In this episode of Shit Platypus Says, we introduce the first segment of Reds, a series examining the growth of new communist organizations around the world.

Hosts Tamas, Lisa, and Rebekah discuss the impetus for such a series: the sudden growth of self-styled communist organizations after a decade of social democratic activity on the Left and a dissatisfaction with liberal politics; a related revision occurring within Trotskyist organizations; and the historical echoes and discontinuities raised by the transition from the Millennial to the Zoomer generation.

For the bulk of the segment, our inaugural segment of Reds, Melbourne Platypus members Ryan and Tom sit down with Jamie and Anthony of the Revolutionary Communist Organisation and its Collective of Leninist Youth, based in Australia, for a discussion about its current outlook, challenges, and tasks.

The RCO appeared on a panel discussion held by Platypus Melbourne:

“Imperialism: What is it, and why should we be against it?” (Dec 2 2023 panel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSj2IZOgpg

More info about the Revolutionary Communist Organisation (RCO):

Program: https://www.revcomorg.info/general-clean

Publication “Direct Action”: https://directactionnewcastle.wordpress.com/direct-action-rco/

Queer liberation paper: https://www.revcomorg.info/projecto-1

Collective of Leninist Youth (CLY):

Publication “Red Youth Spectre”: www.tinyurl.com/redyouthspectre

Andreas sits down with Berlin-based members Jakob and Tamas to discuss the upcoming sixth annual Platypus European Conference, set to take place January 25th through the 27th.

Further info can be found at:

https://100yearsafterlenin.com

---

A century after Lenin’s death, the Platypus Affiliated Society aims to critically examine the legacy of the failure of world revolution. Our sixth annual European Conference provides the time to reflect on the nightmare of the twentieth century through teach-ins, panel discussions, and presentations by international Leftist organizations. We hope thus to contribute to overcoming the present obstacles to any future emancipatory Left.

The Left is dead! Long live the Left!

Ein Jahrhundert nach dem Tod Lenins sucht die Platypus Affiliated Society nach einer kritischen Auseinandersetzung mit dem Erbe der gescheiterten Weltrevolution. Unsere sechste europäische Konferenz bietet Raum zur Reflexion über den Albtraum des Zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts – mit Teach-ins, Podiumsdiskussionen und Präsentationen internationaler linker Organisationen. Wir hoffen, damit einen Beitrag zur Überwindung der Hindernisse zu leisten, die heute der Formation einer emanzipatorischen Linken entgegenstehen.

Die Linke ist tot! Lang lebe die Linke!

This special holiday episode of SPS comes in three parts: (1) In order to make sense of the present, Platypus is hosting an international series of panels "Left Perspectives on the Israel-Palestine Conflict". In the first segment, member Gabe G. and Pamela N. reflect on the first panel of the series, which took place at the University of Chicago. They take up disagreements as well as the assumed agreement and the response from the audience. (2) In the second segment you'll hear soundbites and brief interviews from pro-Palestine rallies recorded by our members in Philadelphia and Auckland, New Zealand. (3) The third part is a deep dive into the Platypus archives. The current conflict has prompted Rebekkah and Lisa to speak with our member Ian M. about past engagements from our archives. They talked about the founding moment of Platypus as well as past panel initiatives on the politics of solidarity and decolonization.

References from the Segment Reflecting on the Israel-Palestine Panel

- Teach-in Pamela N.: History and Helplessness (UChicago, 09 November 2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BX4HGK1m8&t=148s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

- Left Perspectives On The Israel Palestine Conflict (Platypus UChicago, 29 November 29 2023)

https://youtu.be/Nw0Rc_3Hn88?si=OX1c-WYyfWvSIb7S


- Left Perspectives On The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Platypus Oregon State University, November 29, 2023)

https://youtu.be/lDnRfYh5tLs?si=qtf2XnPfjLs5jsG

- Imperialism! What is it, and why should we be against it? (Platypus Melbourne, 02 December 2023)

https://www.youtube.com/live/rLSj2IZOgpg?si=S4QMnYg_NpH5mgeF

- Linke Perspektiven auf den Nahostkonflikt (Platypus Germany, 03 December 2023)

https://youtu.be/OGkf83h52MY?si=BHi0Dz_WKWl2_lGX

- Left Perspectives On The Israel Palestine Conflict (Platypus London, 14 December 2023)

https://archive.org/details/left-perspectives-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict-platypus-london

- The Politics of War and Peace (Platypus Northwestern University, 17 November 2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACIzgf-mEi8&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

References from the Archive Segment:

- 2006: Moishe Postone, “History and helplessness: Mass mobilization and contemporary forms of anticapitalism”

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

- 2008: Ian Morrison, “Ba’athism and the history of the Left in Iraq: Violence and politics”

https://platypus1917.org/2008/03/01/baathism-and-the-history-of-the-left-in-iraq-violence-and-politics/

- 2010: Against the status quo: An Interview with Iranian trade unionist Homayoun Pourzad

https://platypus1917.org/2010/01/08/against-the-status-quo-an-interview-with-iranian-trade-unionist-homayoun-pourzad/

- 2021: Panel "The Politics of Solidarity: Israel, Palestine, and the Left" w/ Yoav Gal Tamir (Da'am Workers' Party), Arash Azizi (Left Party of Iran {People's Fedaian), Marco (Angry Workers of the World), Moshé Machover (founder - Israeli Socialist Organisation and its publication Matzpen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoCuGAPheQ&t=12s

- 2010: Which Way Forward for Palestinian Liberation? (w/ Richard Rubin, Joel Kovel, Hussein Ibish)

https://platypus1917.org/2010/04/08/which-way-forward-for-palestinian-liberation-platypus-review/

- 2023: Panel "Decolonisation and the Left" w/ Ralph Leonard, James Heartfield, Andrew Sanchez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfScpu06K_o

- ​​2010: Initiative Sozialistisches Forum, “Communism and Israel”

https://platypus1917.org/2010/10/08/communism-and-israel/

- 2023: Teach-in Pamela N.: History and Helplessness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BX4HGK1m8&t=148s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

- 2023: Teach-in Lucy P.: The Anti War Movement, Platypus And The Death Of The Millennial Left

https://archive.org/details/antiwarmovementteach-in

Platypus European Conference, 25 - 27 Jan. 2024 in Berlin

https://100yearsafterlenin.com/

We discuss this year's protests in France around police brutality, pension reform, and cost of living with our members Lucas from Bretagne and Paul from Vienna, as well as check in with Parisian protestors with Kristian.

To stay up to date with Platypus France, get in touch at:

platypusfrance [at] gmail [dot] com

or visit:

https://www.platypusfrance.org

On this special back-to-school episode of SPS, Pamela & Laurie discuss the recent Russell Brand controversy. Brand has been in the news lately, under some heat, as a result of public allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. We take this up in the context of the ongoing sex panic and the ongoing transformation of feminism after #metoo, which leads us to discuss the Barbie movie. On the second part of the episode, our members Evan and the current president of Platypus, Erin, sit down with Benjamin Studebaker, the author of the recently published book, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut (2023). Studebaker explains that the crisis of American democracy is deeply embedded in the America economic system, and develops a theory of “legitimacy crisis”. They take this up in their interview and ask some questions about the current state of American politics as well as his formulations of the ends of a Left political movement. We hope you enjoy this expanded edition of SPS, if you like it, leave us a comment and maybe you’ll find more of these longer episodes in the future. If you like the podcast share it and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, it helps us get the word out about the pod.

Links:

- System Update w/ Glenn Greenwald: “New Russell Brand Accusations Deserve Scrutiny & Due Process; Yoel Roth Wails Over Censorship-Regime Backlash; & 4 Republicans Demand Insane Ukraine Escalation” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-russell-brand-accusations-deserve-scrutiny-due/id1669610956?i=1000628426173

-Benjamin Studebaker, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut (2023) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-28210-2

- “What is Marxism for?” A Panel with Benjamin Studebaker, Donald Parkinson, James Heartfield, and Chris Cutrone, PR# 153 (February 2023)

https://platypus1917.org/2023/02/01/what-is-marxism-for/

- “Marxism and liberalism” A Panel with James Heartfield, Spencer Leonard, Anthony Monteiro, and Benjamin Studebaker, PR #150 (October 2022)

https://platypus1917.org/2022/10/01/marxism-and-liberalism-2/

Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy

Editing work by Michael Woodson

In this episode of SPS, Tamas sits down with Aram Shakkour (@ShaqArama) of the Szikra Movement (@SzikraMozgalom), an oppositional movement based around Budapest, Hungary. They discuss the state of leftist politics in Hungary after the oppositional coalition which Szikra supported, United for Hungary, failed to stop Viktor Orbán’s FIDESZ from winning a two-thirds parliamentary majority. With over 54% of the vote, FIDESZ received the highest vote share of any party since the fall of communism. They reflect on the three decades since the “system change,” as the events of 1989 are known in Hungary, and the deeper history of the Left in Hungary in the 20th century

- Szikra's : www.szikramozgalom.hu/about_us

- SPS #44: After the Freedom Convoy & the Hungarian Left Today - https://soundcloud.com/platypus-affiliated-society/ep44

In this episode, the Editor-in-Chief of the German Platypus Review, Tobias Rochlitz, sits down with Platypus members Stefan H, Jan BH, and our co-host Lisa M, all of whom contributed to the content of the special PR issue on Gender, to discuss an reflect upon the interview with Koschka Linkerhand, Tove Soiland and the panel discussion 'Gender and the Left‘ with Platypus member Stefan H, Roswitha Scholz and Sara Rukaj. They talk about how the ideas of the New Left survived and continued in the Millennial Left generation, the Heideggerian aspect of Lacan and about the Millennial Left’s focus on so-called “Materialism”.

German-language Platypus Review #23:

https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/ausgabe_23.pdf

Interview with Koschka Linkerhand:

https://platypus1917.org/2023/01/19/interview_linkerhand/

Interview with Tove Soiland:

https://platypus1917.org/2023/01/19/interview_soiland/

Panel: Gender and the Left with Roswitha Scholz, Sara Rukaj and Stefan Hain:

https://platypus1917.org/2023/07/01/gender-and-the-left/

[German: https://platypus1917.org/2023/01/19/gender_podium/ ]

References:

Gary Mucciaroni, Sherry Wolf, Kenyon Farrow, and Greg Gabrellas (2010): Which way forward for sexual liberation?

https://platypus1917.org/2011/02/01/which-way-forward-for-sexual-liberation/

Roxanne Baker, Judith Shapiro, and Sarah McDonald (2018): Marxism and feminism

https://platypus1917.org/2018/05/04/marxism-and-feminism/

Cornelia Möser, Lucy Parker, Ursula Jensen, and Joy McReady (2015): Women: the Longest Revolution

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

David Faes (2018): Transgender liberation? A movement whose time has passed

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

Stefan Hain and Andreas Wintersperger (2021): Psychoanalysis and Marxism https://platypus1917.org/2022/07/03/psychoanalysis-and-marxism/

Max Horkheimer (1926–31): “The Little Man and the Philosophy of Freedom,” in Dämmerung

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

Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy

Editing work by Michael Woodson

Design by Max Hörügel

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/