Episode 6: Social Democracy, Opportunism and Richard D. Wolff

06/08/19 • 116 min

In this episode of On Mass, comrade Peter Clark and I discuss social democracy (or democratic "socialism") as a political tendency in relation to the reality of capitalist-imperialist exploitation.

We also discuss the ideas of Professor Richard D. Wolff who is the host of the leftist show Economic Update and how his ideas factor into the general topics of social democracy, opportunism and reformism.

Previous Episode

Episode 5: Venezuela and the Imperialist Hypocrites

In this episode of On Mass, I briefly explain why I haven't released any episodes in the past little bit, as well as provide my take on Venezuela and America's recent attempt to oust the Maduro government in the classic capitalist-imperialist way. I also explain why I think the Leftist government of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has been struggling with its internal class contradictions since they assumed power in 1999. The first half of the episode gives a brief overview of some of the internal class contradictions at play, and the latter looks at the false and hypocritical imperialist rhetoric that is being spouted in order to overthrow the Leftist government of Venezuela. This episode is a brief explanation of some of the dynamics at play in the conflict and is by no means a completely comprehensive analysis of the situation.

Some Sources:
The bourgeois critique of the Venezuelan government mentioned in the second half of the episode:
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/post-chavez-venezuela-enters-downward-spiral/

Norway Reinvesting in BAE Systems:
https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/fin/etikk/2013/bae_finmec_eng.pdf

BAE Systems Products/Services: https://www.baesystems.com/en/what-we-do/products-and-services

Next Episode

Episode 7: Understanding Iran

In this episode of On Mass we take a look into Iranian history as it pertains to imperialist (American and British) aggression and the class forces within the country in relation to said imperialism. The episode begins with a brief explanation of capitalist-imperialism, and then looks at the British Petroleum Company's exploitation of Iranian oil, the coup that deposed of Mohammed Mosaddegh, and a look at how communists attempted and/or failed to respond to the conditions within Iran.

Some Sources:
Iran: The Rise and Fall of the Tudeh Party by Farhang Jahanpour
Harvest of Shame: Tudeh and the Bazargan Government by Mohsen M. Milani
The Tudeh Military Network during the Oil Nationalization Period by Osamu Miyata
Tudeh Factionalism and the 1953 Coup in Iran by Maziar Behrooz
Neither East Nor West by Nikki R. Keddie
USSR-Iran Relations (1979-86) by Mansoor Akbar