Marxist Audio Archive

The American Civil War of 1861-1865 is what Marxists consider the Second American Revolution. It finally uprooted slavery and paved the way for the struggle of the working class to unfold on a gigantic scale. As Marx said at the time, “Labor in the white skin can never free itself as long as labor in the black skin is branded.” While this revolution was a tremendous step forward, it never realized its promise to Black people. 

In light of today’s mass struggle against racism, it is important to return to one of the most pivotal events in this long fight. In this episode, John Peterson, editor of Socialist Revolution, the paper of the US section of the International Marxist Tendency, discusses the American Civil War to end slavery. 

One hundred years ago, the Communist Party of Canada, the Canadian section of Lenin’s Communist International, was officially founded. The history of the party, and especially the early days, is full of lessons for revolutionary Marxists today. 

Officially founded in 1867, the creation of the modern nation state of Canada was not the result of a revolution as with our neighbours to the south - but of a vicious counter-revolution. The process which led to the creation of Canada began with the putting down of the rebellions in what is now Quebec and Ontario of 1837-38 and was completed with the crushing of the Metis resistance in the west. While this movement of the Metis ultimately went down in defeat, it is important for Marxists to understand these events.

Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: The profit motive sabotages vaccine rollout, the Proud Boys being designated as a terrorist organization, and more. Also featuring Ben Nolan of UMass

Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo

Many people are appalled by the racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression and discrimination that capitalism breeds. Movements such as Black Lives Matter, Idle No More and the world wide strikes on International Women's Day show the burning desire to fight oppression in all its forms. Some wishing to fight oppression ascribe to ideas under the umbrella of "identity politics." But where does Marxism stand in relation to these ideas? And how do Marxists propose that we eradicate oppression and discrimination?

The experience of COVID-19 has proven time and time again that the bosses are prepared to risk the lives of workers for profits, and to make them pay for it when those profits are lost. In response, workers are increasingly realizing that they need to get organized to fight back in order to protect their health and safety, wages and working conditions. This episode draws lessons from the recent success of the Ripley's Aquarium union drive, and also speaks to the broader need for the labour movement to lead a campaign against the mishandling of the pandemic, and to fight pandemic-driven cuts.

In this recent talk Antonio Balmer - from the Socialist Revolution USA editorial board - discusses the unprecedented dramatic events in Washington DC, which are yet another symptom of the decline of American capitalism and the extreme political polarization within society. 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. This 'insurrection' has exposed the fragility of US bourgeois democracy.

In this talk, Fightback editor Rob Lyon discusses how the far right hides behind the claim of "free speech". While this event was held in 2018 in the context of Fightback's campaign against the Doug Ford government's attempt to ban protests on campus, the issue of how to deal with the far right, and how to defend the freedoms of the working class and oppressed, remains just as relevant today. 

Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: a look back at 2020 and forward to 2021 through a Marxist lens. Also featuring Drew Garvie of the Communist Party of Canada, and Ben Nolan of UMass

Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo

Demands for a universal basic income (UBI) are increasingly popular on the left. In this episode, Fightback editor Rob discusses whether UBI is actually a solution to the crisis of capitalism.