The first of three political-biographical interviews this week with AJ, who has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America since the 1980s. We discussed the political potential of the ongoing protests against police brutality in the U.S., the potential for democratic socialism generally, and the significance of the upcoming presidential election. We also talked about the challenges for people of color in political organizations.
Leo Panitch died recently of covid complications. A few months ago we discussed two issues which Panitch studied and wrote about for decades. First, whether the pandemic has fundamentally altered the geopolitical balance between the U.S. and other great powers, specifically China. And second, how socialists in the U.S. should approach the November elections. Panitch connected the two issues with his usual depth and historical rigor, qualities not always evident in the left discourse on these questions. He will be deeply missed. Leo Panitch was Professor Emeritus of Politics at York University in Toronto. He was co-editor of the Socialist Register and author of several books, most recently Searching for Socialism: The Project of the Labour New Left from Benn to Corbyn, co-authored with Colin Leys and published by Verso. Bernie Sanders' speech at DNC 2020 Leo Panitch and Sam Gindin, "Trumping the Empire," Socialist Register 2019. Leo Panitch, "Class theory for our time," Catalyst 2020. ...
The second of three political-biographical episodes this week with Rafi Ash, who at the age of 16 may be the youngest member of our local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, DSA. Rafi is organizing a chapter of the DSA at his high school. https://y.dsausa.org/ ...
Just how broken is capitalism in the U.S.? What is the right stance for socialists and progressives towards "reopening the economy?" Guest: Doug Henwood of Behind the News and Left Business Observer, and author of My Turn: Hillary Clinton Targets the Presidency Robert Graham Center projection of excess deaths in the U.S., by state, due to covid-related unemployment ...
