139. Epitaph for the USSR: A clock without a spring | Christopher Arthur

With winter on its way we figured what better way to warm our hearts than getting back into the debates around the origin of capitalism? Reading: Historical Capitalism (1983) by Immanuel Wallerstein Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/QFyDYwTH

In which we return to the plan for communism put together by the Group of International Communists and discuss several critiques made against its proposals. Reading: Thoughts on the ‘Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution’ (2025) by Angry Workers, Response to Angry Workers (2025) by Hermann Lueer, and On ‘The Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution' (2022) by Ian Wright. Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/3Z8zSesK

What flag is the right flag for communists to fly? What attitude should we have towards nationalism and religion? Do we all just need to relax a bit? Reading: Labour, Nationality & Religion (1910) by James Connolly, Pro-Palestine symbolism (2025) by Anne McShane and Trying to capture the flag (2025) by Harley Filben Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/A3AfQgjD

In which we discuss the nature of the colonization of Palestine by the West and the fraught state the settler colony of Israel has found itself in after years of violence and economic crisis. Reading: Historical Landmarks in the Hundred Years' War on Palestine (2017) by Rashid Khalidi and Shutdown Nation (2025) by Shir Hever Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/au2uTQJz

In which we answer the age-old question, just what does it mean for a text to be extremely French? Watching: Communism & Strategy (2023) by Isabelle Garo Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/e9fnmxYq

In which we attempt to lay a materialist history over the long, strange history of American Protestantism. Watching: The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1994) by Mark A. Noll Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/sZ3s5uKf

Say what you will about this podcast, we keep up with the culture, which is why we're watching a nearly 10 year old documentary on Trump, AI and collective politics. Watching: Hypernormalisation (2016) by Adam Curtis Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/KXt8xrkZ

In which we try to get away from the ultra-left stuff but find it vindicated by history once again :c Reading: Why the American Working Class is Different (1986) (from Prisoners of the American Dream) by Mike Davis Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Mq5d85pV

In which we make an effort to read something other than dense Marxology. Reading: An Agroecological Europe in 2050 (2018) by Xavier Poux & Pierre-Marie Aubert Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/7cKuDtBv

In which we suss out this whole USSR thing. Reading: Epitaph for the USSR: A clock without a spring (1998) by Christopher J Arthur Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/b3rcdKyS