Marxist Voice

In this episode of Marxist Voice, Ben Gliniecki, General Secretary of the RCP, outlines the Marxist theory of the state, explains why the Epstein revelations have exposed the true nature of liberal democracy, and discusses how a working-class alternative to bourgeois rule can emerge through dual power.

Drawing on Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky, Ben explains how the capitalist state was born to defend minority class rule, and why it has always relied on a "veil" of ideology and reform to disguise that fact. He looks at how decades of economic crisis have stripped that veil away, and how the Epstein scandal, implicating politicians, diplomats, and academics across the political spectrum, is a symptom of that collapse, not an isolated case of corruption.

Ben also examines the theory and history of dual power, from the Councils of Action in the 1926 General Strike to the Russian Revolution, and explains why the reformist leadership of the labour movement remains the central obstacle to revolutionary change today.

Did Napoleon change history? Did Lenin make the Russian Revolution? Or do individuals simply express much deeper historical forces?

Jack Tye Wilson tackles one of the biggest questions in Marxist theory: the relationship between the individual and society. This episode explains how history is really made, and why understanding this matters for revolutionaries today.

The Frankfurt School has had an enormous influence on universities, culture and much of the modern left. But how does Critical Theory compare with the Marxist method?

Daniel Morley examines the ideas of Adorno, Horkheimer and Marcuse, explaining where they came from, why they became so influential, and why Marxists reject their philosophical and political conclusions.

Trade wars, inflation, recession, debt and protectionism; the world economy has entered a new and unstable period. But why?

Adam Booth explains the laws governing capitalism in the imperialist epoch, drawing on Marx, Lenin and Trotsky to explain why the system has entered an era of crisis, conflict and revolutionary upheaval.

If you want to understand the world economy through the lens of Marxism, this is the place to start.

Silvia Federici has become one of the most widely read ‘socialist feminists’ of the last fifty years. But is her explanation of women's oppression Marxist, and does it work? 

Sarah Vedrovitch examines Federici's ideas on housework, social reproduction and the origins of capitalism, comparing them with the revolutionary conclusions of Marx and Engels on freeing women. Frederici imagines she is building on Marx and Engels, looking at capitalism through a lens forgotten by orthodox Marxists. But is this actually true? 

Books to delve deeper: Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State, The fall of woman, Women, Family and the Russian Revolution 

Marx and Engels didn't develop their ideas in a vacuum. They built on centuries of philosophical development, including the ideas of the English materialists.

Georgina Ryan explores how thinkers like Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke challenged religious explanations of the world and helped lay the foundations for modern science and, ultimately, Marxism. At the same time, she explains why Marxism goes beyond the limitations of mechanical materialism.

How did philosophy begin? And why are arguments from over 2,000 years ago still central to Marxism today?

In this episode of Marxist Voice, Khaled Malachi traces the origins of materialism and idealism in Ancient Greece. From Plato's world of perfect ideas to Aristotle's more grounded approach, we explore the philosophical roots of dialectical materialism and why Marxists continue to study these thinkers.

Whether you're new to Marxist philosophy or looking to deepen your understanding, this is an ideal introduction to one of the biggest debates in human history.

Books to delve deeper:  History of Philosophy

Art is a necessity of life which is kept shackled by the profit motive. Art is something which workers yearn for. But what really is art? And can it change the world? What is the relationship between art and revolution, and revolutionaries? 

In this talk from the RCP summer camp, Nelson Wan discusses all these questions. 

Books to delve deeper: Art and Revolution, The necessity of art 

The United States has existed as the dominant imperialist power for over 80 years. In that time it has meddled in countries across the entire globe, setting the world order. Now that is coming to an end. The American Empire is collapsing and the anger of the workers in the US is growing. 

In this talk from the RCP summer camp, Will Collins discusses the prospects of a 3rd American Revolution. 

Books to delve deeper: America: Revolution and Counter Revolution, Colossus: The Rise and Fall of US Imperialism, Marxism and the USA 

Despite vast technological progress, modern society has yet to achieve abundance. Instead, global capitalism continues to drive deepening contradictions, regional conflicts, and an accelerating crisis of imperialism. In this talk from the RCP Summer School, Lubna Badi explores the main forces shaping today’s world: from the relative decline of US hegemony and the fracturing of Western alliances, to Europe's severe industrial downturn and the surge of class anger worldwide as working people seek a revolutionary way forward.