Ep 85 - Reform or Revolution (Part II of II)

In this two-part Theory Episode, the ProlesPod Squad takes on one of the most influential texts in socialist history: "Reform or Revolution" (1898) by Polish-German Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. Whether you're new to political theory, find socialist texts hard to get through, or just want to hear our unique take—this deep-dive is for you. We break it down, debate its meaning, and explore why this revolutionary classic still matters today.

In this two-part Theory Episode, the ProlesPod Squad takes on one of the most influential texts in socialist history: "Reform or Revolution" (1898) by Polish-German Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. Whether you're new to political theory, find socialist texts hard to get through, or just want to hear our unique take—this deep-dive is for you. We break it down, debate its meaning, and explore why this revolutionary classic still matters today.  

In this very special release, Justin talked with Iranian communist and comrade, Araaz, about life in Iran, the effects of the attacks by Israel, and the context of life under the Islamic Revolutionary Government. We weren't sure what we expected this episode to be, but it surpassed those expectations. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Digging into his own family's background, PhD Candidate, Brandon, is our subject matter expert. He combines archival research with ethnographic interviews to bring us the history of the guerrilla struggle, focusing on the era between the early 1960s and the early 1980s. We learn about tactics, tribulation, and Trotskyite treachery. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Days of the Jungle: The Testimony of a Guatemalan Guerrilla (1972-1976) by Mario Payeras Turcios Lima: His Biography and Documents by Dulcila Cañizares The Guerrilla Movement in Guatemala by Adolpho Gilly Autobiography of a Guerrilla: Guatemala 1960-1968 by Ricardo Ramirez   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Siberian Trails" by DJ DTA

The ProlesSquad shares and responds to some of the most poorly concieved yet commonly heard anti-communist arguments! You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.

Virginia and Steve from Macro N Cheese Podcast/Real Progressives join Justin and Jeremy in a discussion of Modern Monetary Theory, how it can be used as a radicalizing tool, as well as what it means in the grand scheme of global economics. We go even more in depth on our Patreon exclusive bonus episode, so make sure you don't miss it! You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Reclaiming the State by Bill Mitchell and Thomas Fazi Seven Deadly, Innocent Frauds of Economic Policy by Warren Mosler Modern Money Theory by L. Randall Wray The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton Global South Perspectives by Fadhel Kaboub Jason Hickel's Substack   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Average Folk" by DJ DTA

The Proles Squad is joined by communist Youtuber RevolutionaryTh0t to talk about their recent work on soviet children's cartoons, women's liberation in the USSR, and socialist child rearing!  RevolutionaryTh0t's Youtube Channel RevolutionaryTh0t's Instagram Sign up at Patreon where you can get access to early release episodes, study guides, bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes      

In the FINAL main-feed episode of the Stalin Eras, we sat back and took a look at where we started and where we ended up. Were we successful in what we set out to do? What did we learn? What do we hope listeners learned? How did the process change us? We answer these and more. Please comment what you learned, something that surprised you. We would love to see them. The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod

The much anticipated criticisms and contradictions episode of The Stalin Eras! In this episode we wrestle with the following controversies during Stalin’s leadership of the USSR: the Gulag, anti-homosexuality laws, anti-abortion Laws, the “Final” Contradiction, and more! You don’t want to miss this one!  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod Recommended Supplemental Listening Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  Recommended Supplemental Reading  Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville Episode Sources Love - Family Life - Career: Behind the Soviet Law Limiting Abortions and Increasing Aid to Mothers 1936 Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation by Sherry Wolf Lavender and Red by Leslie Feinberg  Criminal Proesecution of Homosexuals in the Soviet Union (1946-1991) - Numbers and Discourses by Uladzmir Valodzin  Homosexual Desire in Revolutionary Russia: The Regulation of Sexual and Gender Dissent by Dan Healey  The Gulag: A Very Short Introduction by Alan Barenberg  Belomor: Criminality and Creativity in Stalin’s Gulag by Julie S. Draskoczy   Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo The Gulag - Espresso Stalinist Collection of Qoutes About Gulag  ‘Factory of invalids’: Mortality, disability and early release on medical grounds in GULAG, 1930-1955

As "The Stalin Eras” draws to a close, we discuss, in more granular detail, Joseph Stalin’s placement within the context of Soviet history, focusing on the years 1939 up to his death in 1953. Our host for this episode is (also) Jeremy, from Intervenciones Gringas! We talk accusations of imperialism, the final results of Stalin's theory of Socialism in One Country, and the contradiction of "orthodox" Marxism.  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod   Recommended Supplemental Listening East Germany: Stasi State or Socialist Paradise? w/Bruni de la Motte The Rise of, Life In, and Fall of the German Democratic Republic The Subversion of East Germany (1945-1961) The American Soldier Who Defected to East Germany (Part 1) w/ Victor Grossman The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948-1990) w/ Julia Mead Critiquing Stalin's Black Legend w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engel-Di Mauro Class Based Affirmative Action in Socialist Poland w/ Agata Zysiak  Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic 101: Pre-history to World War II w/ Iskolat Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  Latvia's Red Partisans of World War II Romania and Ceaușescu Stalin Was a Mensch - A Look at the "Antisemitism" of the USSR   Recommended Supplemental Reading Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville   Sources Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953 by Geoffrey Roberts Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941-45: A Documentary Reader by Alexander Hill World War II: Myths and the Realities by Oleg Rzheshevsky The Soviets Expected It by Anna Louise Strong Stalin: From the Caucasus to the Kremlin by Christopher Read