SPS

In this episode Pamela and Laurie discuss the Trump indictment, DeSantis, and the conservative “resolution” to the crisis of neoliberalism through the Culture Wars. In our main segment, Platypus members from Vienna, Berlin, Melbourne and Chicago reflect on the Platypus panel, "A Century of Critical Theory: The Legacy of György Lukács,” (April 1st, 2023), the closing plenary of the 15th Platypus International Convention. The centenary marking the publication of his magnum opus, History and Class Consciousness: Studies in Marxist Dialectics (1923), offers the occasion to ask: What is the meaning of Lukács and HCC today? Over the last 100 years, various claims have been made of HCC. On the one hand, it is said to have inaugurated “Western Marxism” and set the foundation for the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School. On the other, people have accused it of giving philosophical justifications for terroristic or opportunistic tendencies within Marxism–Leninism. We asked our panelists to consider the following: What is the relationship between political practice and theory that Lukács articulated in the revolutionary period of 1919–1925, based on his close reading of Lenin and Luxemburg? What in his critique of reification and defense of Marxist orthodoxy did the later Lukács disavow? What can we make of Lukács's legacy today? How have we received his investigation and elaboration of the problematic of Marxism? What are the essential issues raised for our time?

"A Century of Critical Theory: The Legacy of György Lukács" Platypus 15th annual international Convention. Feat. Chris Cutrone, Andrew Feenberg, Mike Macnair

Recording: https://youtu.be/K9Zfn2CZz_Y

"The Politics of Critical Theory,” December 3rd, 2021, hosted by the New York City chapters of the Platypus Affiliated Society, feat. Jay Bernstein (New School); Jonathon Catlin (PhD student in history at Princeton University); Erin Hagood (Platypus Affiliated Society)

https://www.youtube.com/live/pXgFDfJbgdM?feature=share

“The Politics of Critical Theory,” April 3, 2021, Platypus Affiliated Society International Convention, with Chris Cutrone (Platypus Affiliated Society), Dennis Graemer (Association for the Design of History), Douglas Kellner (UCLA, author of Herbert Marcuse and the Crisis of Marxism), and Doug Lain (Zer0 Books).

https://platypus1917.org/2021/10/01/the-politics-of-critical-theory-2/

“The Politics Of Critical Theory,” University of Vienna, 3rd annual Platypus European Conference, feat. Chris Cutrone(Platypus Affiliated Society); Martin Suchanek (Workers Power, Berlin); Haziran Zeller (Berlin)

https://archive.org/details/platypus_politicscriticaltheoryeuroconferencevienna021717_2/platypus_politicscriticaltheoryeuroconferencevienna021717_1.MP3

“The Politics of Critical Theory,” Third Annual Platypus International Convention with Chris Cutrone, Andrew Feenberg, Richard Westerman, and Nicholas Brown (Platypus Review 37, July 2011). Edited transcript: https://platypus1917.org/2011/07/09/the-politics-of-critical-theory/

“Lukács' Marxism” a panel discussion organized by the Platypus Affiliated Society, held on March 19, 2011, at Left Forum, Pace University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9164kAaFTPI&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

Marco Torres, “Politics as a Form of Knowledge: A Brief Introduction to Georg Lukács” Platypus Review #1 (November 2007)

https://platypus1917.org/2007/11/01/politics-as-a-form-of-knowledge-a-brief-introduction-to-georg-lukacs/

SPS

on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4ftkDeIALI2l8k2A49OVcs

on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sps/id1305502112

on Soundcloud: @platypus-affiliated-society

on IG: @shitplatypussays

SPS is hosted by Andreas W. & Pamela N., with original tracks by Tamas Vilaghy, and editing assistance by Michael Woodson and Tamas Vilaghy. Our Sh-t Platypus Does team is Lisa M. and Rebekah P. To learn more about Platypus, go to platypus1917.org

In the first part of this episode, Lisa is joined by our German members Jakob, Nezam and Sebastian to discuss the crisis and history of DIE LINKE. They reflect on Platypus panels, interviews, and PR articles to think about the recent manifestations of the crisis within DIE LINKE and the radical Left's relation to the party. They talk about the international influence of the party and its impact on the entire Millennial Left generation. 
The second part of this episode features interviews conducted by our member Nezam at the conference of the faction „Revolutionärer Bruch“ („revolutionary split/break”) in January of this year. The faction was founded by members of DIE LINKE and its youth organization Linksjugend solid to discuss various strategies for moving forward and to deepen the assumption that DIE LINKE might no longer be a political home for the Left.

References:


> 2022: quoted ISA article: https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2022/12/germany 

> 2023: Panel Berlin: “War das schon der heiße Herbst?” (w/ Marek Schauer – Jurist und Journalist, Marcus Staiger – Heizung, Brot & Frieden, Wilhelm Schulz – GAM, Peter Nowak – freier Journalist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK2wLePamSk

> 2023: Panel Leipzig: "Heißer Herbst und die Linke" ( w/ Tim – "Jetzt Reichts" Linksjugend, Jonathan Eibisch, Revolution, Internationale Jugend/FKO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb52w0agoJ0

> German Platypus Review #6 in occasion of the General Election 2017: https://platypus1917.org/category/ausgabe-6/ including interviews w/ Sascha Staničić, Wolfgang Gehrcke (see below), Werner Dreibus and Dietmar Bartsch 

> 2022: Panel “Was ist DIE LINKE” (w/ Georg Fülberth, Thies Gleiss, Bernd Riexinger und Martin Suchanek) https://platypus1917.org/2022/08/31/podium_2021_linkspartei/

> 2022: Panel “Reform, Revolution, Resistance” (w/ Anna, Michael Brie, Dennis Graemer, Alexander Neupert-Doppler)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmSpjxaiGFk

> 2013: Panel "Conversations on the Left: What is to be done?" (w/ Bhaskar Sunkara, James Turley, and Ben Blumberg)https://platypus1917.org/2013/06/01/conversations-on-the-left-what-is-to-be-done/ and on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y_dldZ1oZM

> 2017: Interview w/ Wolfgang Gehrcke: "Der Fortschritt der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft muss verteidigt werden" https://platypus1917.org/2017/08/12/der-fortschritt-der-burgerlichen-gesellschaft-muss-verteidigt-werden-interview-mit/

> 2013: Panel "Reform, Revolution, Resistance" (w/ Thomas Seibert, Norbert Trenkle, Daniel Loick, und Janine Wissler) https://platypus1917.org/category/platypus-review-authors/janine-wissler/ 

> 2023: quoted TAZ interview w/ Katja Kipping: https://taz.de/Kipping-ueber-Berlin-und-die-Linke/!5910197/

Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy

Editing work by Michael Woodson

Design by Jakob Trescher

On this episode of SPS, Pamela & Andreas interview Spencer Leonard. Spencer is a founding member of Platypus and has recently published a two-volume selection of Marx & Engels journalism. The first volume focuses on Bonapartism, with selections from 1851–1859, and the second focuses on their writings on imperialism, with selections from 1856–1862. He speaks to us about the democratic revolution, liberalism, and the self-contradiction of bourgeois society. Spencer challenges the thesis put forth by Domenico Losurdo of an advancing "de-emancipation" alongside emancipation, and raises the problem of Marxism in the 20th century, and its legacy in the 21st.

Links:

Marx and Engels on Bonapartism, Selected Journalism, 1851–59

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781666928044/Marx-and-Engels-on-Bonapartism-Selected-Journalism-1851

Marx and Engels on Imperialism, Selected Journalism, 1856–62

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498559232/Marx-and-Engels-on-Imperialism-Selected-Journalism-1856

Domenico Losurdo in the Platypus Review (May 2012)

https://platypus1917.org/2012/05/01/liberalism-and-marx-domenico-losurdo/

On this episode of SPS, we first focus on our Annual International Convention (March 29–April 1), which will take place in Chicago, at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, & the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Planning committee members, Ryan & Ethan introduce the convention theme, panels, and historical concerns across the upcoming events. Our second segment is a deep dive into the Platypus archives on the question of imperialism & anti-imperialism, prompted by the one-year anniversary of the Ukrainian War, and the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. Members, Sunit & Farsad, join Lisa and Rebekah to reflect on the Platypus panels on the Ukraine crisis a year ago, and on the recent developments of the anti-imperialist and anti-fascist Left. They go back to the founding moment of Platypus and the very first panel "Imperialism: what is it, why should we be against it?" (2007).

Platypus International Convention 2023 program:

https://platypus1917.org/platypus-international-convention/15th-annual-platypus-international-convention-history-and-class-consciousness/

Convention Segment Links:

> Mike Macnair "The Philosophy Trap" (2013):

https://weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/987/lukacs-the-philosophy-trap/

> CPGB/Platypus dialog in full (2013):

https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cpgbcontralukacs031513.pdf

> Chris Cutrone "CPGB Contra Lukacs" (2014):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyAx32lzC0U

(in the PR: https://platypus1917.org/2014/02/01/why-still-read-lukacs-the-place-of-philosophical-questions-in-marxism/)

Imperialism & Anti-imperialism Segment Links:

> 2007: Panel: Imperialism: What is it, why should we be against it?https://platypus1917.org/2010/07/09/imperialism-what-is-it-why-should-we-be-against-it/

> 2022: Chris Cutrone "Ukraine: More of the same" https://platypus1917.org/2022/04/01/ukraine-more-of-the-same/

> 2022: Crisis in Ukraine and the Left Panel iterations:

>>> Frankfurt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIPr7AyMWak&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmAmGIlzqMgDuAkQNP-T0sW&index=4

>>> online in German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiFxUcBxYqQ&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmAmGIlzqMgDuAkQNP-T0sW&index=7

>>> online in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3js9LcbDTY0&list=PLNc4xGUuaRwmAmGIlzqMgDuAkQNP-T0sW&index=6

> 2007: Interview with Tariq Ali by Chris Cutrone https://archive.org/details/TariqAliInterviewedByChrisCutronePlatypusChicago

> 2020: Panel “Imperialism and the Left” https://platypus1917.org/2020/07/01/imperialism-and-the-left/ and ​​https://platypus1917.org/2020/09/01/imperialism-and-the-left-2/

> debate between Tariq Ali and Christopher Hitchens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5atWb_LD-2I

> 2016: Panel "Was ist Imperialismus? Warum sollten wir dagegen sein?" https://platypus1917.org/2016/06/24/podiumsdiskussion-vom-16-06-2016-ist-imperialismus-warum-sollten-wir-dagegen-sein/

This episode includes an interview with Platypus founding member Chris Cutrone, who was interviewed by Johannes K. and Lisa on his article “The end of the Gilded Age: Discontents of the Second Industrial Revolution today”. They talked about the history of progressivism, the deferred problems of the Gilded Age that still impact us today, the unfulfilled task of the Left, as well as the things that led Chris to write this article back in 2017.

Links:

> 2017: Chris Cutrone, The end of the Gilded Age: Discontents of the Second Industrial Revolution today https://platypus1917.org/2017/12/02/end-gilded-age-discontents-second-industrial-revolution-today/

> 2017: Chris Cutrone, The Millennial Left is dead https://platypus1917.org/2017/10/01/millennial-left-dead/

> 2020: "The Legacy of the American Revolution", a Platypus Lecture Series https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNc4xGUuaRwkwEdVEwLV6X8NxT49XEtx8

SPS episodes contain original tracks by Tamas Vilaghy, and editing assistance by Michael Woodson and Tamas Vilaghy. To learn more about Platypus, go to platypus1917.org

In the first part of this episode, Lisa & Rebekah are joined by members, Laurie R. & Jasper to talk about how Platypus has captured the relationship between the Left & the elections. They have gone into the archives of the Platypus Affiliated Society, and have asked how our work can help us to think about these inflection points on the Left across the elections, namely, 2008 (Obama); 2016 (Brexit; Trump; AfD); 2020 (Trump & Biden, Corbyn & Boris); and the coming 2024 election. In the second segment, Pamela sits down with the Platypus Review Editor-in-Chief, Lou S., to discuss what is in the Dec 2022—Jan 2023 issue, including the interview with Vivek Chibber, his perspectives on ideology, the task of the Left today, and the DSA & the elections, as well as a book review of Chibber's book by Russell Jacoby, and the interview with Enzo Traverso.

Election & the Left Links:

2008: "Obama: Progress in regress: The end of 'black politics'" https://platypus1917.org/2008/09/01/obama-progress-in-regress-the-end-of-black-politics/

2016: "Why not Trump?"

https://platypus1917.org/2016/09/06/why-not-trump/

2016: Teach-in: "Anti-trumpism: what does it mean for the Left?"

https://archive.org/details/TeachinAntitrumpism

2017: "The Millennial Left is dead"

https://platypus1917.org/2017/10/01/millennial-left-dead/

2019: Panel "Democracy and the Left" with Benjamin Studebaker (Cambridge University, What's Left podcast), Marjorie Mayo (Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths University), James Heartfield (Independent author, Spiked!) and Adam Buick (Socialist Party of Great Britain) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzd_0dy2Tz4

Platypus Review 152 (December 2022-January 2023)

https://platypus1917.org/category/pr/

Interview with Vivek Chibber

https://platypus1917.org/2022/12/01/confronting-capitalism-an-interview-with-vivek-chibber/

Book Review of Chibber by Russell Jacoby

https://platypus1917.org/2022/12/01/shadowboxing-a-review-of-vivek-chibbers-the-class-matrix/

Interview with Enzo Traverso

https://platypus1917.org/2022/12/01/we-were-orphans-an-interview-with-enzo-traverso/

On this special holiday episode, SPS brings to you reports from protests in the USA, Germany and Austria. We include shotgun interviews with participants and reflections by our members. In the first segment, our West Coast members interview the academic workers part of the strikes at the University of California. They ask the strikers at the LA and Santa Barbara campuses about their participation in the strike and their views on the relationship between this labor struggle and the long-term vision for the Left. On the second segment, our members Marius, Lisa and Andreas went to several university occupations organized by “End fossil: Occupy!” –– a climate justice movement with the goal to put an end to the fossil fuel economy. Students occupied lecture halls in different cities for several weeks to draw attention to their demands and to initiate negotiations with their respective university administrations.

Links:

(1) On December 15th, 2022 the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a public forum in New York City called "Labor and the Left." This conversation was hosted in the immediate wake of the 2022 strike at The New School for Social Research.

Recording: https://youtu.be/f7o1XKt2mpc

(2) "The Concept of the Left and Right" a Platypus panel. Edited transcript printed in Platypus Review 68 (July 2014) https://platypus1917.org/2014/07/04/concept-left-right/

(3) G.M. Tamás, "Telling the truth about class" in Vol. 42: Socialist Register 2006: Telling the Truth, https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/tamasgm_tellingthetruthaboutclass.pdf

(4) "End Fossil: Occupy!" website

 https://endfossil.de

On this episode of SPS, Pamela first sits down with Platypus Brazilian members Paulo & Rosa. They comment on the election results, how the Left is responding to the return of Lula, and what the election of the Brazilian Workers Party means for the future of a socialist Left. In the second part, Platypus Oregon member Andony hosts a roundtable conversation on the U.S. Midterm elections with members from around the country. From New Hampshire, Walla Walla, Washington, Philadelphia, to Merced, California, we hear what our members have to say about the left's response and if there is anything for us to learn from this election.

SPS is broadcasted on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Soundcloud. If you like the episode, share it and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get the word out!

I. Brazilian Election Segment Links:

SPS Ep. 10: On Cynthia Nixon, the Brazilian elections, and Afrofuturism (Sept 2018) w/ Alex Hochuli

https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society/ep10

"What is political party for the Left?" With Leo Panitch, Jackie Barkley, Antoni Wysocki, and Carlos Pessoa (Platypus Review 74 | March 2015)

https://platypus1917.org/2015/03/01/political-party-left-2/

How each party chose to express their support for Lula: 

- PSTU (Unified Socialist Workers Party) - https://www.pstu.org.br/2o-turno-para-derrotar-bolsonaro-voto-critico-em-lula/

- PSOL (Socialism and Freedom party) https://psol50.org.br/psol-vai-ampliar-mobilizacao-no-2o-turno-para-eleger-lula-presidente/

- UP (Popular Unity) https://www.unidadepopular.org.br/2022/10/abaixo-a-fome-e-o-custo-de-vida-fora-bolsonaro/

- PCB (Brazilian Communist Party) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SfR5ZYtBAVjgrgKGGlaKFMJE5PLZzBL0/view

- PCO (Worker's Cause Party) https://causaoperaria.org.br/2022/a-contribuicao-do-pco-para-a-vitoria-de-lula/

Platypus in Brazil

https://platypus1917.org/project/sobre/

https://platypus1917.org/project/o-que-significa-platypus/

plat brazil fb: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083550673612

Panel: "A crise na Ucrânia e a Esquerda" (3/19/22)

https://youtu.be/B_L_V80lXBA

Platypus at the New School (NYC) fb: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenewschoolplatypus

New School link with all our activities: https://narwhalnation.newschool.edu/organization/platypus

II. U.S. Midterm Election Segment Links:

"Anti-fascism in the Age of Trump" panel at UCSC, 11/7/17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuN5j3R6go

"Perpetual motion machines: A response to Canel, Duhalde, and Horras” DL Jacobs (Platypus Review, September 2022): https://platypus1917.org/2022/09/01/perpetual-motion-machines-a-response-to-canel-duhalde-and-horras/

Anti-fascism in the Philippines: Back to the 1980s (Platypus Review, September 2022): https://platypus1917.org/2022/09/01/anti-fascism-in-the-philippines-back-to-the-1980s/

Articles in Jacobin re: U.S. Midterm Elections

- https://jacobin.com/2022/11/krystal-ball-midterms-2022-rust-belt-john-fetterman-democratic-party

- https://jacobin.com/2022/11/the-democrats-will-probably-lose-the-midterms-because-our-society-is-falling-apart

- https://jacobin.com/2022/11/midterms-2022-progressives-democrats-abortion-student-debt-wages-health-care

- https://jacobin.com/2022/11/midterm-elections-2022-progressive-health-care-reform-reproductive-rights

Our 50th anniversary SPS episode comes in two parts. First, we cover the on-going cost of living protests organized by the Left in the U.K, Germany and Austria. Co-hosts Lisa and Andreas attended protests in Leipzig and Vienna, where they recorded soundbites and interviews with several leftist activists. Later, they discuss these interviews and the current crisis on the Left with SPS co-host Rebekah and former president of Platypus, Efraim C. -- both based in the U.K.

In our Shit Platypus Does segment, Rebekah and Lisa sit down with our members Audrey and David to discuss their past teach-ins and panel presentations on the issue of sexual liberation.

Platypus on “Sex and the Left” Links:

“#MeToo and the millennial sex panic”. Platypus Review 111.  November 2018. https://platypus1917.org/2018/11/02/metoo-and-the-millennial-sex-panic/

“Transgender liberation? A movement whose time has passed” . Platypus Review 111. November 2018.

https://platypus1917.org/2018/11/02/transgender-liberation-a-movement-whose-time-has-passed/

“Which Way Forward for Sexual Liberation?” Teach-in at  The People’s Forum in New York City. June 2022

https://youtu.be/ATCE8FQfTC4

“Sexual Freedom in Capital” Platypus Review 133. February 2021

https://platypus1917.org/2021/02/01/sexual-freedom-in-capital/

“Women the Longest Revolution (Frankfurt)” Panel transcription. Platypus Review 84. March 2016

https://platypus1917.org/2016/03/07/women-longest-revolution-frankfurt/

In the first segment, our European Correspondent, Andreas W. interviews Emanuel Rota, a leftist historian from Italy who published extensively on the history of the Italian Communist party. He currently lives in the US and is the director of the European Union Center at the University of Illinois. They discuss the aftermath of the "Long '68" in Italy, the current crisis of the Italian government as well as the impact and outlook of the Millennial Left during the crisis of neoliberalism.

The second segment highlight our members in Platypus New Zealand, a new chapter which offers reading groups and coffee breaks at the University of Otago. Platypus member, Michael McClelland (Otago), together with Ryan M. (Melbourne), both sit down with Tom Roud, the founder of Canterbury Socialist Society -- a local branch of the newly-developed New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies. They discuss the socialist William Morris, the role of fraternal, non-sectarian organizations on the Left, exploring how the Federation aims to offer a new type of organization for the New Zealand Left.

For more information on the New Zealand chapter of Platypus, email [email protected].

Links

- Socialist Society Website – https://www.socialistsocieties.org.nz/

- Victor Billot on the anti-mandate protests: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/protest-2022-a-great-variety-of-morbid-symptoms

- Lecture on William Morris by the New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt_6m3p24Bo&t=1503s

- Michael McClelland's article in the Platypus Review https://platypus1917.org/2022/05/04/what-is-a-right-wing-protest-anyway-on-the-new-zealand-freedom-convoy-protests/