The End of History: Recent Episodes
Sionainn Byrnes
A monthly programme presented by the Canterbury Socialist Society where we discuss the class struggle, contemporary unionism, economics, and current affairs in order to promote working class history and socialist ideas as they apply to the 21st century
This episode of The End of History features a recording of one of the sessions from the second annual (2024) Aotearoa | New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies Conference in in Wellington: Breaking the Consensus: The Need for a New Industrial Politics by Ben Peterson. Prevailing trends in left wing politics, Unite Union Organiser Ben Peterson argues, tend to relate to our current crises idealistically: through analysis, critique, and other forms of public discourse, in the hope that these interventions will stir political institutions into action. Instead, Ben argues that we need to focus on rebuilding a class politics and that trade unionism should be a crucial part of that effort.
This episode of The End of History features a recording of one of the sessions from theAotearoa | New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies conference in Wellington. Hyperimperialism and the Ensnared World by Vijay Prashad. Why, asks renowned Indian historian and journalist Vijay Prashad, is the United States promoting wars and militarism around the world, when the world’s peoples simply want peace and development? Vijay Vijay’s presence at the conference was controversial given that some on the left accuse him of being a ‘tankie’, or someone who supports militant opposition to capitalism and is thereby uncritical of those political actors who challenge capitalism’s champions, for example the People’s Republic of China. Any feedback can be sent through to canterburysocialistsociety@gmail.com, and you can visit socialistsocieties.org.nz to learn more about the Canterbury Socialist Society
In this episode, Sionainn plays audio captured at the second annual Aotearoa | New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies in Wellington, specifically field audio of a 1913 Great Strike walking tour developed and delivered by historian Peter Clayworth. Featuring music and more!
In this episode, Sionainn heads along to the Fight Back Together | Maranga Ake Unions Hui at Addington Raceway in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, where she listens to speeches, interviews attendees, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Aotearoa | New Zealand artist Nigel Brown (ONZM) about his life and work, his travels, and his artistic approach to social reality. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn plays audio recorded at a recent CSS educational event titled Mutual Aid: Fostering Resilience and Solidarity by Monica Dix. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
NZFSS members Sionainn Byrnes, Angus Crowe, and Hayden Thomas participate in this special episode of The Regrettable Century in which they discuss the organisation and work of the NZFSS in relation to civic socialism.
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Organiser Nathaniel Herz Jardine about the concept of a living wage, his work for the Living Wage Movement Aotearoa, and its opposition to asset sales in Ōtautahi | Christchurch. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn and other members of the Canterbury Socialist Society travel to Blackball to celebrate May Day or International Worker’s Day and the opening of an extension to the Blackball Museum of Working Class History. Featuring interviews, music, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to archivist and author Jared Davidson about his work at the National Library of New Zealand, his politics, and his most recent publication Blood and Dirt: Prison Labour and the Making of New Zealand. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to NZCTU Policy Director and Economist Craig Renney about his background, political economics, and Aotearoa | New Zealand’s infrastructure gap. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Palestinian activist and union organiser Nadia Abu-Shanab about the Palestinian-Israeli 'conflict', the situation in Palestine since October 2023, and ways to organise against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn plays a third and final (maybe) recording from the 2023 Aotearoa | New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies conference: We Fight for Roses Too. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn plays another of the talks given at the recent Aotearoa | New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies conference, Bruce Jesson: Lessons and Legacy by Joe Hendren and Quentin Findlay.
In this episode, Sionainn plays the recorded version of a recent keynote lecture delivered by Daniel Lopez and titled Socialism on the Ballot: How the Victorian Socialists Found a Mass Audience. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Ōtepoti | Dunedin based activist and academic Tyler West about his survey of socialist organisations in Aotearoa | New Zealand, the conditions most conducive to socialist organising, and those most challenging. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to former Environment Canterbury Councillor and current Green Party candidate Lan Pham about political engagement and voting, the physical environment, and the Aotearoa | New Zealand General Election 2023. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Brett Christophers, a professor in the Human Geography department at Uppsala University in Sweden, about his work, the value of geography in understanding capitalism, and the role of asset managers in the transition from fossil fuels. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to the Ōtautahi | Christchurch artist and alt-educator Liam Krijgsman about art in the context of capitalism, his art practice, and the artist run space Hot Lunch. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Canterbury Socialist Society members and veterans of the political left Paul Piesse and Denis O’Conor about their experiences of leftist activism, their concerns for the future, and also their hopes! Featuring music new and old. ALSO In her haste, Sionainn forgot to mention that you can email canterburysocialistociety@gmail.com or visit socialistsocieties.org.nz to learn more about and/or contact a socialist society local to you!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Will Hansen about his research into queer and trans activism and history, his role as a Trustee at LAGANZ, and recent events relating to queer and trans liberation. Featuring music, reviews, and more! To donate to LAGANZ, please visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-preserve-rainbow-history-2022-23?ref=home&ref_code=donation_feed.
This special episode features a live recording of the public lecture Tech Won’t Save Us by the Canadian tech critic, author, and podcaster Paris Marx and presented by the Canterbury Socialist Society.
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Councillor Nīkau Wi Neera of the Wellington City Council about his role in local government, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and his concept of indigenous socialism. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Martin Crick of the Canterbury Socialist Society about William Morris, Martin's impressions of socialism in Aotearoa | New Zealand, and well as his experiences of socialism in the United Kingdom. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this bumper episode, Sionainn talks to Thomas Roud of the Canterbury Socialist Society, Gareth McMullen of the Otago Socialist Society, and Hayden Taylor of the Wellington Socialist Society about the year that was, the year ahead, and socialist society activity across Aotearoa. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to registered nurse and President of the NZNO Anne Daniels about her life and work, healthcare and nursing in Aotearoa | New Zealand, and the NZNO’s Maranga Mai! campaign.
In this episode, Sionainn talks to broadcaster, historian, and author Tony Simpson about his work in oral history, the popular memory of ‘ordinary’ folk, and the introduction of the Aotearoa |New Zealand histories curriculum. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn celebrates the Aotearoa | New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies and reproduces a talk recently given for the Wellington Socialist Society by the professor of history Jim Aloon. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to data analyst Upton Price* about inflation and the cost of living and the socialist case against conventional economic thinking on these issues. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode Sionainn talks to Labour's member of Parliment fro Christchurch Central, Duncan Webb. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to Yorkshire-born, Otautahi | Christchurch-based artist and Doctor of Antarctic Studies Adele Jackson about the Antarctic Treaty and subsequently the Antarctic Treaty System. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to the Otautahi | Christchurch punk musician and socialist Dan Richardson about his journey to leftist politics via punk. Featuring plenty of music (it is New Zealand Music Month, after all!), reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to local activist and educator Paul Hopkinson about anti-war movements and traditions, their connections to socialism, and the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to the Taitoko / Levin-based historian Toby Boraman about industrial action and shop floor strategies of resistance in Aotearoa, New Zealand in the 1970s and 80s. Featuring music, reviews, and more!
In this episode, Sionainn talks to local activist and writer Byron Clark about anti-mandate protests, including the current occupation of parliament in Wellington, their connections to the far right, the Occupy movement of a decade ago, and more. Featuring music, reviews, and a highly enthusiastic new host!