Marxism and Feminism

Marxism and Feminism

 May 5, 2018  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

On February 17, 2018 the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a discussion at its Fourth Annual European Conference at Goldsmith’s University on the subject of “Marxism and Feminism.” The event’s speakers were Roxanne Baker of the International Bolshevik Tendency; Judith Shapiro, Undergraduate Tutor at the London School of Economics; and Sarah McDonald of the Communist Party of Great Britain. The event was moderated by Erin Hagood of Platypus. What follows is an edited transcript of the discussion, an audio recording of which is available online at the above link. [Read More]
The Platypus Review  Feminism  Marxism  IBT  CPGB 

50 years of 1968

50 years of 1968

 April 1, 2018  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

On February 16 2018, as part of its Fourth European Conference, the Platypus Affiliated Society organized a panel discussion, “50 Years of 1968,” at Goldsmiths University. Moderated by David Faes of Platypus, the event brought together the following speakers: Robert Borba, supporter of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP USA); Judith Shapiro, professor at the London School of Economics, former member of the Spartacist League, and adviser to the Russian Ministry of Finance; Jack Conrad, of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) and the Weekly Worker; and Hillel Ticktin, honorary Senior Research Fellow at Glasgow University. [Read More]
The Platypus Review  1968  Stalinism  Maoism  CPGB  RCP (USA)  Spartacist League  Weekly Worker  South Africa  China  USSR 

Left Exit or No Brexit?

 June 18, 2016  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

ON JUNE 8, the London chapter of the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a panel on the topic “Left Exit or No Brexit?” at the London School of Economics. The panel brought together Neil Davenport, Mike Macnair, and Gerry Downing, and was moderated by Ninad Pandit of the Platypus Affiliated Society. Neil Davenport is the head of sociology at a comprehensive school in North London, and is a NASUWT representative. He is on the organizing committee for the Institute of Ideas’ annual festival, the Battle of Ideas, and is a regular contributor to its associated publication, Spiked Online. [Read More]
The European Union  Brexit  Socialist Fight  Spiked!  CPGB  Weekly Worker  Democracy  Nationalism  Internationalism  sovereignty 

Exit Left or no Brexit?

 June 9, 2016  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Panelists Neil Davenport - Institute of Ideas / Spiked Mike Macnair - Communist Party of Great Britain / Weekly Worker Gerry Downing - Socialist Fight Description A united and peaceful Europe seemed to be a distant dream for a generation which went through the experience of war and destruction. In the latter part of the 20th century, this hope gained shape in the new realities of the European Union. [Read More]
Britain  EU  Europe  Brexit  CPGB  Socialist Fight  Spiked  Institute of Ideas  Weekly Worker 

What is political party for Marxism?

Democratic revolution and the contradiction of capital: On Mike Macnair's 'Revolutionary Strategy' (London: November Publications, 2008)

What is political party for Marxism?

 November 4, 2014  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

MIKE MACNAIR’S REVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY is a wide-ranging, comprehensive and very thorough treatment of the problem of revolutionary politics and the struggle for socialism. His focus is the question of political party and it is perhaps the most substantial attempt recently to address this problem. Macnair’s initial motivation was engagement with the debates in and around the French Fourth International Trotskyist Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire prior to its forming the Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste electoral party in 2009. [Read More]
The Party  CPGB  Mike Macnair 

Platypus Euroconference: CPGB Workshop

 July 19, 2014  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

A workshop with the CPGB held at the Inaugural European Conference of the Platypus Affiliated Society on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Goldsmiths College, London. Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Every year at Platypus conferences, speakers from various perspectives are asked to bring their experience of the Left’s recent history to bear on today’s political possibilities and challenges as part of the “Differing Perspectives on the Left” workshop series. [Read More]
Inaugural European Conference  Communist Party of Great Britain  CPGB 

Is there a need for Left Unity?

 July 19, 2014  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

A panel event held at the Inaugural European Conference of the Platypus Affiliated Society contemplating the question of left unity. The panel was held at Goldsmiths College on July 19, 2014.

Audio Recording

Panelists

Communist Party of Great Britain

International Bolshevik Tendency

Costas Douzinas

Inaugural European Conference  Communist Party of Great Britain  CPGB  IBT  International Bolshevik Tendency  Left Unity 

The Politics of Work, London

 March 21, 2014  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

A moderated panel discussion and audience Q & A with thinkers, activists and political figures focused on contemporary problems faced by the Left in its struggles to construct a politics adequate to the self-emancipation of the working class. Held on March 21st, 2014 at Goldsmith’s College. Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Panelists Federico Campagna (author of ‘The Last Night - anti-work, atheism, adventure’, Zero Books, 2013) [Read More]
Communist Party of Great Britain  CPGB  South London People's Assembly  The Last Night  Unite National Officers  Work 

Why still read Lukács?

The place of "philosophical" questions in Marxism

Why still read Lukács?

 February 1, 2014  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

The following is based on a presentation given on January 11, 2014 in Chicago. György Lukács in 1913 The role of “critical theory” Why read György Lukács today?1 Especially when his most famous work, History and Class Consciousness, is so clearly an expression of its specific historical moment, the aborted world revolution of 1917–19 in which he participated, attempting to follow Vladimir Lenin and Rosa Luxemburg. [Read More]
György Lukács  cpgb  communist party of great britain  weekly worker 

CPGB contra Lukács

 January 11, 2014  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

A Platypus-wide teach-in on the CPGB’s campaign against Lukács and its stakes for Platypus as a project. Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Description Held on Saturday January 11 1-4PM at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago 112 S. Michigan Ave. room 920 while simultaneously broadcast internationally via Livestream. Paul Demarty's historical chart of Lukács's influence on Platypus The preparatory readings for this event are as follows and can be found at: [Read More]
Communism  CPGB  Marxism  Socialism  Trotskyism