SpartTalk

Mansa is joined by Comrade Oskar, editor of Red Battler, to discuss the dynamics and outcomes of the Gen Z uprising in late August. We try and place this explosion of anger of youth in the context of Indonesia's place in a changing world order, marked by shrinking room to manoeuvre between the U.S. and the China/BRICS bloc. We also go into the weakness of the organised working class and the left. In this context, Oskar proposes some outlines of a programme to pursue debate and discussion on the left for how to go forward from here. Towards 100% merdeka!

You can read the article, Indonesia: Where to now? here: https://iclfi.org/pubs/rb/2025-indonesia 

The world at a turning point: https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/2025-world

In defense of permanent revolution: For communist leadership of the anti-imperialist struggle! https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/68/permrev

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Mansa sits down with Vincent for a special episode to discuss some key lessons of the Russian Revolution for the struggles of the working class and oppressed today, and how these are crucial to addressing the crisis of the left. We focus on three: split with social chauvinism, communist leadership of the democratic tasks, and internationalism (or why the revolution degenerated). 

What is revolutionary leadership? https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/68/leadership

In defense of permanent revolution https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/68/permrev

The fight for the Fourth International today: https://iclfi.org/pubs/pamphlets/lfi-debate/4th-intl

Trotsky - In defence of Octoberhttps://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1932/11/oct.htm

"An essential condition of the Bolsheviks' success," in Left-wing Communism: An infantile disorder: https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch02.htm

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Mansa is joined by Comrades Philipp and Jeanne from Tokyo to get educated on what's happening in Japan. There's a new Prime Minister in town, Sanae Takaichi, who has been nicknamed the Japanese Margaret Thatcher, the right is growing, attacks are on the horizon, yet the left is stuck in its old ways. Our comrades point to some lessons that the left needs to learn in order to go forward. 

Our discussion is based on the article "Japan in crisis, the left in disarray - Workers need to prepare for the coming attacks" can be read here: https://iclfi.org/pubs/icl-ja/5/elections (use google translate for English)

Read the rest of the issue here: https://iclfi.org/pubs/icl-ja/5

Follow our Japanese language social media on X @icl_nihon

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Mansa is joined by Comrade Victor from Mexico to discuss the war drive against Venezuela and the attempts to oust Maduro by Trump. We discuss the need for an anti-imperialist united front of the Latino masses and the American working class, how the propaganda about narco-terrorism is being used to undermine the sovereignty of Latin American countries, why the methods of Maduro and Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico are undermining the fight against Trump and US imperialism, and other challenges of building the anti-imperialist struggle. 

Defender a Venezuela y México! https://iclfi.org/pubs/ai/4/venezuela

The same article can be read in English here: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/1187/venezuela

Puerto Rico: How to get the working class behind independence: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/1187/puerto-rico

Follow the Grupo Espartaquista de México on X and Instagram @gem_lci and on Youtube @ElAntiimperialista-x6t 

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Mansa sits down with Comrade Perrault to discuss all the things happening in the world, from uprisings in the Global South to military buildups, wars and broken ceasefires, the growing right wing and gigantic stock market bubbles. In a time where the news cycle is dizzying and it's easy to feel overwhelmed, or get swept away by the photos online showing the latest struggles across the world, and when the left is either busy chanting revolution, or proclaiming the arrival of fascism, Mansa and Perrault try to make sense of the direction of travel and arm workers and leftists with some basic lessons for coping. 

US imperialism turns the screws: https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/70/screws 

The crisis of the Marxist left and the tasks of the ICL: https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/70/crisis-left

Palestine - Kill the Deal! Sabra and Shatila must not be repeated! https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/2025-palestine

American Dystopia: Dig in, don't give up! https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/1187/dystopia

Defend Venezuela and Mexico against US imperialism: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/1187/venezuela 

Italy: Weld the Palestine movement and working class struggles: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/2025-italy

China: Do nothing, lose! https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/70/china

Follow us on X @SpartacistICL or get in touch by emailing us: [email protected]

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Mansa is joined by Comrades Jesse and Arthur from Johannesburg to discuss the latest bombshell in South African politics: EFF leader Julius Malema being found guilty of gun-related offences, a development which could potentially cripple this radical nationalist party. Comrades explain why this is a continuation of Trump's attacks against South Africa and why every worker and fighter against neo-apartheid and imperialism must defend Julius Malema. Comrades lay out how to take this struggle forward, and give our listeners an update on the successful defense campaign for Xolani Khoza. 

Check out the statement "Defend Julius Malema!" here: https://iclfi.org/pubs/aba/2025-malema

Donate to Xolani Khoza's legal fund here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/defend-xolani-khoza

Follow them on Facebook @AmaBolsheviki Amnyama and X and insta @AmaBolsheviki

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Mansa is joined by Comrades Alexis and Sacramento from Ligue trotskyste de France to discuss the never-ending governmental crisis. Recorded two days before the resignation of PM Lecornu (who lasted less than a month) we discuss why the ground beneath Macron's feet is shrinking, why Le Pen continues to grow, the place of Jean-Luc Melenchon of La France Insoumise in the coming events, and the reasons why the far left is in the seventh heaven calling for general strikes when the working class is, in comrades' words, stuck in Dante's inferno. Tune in to get updated on the situation in France!

The latest leaflet on the left in seventh heaven, in French, can be read here: https://iclfi.org/pubs/lb/2025-gouffre 

Vincent and Gab's episode on strikes in France and the problems with Revolution Permanente's approach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB8EsA18_1w

Follow Communist en Tabarnak! on X @Comm_en_Tab

Alexis' presentation at the latest Ligue Trotskyste forum in Paris can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez_xFZJ66ME 

Follow Ligue Trotskyste de France, or Le Bolchevik (their paper) on X, Insta and Youtube @leBolchevik_LTF

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Mansa is joined by Comrade Mauro from Italy to discuss the recent strikes by Italian unions in defense of the Sumud Flotilla. Following Israel's attack on the flotilla, the unions have now called for a general strike on Friday, 3 October. Mansa and Mauro discuss the potential for these events to reviltalise the workers' movement in Italy, as well as the obstacles to doing so, in the broader context of the Meloni government and the Atlanticism that shackles the Italian left. (This episode was recorded on 1st October.)

Read the statement by the Lega Trotskista d'Italia on the recent events here:

https://iclfi.org/pubs/spo/2025-palestina2

The link to donate to the USB defense fund for pro-Palestinian activists:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/cassa-di-resistenza-dei-lavoratori-contro-il-massacro-a-gaza

Follow them on insta @spartaco_ltdi

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Mansa is joined by comrades Michael Davisson and Erica from Workers Vanguard to talk about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We discuss why he should not have been killed, the coming backlash against the left, and most importantly, comrades try to answer some of Kirk's most notorious talking points. Ultimately, the death of Kirk does not mean that his ideas are dead, and the task of communists is to try and combat these politically in order to win over those layers of the working class drawn to them.

"Kirk still needs to be proved wrong," https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/2025-kirk

"Where is the U.S going? Tasks for the workers movement" https://iclfi.org/pubs/wv/1183/us-tasks 

Follow Workers Vanguard on X or insta @WorkersVanguard or write to them at: [email protected]

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Mansa is back with Comrade Vincent to discuss what's shaking things up (in a bad way) for the left in Britain. We discuss the Tommy Robinson demonstration and why it was massive, the left's denial about the state of things, and why it needs to change course. On the other end, Corbyn and Sultana are on the verge of a split before their party is even official. With things as they are, all does not bode well for the working class. Mansa and Vincent implore the left to wake up and learn some lessons!

Your Party: Ditch the liberals, win the workers! https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/256/your-party 

13 September London: A disaster for the left: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/2025-sutr-disaster

Zarah Sultana's disastrous comment: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/2025-yp-trans

Your Party: The politics behind the shit show: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/2025-yp-shitshow

Starmer Disaster: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/256/starmer

How NOT to fight the right: https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/256/right

Video debriefing on the Tommy Robinson demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Tva7tXHGs&t=824s

Follow the work of our British comrades on Youtube, X and Insta @WorkersHammer and Mansa on insta @punjabibolshevik

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