Big thanks to Footprint Workers Co-Op in Leeds for the printing of this lovely edition. Check them out at: footprinters.co.uk

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: [email protected], and Twitter @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio,  'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is a photograph of Germinal Gracia (Víctor García) and José Xena from their time in exile, c.1960. This photograph features in the pamphlet, and was generously supplied by José Xena's daughter Nerida Xena Puig.