Fightback: Recent Episodes
Fightback La Riposte
Fightback is a revolutionary organization fighting for the socialist transformation of society. We are the Canadian section of the International Marxist Tendency. We actively seek to educate workers and youth in the genuine ideas of Marxism, in order to fight back against capitalist attacks and austerity.
The Revolutionary Communist Party has landed! Onwards to the Revolutionary Communist International!
Capitalism has spread to every corner of the planet, it has become a deeply interconnected global system, and therefore can only be overthrown on an international scale. This requires a revolutionary leadership that is not confined to this or that nation, but that is equally international in scope. Join us in building the forces of communism all over the globe, and building it into a mass force.
This week we're joined by Fred Weston, from the International Secretariat of the IMT, to discuss the founding of the RCI in June.
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Welcome to the official podcast of the Revolutionary Communist Party! Across the country there are already tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of communists - but atomized and alone we are powerless against the weight of the global capitalist system. How can we effectively join forces and organize into a collective? How can we clarify our ideas in order to fight the most effectively? To help us answer these questions, and more, we're joined by Julien Arseneau, editor of the paper Communist Revolution, to discuss the need for a Revolutonary Communist Newspaper. Join us: marxist.ca/join
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In June, the International Marxist Tendency will take the monumental step of founding a new Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), to provide communist workers and youth around the world with a bold rallying point in the struggle to overthrow capitalism. In doing so, the RCI will build on the immense revolutionary legacy left behind by the Third (Communist) International, founded by Lenin and the Bolsheviks as the world party of revolution. Register now for the founding of the RCI! https://schoolofcommunism.com/This week’s episode of Spectre of Communism podcast welcomes Fred Weston, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency, to explain the historic revolutionary importance of the Communist International. In doing so, Fred demonstrates the palpable need for a similar organisation in the world today. This episode will be the finale of the first season of the podcast, which will return with new weekly content after a short break.In addition to registering for the founding conference, we also recommend reading the recently published Manifesto of the Revolutionary Communist International (available in 20 languages), which will constitute the founding document of the RCI: https://www.marxist.com/manifesto-of-...---Ted Grant’s 1943 article, ‘The Rise and Fall of the Communist International’ (cited in the episode): https://www.marxist.com/the-rise-and-...New episodes of the Spectre of Communism podcast are out every Tuesday! Subscribe and listen at your preferred platform, and find us on social media, here: https://linktr.ee/specom
From the devestation raining down on Gaza to the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine, world imperialism is opening millions of people's eyes to the brutality of the capitalist system on a world scale. Already we have begun to see movements against imperialism ot tens of thousands of people, and we will doubtless see more as capitalism lurches further into bloody confluct and crisis.
But in order to fight against imperialism and win, we need to understand what exactly we are fighting against. What is imperialism? Where does it come from? And what would be necessary to put it forever behind us as a relic of human society's barbaric past? To help us answer these questions, we share with you a presentation given by John peterson, a leading comrade withthe Revolutionary Communists of America on Imperialism and War.
And if you'd like to build the forces of communism where you are, you can subscribe to our revolutionary newspaper, reach out to us, and register to attend our founding congress through the links below.
RCP Founding Congress: rcpcongress.caJoin us: marxist.ca/joinSubscribe: marxist.ca/subscribe
Welcome to the official podcast of the Revolutionary Communist Party!
This week we'll be discussing the questions: What is the RCP? Why have we launched this party? What kind of party are we building? To help us answer these questions, and more, we're joined by Joel Bergman, a leading comrade in the RCP here in Canada.
Rallies on April 6th:
Toronto: Yonge & Dundas Square, 2:00PM
Ottawa: Confederation Park, 1:00PM
Montreal: Jarry Park, 1:00PM
Quebec City: Victoria Park, 1:00PM
Sherbrooke: Jacques Cartier Park, 5:00PM
Edmonton: Gateway Blvd. & Whyte Avenue, 1:00PM
Vancouver: Grandview Park, 1:00PM
Victoria: Centennial Square, 12:00PM
You can find the rest on our social media pages at marxist.ca/events, or you can reach out to us to organize your own activity!
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At some stage or another, every mass struggle necessarily comes up against the obstacle of the state - the police, the army, the courts - institutions which, we are told, exist to maintain "law and order" in society. The approach that the movement takes towards the state is therefore of vital importance; in fact, it is often what determines the victory or the defeat of whole revolutionary struggles. This is why the ruling classes have always shrouded their bodies of armed force in whatever mystical, religious, or democratic garbs they can. This week, we have a presentation by Ylva Vinberg, a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party in Sweden, on the marxist understanding of the state and our approach to state power in revolutionary struggles.Join us: marxist.ca/joinSubscribe: marxist.ca/subscribeBookstore: marxist.ca/store
Welcome the the very first episode of the Revolutionary Communist Podcast! This week, we're listening to a presentation by Rob Sewell, co-author of "In Defence of Lenin", on history's greatest revolutionary leader.
If you want to learn how you can fight against capitalism and for communism where you are, then reach out to us! We can provide you with all the tools you need to build the party wherever you are!
In Defence of Lenin: store.marxist.ca/products/in-defence-of-lenin
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In the coming weeks, we will be totally revamping this podcast, in tandem with the launch of our new monthly newspaper: Communist Revolution.
You can subscribe to the newspaper here: https://www.marxist.ca/subscribe
And, join us February 17-18 for the biggest Marxist event of the year -- the Montreal Winter School.
You can find the link to register here: https://www.marxist.ca/school
The state is ultimately the organ of domination of the exploiting class over the exploited classes, but beyond this "ABC" of Marxism, there are sometimes extraordinary moments when the state acquires greater independence from the classes and seems to rise above society. It then becomes the "reign of the sword", a military-police dictatorship, as with Napoleon Bonaparte, Hitler, Stalin and Putin. Fightback activist Hélène Bissonnette gives this presentation on "What is Bonapartism?".
In light of Israel's ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza, Joel and Julien talk about the complicity of Canadian imperialism, and what we can do in Canada to fight back.
Millions of people around the world have been horrified by Israel's brutal bombing of Gaza. Communists stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation. In this talk, Fightback activist Joel Bergman discusses what we can do to fight imperialism, end the war on Gaza, and free Palestine.
Fightback activist Renu Brar discusses Marx's labour theory of value, and its explaination for how workers are exploited.
Capitalism is on the brink. An entire generation has known only crisis, cutbacks, and climate catastrophe. Everywhere we look there is war, poverty, and exploitation. And yet, the rich have seen their wealth grow enormously. People all across the country are starting to draw the correct conclusion that the root of the problem is capitalism itself. More than one million young people in Canada now believe that communism is the ideal economic system. This week, Joel is joined by Fightback and La Riposte socialiste editor Julien to discuss these developments and how Fightback/La Riposte is building a Marxist party to fight for communism!
What is the place of humans in history, and how can we play a role in deciding our fate? In this talk, Fightback editor Joel Bergman provides a Marxist critique of the book The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, and discusses the relationship between free will and determinism.
Joel has also written an article on this topic, which is in the latest issue of In Defence of Marxism. You can subscribe here. You can also listen to Joel discuss the book with Joe Attard on the International Marxist Radio podcast.
This week, Joel is joined by Fightback editor Laine to discuss the outcome of the Alberta election. Why did Danielle Smith and the UCP hold on to power? What can we learn from the election? And what can the working class do about it?
75 years since the founding of Israel and "al-Nakba" (the catastrophe) Palestinians living in Gaza are again facing bombardments by the Israeli state. Today the plight of the Palestinian people is deeper than ever before, with their brutal oppression approved and sanctioned by the western imperialist powers. It is absolutely imperative as socialists and revolutionaries that we understand the history of this struggle and have a clear perspective of what is the way forward for Palestinian liberation.
Why do Marxists want to abolish the family? Engels described the emergence of the patriarchal family as humanity’s first counterrevolution. In this talk, Fred Weston, editor of marxist.com, presents a Marxist perspective on the family and its origins.
This week Joel is joined by editor of La Riposte socialiste, Julien Arseneau, to bring a Marxist analysis to the largest PSAC strike in 30 years. What are the demands the workers are fighting for? What is the significance of the strike for the Canadian class struggle? And how do the workers win?
The assassination of Trotsky in August 1940 dealt a devastating blow to the young and untested forces of the Fourth International. Unfortunately, the leaders of the Fourth were not up to the level of the tasks posed by history. Deprived of Trotsky's leadership they made a series of fundamental mistakes. Only the leadership of the RCP in Britain was able to readjust to the new situation on a world scale after 1945. This was the result of the theoretical capabilities of Ted Grant. His writings on economics, war, the colonial revolution, and particularly Stalinism, were, and still remain, classics of modern Marxism.
In this talk from the 2023 Montreal Marxist Winter School, In Defence of Marxism editor Fred Weston discusses the Ted Grant and the Fourth International
In the 1950s the Indonesian economy was failing, with the division between rich and poor increasing sharply. At the same time the PKI, the Communist Party of Indonesia, grew to the third largest Communist Party in the world, with three million paid members and the support of ten million trade unionists and organized peasants. Sadly this explosive combination ended in the massacre of 1 million communists in 1965. Indonesia is a graphic example of how mistakes in theory have dire consequences.
In this talk from the 2023 Montreal Marxist Winter School, IMT activist Ted Sprague discusses the lessons of the Indonesian Revolution.
This week, Joel is joined by International Marxist Tendency activist Ted Sprague to talk about so-called "Chinese interference" in Canadian election, actual CSIS interference in Canadian politics, and growing imperialist rivalry between China and western capitalist powers.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Cheri, Alex, Curtis Jordan and Gary Kinsman discuss transit, homelessness, and the Toronto mayoral election
You can also listen on the CIUT website, here.
The American Revolution was a dialectically complex, and profound political and social revolution, which rooted out most of the remaining traces of monarchic rule and feudalism inherited from the only partially complete English bourgeois revolution. Unfortunately, the Revolution has been reduced to a summer barbecue on the 4th of July that completely ignores the real class roots of this world-shaking event.
In this talk, Fightback activist Kian provides a Marxist analysis, to understand the inner contradictions, the fundamental forces, processes, and class struggles that motivated and drove the revolution.
The question of how the US working class will create a party of its own—a class-independent, mass socialist party—has been a foremost concern of Marxists since the earliest beginnings of the movement, both in the US and around the world. Reactionaries have long pointed to the lack of a working-class party as an indication of “American exceptionalism” and the weakness of the class struggle in the land of McCarthy. Meanwhile, revolutionaries have tirelessly maintained that a mass workers’ party is an objective historical step that must be achieved in order for the US working class to fight back effectively and reverse decades of lost ground in the class struggle.
In this talk from the 2023 Montreal Marxist Winter School, Tom Trottier, editor of Socialist Revolution, discusses the struggle for a workers' party in the USA.
The history of Bolshevism has many vital lessons for today’s revolutionaries – particularly regarding the origins of the revolutionary party that led the masses to victory in Russia. At the second congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in 1903, the famous split between the majority (Bolsheviks) and minority (Mensheviks) took place. Many myths and distortion surround this split. It is often wrongly alleged the Mensheviks stood for a ‘democratic’ and ‘decentralized’ party, in opposition to Lenin’s ‘ultra-centralist’ and ‘authoritarian’ tendencies. In reality, this split on organizational questions was an anticipation of future political differences, which will lead the Mensheviks to betray the revolution.
This talk was given by Fightback editor Alex Grant at the 2023 Montreal Marxist Winter School.
This week, Joel and Julien Arseneau of La Riposte socialiste discuss why a revolutionary party is necessary for the overthrow of capitalism.
Links:
"The class, the party and the leadership: How to organize revolution"/"Classe, parti et direction : comment organiser une révolution" by Julien Arseneau
Register for the Montreal Marxist Winter School 2023
At the 2022 NYC Marxist School, Alex Grant of Fightback provided a brief history and background on the USSR, what it achieved, why it was hated by the capitalist world, and looked at the difference between genuine Bolshevism and Stalinism.
This week, Joel and Alex discuss the coming recession, and what it means for class struggle in Canada.
The Oka crisis is one of the most significant episodes in modern Canadian history. For months, all eyes in the country were pulled to a small Quebec town where a group of Indigenous activists lead an armed blockade against a golf course expansion that threatened ancestral lands. This standoff sparked a wave of protest across Canada and left behind a spirit of militancy that the Indigenous movement continues to draw from today. In this talk from summer 2022, comrade Marcus discusses the lessons of the Oka crisis.
For the first time, Canadian workers have forced the repeal of back-to-work legislation. The inspiring struggle of the 55,000 Ontario education workers has achieved an important partial victory, and sets a precedent for workers across Canada. When workers unite and fight, they win!
In this talk, Fightback editor Alex Grant discusses the historic outcome of this struggle and the way forward.
On November 5, in the midst of a rising strike movement of education workers, Fightback met to discuss the perspective for the class struggle in Canada. In this talk Joel Bergman explains how we got here and where the crisis of capitalism is leading.
In an attack on the entire labour movement, the Ontario government has tabled back-to-work legislation against Ontario workers before the strike has even started, and is using the notwithstanding clause to push through this unconstitutional attack.
This week, Joel is joined by custodian and organizer with the CUPE 4400 Rank-and-File Group, Hermes Azam, to talk about what needs to happen for the labour movement to fight back against this attack.
This week, Joel is joined by Adam Booth from Socialist Appeal to talk about the fall of Liz Truss, the death of the queen, and class struggle in the U.K.
This week, Joel and Alex discuss the Communist Manifesto, and the ways in which it continues to be incredibly relevant to the modern world.
The movement against the Iranian regime has escalated on the streets spreading to more than 140 cities, towns and villages across Iran. What started as a protest against the killing of a young Kurdish woman, has turned into a powerful revolutionary movement of the youth against the entire regime. In this episode, Fightback activist Maral N. discusses what has led up to the current movement, and where it needs to go in order to win.
This week, Joel is joined by Hamid Alizadeh, editor of marxist.com, to talk about the mass protests in Iran, what's necessary for it to win, and what we can learn from the movement in Canada
We are living in a time of crisis on all fronts—war, poverty, oppression, political instability and economic collapse have all compounded to create a living nightmare for workers and youth. However, these are not unconnected events, but all different expressions of a single crisis: the crisis of capitalism.
This is the system that crushes the working class on a daily basis, and is particularly bad for the youth. Many young people have rightly concluded that capitalism has robbed them of their future. So, what is to be done?
In this talk, Fightback organizer Joel Bergman discusses the crisis of capitalism and how we can organize a revolutionary leadership to to lead the way to a socialist future.
This week, Joel is joined by Benoît Tanguay, editor of La Riposte socialiste, to discuss the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and how to abolish the monarchy in Canada.
Across Canada there is a marked increase in strike votes and strike activity among unionized workers, from public service workers in British Columbia to education workers in Ontario. Unionization drives for unorganized workers is picking up in Starbucks, Amazon and other workplaces. All of this is a response to rising inflation and the higher cost of living. As big corporations and their friends in government put the cost of their own crisis on the backs of workers, workers are instinctively beginning to fight back.
In this talk, Alex Grant speaks on the need to strike against inflation.
War, poverty, climate change, hunger, disease, the concentration of power, wealth, and influence in the hands of a few. These, and countless more nightmares have plagued the world for over 100 years, making life miserable for the vast majority of the globe. Lenin proposed in his work, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, that these phenomena are not a bug or mistake of capitalism, but rather the logical progression under a system based on the relentless and unending pursuit of capital.
In this talk from the Western Canadian Marxist Summer School 2022, Fightback activist Larissa discusses exactly how the imperialist powers make life a living hell for the rest of us, and what we can do to fight back.
This week, Joel is joined by Daniel Morley, writer for In Defence of Marxism, to discuss U.S. and Chinese saber rattling over Taiwan.
The world economy is wracked with turbulence, buffeted by a perfect storm of war, pandemic, and protectionism. A toxic combination of inflation and recession looms for capitalism. This is a finished recipe for revolutionary explosions everywhere.
In this episode, Fightback editor Alex Grant discusses what causes capitalist crises and how we can change society through socialist revolution.
In this talk from the Western Canadian Marxist Summer School 2022, Fightback editor Alex Grant discusses imperialism, pacifism, and the Marxist analysis of war.
This week, Joel is joined by Adam Booth, editor of Socialist Appeal in the UK, to discuss the crisis in Britain and what Marxists can learn from it.
This week, Joel is joined by Koral to discuss the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ liberation, and why Marxism is the best tool to end oppression.
In this leadoff from Fightback's 2022 congress, In Defence of Marxism editor Fred Weston discusses the global situation and perspectives for class struggle
This week, Joel is joined by Laine to talk about the Liberal's Bill C-21 to restrict handguns, and what the socialist approach is to gun control.
In this talk, given at Fightback's 2022 National Congress, Fightback editor Alex Grant discusses the perspectives for class struggle in Canada and the role of the Marxists.
This week, Joel and Alex talk about the general despondency of the left in the light of events like the Ontario election, and what is to be done.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Cheri, Alex, and Nora Loreto discuss the outcome of the Ontario election You can also listen on Cheri DiNovo's Soundcloud, here.
In this episode, Fred Weston, editor of In Defence of Marxism, discusses the lessons of the 1984-85 British Miners' strike, and what they mean for picket lines today.
This talk was hosted by the Picket Lines Mean Do Not Cross campaign. You can find out more about the campaign here.
This week, Joel is joined by Julien Arseneau to discuss Quebec's Bill 96, the language debate, and the Quebec national question.
This week, Joel and Alex talk about the Ontario election, construction strikes in Ontario, the Alberta UCP's leadership review, and the latest scandal with the CRA
This week, Joel is joined by Laura Brown, editor of Socialist Revolution in the United States, to discuss the threatened overturn of Roe v. Wade, and how to fight back for abortion rights.
This week, Joel is joined by Fightback organizer Adam Zeineddine to talk about the rise of right populism in the Conservative Party.
More and more workers are saying "the rent is too damn high!" Canada especially has some of the highest housing costs on the planet. Many are finding themselves spending over 30% or even 50% of their income in rent, and homelessness is increasing. Why is this so?
In this episode Fightback editor Alex Grant will give an overview of the Marxist theory of rent to explain why landlords are parasites and how they extract an unproductive tribute from the surplus labour of the working class.
This week, Joel and Alex discuss the Ontario NDP's election platform, and what position Marxists take towards elections and social democratic parties.
For more on social democracy and the NDP, listen to our episodes on Bob Rae, Mike Harris and the lessons of the '90s: Part 1 and Part 2
This week Joel and Alex discuss the Liberal-NDP budget, and then rising unionization wave in the United States.
The debate over “Critical Race Theory” has come to dominate mainstream media headlines in the United States. It is provoking a frenzy among Republicans, and is sparking furious confrontations at school board meetings, daily segments on cable news programming, and a torrent of legislation to limit what teachers can and cannot say in the classroom.
Some on the left may be tempted to counter the Republican offensive by coming to the defense of CRT, or accepting its characterization as the innocuous study of systemic racism. But Marxism is above all a science, and demands a rigorous approach when it comes to questions of theory—not merely an attitude of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” So what does CRT represent for Marxists?
In this talk, Antonio Balmer, member of the editorial board of Socialist Revolution, discusses Critical Race Theory
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: The NDP-Liberal "coalition", the upcoming Ontario election, and the sixth wave of COVID. You can also listen on Cheri DiNovo's Soundcloud, here.
This week, Joel is joined by Laine Sheldon-Houle, Fightback activist and member of Swan River First Nation, to discuss the pope's recent apology to Indigenous delegates, and where to go beyond empty apologies.
This week, Joel and Alex discuss the Jerry Dias corruption scandal, the inaction of the Canadian labour movement in the face of declining standards of living, and the need for workers' democratic control.
Philosophy is crucial for political struggle, because philosophy is our method of understanding the world. In this presentation from the Montreal Marxist Winter School 2022, marxist.com editor, Hamid Alizadeh defends Marxism against fashionable postmodern philosophy. He shows how the philosophical approach of denying the objectivity of the world, which is increasingly popular among scholars in both the natural and social sciences, is tantamount to denying the possibility of understanding the world and thus transforming it. The ultimate effect of this worldview is to defend the status quo.
Marxist theory — in its ability to predict the general course of development within the economy and society — demonstrates the superiority of foresight over astonishment. In this talk Alex Grant, editor of Fightback (marxist.ca) explains the economic and political forces at work in Canada. A vacuum of left leadership has made it possible for the right-wing to fill the void. But this is no reason to be pessimistic. The tide of history is turning in favour of the Marxists — we just have to prepare for it!
This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the “Maple Spring”, which represents the largest mass movement in the history of Quebec.
Fightback editor, and participant in the 2012 movement Joel Bergman discusses the lessons of the Maple Spring that we must learn if we are to win future struggles.
This week, Joel and Alex talk about the newly-announced deal between the Liberals and the NDP, and what's the matter with it.
As a defining feature of Canadian capitalism, the oppression of Indigenous peoples is of prime importance for Marxists. In this talk from the Montreal Marxist Winter School 2022, Laine Sheldon-Houle, an activist with Fightback in Alberta and a member of the Swan River First Nation, explains how Marxism, which advocates a united class struggle, is the best tool to help fight for Indigenous liberation.
Russia's war in Ukraine has been met with confusion and disorientation on the left. What is the Marxist position on war? How do you oppose Imperialism without falling into the camp of the bourgeoisie of either side? In this talk, Fightback editor Marissa Olanick discusses Ukraine: How to Oppose Imperialist War
This week, Alex and Joel talk about the problems with pacifism, and why a class-based approach is necessary to end war.
This week, Joel and Alex talk about the run-away inflation that's threatening workers' standard of living. What is inflation, where does it come from, and how do socialists fix the problem?
This week, Joel is joined by Jorge Martin, editor of In Defence of Marxism, putting forward the Marxist analysis of the conflict in Ukraine, cutting through the confusion and propaganda of the imperialists.
The pandemic has exposed the system that puts profits before needs. Capitalism is going through the deepest crisis in its history. It is an economic, social and political crisis, which is now expressing itself in political turmoil and growing class struggle across the globe. While the ruling class attempts to bury Marxism, it has in fact never been so relevant as it is today. We need revolutionary ideas that will enable us to overthrow this rotten system.
Fred Weston, editor of In Defence of Marxism (www.marxist.com), gives this keynote presentation.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: The "Freedom" Convoy, and where is the Conservative Party going? You can also listen on Cheri DiNovo's Soundcloud, here.
This week, Joel and Alex are joined by Ukrainian Marxist Peter Mikhalenko, to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, what's happening, why, and what position socialists should take.
We are living in a time of unprecedented upheavals. Capitalism is creating the condition for revolution around the world... even in Canada.
This week, Joel and Alex discuss the War Measures Act, counter-protests against the convoy, and governments lifting pandemic measures.
For the vast majority of its existence, humanity has lived in classless societies with egalitarian relations between individuals. By analyzing the development of the earliest class societies, we can begin to understand the material basis for the oppressive class relations that still exist under capitalism.
In this episode, comrade Sebastian Seyva produces part two of "The Origins of Class Society", an article by Josh Holroyd and Laurie O'Connel that originally appeared in no. 35 of In Defence of Marxism. You can subscribe to In Defence of Marxism here.
Welcome to This Week In The Canadian Revolution, a new weekly podcast from Fightback!
We are living in a time of unprecedented upheavals. Capitalism is creating the condition for revolution around the world... even in Canada.
Join us every week as we analyze what Trotsky called "the molecular process of revolution", to prepare for the struggles that are to come.
For the vast majority of its existence, humanity has lived in classless societies with egalitarian relations between individuals. By analyzing the development of the earliest class societies, we can begin to understand the material basis for the oppressive class relations that still exist under capitalism.
In this episode, comrade Sebastian Seyva produces part one of "The Origins of Class Society", an article by Josh Holroyd and Laurie O'Connel that originally appeared in no. 35 of In Defence of Marxism. You can subscribe to In Defence of Marxism here.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Omicron, housing and homelessness, and inflation. You can also listen on Cheri DiNovo's Soundcloud, here.
In our final episode of the year, we are sharing speeches from one of our recent launch events for our biweekly paper. A newspaper is an essential tool for Marxist organizing, and these speeches explain why.
You can subscribe to Fightback by visiting marxist.ca/subscribe.
In recent years, the struggle against discrimination and oppression based on gender and sexual orientation has developed into mass movements in numerous countries. It is becoming increasingly clear that the struggle against systemic oppression is a struggle against capitalism.
In this talk, comrade Koral discusses The LGBTQ Struggle and the Fight for Socialism.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Ben Nolan joins in to discuss the RCMP attacks on Wet'suwet'en, Striketober, and the failure of Canadian labour leadership. You can also listen on Cheri DiNovo's Soundcloud, here.
While Canadian politics is relatively boring compared with our counterparts to the south, we are seeing the same process of capitalist crisis and developing revolutionary consciousness underneath the surface, looking for a place to break out.
Socialist ideas and revolutionary solutions are more popular than ever and it isn't hard to see why. But what is Marxism, really? Fightback editor Alex Grant gives this talk on What Is Marxism?
The capitalist system, both at home and abroad, has entered the deepest crisis in its history and each day brings yet more evidence of the complete impasse of the status quo.
In this talk, Julien Arseneau, editor of La Riposte socialiste, discusses why we need a revolution.
Jason Kenney is bitterly hated. It's no wonder, after numerous scandals, budget cuts, and handouts to large corporations. Worst of all, is the UCP's inaction in the face of the pandemic, that has led to the deaths of thousands of Albertans. Kenney and the UCP have lost all authority to govern.
In this talk, comrade Larissa discusses WTF is Jason Kenney doing, and what's necessary to bring him down.
After 35 days and more than $600 million spent campaigning, Canada's new parliament is almost exactly the same as it was going into the election. Where does this leave the Canadian working class?
It's been 10 years since the Arab spring, the revolutionary movement that swept through the middle east and brought down dictatorial governments in Egypt and Tunisia. For a brief time the masses were victorious, before being pushed back by the forces of counter revolution. As we enter a new period of uprisings and revolutions, we should look back on what lessons can be learned from the movements of the past. Comrade Laine gives this talk on 10 years since the Arab spring.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Nora Loreto and Semir Bulle join in to discuss the sad state of the election, and what's missing from it. You can also listen on Cheri DiNovo's Soundcloud, here.
In this talk, comrade Marcus discusses the Marxist analysis of history - historical materialism - and how it can help guide the struggles of today.
After post-secondary students had to deal with online classes and reduced services during the pandemic, now universities across Canada are hiking tuition fees, in some cases by 50%. What can students do about this?
In this talk, comrade Holly discusses the lessons of the 2012 Quebec student strike.
While today Alberta is known as a bastion of right-wing ideology, this was not always the case. Western Canada actually has deep socialist and revolutionary traditions. In this talk, comrade Alvaro explores part of this history, as he discusses the One Big Union.
The two years since Jason Kenney was elected as Premier of Alberta have seen a series of attacks on the working class. Kenney has come after teachers, nurses, and the right to strike and demonstrate, among others. In this talk, comrade Larissa discusses how to fight Jason Kenney.
The following episode is part two of a reading of Fightback's perspectives for 2021. This document was discussed, amended, and passed by the comrades of Fightback/La Riposte socialiste at the national congress. It’s an important analysis of the class struggle in Canada and the way forward to socialism. We hope everyone will listen to and discuss its contents with us. This episode is presented by comrade Odyn Mulder.
For decades, the brutal Apartheid system dominated South Africa. In the early 1990s, this regime was shaken to its very foundations and was finally brought down. But how did this happen?
In this episode South African Marxist, Ben Morken describes the mighty revolution which ended Apartheid in South Africa.
Ben Morken is a member of the group Revolution. You can visit Revolution's website at (www.marxist.co.za/)
The following episode is part one of a reading of Fightback's perspectives for 2021. This document was discussed, amended, and passed by the comrades of Fightback/La Riposte socialiste at the national congress. It’s an important analysis of the class struggle in Canada and the way forward to socialism. We hope everyone will listen to and discuss its contents with us. This episode is presented by comrade Odyn Mulder.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Alex and Cheri are joined by NDP MP Niki Ashton to discuss residential schools, the Islamophobic attack in London, ON, the future of socialism in Canada, and more.
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
The following is from an episode of Varn Vlog, in which Fightback editor Alex Grant discusses The future of Trotskyism and Leftism in Canada. C. Derick Varn can be found on YouTube, and on Twitter @skepoet
The following presentation is from Fightback/La Riposte socialiste's 2021 congress, in which comrades met to discuss and vote on our analysis of the current political and economic situation in Canada. The accompanying document can be read on our website at Marxist.ca. Alex Grant, editor of Fightback, gives this talk on Canadian Perspectives, 2021.
The following is a reading of a document that is the product of over 20 years of study and participation in the fight of Indigenous peoples against Canadian capitalism. Revolution not Reconciliation encompasses the accumulated conclusions of the supporters of the International Marxist Tendency, Indigenous and non, applying Marxist theory to the movement on the ground.
The third and final part looks at the Indigenous struggle today, and how the fight for socialism provides a way forward.
The following is a reading of a document that is the product of over 20 years of study and participation in the fight of Indigenous peoples against Canadian capitalism. Revolution not Reconciliation encompasses the accumulated conclusions of the supporters of the International Marxist Tendency, Indigenous and non, applying Marxist theory to the movement on the ground.
While part one covered pre-invasion Indigenous societies, and the origins of the Canadian state and Canadian capitalism in the exploitation and oppression of Indigenous peoples; part two looks at the changing tactics of the Canadian state that brought us to where we are today, as well as the history of Indigenous resistance.
The following is a reading of a document that is the product of over 20 years of study and participation in the fight of Indigenous peoples against Canadian capitalism. Revolution not Reconciliation encompasses the accumulated conclusions of the supporters of the International Marxist Tendency, Indigenous and non, applying Marxist theory to the movement on the ground. Here we detail a revolutionary Marxist analysis of the origin of Indigenous oppression, in opposition to the liberal/reformist hypocrisy of “reconciliation”, and the trap of identity politics and postcolonial theory, pushed by comfortable academics. The conclusions of this work have never been more timely, given the recurring explosions of Indigenous struggle. Only through mass revolutionary struggle against capitalism can all the oppressed be genuinely liberated. We appeal to all to study these lessons, discuss the conclusions, and unite with us in struggle.
The pandemic has unleashed a deep economic crisis and the capitalist system has been shaken to its foundations. Capitalist governments acted quickly to keep the economy afloat by injecting huge sums of money into it.
In this context, ideas that had been relatively marginal until now suddenly entered mainstream discourse, such as "modern monetary theory", and universal basic income. Have these ideas succeeded in overcoming the contradictions of capitalism? what is the Marxist approach to economic crises?
In this talk, Benoît Tanguay, editor of La Riposte socialiste, addresses why reformism cannot solve the crisis.
With the death of Prince Philip, the media has spent weeks weeks bombarding us with praise of the world's highest paid unemployed family. This comes after a string of scandals involving the royals. Each new scandal reminds us that the monarchy continues to be at the heart of the Canadian political system. It is high time to abolish this costly, archaic, unnecessary and anti-democratic institution. How can this be done? What is the Marxist analysis of the monarchy in Canada and Quebec?
In this talk, Benoit Tanguay, editor of La Riposte Socialiste discusses how to abolish the monarchy in Canada
The objective conditions for socialism have existed for a very long time. So why have we not yet achieved socialism?
Many people on the left will say that the fault lies with the workers. That they are too "weak" or do not have enough class consciousness. But if we look at the history of the last 100 years, we see that Time and again, the working class rises up to change society. The missing factor is a revolutionary party armed with the ideas to lead it to victory.
In this episode, Julien Arseneau, editor of La Riposte Socialiste, discusses the class, the party and the leadership: how to organize revolution.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: Abolishing the monarchy, the police and capitalism, and more. Also featuring David Slavick of ThePopularPod
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
On September 11, 1973, a bloody US-backed coup overthrew the government of Chilean socialist Salvador Allende, and ushered in the oppressive rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet. Decades later the capitalist system and constitution inherited from the dictatorship remained fundamentally the same. This was graphically demonstrated by the mass movement and general strike in the fall of 2019, which led to the vote in favour of changing the rotten Chilean constitution. On the back of these mass movements, a new generation of socialists is awakening in Chile!
Carlos Hernan, activist with Fightback and organiser with the Chilean Marxist group Octubre, gives this talk on Chile: From Allende to Pinochet to today
One hundred years ago, Ireland was in the midst of a revolutionary war for independence from Britain. The Irish struggle for freedom is full of lessons for Marxists today— the tactics of divide and rule of the ruling class, the betrayals of nationalist leaders, the role of individual terrorism, the role of religion, and above all the role of the working class in national liberation struggles.
In this episode, Ben Curry, editor of Socialist Appeal UK, discusses the Irish struggle for freedom.
Since the 1920s, capitalist economists have argued that a socialist planned economy would be unable to distribute goods and services as well as a capitalist market economy. However, this argument is not supported by experience. In this episode, Fightback organizer Vincent Beaudoin looks at how examples of large-scale economic planning beat out market-based methods, and makes the case for a socialist planned economy.
The fight for women's liberation is one of the burning issues in the labour movement, and has been for over a hundred years. While we have come a long way in Canada, women continue to be an oppressed group under capitalism and our basic rights are constantly under attack. Most recently, COVID-19 has reversed decades of hard-won progress.
What is the best way forward for the women's movement? The struggle against oppression is fundamentally divided into two camps, which have different demands and tactics: Marxism and identity politics. The points of disagreement include: do capitalist and working women have common interests? What should be our main tool in the struggle for progress: the legal system or the class struggle?
In this episode Atefa Akbary, an activist from La Riposte syndicale, discusses why identity politics can't liberate women.
The American Civil War of 1861-1865 is what Marxists consider the Second American Revolution. It finally uprooted slavery and paved the way for the struggle of the working class to unfold on a gigantic scale. As Marx said at the time, “Labor in the white skin can never free itself as long as labor in the black skin is branded.” While this revolution was a tremendous step forward, it never realized its promise to Black people.
In light of today’s mass struggle against racism, it is important to return to one of the most pivotal events in this long fight. In this episode, John Peterson, editor of Socialist Revolution, the paper of the US section of the International Marxist Tendency, discusses the American Civil War to end slavery.
One hundred years ago, the Communist Party of Canada, the Canadian section of Lenin’s Communist International, was officially founded. The history of the party, and especially the early days, is full of lessons for revolutionary Marxists today.
Officially founded in 1867, the creation of the modern nation state of Canada was not the result of a revolution as with our neighbours to the south - but of a vicious counter-revolution. The process which led to the creation of Canada began with the putting down of the rebellions in what is now Quebec and Ontario of 1837-38 and was completed with the crushing of the Metis resistance in the west. While this movement of the Metis ultimately went down in defeat, it is important for Marxists to understand these events.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: The profit motive sabotages vaccine rollout, the Proud Boys being designated as a terrorist organization, and more. Also featuring Ben Nolan of UMass
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
Many people are appalled by the racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression and discrimination that capitalism breeds. Movements such as Black Lives Matter, Idle No More and the world wide strikes on International Women's Day show the burning desire to fight oppression in all its forms. Some wishing to fight oppression ascribe to ideas under the umbrella of "identity politics." But where does Marxism stand in relation to these ideas? And how do Marxists propose that we eradicate oppression and discrimination?
The experience of COVID-19 has proven time and time again that the bosses are prepared to risk the lives of workers for profits, and to make them pay for it when those profits are lost. In response, workers are increasingly realizing that they need to get organized to fight back in order to protect their health and safety, wages and working conditions. This episode draws lessons from the recent success of the Ripley's Aquarium union drive, and also speaks to the broader need for the labour movement to lead a campaign against the mishandling of the pandemic, and to fight pandemic-driven cuts.
In this recent talk Antonio Balmer - from the Socialist Revolution USA editorial board - discusses the unprecedented dramatic events in Washington DC, which are yet another symptom of the decline of American capitalism and the extreme political polarization within society. The storming of Capitol Hill by a mob of Trump supporters on 6 January is a graphic illustration of the deep crisis gripping US capitalism, and the whole system of American bourgeois democracy. This 'insurrection' has exposed the fragility of US bourgeois democracy.
In this talk, Fightback editor Rob Lyon discusses how the far right hides behind the claim of "free speech". While this event was held in 2018 in the context of Fightback's campaign against the Doug Ford government's attempt to ban protests on campus, the issue of how to deal with the far right, and how to defend the freedoms of the working class and oppressed, remains just as relevant today.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: a look back at 2020 and forward to 2021 through a Marxist lens. Also featuring Drew Garvie of the Communist Party of Canada, and Ben Nolan of UMass
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
Demands for a universal basic income (UBI) are increasingly popular on the left. In this episode, Fightback editor Rob discusses whether UBI is actually a solution to the crisis of capitalism.
With the recent budget released by the Trudeau Liberals further increasing the already record deficit, the big question is "who pays?" Sooner or later someone has to pay - and you can be damn sure the bosses will try to make us pay.
This question, as simple as it sounds, has been at the heart of every major revolution. With capitalism in decline, the ruling class can only buy time, kicking the can down the road. But they cannot avoid the inevitable.
In this episode, Alex explores the question posed above and lays out the road to revolution against Canadian capitalism.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: COVID, strikes, the need for a US labour party, and more!
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
Hamid Alizadeh, editor of In Defense of Marxism (marxist.com), speaks on the ideas of Hegel and the relationship to Marxist philosophy.
In this episode Fred Weston, editor of In Defence of Marxism, discusses how the Russian Revolution decriminalized homosexuality, and how this was eventually reversed by the Stalinist counter-revolution.
Following the October Revolution of 1917, the Third (Communist) International was setup to be a vehicle of international proletarian revolution. However, the International could not be conjured out of thin air, it had to be built through struggle against many different tendencies and ideas. In this talk, Fightback Editor Rob Lyon discusses the history of the Communist International, and what we can learn from it today.
Canadian capitalism was founded and built on the brutal exploitation and colonization of Indigenous peoples. A study of this history also clearly shows that the continued oppression and suffering of Indigenous peoples today is inherently linked to the capitalist system, and points the way forward for emancipation through the fight for the socialist transformation of society.
In this episode, Fightback editor Rob Lyon discusses the Indigenous struggle and Marxism.
The October Revolution of 1917 created the most democratic regime in human history. Through the Soviets, power was in the hands of the workers and peasants for the first time in history. These gains however were later lost under Stalin.
So was the Soviet Union actually socialist?
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: should the Greens and the NDP unite into a single party? Should the left should support Biden in the US election? And more!
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
With the global crisis of capitalism and revival of class struggle everywhere, millions of workers and youth are looking for answers. It is therefore not surprising that there is a resurgence of interest in Anarchism along with the ideas of Marxism and socialism. In this talk, fightback organizer and editor Joel Bergman discusses the differences between Marxism and Anarchism, and asks What is the best method to fight against capitalism and for the creation of a new society?
The Doug Ford government in Ontario, Jason Kenney in Alberta, as well as the CAQ government in Quebec, share similarities with the experience of class struggle in Ontario in the 1990s. In 2018 Fightback editor Alex Grant spoke on the lessons of the 1990s for the struggles of today. This is a forgotten history that needs to be reclaimed by the movement against the vitriol of the right wing, and the apologism of the reformists and labour bureaucrats. Part 2 of 2.
It is clear that urgent action on climate change is needed. But the capitalists and their political representatives are completely incapable of carrying out the radical changes that are required.
The necessary action will never take place so long as those in power put profits before the health of the planet. In this episode, Fightback activist Alvaro discusses why we need a revolution to fight climate change!
Leon Trotsky, along with Lenin, was one of the main leaders of the Russian Revolution of 1917. He was also a prolific writer and Marxist theoretician whose writings are a treasure trove for socialists today looking to fight against the capitalist system.
But what is Trotskyism? And why is it relevant today?
The Doug Ford government in Ontario, Jason Kenney in Alberta, as well as the CAQ government in Quebec, share similarities with the experience of class struggle in Ontario in the 1990s. In 2018 Fightback editor Alex Grant spoke on the lessons of the 1990s for the struggles of today. This is a forgotten history that needs to be reclaimed by the movement against the vitriol of the right wing, and the apologism of the reformists and labour bureaucrats.
This year, the Black Lives Matter movement re-emerged on a higher level. People are aware that racism is not just a matter of individuals but of the entire system. As Malcolm X said "You can't have capitalism without racism."
But why does capitalism need racism? What is the Marxist approach to fighting racism?
The crisis of capitalism has been particularly acute in Alberta. With the collapse of oil prices, tens of thousands lost their jobs. COVID-19 has only accelerated the crisis.
Meanwhile Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party government is ruling with an iron fist, offloading the cost of this crisis onto working class people while crushing all opposition.
While it is commonplace for people on the left in Canada to write off Albertan workers, the writing is on the wall and class struggle of epic proportions is in preparation.
But what are the perspectives for revolution in Alberta?
With the election of Trump, fascists have felt emboldened, carrying out bloody attacks. With the polarization of American politics, it has become commonplace for political commentators to refer to Trump as a fascist and warn about the rise of fascism.
But what is fascism? Is Trump a fascist? How does fascism arise and how can we effectively fight against it and win?
Postmodernism is very popular on university campuses, and is even starting to gain an echo in the workers’ movement. Postmodernism denies the very idea of historical progress. Scientific truth is also sidelined in favour of a ‘subjective’ emphasis on language, experience and identity. In this talk, Fightback activist Olive discusses where these ideas come from, and what Marxists have to say about them.
Mental health problems are on the rise, and this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The capitalist system offers no future to the working class and this creates a situation in which mental health problems proliferate.
But what is the connection between capitalism and mental health?
For more from Jessica, listen to World Gone Mad: The crisis of capitalism and mental health
No other event in human history has been the subject of more distortions, falsehoods and fabrications the Russian Revolution. In this talk, Fightback editor Alex Grant discusses the top 10 lies about the Russian Revolution, and why Marxists defend the revolution today.
The accompanying article on this topic can be found here.
Listen to Fightback editor Alex Grant on Cheri DiNovo's "Left, Lefter, Leftist". This month: School reopenings, the second wave of the pandemic, will there be an election, and more!
Also listen on Cheri DiNovo's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo
The capitalist system is in a deep crisis. This is recognized by everyone, including the bourgeoisie. However, there is a lot of confusion as to why the system is in crisis.
In this talk, Fightback editor Alex Grant introduces Marxist economics, which is a vital tool for understanding the inner workings of the capitalist system.
What are socialists fighting for? In concrete terms, how might a new society work? In what way would our individual lives be affected? What would socialism look like?
What is centrism, and what must the approach of Marxists be towards the mass organizations of the working class?
Written over 170 years ago, the Communist Manifesto retains all of its relevance today. In fact, the Manifesto is a surprisingly modern text. Marx's predictions regarding globalization, the inevitable economic crisis and resulting class struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie are ideas that are more relevant today than ever.
With capitalism in a deep crisis, class struggle is making a come back. Revolutions and mass movement occur so often that its hard to keep track.
In this context, the ideas of Marxism are making a come back. But what is Marxism? Listen to the first episode of our Marxist University series for the answer!
The current economic crisis in not simply the result of capitalism's boom-slump cycle playing out. Rather, it is the symptom of a system in terminal decline, as capitalism can no longer develop the productive forces as it did in the past.
In this talk, Fightback editor Rob Lyon discusses what the productive forces are, and what role they play in history.
The Lebanese masses are moving once again. In the wake of the August 4th Beirut blast which devastated much of the city, the masses have taken to the streets to hold those responsible to account. Rightfully, they have aimed their anger at the corrupt government of Lebanon which caused the blast through their neglect and corruption. In the wake of this powerful movement, the government has resigned for the second time in less than a year. This is a great achievement, but the revolution must go further and take power into its own hands. What next for the Lebanese masses? How can the workers of Lebanon take power, and spread the revolution across the middle east?
Fightback editor Alex Grant appears on Rev. Cheri DiNovo's (https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo) monthly radio show, "Left, Lefter, Leftist." In this episode: Governments are playing Russian Roulette with the back to school plan, Liberal entitlement and the WE charity scandal, how to actually abolish the police, and more.
The Great Depression was not just a time of poverty and misery, but of intense workers' struggle. In the final part of our series, we take a closer look at these movements, and what we can learn from them today.
In part 2 of our series on the Great Depression, we look at the different responses of capitalist governments to the economic crisis. While the United States resorted to the New Deal and Keynesianism, Canada stuck to its laissez-faire guns, and introduced slave camps to contain the growing masses of unemployed. Either way, was capitalism able to provide a way out of the Depression?
As we enter into a new depression, set off by the pandemic, many are drawing parallels with the Great Depression of the 1930s. This is an important period for socialists to understand - as the saying goes, those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. In Part 1, we discuss how the initial stock market crash set off the depression, and how the capitalists made it worse.