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 

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 

Conversations on the Left

What is to be done?

Conversations on the Left

 June 1, 2013  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

ON APRIL 18, 2013, the Platypus Affiliated Society organized a conversation at New York University between Bhaskar Sunkara, the editor of Jacobin, Paul Demarty of the Communist Party of Great Britain, and Benjamin Blumberg of Platypus, to discuss the differences and similarities between their organizations. What follows is an edited transcript of the discussion. Complete audio and video of the event can be found online by clicking the above links. [Read More]
Jacobin  CPGB  Weekly Worker 

Conversations on the Left

Paul Demarty (CPGB), Bhaskar Sunkara (Jacobin), and Benjamin Blumberg (Platypus)

 April 18, 2013  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

A panel event held at New York University on April 18, 2013. Video Recording Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Transcripted in Platypus Review #57 Panelists Paul Demarty (CPGB) Bhaskar Sunkara (Jacobin) Benjamin Blumberg (Platypus) Description Recently, a series of exchanges between the Communist Party of Great Britain (PCC), the International Bolshevik Tendency, and the Platypus Affiliated Society has unfolded, mapping a field of positions and historical perspectives whose contours trace some of the most provocative contemporary perspectives on Marxism, socialism, and democracy. [Read More]
CBPG  Communist Party of Great Britain  IBT  International Bolshevik Tendency  Jacobin  Platypus  Platypus Affiliated Society  Weekly Worker 

Platypus Discussion of Mike Macnair's Critique

 June 4, 2011  |  The Platypus Affiliated Society

June 4, 2011 discussion of Mike Macnair’s critique of Platypus for the Communist Party of Great Britain in The Weekly Worker (see links below to articles under discussion, especially the May 19 article by Macnair, “Theoretical dead end”). Audio Recording Your browser does not support the audio element Description “Platypus: Is it a sect? Is it an academic grouping? Is it a theoretical dead end?” The Communist Party of Great Britain’s Mike Macnair’s critique of Platypus in their paper The Weekly Worker is based on a conception of Marxism as practical politics that we don’t share. [Read More]
About Platypus  Communist Party of Great Britain  CPGB  Platypus  Platypus Affiliated Society  Weekly Worker