ABC With Danny and Jim

By Danny Evans & Jim Yeoman

Join the Anarchist Book Club, where Danny Evans and Jim Yeoman discuss radical history and politics

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37. Alexandra Paulin-Booth: 'Time and Radical Politics in France'

ABC With Danny and JimApr 01, 2024

00:00

51:40

37. Alexandra Paulin-Booth: 'Time and Radical Politics in France'

In this episode we are delighted to be joined by Dr Alexandra Paulin-Booth, to discuss her book Time and Radical Politics in France, published by Manchester University Press in 2023. Alex’s work treats the conception of time as both a window and a key into the left and right in France, during the turbulent period between the Dreyfuss Affair and the First World War.

You can see Alex’s profile and a list of her publications here.

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and we will arrange in conversation.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The image in this episode is the cover of an issue of La voix du peuple in 1905, which is used on the front cover of Alex’s book.

Apr 01, 202451:40

36. Jessica Thorne: Anarchist Prisoners under Franco

In this episode we speak to our longtime friend and comrade Jessica Thorne about her work on anarchist prisoners under the Franco regime in Spain.

Jess has recently completed a PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London on this subject, which is also discussed in an article recently published in European History Quarterly, available here.

See also Jess's brilliant article on football and radical politics in Franco's prisons, available via History Workshop here.

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The image in this episode is a photograph of Carabanchel prison in Madrid, which we discuss during the episode.

Mar 06, 202455:54

35. Ronald Grigor Suny

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by Ronald Grigor Suny, one of the most distinguished scholars of the Russian Revolution in the world.

Suny has written extensively on a huge range of topics, including nationalism within the Russian and Soviet empires, the Armenian genocide and, in 2020, a monumental biography of the young Joseph Stalin, which was the starting point of our conversation.

A fuller sense of Suny's vast historical work can be found here: https://lsa.umich.edu/history/people/emeritus/rgsuny.html and here: https://political-science.uchicago.edu/directory/Ronald-Suny

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The image in this episode is the front cover of Suny's Stalin: Passage to Revolution (Princeton University Press, 2020).

Feb 11, 202458:56

34. Sho Konishi: 'Anarchist Modernity'

In this episode we discuss Sho Konishi's brilliant Anarchist Modernity: Cooperatism and Japanese-Russian Intellectual Relations in Modern Japan (Harvard University Press, 2013).

This book has been on our radar for a long time, and it was a pleasure to spend some time discussing Konishi's framing of anarchism as an alternative vision of modernity, as exemplified in the exchanges between radical thinkers and activists in Japan and Russia from 1880 to 1920.

You can read an extended interview with Konishi here: asiaarttours.com/anarchist-modernity-dr-sho-konishi-of-oxford-on-japan-russia-and-anarchism-part-1/

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The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.

You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

The image in this episode is a picture taken from the periodical Heimin Shimbun, the publication of the Nonwar Movement in Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, which included several leading anarchists in its editorial.

Jan 07, 202452:27

33. Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography’ (ABC Edition)

In this episode we discuss our first ever ABC Edition pamphlet: a translation of Víctor García's ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography’.

Danny has taken the lead on this project, and introduces us to García (the pen-name of Germinal Gracia), his relationship with Xena, and the experiences of both through the Spanish Civil War and exile in Venezuela.

The pamphlet is available at cost price of £2.00, plus and postage costs. Email abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com to discuss placing an order.

Big thanks to Footprint Workers Co-Op in Leeds for the printing of this lovely edition. Check them out at: footprinters.co.uk

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Twitter @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠

The image in this episode is a photograph of Germinal Gracia (Víctor García) and José Xena from their time in exile, c.1960. This photograph features in the pamphlet, and was generously supplied by José Xena's daughter Nerida Xena Puig.

Dec 11, 202340:38

32. Means and Ends with Zoe Baker

After a few months off, ABC returns with a brilliant guest, Zoe Baker (⁠@anarchopac⁠) author of Means and Ends published with AK Press in 2023: ⁠https://www.akpress.org/means-and-ends.html⁠.

Zoe's book provides an engaging and accessible overview of the revolutionary strategy of anarchism in Europe and the United States between 1868 and 1939.

Zoe is host of one of the most popular and respected YouTube channels on the left, which you can find here: ⁠tinyurl.com/anarcho-pac⁠

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠

The image in this episode is the cover art of Zoe's book.

Nov 06, 202350:31

31. Conversation on 'Print Culture and the Formation of the Anarchist Movement in Spain'

In this episode we discuss 'Print Culture and the Formation of the Anarchist Movement in Spain,' a reprint of Jim's book published by AK Press in September 2022. This conversation is a natural follow up from Jim's appearance on the excellent podcast 'Coffee with Comrades,' which you can listen to here: https://coffeewithcomrades.com/episode-178-tierra-y-libertad-ft-jim-yeoman/

Listeners in the US can buy the paperback from AK Press here: https://www.akpress.org/print-culture.html. The book will be available in the UK, from your local radical bookseller, from Spring 2023.

Jim will be doing a few public events in the UK in early 2023, in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Keep an eye on our Twitter page, @abcdannyandjim, where we will post details when they are confirmed. Listeners in other parts of the UK are very welcome to suggest other locations/events to our email, abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com.

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is a box full of copies of Jim's book, with cover art designed by Isidro Pergamino, who you can find on Instagram under Ave Cosmica Prints: instagram.com/ave_cosmica_prints/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Jan 22, 202301:17:54

Episode 30. 'Fractured,' with Michael Richmond and Alex Charnley

In this episode we are joined by Michael Richmond and Alex Charnley to discuss their new work 'Fractured: Race, Class, Gender and the Hatred of Identity Politics,' published with Pluto Press. You can order the book online here: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745346588/fractured/

A lively and fun conversation, covering the possibilities of universalist approaches, the value of using 'revolutionary time' as an analytical concept, and the paucity of arguments from both right and left which tell us to ignore the material realities of identity.

You can access the archives of Michael and Alex's previous work for The Occupied Times here: https://theoccupiedtimes.org/ and Base Publication here: http://www.basepublication.org/

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is a photograph of the The Combahee River Collective.

Oct 09, 202201:02:21

29. Interview with Sophie Turbutt and Josh Newmark

***

We begin this episode with a statement read by Danny from Ryan Roberts, one of the Bristol Kill the Bill protesters, who has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. If you would like to learn more about this situation and how you can help, see the following accounts on Twitter:

Bristol Anarchist Red and Black Cross: @Bristol_ABC

Bristol Defendant Solidarity: @BristolDefenda1

***

In this episode we speak with Sophie Turbutt and Josh Newmark, both of whom are undertaking PhDs at the University of Leeds. We begin by speaking about a conference that Sophie and Josh organised in the summer of 2022, titled 'Anarchism in the Iberian Peninsula Symposium,' which was attended by Danny. You can read reflections on this event from both our guests here: pastandpresent.org.uk/reflecting-on-the-anarchism-in-the-iberian-peninsula-pgr-ecr-symposium/

Our discussion then moves on to speak about recent articles that Sophie and Josh have published. Firstly, Josh's article on anarchist internationalism and solidarity during the Mexican Revolution, which you can read Open Access here: journal.wrocah.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/WRoCAH-journal-issue-6-spring-1.pdf

We then speak with Sophie about her article on the anarchist sexual revolution and gender politics, which she examines through the advice columns of the journal La Revista Blanca, available Open Access here: cambridge.org/core/journals/contemporary-european-history/article/sexual-revolution-and-the-spanish-anarchist-press-bodies-birth-control-and-free-love-in-the-1930s-advice-columns-of-la-revista-blanca/D3A34E5C5157F4966BEE1A9ED08A3752

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

Sep 11, 202201:09:24

Episode 28: Arturo Zoffmann Rodriguez: Anarchism and the Russian Revolution

In this episode we are joined by Arturo Zoffmann Rodriguez of Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal. Arturo's work focuses on the transnational and comparative history of revolutions and radical ideas, with special focus on Russia and the Hispanic world. Our discussion focuses on Arturo's studies on the impact of the Russian revolution of 1917 on anarchist movements around the world, with a particular emphasis on the CNT in Spain, which can be found in the publications Revolutionary Russia and the European History Quarterly. A more comprehensive bibliography of Arturo's work can be found here: https://fcsh-pt.academia.edu/ArturoZoffmannRodriguez

This was a fascinating and lively chat with an exciting young scholar, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Arturo is currently transforming his PhD thesis, which centres on the subjects we cover in this episode, into a book and we look forward to seeing this come out in the near future.

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is a Spanish campesino brandishing a hammer and sickle, taken in Aragon in the early stages of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

May 08, 202201:06:25

ABC Bitesize #4: Juan Santana Calero - Miquel Amorós

This episode provides an overview of the biographical essay on the Spanish anarchist activist Juan Santana Calero (1914-1939) contained in Miquel Amorós, Los incontrolados de 1937. Memorias militantes de los amigos de Durruti (Aldarull, 2014).

Apr 25, 202216:25

Episode 27: Eric Hobsbawm's Primitive Rebels

In this episode we discuss Eric Hobsbawm's classic - and much-criticised - study of social banditry, millenarian insurrection and mob politics, 'Primitive Rebels' (1959).

This key text remains a touchstone for discussions of anarchism, and is often the first port of call for English speakers interested in the Spanish movement. We reflect on Hobsbawm's approach, its strengths and shortcomings, and how the book resonates with contemporary political analysis.

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is an illustration of Davide Lazzaretti, leader of a mid-19th century 'millenarian' movement which is one of Hobsbawm's subjects.

Feb 27, 202201:13:09

Episode 26: Joe Glenton on 'Veteranhood' (Live December 2021)

This episode is something a little different, a recording of a live event we held with in Liverpool in December 2021 with Joe Glenton (@joejglenton), discussing his recent book Veteranhood: Rage and Hope in British Ex-Military Life, published by Repeater. You can buy the book directly from Repeater here: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/veteranhood-rage-and-hope-in-british-ex-military-life/

Veteranhood is a fantastic book; poignant, witty and angry, as well as highly readable. We wanted this event to be as open as possible, with a couple of readings from Joe and questions from ourselves, but mainly letting the conversation run through the audience.

As a live event, some of the sound quality isn’t great throughout, but we hope you find it as interesting and as fun as we did at the time….

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is the cover art of Joe’s Book, designed by Johnny Bull

Jan 09, 202201:48:09

Episode 25: Interview with Max Farrar on Arthur France

*Note, this episode contains some strong language*

In this episode we were joined by Max Farrar to discuss his forthcoming biography, 'Arthur France MBE: The Life and Times of an African-Caribbean-British Man' (Hansib 2021). Arthur France was born in the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis, where he began his activism in trade unionism and black power. After moving to Leeds in 1964 he became a key figure in the emerging black radical cultural movements in the UK through the 1960s and 70s, most notably in his work founding Leeds Carnival.

This was a fascinating, wide-ranging and fun conversation with Max. You can find more of Max's writings, over a lifetime of activism and reflection, at https://www.maxfarrar.org.uk/

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is a photograph of the early pioneers of Leeds Carnival, with Arthur France in the centre.

Nov 14, 202101:02:50

Episode 24: 'Debating Anarchism,' with Mike Finn and Dana Mills

This episode is something of a special, a recording of our first ever ‘live’ event, which was held on Friday 8 October on Zoom. We were delighted to be joined by Mike Finn and Dana Mills, to mark the recent publication of Mike’s book ‘Debating Anarchism’ (Bloomsbury 2021).

Mike’s book is a brilliant, provocative introduction to the debates which surround anarchist history and theory, so we felt this would be a good opportunity to explore some of these with Mike himself, and Dana, an activist and author of – amongst many other works – a brilliant biography of Rosa Luxembourg, published in 2020 with Reaktion Books. Towards the end of the conversation we opened up for some audience questions.

If you're interested in buying 'Debating Anarchism,' you can get 35% off paperback and e-book editions when buying from the Bloomsbury website, using the following codes:

UK: GLR TW9UK

US: GLR TW9US

Canada: GLR TW9CA

Australia: GLR TW9AU

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here at abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com. The latest post, Revolution number Ja Danke, by Danny, explores the 1969 Summer of Soul and ‘the Black Woodstock’ and is well worth a read.

The image in this episode is a screenshot of Mike, Dana, Danny and Me, having a lovely time on a Friday evening.

Oct 17, 202101:17:58

Episode 23: A.M. Gittlitz's 'I Want to Believe: Posadism, UFOs and Apocalypse Communism'

In this episode we discuss A.M. Gittlitz's 'I Want to Believe' (Pluto Press, 2020), a study of the remarkable development of a branch of Cold War Trotskyism under the direction of the Argentine J. Posadas.

Gittlitz combines an astute reading of the Posadist movement with humour and pathos, bringing together stories of nuclear apocalypse, 'coffee shop wankers' and armed guerrilla struggles in Latin America, resonating with present struggles around migration, science fiction, Bogdanov's dispute with Lenin, Carl Sagan, the arrival of the conquistadors in South America, memes, the Argentinian worker's movement and the X-files. Stay tuned for Jim's revelation about dolphins at the end of this conversation....

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is an ironic pin-badge, playing on the classic Danish anti-nuclear symbol The Smiling Sun, to fit with Posadism's adherence to nuclear apocalypse, Ufology and the position of dolphins in the revolutionary struggle.

Aug 22, 202158:44

ABC Bitesize #3: Joan Puig Elías - Valeria Giacomoni

A short overview of the book Joan Puig Elías. Anarquismo, pedagogía y coherencia by Valeria Giacomoni (Barcelona: Descontrol, 2016), a biography of the anarchist teacher and leading light of the Escuela Natura who presided over the Consejo de la Escuela Nueva Unificada (CENU) during the Spanish civil war.

Aug 08, 202114:42

Episode 22: Loren Goldner's 'Revolution, Defeat and Theoretical Underdevelopment'

In this episode we discuss Loren Goldner's collection of essays 'Revolution, Defeat and Theoretical Underdevelopment' (Haymarket 2017), which examines the promise and failings of four revolutionary episodes in the twentieth century: Russia, Turkey, Spain and Bolivia.

Goldner's blog 'Break Their Haughty Power' is well worth exploring, you can find it here: http://breaktheirhaughtypower.org/

Danny discusses some of the themes we cover in last week's newsletter, which you can read here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/p/anarchism-as-non-integration

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You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/

The image in this episode is a 1920 poster from the Soviet Industrial Propaganda Bureau, captioned 'Only a close and unbreakable union of workers and peasants will save Russia from economic destruction and starvation.' Available here: https://www.posterplakat.com/posters/PP%20416

Jul 05, 202101:12:47

Episode 21: Interview with Dr Pascale Siegrist: 'Revolution Can Happen at any Time, in any Place'

In this episode we were joined by Dr Pascale Siegrist of the German Historical Institute London. Pascale is an intellectual historian whose first book project examines the ‘global’ thought of fin-de-siècle anarchists. You can find more on Pascale's research interests here: https://www.ghil.ac.uk/team/our-team/pascale-siegrist.

For this episode we read two brilliant pieces by Pascale on anarchism and geography: ‘Historicising ‘Anarchist Geography’ in the collection Historical Geographies of Anarchism (London, 2017) and ‘Cosmopolis and Community. Élisée Reclus and Pëtr Kropotkin on Spatial and Moral Unity, 1870s to 1900s’, Global Intellectual History [published online 8 September 2020].

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A reminder that we have recently launched a newsletter via the platform SubStack: https://substack.com/profile/34666794-abc-with-danny-and-jim

You can keep in touch with the podcast via email: abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, all @abcdannyandjim.

The image in this episode is an orographic map of Eastern Siberia from 1875 by Peter Kropotkin, which is available in the public domain and here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orography#/media/File:Map_of_Eastern_Siberia.png

May 30, 202154:04

Episode 20: Newsletter Launch & Reflections on ABC

In this episode we take a break from our usual format - to coincide with our 1st 'birthday' we discuss the first two pieces to be published in our new newsletter: 'Ten Years on the Turn' and 'People Just Do Something', both written by Danny as reflections on the past decade of politics. We also use this as an opportunity to reflect on the past year.

You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://bit.ly/3tPBcgS

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Apr 26, 202151:55

Episode 19: Paul Avrich's 'Kronstadt 1921'

In this episode we discuss Paul Avrich's classic 'Kronstadt 1921' (Princeton University Press, 1970), marking 100 years since this pivotal event in radical history. Along the way we discuss anti-Semitism within critiques of communism, the perils of a mechanistic understanding of class struggle and historical change, the nature of Bolshevik smear campaigns, and the significance of 1921 to the prospects of internationalist socialism.

The book is available online here: https://libcom.org/library/kronstadt-1921-paul-avrich-0

There are many, many pieces to recommend about the Kronstadt uprising and its suppression. A number of useful introductions are available on libcom.org, including:

See also the excellent Solidarity publication 'Kronstadt Uprising' by Ida Mett, available here: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/ida-mett-the-kronstadt-commune.

Over the weekend of 20-21 March 2021 Danny participated in the conference 'Kronstadt as Revoutionary Utopia, 1921-2021 and Beyond'. The conference website hosts a wide range of pieces reflecting on the event and its legacy: https://kronstadt2021.wordpress.com/

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The image in this episode is the poster Kronshtadtskaia karta bita! (The Kronstadt Card Is Trumped!) by Vladimir Kozlinskii for the Petrograd office of the Russian Telegraph Agency in 1921, available in the public domain. The image depicts a reactionary White Guard as synonymous with a Kronstadt sailor, both vanquished by RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Republic). Thanks to Dr Hannah Parker for her help interpreting this image.

Mar 28, 202159:08

Episode 18: Interview with Martha Ackelsberg: 'Free Women of Spain'

In this episode we're delighted to be joined by Martha Ackelsberg (Smith College, Massachusetts) to discuss her classic study of Mujeres Libres, 'Free Women of Spain,' on the 30th anniversary of its original publication.

Martha's work has been hugely influential in the study of anarchism, gender and the Spanish Civil War, and has shaped the work of both Danny and Jim. We were thrilled that she could join us for this discussion, which covers the history of anarchist feminism in Spain, sexism within the movement, the problems of equating gender emancipation with fighting, and the lessons of the Mujeres Libres for today's radicals.

You can find more about Martha's extensive work on these subjects here: smith.edu/academics/faculty/martha-ackelsberg

In 2016 Danny and Jim were delighted to guest edit a special issue of International Journal of Iberian Studies on transnationalism and Spanish anarchism, featuring a brilliant article by Martha on the links between radical feminists in Spain and Argentina. The journal is available here, or you can get in touch with the show for access.

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The image in this episode isa photograph of a Mujeres Libres section during the Spanish Civil War, which is available in the public domain

Mar 07, 202155:06

Episode 17: Marie Fleming's 'The Geography of Freedom: The Odyssey of Elisée Reclus'

In this episode we discuss Marie Fleming's 'The Geography of Freedom' (Black Rose Books, 1988), a study of anarchist geographer Elisée Reclus who was a key figure in the 19th century movement. We are very grateful that Black Rose provided us with this book to discuss. Black Rose have been publishing alternative, radical works from their base in Montreal since the 1970s, and operate a range of brilliant initiatives, including a pay-what-you-can solidarity e-bookshop. They recently hosted a conference on Peter Kropotkin, inspired by their recent publication of Kropotkin's Siberian diaries. You can watch this event on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackrosebooks Keep an eye out for their new website, which will stress digital availability and access to many titles, with the option to buy a copy. This will be launched soon on their existing domain: https://blackrosebooks.com/. You can also follow Black Rose on Twitter @blackrosebooks For more on Reclus, see the edited works published by PM Press: https://www.pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=565 and the work of Dr Pascale Siegrist: https://www.ghil.ac.uk/team/our-team/pascale-siegrist. ------------------------ The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: https://bit.ly/35ToW4W The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv The image in this episode is Reclus' 'Great Globe', designed for the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

Feb 14, 202154:29

Episode 16: Conversation with Matthew Kerry, 'Unite Proletarian Brothers!'

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by our friend, colleague and comrade Dr Matthew Kerry (University of Stirling) to discuss his book 'Unite Proletarian Brothers!: Radicalism and Revolution in the Second Spanish Republic' (Institute of Historical Research, 2020), which is available to everyone as an Open Access publication here: bit.ly/3is39X9

We discuss radicalism, fascism, the state and proletarian unity during the 1930s, exploring why and how the mining valleys of northern Spain erupted into revolution in October 1934, in what can be seen as the last attempt to seize state power through mass insurrection by the working class in Europe.

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The image in this episode is the poster 'Aprieta fuerte compañero!' ('Squeeze tightly, comrade!') created by Germán Horacio Robles in 1936 and available in the public domain.

Jan 24, 202101:12:45

ABC Bitesize #2: The Massacre at the Carlos Marx Barracks - Agustín Guillamón

A short overview of the new book by Agustín Guillamón, La matanza del cuartel Carlos Marx. Bellaterra, mayo de 1937 (Serra de Tramuntana: Calumnia, 2020), which details the investigation into the torture and murder of twelve anarchists during the Barcelona May days, 1937.

Jan 03, 202114:15

Episode 15: Festive Special: Ruth Kinna: 'The Government of No One' w/Coffee with Comrades

In this extra special festive bonus episode we join Pearson Bolt of the excellent Coffee with Comrades podcast to chat with Professor Ruth Kinna (Loughborough University) about her recent publication 'The Government of No One' (Pelican, 2019). We really enjoyed this opportunities to go in-depth into theory and history with one of the most prominent and lucid scholars of anarchism in the world. Many of Ruth's works are available for free here: https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/authors/Ruth_Kinna/1252950 and at Dog Section Press: https://dogsection.org/ If you enjoy our podcast do check out Coffee with Comrades, a brilliant show with over 100 episodes covering current events, theory, and action through a radical lens. You can subscribe to the show on your podcast app, follow on Twitter @coffeewcomrades and find the show here: https://www.coffeewithcomrades.com/. Thanks to everyone who has tuned in to our show over this year, we've been amazed by the interest that our DIY show chatting about radical history has generated. A special thanks to all those who have joined us on the show: Constance Bantman, Ole Birk Laursen, Frank Jacob, Kathy Ferguson, Alan McGuire of the Sobremesa podcast, and Pearson and Ruth from this episode. We have several more interviews lined up for the new year, and if you have a work you'd like to discuss, have any recommendations for us, or have an idea for an ABC Bitesize, giving a summary of a foreign-language work to an English audience, then get in touch! Our email is abcwithdannyandjim@gmail.com, and you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook, both @abcdannyandjim. --------------------------- The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png The image in this episode is a photograph of Jim's cat, Nye, enjoying 'The Government of No One'.

Dec 24, 202001:11:08

Episode 14: Sobremesa Interview: Anarchism in Spain

In a break from our usual set up, this episode features Danny and Jim speaking to Alan McGuire of the Sobremesa podcast about the history of anarchism in Spain.

Sobremesa is weekly podcast which covers subjects about contemporary Spanish society, politics and history, you can subscribe using your usual podcast app and find more information here: alanmcguire.com/the-sobremesa-podcast/ and via the show's Twitter account: @Sobremesacast. We're really grateful to Alan for inviting us on, so do subscribe and support this great new podcast.

Given the scope of the subject, and the fact that we love talking about it, this is an extra-long episode, so settle in....

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png

The image in this episode is a poster by Josep Obiols for the collectivised transport industry of the CNT, produced in Barcelona, 1936. This image is available in the public domain.

Dec 17, 202001:49:27

Episode 13: Interview with Kathy Ferguson: 'Anarchist Letters: Letterpress Printing, Epistolarity and Learning in Anarchist Print Culture'

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by Professor Kathy Ferguson (The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa) to discuss her fascinating work on anarchist printing over the turn of the twentieth century. Along the way we discuss the formative role that creating print had in anarchist communities, the value of considering the 'materiality' of radical politics, and reflect on the relationship between media and movements in the current context.

Kathy's book 'Anarchist Letters' will be published in the near future, until then you can discover more of her work here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kathy_Ferguson. We particularly recommend her article 'Anarchist Printers and Presses: Material Circuits of Politics' which was published in Political Theory in 2014.

Some of Kathy's other work includes Emma Goldman: Political Thinking in the Streets (2011) which has a companion website here: www2.hawaii.edu/~kferguso/

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png

The image in this episode is a photograph of Tom Keell and Alfred Marsh in the Freedom office at 127 Ossulston St in 1927, which is available in the public domain and here: https://freedompress.org.uk/history/

Nov 29, 202058:29

Episode 12: Julius S. Scott's 'The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution'

In this episode we discuss Julius S. Scott's 'The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution,' an extraordinary text which began life as a PhD thesis in the 1980s, and has gained an almost cult reputation amongst scholars of transnational radical history until it's publication with Verso in 2018.

You can watch a video featuring Scott, Robin Kelley, Peter Linebaugh and Marcus Rediker celebrating the launch of the book in 2018 at the University of Pittsburgh here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlSXrxFXSsw

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png

The image in this episode is a photograph of the statue 'Le Marron Inconnu', in Port au Prince, Haiti (2012), which is available in the public domain here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Marron_Inconnu#/media/File:Le_Marron_Inconnu,_Haiti_2012.jpg

Nov 08, 202045:38

Episode 11: David Roediger's 'Seizing Freedom: Slave Emancipation and Liberty for All'

In this episode we discuss David Roediger's 'Seizing Freedom' (Verso, 2014), a brilliant account of the radical upheavals brought by the US Civil War and the self-emancipation of slaves in the 1860s. Along the way we discuss the concept of revolutionary time, the meaning of tragedy, and the errors of liberal history.

Danny has previously spoken about Roediger and his notion of revolutionary time on the podcast 'Soul y Vida' with comrade Gloria Dawson, which you can listen to (along with some boss tunes) here: https://www.mixcloud.com/SoulyVida/shut-it-down-2-revolutionary-time/

Jim mentions the 3-part series on the life and death of John Brown by 'The Dollop,' a US history-comedy podcast. First episode available here: https://allthingscomedy.com/podcast/the-dollop, episodes 438-430.

Danny mentions Steve Smith's reflections on the historiography of the Russian Revolution. You can read an interview with Smith on this subject here: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publishing/review/29/long-look-russian-revolution/

Danny also mentions the latest issue of 'Insurgent Notes,' which includes a 1879 interview with Karl Marx, which you can read here: http://insurgentnotes.com/2020/09/who-was-karl-marx/

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png

The image in this episode is Winslow Homer's 'Near Andersonville' (1866) which is available in the public domain and here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winslow_Homer_-_Near_Andersonville_(1866).jpg

Oct 18, 202053:35

Episode 10: Interview with Frank Jacob: Emma Goldman and the Russian Revolution

This episode is a conversation with Frank Jacob (Nord University, Norway) about his forthcoming book 'Emma Goldman and the Russian Revolution: From Admiration to Frustration,' which will be published with De Gruyter later this year (print ~November; Open Access digital ~December): https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/570450.

We discuss Goldman's life, her intellectual contribution to the anarchist movement and her evolving views on the Russian Revolution. We finish by reflecting on what this episode can tell us in the present day and our hopes for a better world.

For those with German, Frank's book '1917: Die Korrumpierte Revolution' is available Open Access here: https://www.buechner-verlag.de/buch/1917-die-korrumpierte-revolution/

Frank has written extensively on the history of revolution, the left and migration (amongst many other themes), much of which is available Open Access. See his CV here: https://nord.academia.edu/FrankJacob

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here:https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png

The image in this episode is 'Emma Goldman: 31 décembre 1919 - identité judiciaire,' which is available in the public domain and here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emma_goldman_1919.jpg.

Sep 27, 202001:10:33

Episode 9: Interview with Ole Birk Laursen: M. P. T. Acharya, 'We are Anarchists! Anarchism, Pacifism, and the Indian Independence Movement'

This episode is a conversation with Ole Birk Laursen about his work on the fascinating Indian anarchist M.P.T. Acharya. We discuss Acharya's life in Europe, the USA and India, as well as his views on Indian nationalism and figures including Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the Indian Communist Party M.N. Roy. For more on Ole and his work see his excellent website: https://olebirklaursen.wordpress.com/about/ Ole's edited collection of Acharya's essays 'We are Anarchists!' is available from AK Press: https://www.akpress.org/we-are-anarchists.html See also 'Lay Down Your Arms,' a collection edited by Ole of anti-militarist, anti-Imperialist, radical essays from the 1930s, available from AK Press: https://www.akpress.org/lay-down-your-arms.html You can also follow Ole on Twitter @OleBirkLaursen and receive extracts from M.P.T. Acharya’s life and work @MPTAcharya1 In the episode Ole mention's Nick Heath's biography of Acharya on libcom, available here: https://libcom.org/history/acharya-mpt-1887-1951 A new biography of Acharya's wife, Magda Machman is available from Academic Studies Press: https://www.academicstudiespress.com/modernbiographies/magda-nachman --------------------- The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here:https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png The image in this episode is 'M.P.T. Achayra,' which is available in the public domain.

Sep 06, 202001:05:41

Episode 8: Kristin Ross's 'Communal Luxury' with Dr Liz Stainforth

In this episode we are joined by Dr Liz Stainforth (University of Leeds) to discuss Kristin Ross's Communal Luxury (Verso, 2015). Together we talk about the appeal of utopian history, the relationship between ideas and actions and the value of reclaiming of public space.

An interview with Ross in which she discusses her approach to the history of May '68 is available here: https://towardsautonomyblog.wordpress.com/2018/05/23/interview-with-kristin-ross-may-68-beyond-artificial-commemorations-and-remembrances/

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here:https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png

The image in this episode is 'Barricade de la Place Blanche défendue par des femmes pendant la semaine sanglante', available in the public domain here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Commune_de_Paris_barricade_Place_Blanche.jpg

Aug 16, 202052:51

ABC Bitesize #1: German Antifascists in Barcelona 1933-39

This is the first episode of ABC Bitesize, a subseries of the Anarchist Book Club. Inspired by a tweet by the famous youtuber anarchopac, the idea is to provide overviews of radical history books that are currently unavailable in English.

Episode 1 is based on Dieter Nelles, Harald Piotrowski, Ulrich Linse and Carlos García's book Antifascistas alemanes en Barcelona (1933-1939) (Barcelona: Virus, 2019).

The book tells the story of the Deutsche Anarchosyndikalisten (DAS) group, and includes a much expanded version of Dieter Nelles's essay 'The Foreign Legion of the revolution: German anarcho-syndicalists and volunteers in anarchist militias during the Spanish civil war', available at: https://libcom.org/library/the-foreign-legion-revolution

A transcript of this episode is available on request.

Aug 05, 202014:18

Episode 7: Silvia Federici's 'Caliban and the Witch': Capitalism, Violence and Patriarchy in the Early Modern Era

In this episode we discuss Silvia Federici's seminal work 'Caliban and the Witch,' which calls for us to examine the development of capitalism through the eyes and the body of women in the early modern era. Along the way we discuss the idea of modernity; the relationship between theory, politics and history; and the claim that Federici's recent work could be read as justifying transphobia in the present day.////

A thread on Federici's use of sources on the witch-hunts mentioned early in the episode can be found here: https://libcom.org/blog/witch-hunts-transition-capitalism-20122011////

The article 'Federici vs Marx' by Gilles Dauvé, mentioned by Danny in the epsiode can be found here: https://libcom.org/library/federici-versus-marx-gilles-dauve////

One of several reviews of Federici's 'Beyond the Periphery of the Skin' which critiques the apparent transphobia of this more recent work can be found here: https://www.full-stop.net/2020/05/28/reviews/cory-austin-knudson/beyond-the-periphery-of-the-skin-silvia-federici/////

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The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here:https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Stealing_Orchestra__Rafael_Dionsio/_Rafael_Dionsio_-_Uma_Desgraa_Nunca_Vem_S/Gente_da_minha_terra_que_mete_um_nojo_do_caralho////

The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Left_Book_Club_logo.png////

The image in this episode is 'Einblattdruck zu einer Hexenverbrennung in Derenburg (Grafschaft Reinstein)' (1555), available in the public domain here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zeitung_Derenburg_1555_crop.jpg////

Jul 26, 202001:13:20

Episode 6: Interview with Dr Constance Bantman: Jean Grave and the Networks of French Anarchism

This episode is our first with a guest, the brilliant scholar of French & transnational anarchism Dr Constance Bantman (University of Surrey, @ConnieLorene). Constance joined us to speak about her forthcoming book, 'Jean Grave and the Networks of French Anarchism,' which examines the life, work and connections of one of the most influential anarchists of the late 19th/early 20th century. Our discussion takes us through many aspects of Grave's activism: including his personal relationships, his internationalism & role in solidarity campaigns, his controversial position on the First World War & his educational work.

Constance was written widely on turn-of-the-century anarchism and beyond. You can see her full bibliography here: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/constance-bantman

An open-access version of her article 'Jean Grave and French Anarchism: A Relational Approach (1870s-1914)' which informed this discussion can be found here: https://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/841830/

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The image in this episode is a police mugshot of Jean Grave taken by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894, which is in the public domain and can be found here: https://bit.ly/2NLcScQ

Jul 05, 202059:58

Episode 5: Paul Gilroy's 'The Black Atlantic': Modernity and Diaspora from the Galleys of the Slave Ship

In this episode of ABC with Danny and Jim we discuss Paul Gilroy's The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (Verso, 1993). Our discussion follows this book's navigation through black culture and modernity, reflecting on thinkers from WEB du Bois to Hegel as well as Gilroy's rich investigation of black music. Along we way we discuss the concept of diaspora, the perils of black ethno-nationalism and the importance of Gilroy's work to the present moment.

Danny's brilliant mix of music inspired by Paul Gilroy's work (ft. Curtis Mayfield, Steel Pulse, William DeVaughn, Aretha Franklin, Hugh Masekela & many more) is available here: https://bit.ly/3edP1hk

The interview between Gilroy and Tommie Shelby for Transition can be found here: https://bit.ly/2zQUo7i

For an accessible introduction to Hegel's master/slave dialectic and its impact on racial politics (discussed in both the episode and the book) see: https://bit.ly/2CpwG2W

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The image in this episode is Slaveship Collage by George Bayard III, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slaveship_painting.jpg

Jun 22, 202059:50

Episode 4: Steve Wright's 'Storming Heaven': The Highs and Lows of the Italian Autonomous Movement

In this episode of Anarchist Book Club we discuss Steve Wright's 'Storming Heaven: Class Composition and Struggle in Italian Autonomist Marxism' (Pluto, 2017). Our conversation takes us through the roots of autonomism and its relationship to the PCI (Italian Communist Party) in post-war Italy, into reflections on the practice of work-place inquiry and the efforts to build a useful theory of class struggle and political change from this approach. We also reflect on the value of a historical approach, often lacking in in workerist theory and journals, with the notable exception of the journal Primo Maggio. We conclude by discussing the legacy and continuing relevance of autonomism in the present day. Some contemporary applications of workerism mentioned in the show: AngryWorkers recent publication Class Power on Zero Hours: https://pmpress.org.uk/product/class-power-on-zero-hours/. See also https://classpower.net/intro/ Notes from Below: https://notesfrombelow.org/, and their recent free ebook with Workers Inquiry Network on the COVID-19 crisis: 'Struggle in a Pandemic': https://notesfrombelow.org/issue/struggle-pandemic ------------------------------------------------------------ The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here The image in this episode is 'Manifestazione di lavoratori in sciopero durante l'autunno caldo' (1969), an image in the public domain available here: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sciopero_autunno_caldo.jpg

Jun 07, 202001:05:58

Episode 3: Maia Ramnath's 'Decolonising Anarchism': Big 'A', Little 'a' and the Question of Nationalism

In this episode we discuss Maia Ramnath's 'Decolonising Anarchism' (AK Press, 2011), an account of radical groups and individuals involved in the Indian independence movement and its post-colonial successors: from bomb-throwers and Californian bohemians to peasant collectivists and syndicalist educators; from Mahatma Gandhi to the dissident communist martyr Bhagat Singh. Throughout we probe how a 'Western' ideology such as anarchism might translate in a colonial context, asking whether Ramnath's distinction of a Big 'A' Anarchism (i.e. clearly defined anarchist movements and ideology) and 'Little a' anarchism (i.e. groups and ideas of a broader tradition of which anarchism is a part) helps us to see a common history which would otherwise be obscured. Our conversation then moves onto the question of nationalism and what role, if any, it can play in anarchist politics. For Ole Birk Laursen's work on M. P. T. Acharya and anarchist anti-colonialism see his website: https://olebirklaursen.wordpress.com/about/

We are asking listeners who are able to make a contribution to the These Walls Must Fall Coronavirus Solidarity Fund: https://detention.org.uk/coronavirus-solidarity-fund/ and/or the Liverpool Migrant Solidarity Network: https://bit.ly/3g2BAC8

----------- The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here The image in this episode is 'Wall painting of Shaheed Bhagat Singh; Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh' (2010) by John Hill, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. The original can be found here

May 24, 202051:48

Episode 2. Domenico Losurdo's 'War and Revolution': Revisionism, Hypocrisy and Neo-Stalinism

In this episode we discuss Domenico Losurdo's 'War and Revolution: Rethinking the Twentieth Century,' trans. Gregory Elliott (Verso, 2020), an extended critique of historical revisionism which stretches from Edmund Burke to Niall Ferguson, via Ernst Nolte, Hannah Ardent and Francois Furet. We question the value of Losurdo's approach, including his treatment of counter-revolution in France and Stalinist Russia, before moving onto a wider conversation on neo-Stalinism in the contemporary left.

A biography of Losurdo from Jacobin magazine can be found here

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The image in this episode is 'Nagykörút - Rákóczi út kereszteződése, a Sztálin-szobor darabolása' by Róbert Hofbauer (1956), licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

May 10, 202045:55

Episode 1: Eric Laursen's 'The Duty to Stand Aside': Alex Comfort, Anarchism and the Shifting Politics of George Orwell

In this first episode of Anarchist Book Club with Danny and Jim, we discuss Eric Laursen's 'The Duty to Stand Aside' (AK Press 2020), which explores the relationship between George Orwell and the pacifist, anarchist and doctor Alex Comfort, who became famous in the 1970s as the author of 'The Joy of Sex'. We use this as a starting point to discuss the shifting politics of George Orwell, from his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War, to his wartime work with the BBC and his post-war denunciation of key figures in the British Left, including Comfort.

A summary of Laursen's book can be found here

A discussion by Barry Pateman on the splits within British anarchism during WW2 can be found here

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The image in this episode is Alexander Comfort by Howard Coster, 1943, held at the National Portrait Gallery and reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Apr 24, 202053:22