Marxist Audio Archive

All around the world, young people see only a bleak future ahead of them. Generation Z has only known a world rotten with social inequality, racism, environmental crisis and war, and a political system at the service of billionaires. By the thousands, young people are looking for explanations—how can a supposedly civilized society accept so much misery, violence and inequality? We do not accept this as our future. Capitalism is a dead-end, and the only way forward is communist revolution.In this talk recorded September 4, 2025, comrade Joel explains why YOU should be a communist. If you agree, contact us! https://www.marxist.ca/join

When you grow up in Canada, you are taught fairy tales about how the country was formed. In this talk, Rob Lyon provides a Marxist analysis of the real process that led to the foundation of Canada. This included the bloody putting down of revolutions, the oppression of francophones and the genocide of indigenous people. The provinces were also largely forced into confederation and much of the provincial divisions and animosity we see today finds its roots in this period.

#wexit #51ststate #canada #ohcanada #canadianhistory #history

The Air Canada flight attendants defied a back-to-work order and defeated it.

This is a watershed moment for the Canadian labour movement that sets the tone for future struggles. Violations of the right to strike can and will be defeated!

However, the contract being proposed by the leadership maintains unpaid work and wages under the legal minimum.

What is the way forward for flight attendants fighting to be paid for all of their work and for a wage that allows them to live a decent life?

Joel Bergman and Marco La Grotta discuss the significance of this strike for the class struggle in Canada.

🔗 Flight attendants defeat back-to-work order—but leaders accept bad deal

🔗 Flight attendants defy the government—escalate the movement to win!

🔗 ‘An abusive relationship’: Interview with an Air Canada flight attendant

#markcarney #aircanada #unfaircanada #unpaidworkwontfly #cupe4092 #unionstrong #markhancock #canpoli #flightattendants #flightattendantsstrike #aircanadaflightattendants #aircanadastrike

The spectacular rise of China as an economic powerhouse is one of the defining features of our epoch. But what does this represent and what should the position of Communists be?

While some on the left represent China as some sort of progressive counterweight to US imperialism, this is simply not true. Capitalism was restored in China long ago and now China has become the main imperialist rival of America. The workers of the world don't take sides in this conflict between imperialist powers.

In this talk, Joel Bergman from the RCP executive explains how China went from a backwards colony to a major imperialist power.

Communists stand for a united struggle of all workers, regardless of nationality, race, or culture, against the capitalist system. Yet, in academic circles today, this emphasis on our shared class interests and international solidarity is often met with the accusation of being “Eurocentric.” But is dialectical materialism really a simple product of “European subjectivity”? And most importantly, which ideas can actually help us win the fight against imperialism and racism? Comrade Koral makes the case for Marxism in this talk recorded at the Edmonton Communist Summer School, June 2025. Do you want to join the fight for Communism? https://www.marxist.ca/join

It’s a common misconception that Marxists see art merely as a product of economic relations, lacking any independent meaning or value of its own.In reality, we recognize art as an integral part of what it means to be human. Art reflects humanity’s striving to forge meaning, to understand itself, and—no less importantly—to create beauty. As such, the degradation of art and culture under capitalism is not an afterthought for us, but one of the most powerful reasons we have to fight for revolution.In this talk from the Edmonton Summer School, comrade Josie explains that, by ending the commodification of art and culture, we would make human creativity the driving force of culture—not the alien and inhuman logic of the market. For the first time in centuries, art would genuinely belong to all of humanity.Are you a communist? Join us! https://www.marxist.ca/join

The dominant philosophy of any society is that of its ruling class. For our ruling class, the capitalists, that is the philosophy of empiricism.

The capitalist class, when it appeared in Britain, used empiricism as a weapon against the old feudal order. Today it is the working class that poses the greatest threat to their rule, and empiricism continues to act as an important weapon for maintaining their system.

Unfortunately, many workers leaders do not believe they need an independent, working class philosophy and have fallen into the trap of empiricism. But to defeat the capitalists, we cannot fight them on their ideological terms. We must resist falling into empiricism - to do this, we must first understand it.

In this presentation Helene Bissonnette traces the historical origin, development and degeneration of empiricism through the centuries. She explains how empiricism has led the left down a blind ally and why the Marxist philosophy, of dialectical materialism, is the best philosophy to understand the world and to ultimately change it.

#philosophy #marxistphilosophy #empiricism #francisbacon #johnlocke #bishopberkeley #davidhume #karlmarx #karlmarxquotes

Mark Carney is doing the bidding of his corporate masters. From unfettered profiteering off of natural resources to increased militarization and massive austerity measures, he is loyally carrying out what they have been demanding. And he is empowering the state with the tools necessary to clamp down on the coming resistance. The labour movement as a whole must prepare for battle and mount serious resistance to Carney's entire program. This week, Joel is joined by Marcus to discuss this reactionary agenda pursued by Carney, and what it means and how to fight it. Read Marcus' article: https://www.marxist.ca/article/federal-infrastructure-bill-infuriates-indigenous-groupsDo you agree? Want to join the fight against capitalism? Contact us! https://www.marxist.ca/join

2 weeks ago Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran targeting nuclear facilities, military sites, and key officials.

Iran responded to Israel's unprovoked aggression and ever since, two of the strongest powers in the Middle East have been bombing each other.

This event has the potential to radically destabilize the region and world politics, and it threatens to place full US involvement in the region back on the agenda.

In this context the Revolutionary Communist Party in Toronto met on Friday, June 20 to discuss the roots of the present crisis and the working class solution to the escalation in the Middle East. RCP activist Marco LaGrotta kicked off the discussion with this presentation.

The day after this meeting took place, Trump bombed Iran.

We are living in a period of ever deepening capitalist crisis and increasing militarism. The fight to overthrow capitalism and bring to birth a new society has never been more urgent.If you agree with our ideas and want to fight for socialism, join us: marxist.ca/join

Many people on the left, fearful of a Poilievre victory—voted for Carney as the "lesser-evil". But just a month and a half later, Carney is now carrying out one of the most reactionary policies both domestically and internationally. Having rode an anti-Trump wave to power, Carney is now capitulating to Trump on issue after issue. This week, Joel is joined by Marco to discuss this issue.

Read the RCP's political perspectives for Canada: https://www.marxist.ca/article/the-rcps-2025-political-perspectives-2

Do you agree with our idea? Want to fight for Communism? Join us! https://www.marxist.ca/join