SPS

This is a stand alone SPS segment to promote and introduce our fifth Platypus European Conference in Vienna, from 8 - 10 September, 2022. Lisa and Rebekah interview the lead organizers of the conference, Victor and Andreas. They talk about the different events of the conference and how they relate to its title "The Crisis of Society and the Left" as well as to our current historical moment of the death of the left.

Here you can find all the information about the conference, the different events and how to participate: https://platypus1917.org/2022/06/08/platypus-european-conference-2022/

SPS is hosted by Pamela and Andreas, 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

On this episode of SPS, our resident financial guru sits down with Pamela to discuss the so-called Great Resignation, or “Big Quit”. They take up the concerns over birth rates & mental illness, as well as how social democratic policies naturalize the crisis of capital. In the second half of the episode, Pamela interviews Andy Gittlitz, cohost of the Antifada podcast and author of I Want to Believe: Posadism, UFOs and Apocalypse Communism. They discuss the trajectory of the millennial left, from the anti-war movement, through Occupy to BLM; and the obstacles to building an independent political party on the left.

Links:

Erin Hagood on Antifada Podcast (March 16, 2022)

- https://fans.fm/p/21V7vzkhttps://fans.fm/p/21V7vzk


Crisis in Ukraine, Platypus NYC

- https://youtu.be/Uyoe5ml05LQ

Chris Cutrone, "Dogmatization and Thought Taboos on the Left" in sublationmag.com (July 1, 2022)

- https://www.sublationmag.com/post/dogmatization-and-thought-taboos-on-the-left

Links from Andy Gittlitz

- https://www.sm28.org/articles/on-the-war-in-ukraine-and-the-socioeconomic-struggles-to-come/

- https://www.patreon.com/theantifada

- https://www.plutobooks.com/9781786806208/i-want-to-believe/

Conrad Hamilton, "Abortion, Capitalism, and Demographic Control" in sublationmag.com (May 17, 2022)

- https://www.sublationmag.com/post/abortion-capitalism-and-demographic-control

John D'Emilio, “Capitalism and Gay Identity” from Powers of Desire: The Politics of Sexuality, eds. Ann Snitow, Christine Stansell, Sharon Thompson (New York, 1983)

- https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/readings/demilio_captialismgayid.pdf

SPS is hosted by Pamela and Andreas, 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

On this episode of SPS, Pamela and Sophia discuss the Depp v. Heard and the exhaustion of #metoo. Andreas and Platypus members, Sebastian Vogel interview Boris Kagarlitsky on the war in Ukraine and the Russian Left. Finally, Lisa and Rebekah sit down with Chris Cutrone to discuss the Platypus Summer Reading Group on classical social theory, titled "What is Society?" The reading group is happening at a Platypus chapter near you, as well as online for those who are unable to join us in person.

What is society?

https://platypus1917.org/2022/05/17/summer-2022-what-is-society/

Rapkor, a Russian speaking youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYDuWqDwzAFG4xrI5uJEWfw

Two articles published in the Platypus Review by Boris Kagarlitsky

https://platypus1917.org/2016/09/06/paralysis-will-bernie-sanders-capitulation/

https://platypus1917.org/2016/07/11/afraid-donald-trump/

Two platypus panels with Boris Kagarlitsky:

https://platypus1917.org/2015/03/04/25-years-1989/

https://platypus1917.org/2017/03/14/crisis-neoliberalism-platypus-3rd-european-conference-vienna-2017/

SPS is hosted by Sophia Pamela and Andreas W., 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 this episode of SPS, Pamela sits down with Platypus member Tana F. to discuss the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and the responses by the Left, including Marxist Humanist member, Mike Dola, and the Socialist Workers Party's newspaper, The Militant. They talk about what it means to defend constitutional rights absent an independent working class movement and a socialist party. In the second part, Rebekah and Lisa sit down with Clay M. from Chicago, Lucas B. from Frankfurt and Conrad C. from Portland to reflect on the 14th annual platypus convention 2022. We welcome responses to our segments. You can reach us at [email protected], or you can find us on FB, IG, and Twitter @platypussays.

Terry Evans, "A working-class course is needed to support our families, women’s rights" in The Militant, Vol. 85/No. 48(27 Dec 2021)

- https://themilitant.com/2021/12/18/a-working-class-course-is-needed-to-support-our-families-womens-rights/

Alexandra Kollontai, "The Labour of Women in the Evolution of the Economy" 1921

- https://www.marxists.org/archive/kollonta/1921/evolution.htm

Platypus International Convention 2022

- Legacy of the 1980s Panel: https://youtu.be/AAeBnqOSO6E

- Marxism and Liberalism Panel: https://youtu.be/_V0H26efVY8

- What is leadership for the Left? Panel: https://youtu.be/i_iORUx7sms

- Biden, Covid and the Left Panel: https://youtu.be/Pf_oQoqitik

- What is Marxism for? Panel: https://youtu.be/Rl5i4orxCAM

Platypus Panel: The Anti-War Movement: Past and Present | 6pm Thursday 05/19

-
FB Invite: https://fb.me/e/1uBIT5jX6

Join the UChicago Platypus chapter of the Platypus Affiliated Society for an in-person panel discussion on "The Anti-War Movement: Past and Present" this Thursday, May 19th at 6:00-8:00PM in Kent 120.

SPS

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

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

on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society

SPS is hosted by Sophia Pamela and Andreas W., 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 the episode our co-hosts Lisa Müller und Rebekah Parlar sit down with Platypus member Clint Montgomery to talk about our annual international Platypus Convention. Our international Convention, which is sort of the highlight in your platypus calendar, will take place in Chicago from the 31st of March until April the 3rd. In the segment Lisa, Rebekah and Clint talk about why this year's convention will be held under the overarching theme of “Marxism and the ends of liberalism”, what that has to do with the COVID pandemic and what other events will be hosted during the convention. Whether you want to meet Platypus members from all over the world, discuss global trends within the Left and its history or get a sense of meaning of the death of the left for our current moment in history, you should come to Chicago and get yourself a ticket for the convention. Your SPS podcast team will be there as well!

For the second part of the episode Lisa and Rebekah talk with the editor in chief of the German Platypus Review, Tobias Rochlitz. - Tobias, Rebekah and Lisa discuss the failure of the New left with articles on Hans-Jürgen Krahl and the 1968s movement; an Interview with Wolf Wetzel on the disintegration of the autonomous movement in the 1970s and the response from Michael Fischer to an article from our Member Max Hörügel on the Failure of the early Anti-Deutsch current within the Left.

+2022 Platypus International Convention

>The official website of the convention: https://platypus1917.org/platypus-international-convention/2022_/

+Mentioned in he German Platypus Review segment

>Platypus panel on “Corona und die Linke”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cynozxmZQsg&t=157s

>Platypus teach-in on "The Millennial Left is dead": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkR-aSK60U8

>Platypus panel on "Die Krise des Neoliberalismus": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sADJlRLGCqY

>Ep. 43: On the Freedom Convoy, the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ) & 2021 Platypus Highlights: https://platypus1917.org/2022/02/14/ep-43-on-the-freedom-convoy-the-austrian-communist-party-kpo-2021-platypus-highlights/

>Lenin - What is to be done: https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1901/witbd/

On this two-part episode of SPS, Pamela sits with Leila Mechoi, the co-host of Red Star Radio podcast. They reflect on the Left's reaction to the late trucker protest in Canada, and discuss the role of civil liberties in the organization of the working class, as well as what sort of missed political opportunity -- if any -- did the protest present. In the second part of the episode, Andreas and Berlin-based Platypus member, Tamas talked to Peter and Noemi, both members of Szikra, a leftist group in Hungary founded in 2019. They discuss the situation of the Hungarian Left with regards to developments within the international left over the past decade, as well as the next Hungarian parliamentary election in April of this year. They also take up the deeper history of the Left in Hungary and specific political challenges in the "post-socialist "countries of Eastern Europe today.

Links for Leila Mechoui interview

- Red Star Radio podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/red-star-radio/id1516544636

- https://www.patreon.com/red_star_radio

- https://themilitant.com/2022/02/12/truckers-in-ontario-show-road-to-fight-boss-attacks/

- Simon Clarke, The State Debate (Basingstoke: Palgrave 1991). This work and other his works can be found here: https://cooltexts.github.io/ 

Links for Szikra interview

- Szikra's "about us": https://www.szikramozgalom.hu/about_us

- Nora Schultz (Szikra member)in Merce (the leftist online newspaper that is mentioned during the interview): https://merce.hu/2019/09/20/a-szabad-varos-baloldali-es-zold/

- An interview with Nora Schultz by Noemi Lehoczki: https://merce.hu/2020/11/21/politikai-kepviseletet-szerezni-a-baloldalnak-interju-a-szikra-mozgalommal/

SPS is hosted by Sophia, Pamela and Andreas W., 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/.

On this episode, Pamela sits down with our Toronto member Cam Hardy to discuss Canada's "Freedom Convoy", and the responses by the "Left". They investigate Jacobin's hot take on the "inauthentic" working-class character of the protests, and the call by the Canadian Communist Party to criminalize the convoy. In the second segment, Andreas interviews Amir Sturm, a member of the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ). Andreas asks about the current state of the KPÖ, its history & political self-understanding and the relationship between the KPÖ and Junge Linke, an Austrian leftist youth organization. Finally, our Shit Platypus Does team, Rebekah and Lisa, chat with our members Ryan, Daniel, and Phedias about how Platypus has engaged the Left over the Legacy of Occupy, the meaning of Capitalism, and the politics of COVID-19 in our panel events in 2021.

+ The Left on the "Freedom Convoy"

> Jacobin

https://jacobinmag.com/2022/02/canada-freedom-convoy-conservative-right-wing-anti-worker-anti-vaccine

https://jacobinmag.com/2022/02/freedom-trucker-convoy-far-right-trudeau-vaccines-covid

> Communist Party of Canada

https://communist-party.ca/freedom-convoy-a-dangerous-movement-for-the-working-class-but-useful-for-the-ruling-class/

> The Communist League

https://themilitant.com/2022/02/12/truckers-in-ontario-show-road-to-fight-boss-attacks/

+KPÖ Segment Links

>Platypus Interview with Tobias Schweiger https://platypus1917.org/2021/12/20/interview_kpoe_schweiger/

> Platypus panel on the KPÖ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayjLSqH3YWU&t=2s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

> Jacobin article about the election in Graz, September 2021: https://jacobinmag.com/2021/09/communist-party-of-austria-kpo-graz-election-victory-red-fortress

>Links to websites of KPÖ and Junge Linke

https://www.kpoe.at/?playlist=17a123d&video=2bd4121

https://www.jungelinke.at/

+ Mentioned in our Shit Platypus Does segment

> What is capitalism and why should we be against it? - Panel Melbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii8nVnWeUu0&t=174s or in the PR What is capitalism, and why should we be against it? https://platypus1917.org/2021/09/01/what-is-capitalism-and-why-should-we-be-against-it-2/

> From Protest to Politics? What was the Millennial Left? - Panel https://youtu.be/NDB0LyeQiU4

> Giving voice to Occupy: An interview with John Leveille https://platypus1917.org/2021/03/01/giving-voice-to-occupy-an-interview-with-john-leveille/

> What was Occupy? Ten years later - Panel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5-4GyAgwFw&t=146s

> D.L. Jacobs, What was the Millennial Left? https://platypus1917.org/2021/06/01/what-was-the-millennial-left/

> The Millennial Left and the Democratic Party: A response to D. L. Jacobs https://platypus1917.org/2021/10/01/the-millennial-left-and-the-democratic-party-a-response-to-d-l-jacobs/

> Pam N., Platypus at #Occupy: Lessons learned from the death of the Millennial Left

https://platypus1917.org/2021/06/01/platypus-at-occupy/

> Coronavirus and the Left - Panel Melbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqeIcDT7ys4

> SPS interview with Sue Bolton on Aussie Protests against the Vaccine Mandate https://platypus1917.org/2021/12/05/ep-41-on-rittenhouse-aussie-protests-against-the-vaccine-mandate/

> Anti-fascism in the Age of Trump 2017 - Panel Houston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eaRuXRqP9c

> Hegel and the Left 2020 - Panel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pjhv7kDF0

> Corona und die Linke - Panel Germany https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cynozxmZQsg

> Police Brutality and the Left - Panel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwf1_df6FiA

In this special Xmas edition of SPS, your new hosts of the "Sh-t Platypus Does" segment, Rebekah and Lisa, chat with the Platypus Review Editor-in-Chief, Lou, about the new issue, PR #142 -- including articles: "What can one learn from the Right?" by D.L. Jacobs, "The Left is not a concept" by Benedict Cryptofash, "We are the city-building tendency" by Caleb T. Maupin and "Paths to Marxism" by Chris Cutrone.

New Issue, PR #142

https://platypus1917.org/platypus-review/

Leszek Kolakowski "The Concept of the Left" (1968)

https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/readings/kolakowskileszek_conceptleft1968.pdf

The Marxist hypothesis: A response to Alain Badiou's "communist hypothesis" by Chris Cutrone, in the Platypus Review #29 (November 2010)

https://platypus1917.org/2010/11/06/the-marxist-hypothesis-a-response-to-alain-badous-communist-hypothesis/

On this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pamela sit down with Spencer L., founding member of Platypus and historian of imperialism, to discuss the Rittenhouse trial and the “Left’s” response. They clear up the confusion around the Second Amendment among todays leftists, address the anti-racism of progressive liberals, and take up responses by Daniel Lazare (Weekly Worker) and the Bolshevik Tendency. In the second part of the episode, Andreas W. and Platypus Melbourne member, Ryan M., interview Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance) on the protests against the Australian vaccine mandate, including the September attack on the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) offices. Union leadership was under attack by union members for their complicity with state measures, which prevented a return to work without vaccination. Andreas and Ryan ask, how should the left respond? Are these protests simply cannon fodder for the right? How should socialists understand this discontent in civil society?

SEGMENT I Links

>The “Left” on Rittenhouse

Daniel Lazare, “Rittenhouse and White Backlash” in the Weekly Worker, issue 1373 (25 November 2021)

https://weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/1373/rittenhouse-and-white-backlash/

“...The idea that good guys need guns to defend themselves against bad guys is asinine, since it is often far from clear in a shootout which is which. It is a determination that cannot be made individually on the spur of the moment, but can only be made deliberately and collectively, which is why democracy requires judges, courts and other such apparatus.”

Milwaukee DSA Statement on Rittenhouse Verdict, (22 November 2021)

https://milwaukee.dsawi.org/milwaukee-dsa-statement-on-rittenhouse-verdict/

“It is no coincidence that Rittenhouse wants to be a police officer when he grows up. The US injustice system was developed to enshrine white supremacy at the expense of those who work to undo it. As those in power continue to build upon the fascist foundations of our nation, it becomes ever-clearer that abolition of police and the carceral state at large is the only path forward.”

Bolshevik Tendency, “Killer Rittenhouse Goes Free—Fascists Celebrate”

https://bolsheviktendency.org/2021/11/27/killer-rittenhouse-goes-free-fascists-celebrate/

“Decent people do not recognize the “right” of fascists and their various ultra-rightist friends and associates to mobilize—nor do we recognize their right to “defend” themselves against attempts to disarm them, which is what Rittenhouse’s victims were seeking to do. While the latter’s tactics were obviously seriously deficient, their intent was commendable.”

>Education on Liberalism & Constitutional Rights

Ira Glasser, Free Speech and the ACLU, an interview by Glenn Greenwald

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGI4fc_VB7c

Platypus Public Fora Series: The Second Amendment and the Left

Platypus Review 110 (October 2018): https://platypus1917.org/2018/10/01/the-second-amendment-and-the-left/

June 9, 2018, University of Houston: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaaAqAm6oAw

SEGMENT II Links

Sue Bolton's article in Green Left, Socialist Alliance's publication: https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/behind-attack-cfmeu-office

The other Green Left article Andreas quotes, by Dave Kellaway: https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/italy-fascists-attack-biggest-trade-union-confederation

Socialist Alliance's website: https://socialist-alliance.org/

Hosted by Sophia F., Pamela N. and Andreas W., with original tracks by Tamas Vilaghy, and editing assistance by Michael Woodson and Tamas Vilaghy. To learn more about Platypus, go to https://platypus1917.org/.

For this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pamela take up Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special, "The Closer," and the blowback following its release. For the main segment, Sophia catches up with the makers behind the Aufhebunga Bunga pod, Alex Hochuli and George Hoare, to discuss their new book, The End of the End of History: Politics in the Twenty-First Century. She asks about their characterization of "anti-politics," how they understood the Trump & Brexit moment, and the importance of Hegel for the Left today. Hochuli is a writer and translator living in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Hoare is a researcher and political consultant in London.

Aufhebunga Bunga podcast

https://bungacast.com/

The End of the End of History (Zero Books, 2021)

https://www.amazon.com/End-History-Politics-Twenty-First-Century/dp/1789045231

Links to SPS episodes with Aufhebunga Bunga boys:

[Ep 23] Convo w/ Philip Cunliffe in London for a post-panel reflection on our "After the Election" panel at the London School of Economics

https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society/ep23

[Ep 10] A conversation with Alex Hochuli on Brazil's 2018 presidential elections.

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

[Ep 02] Why should anyone care about 1917? A Conversation on Philip Cunliffe's Lenin Lives!: Reimagining the Russian Revolution 1917-2017 (2017)

https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society/ep-2

James Heartfield, The 'Death of the Subject' Explained (2006)

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Subject-Explained-James-Heartfield/dp/141964436X

Platypus Panel, "Bonapartism: How is the State Revolutionary?" (PAS International Convention 2020)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsx6V5DCGUo

Chris Cutrone, "Rousseau, Kant and Hegel" Platypus Review 61 (2013)

https://platypus1917.org/2013/11/01/rousseau-kant-hegel/

Hosted by Sophia, Pamela and Andreas W., with original tracks by Tamas Vilaghy & Louis Sterrett, and editing assistance by Michael Woodson and Tamas Vilaghy. To learn more about Platypus, go to Platypus1917.org.