Trotskyism

Trotsky and Trotskyism, Lecture 1

1879--1905

June 16, 2012 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

Part 1 of the Summer 2012 Platypus Affiliated Society Primary Reading Group Lecture Series: Trotsky and Trotskyism. Recorded on 16 June, 2012 at The New School, New York. Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Week 1 Readings * recommended / * supplemental reading * Tariq Ali and Phil Evans, Introducing Trotsky and Marxism / Trotsky for Beginners (1980) * Leon Trotsky, Results and Prospects (1906) [Read More]

1873--1973: The century of Marxism

The death of Marxism and the emergence of neo-liberalism and neo-anarchism

June 7, 2012 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

AT THE 2012 PLATYPUS AFFILIATED SOCIETY’S (PAS) annual International Convention, held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago March 30–April 1, Chris Cutrone, President of the PAS, delivered the following presentation, which has been edited for clarity. A full audio recording is available online by clicking the above link. IN THE TRADITION we established just two years ago, there is a Platypus President’s report, speaking to the historical moment. [Read More]

Anarchism History History of the Left Vladimir Lenin Karl Marx Marxism Stalinism The Left Theodor W. Adorno Trotskyism

Learning from the Communist Movement of the 20th century

A response to Richard Rubin

April 1, 2012 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

RICHARD RUBIN ARGUES that “the 1930s were a decade of defeat for the Left.” His essay, “1933,” in The Platypus Review issue on The Decline of the Left in the 20th century,1 is an idealist abstraction from real historical events, one founded on an uncritical acceptance of Trotsky as a significant historical thinker and actor and a corresponding Trotskyist caricature of the Soviet Union, Stalin, and Chinese Communism. Consequently, the real history of the Left in the 20th century is absent. [Read More]

Permanent Revolution Response Leon Trotsky Trotskyism

The legacy of Trotskyism

August 5, 2011 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

_ONE OF THE plenary sessions held at the third annual Platypus Affiliated Society international convention, hosted by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago between April 29–May 1, 2011, set about exploring the legacy of Trotsky’s Marxism. Speakers Mike Macnair of the Communist Party of Great Britain, Bryan Palmer of Trent University, Richard Rubin of Platypus, and Jason Wright of the International Bolshevik Tendency were asked to consider: “What is the relevance of Trotskyism for the Left today? [Read More]

Communist Part of Great Britain International Bolshevik Tendency International Convention Platypus Convention Leon Trotsky Trotskyism

The Legacy of Trotskyism

April 30, 2011 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

One of the plenary sessions held at the third annual Platypus Affiliated Society international convention, hosted by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from April 29–May 1st, 2011, set about exploring the legacy of Trotsky’s Marxism. Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Transcript in Platypus Review #38 Panelists Mike Macnair, Communist Party of Great Britain (Oxford Univ. St. Hugh College) Bryan Palmer, Trent University [Read More]

Platypus International Convention 2011 Anti-Stalinism Communism Communist Party of Great Britain CPGB IBT International Bolshevik Tendency Leon Trotsky Karl Marx Marxism Socialism Stalinism Trotskyism

Trotsky's Marxism

March 19, 2011 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

A panel discussion organized by the Platypus Affiliated Society held on March 19, 2011, at Left Forum, Pace University. Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element A transcript of Jason Wright’s remarks appears in Platypus Review #35 A transcript of Ian Morrison’s remarks appears in Platypus Review #37 Panelists Ian Morrison—Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago Jason Wright—International Bolshevik Tendency (IBT) Spencer A. Leonard—Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago [Read More]

Freedom Socialist Party IBT International Bolshevik Tendency Leon Trotsky Trotskyism

Trotsky on art and politics: "with a sword or at least a whip in hand"

February 26, 2009 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

Re: Platypus: “They had friends, they had enemies, they fought, and exactly through this they demonstrated their right to exist.” – Trotsky, on the history of new political and artistic movements (1938) http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1938/06/artpol.htm Not a single progressive idea has begun with a â€œmass base,â€? otherwise it would not have been a progressive idea. It is only in its last stage that the idea finds its masses – if, of course, it answers the needs of progress. [Read More]

/20th Century Chris Cutrone Discussion Marxism Marxism Platypus the Left Leon Trotsky Trotskyism

Trotsky on "degeneration" and "entire generations passing into discard" (1933)

February 7, 2009 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

It is not a question of counterposing abstract principles… [W]ith the degeneration of organizations, with the passing of entire generations into discard… the necessity… arises of mobilizing fresh forces on a new historical stage… With inevitable halts and partial retreats it is necessary to move forward on a road crisscrossed by countless obstacles and covered with the debris of the past. Those who are frightened by this had better step aside. [Read More]

Chris Cutrone crisis Discussion History Marxism Politics the Left Leon Trotsky Trotskyism

The dead Left: Trotskyism

September 1, 2008 | The Platypus Affiliated Society

One cannot separate the ability to know the world from the ability to change it, and our capacity to change the world is on a very small scale compared to the heroic days of the Communist International. —James Robertson, founder of the Spartacist League (U.S.), “In Defense of Democratic Centralism” (1973) Zombies and Sectarians WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY, as Platypus does, that “the Left is Dead? [Read More]

History of the Left Trotskyism Leon Trotsky