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Marx Engels Institute

Marx Engels Institute

By Marx Engels Institute

News and analysis podcast from a Marxist perspective hosted by Alexander Mckay
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Currently playing episode

"The Revenge of the Real" Book Review w/ Elena Lange

Marx Engels InstituteAug 26, 2021

00:00
01:09:54
The DPRK and The Occupied South

The DPRK and The Occupied South

Dr Dermot Hudson returns to the programme to talk about the recent policy change made by the Supreme Peoples Assembly of the DPRK towards the occupied south.  

Outro Music is the DPRK Military Choir performing the song 'Reunification'

Jan 27, 202443:01
Palestine - The Heart of The Liberation Struggle

Palestine - The Heart of The Liberation Struggle

Matteo Capasso returns to discuss the war on Gaza. We also discuss how Palestine is at the heart of liberation movements against US imperialism.

Dec 01, 202301:05:28
The Burmese Communist Party & The Peoples War
Nov 25, 202301:00:55
The Artsakh War And The Crisis In Armenia

The Artsakh War And The Crisis In Armenia

In this episode I spoke to the Armenian journalist Alison Tahmizian about the recent Azerbaijani war on Artsakh. We discuss the history of the war, dating back to the late period of the USSR, and the role played by British imperialism in supporting the Azeri regime run by Ilham Aliyev. We also discuss the abysmal role played by current Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and how he has acted to undermine the sovereignty and independence of Armenia.


Be sure to follow Alison on twitter/X @alitahmizian

Sep 21, 202301:00:16
Interview With Matteo Capasso

Interview With Matteo Capasso

In this episode I spoke with Matteo Capasso, auther of the recently released book 'Everyday Politics In The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya'. We discuss the early years of the revolutionary process in Libya and how it tied into the global wave of revolution and coutner revolution.



Sep 02, 202301:01:03
The NATO War On Donbas - Interview With Steve Sweeney

The NATO War On Donbas - Interview With Steve Sweeney

In this episode I spoke to RT journalist Steve Sweeney who is currently reporting from the frontline areas of the Donbas. We talk about the almost decade long war that has been waged by the Ukrainian armed forces on the Russian and Russian speaking areas of the country. We also cover the latest updates from the frontlines.

Jul 22, 202301:47:07
The Korean Revolution Stands Strong - Interview With Dermot Hudson
Jul 07, 202301:05:05
Narrative Management - Interview With Kit Klarenberg

Narrative Management - Interview With Kit Klarenberg

Kit Klarenberg returns to the programme to talk about his own recent tangle with British "anti terror" cops as well as the various propaganda and narrative management techniques deployed by the British state.

Jun 30, 202301:14:26
Ukraine War Livestream Audio

Ukraine War Livestream Audio

This is the audio from a recent livestream over the history of Ukraine war.
Jun 23, 202342:52
The DPRK, Occupied Korea and Decaying Imperialism - Interview With Joti Brar
Jun 22, 202301:00:50
Study Guide - The Principles of Communism

Study Guide - The Principles of Communism

An audio study guide for Engels often neglected 1847 work 'The Principles of Communism'.
Jun 05, 202301:41:39
Cultural Marxism

Cultural Marxism

In this episode, I examine the usage of the term "cultural Marxism" by classical liberals such as Ben Shapiro and Peter Hitchens.

I argue that whilst the form of leftist politics the right denounces does exist it is as much of an expression of bourgeois politics as the right wingers themselves are.
May 19, 202301:06:51
Interview With Carlos Garrido

Interview With Carlos Garrido

Carlous Garrido, founder and editor of Midwestern Marx, joins us again.  


This time we are discussing his new book "The Purity Fetish and the Crisis of Western Marxism". 


Outro music is 'John Browns Body' as performed by Jim Knable

May 12, 202301:08:26
From Kabul To Kiev - Interview With Kit Klarenberg

From Kabul To Kiev - Interview With Kit Klarenberg

Kit Klarenberg returns to the progreamme to talk about his recent article for Mint Press News which covers the collapse of the US trained and quipped Afghan army. 

We take in the levels of delusion within the government of Ashraf Ghani, the enormous fraud carried out by many "contractors" and the similarities to Ukraine. Along the way we also take in the Balkan wars and how the Bosnians were manipulated and then discarded by US imperialism.

Be sure to follow Kit on twitter 

Outro Music is 'The Banner of the Party' performed in the five languages of Socialist Yugoslavia

Performed by the Choir and Orchestra of Radio Novi Sad in 1977

Composer: Oskar Danon (1948)

May 05, 202301:22:14
Introduction To Marxism-Leninism Part 1 - The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism

Introduction To Marxism-Leninism Part 1 - The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism

This is the first episode of what will be an ongoing series entitled 'Intrduction To Marxist Leninism'.

In this series I will be introudcing the key concepts of the Marxist-Leninist worldview by studying some classic texts from the great revolutionary thinkers of the last 200 years.

In this first episode I look at the 1913 work by Lenin 'The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism'. It is one of the best introductions to Marxism ever written and much can be learned from studying it.

Apologies for the sound quality on this reording as it was done whilst travelling and I had to use both phone and laptop to do so due to the laptop being rather deficient.

Outro Music is 'Glory to You, Great Soviet Union!' 

Performer: All-Union Radio Choir and Orchestra 

Composer: Alexander Kholminov 

Lyricist: Yuri Kamenetsky 

Episode Artwork is 'V.I.Lenin' by the Soviet Estonian Artist Elmar Yanovich Kits

Apr 28, 202301:00:53
Commodified Rebellions

Commodified Rebellions

Capitalism requires it's political superstructure to be continually refreshed and reorganised to reflect it's need to find new ways to attack the working class. This is where the need for commodified rebellions comes in.

In this programme I look at why this need arises and how the commodified rebellion has become a key part of bourgeois strategy in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Music for this episode is 'Lenin Gave Us Light' a song from Soviet Moldova 

Episode image is from a 'UK Uncut' protest in 2011 which serves as an effective example of a commodified rebellion

Apr 15, 202301:10:08
The Bolivarian Revolution and Anti-Imperialism - Interview With Joti Brar

The Bolivarian Revolution and Anti-Imperialism - Interview With Joti Brar

In this weeks internview I speak with CPGB-ML Vice Chair Joti Brar about her recent visit to Caracas. We talk about the unfolding revolutionary process that is going on there, the masses continued support for a socialist future and their building of workers democratic organisations.

We also discuss the recent meeting of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform held in Caracas and the declaration made by those parties attending.  

Outro Music is 'La Hora Del Pueblo' A song of the PSUV

Apr 04, 202301:11:57
Interview With Angie Jones

Interview With Angie Jones

In this interview episode I speak with Angie Jones from the Youtube channel 'Terf Talk Down Under' about the recent protest staged by feminists in Australia against men being granted access to women only spaces, the perils of 'self ID' and much more. We talk about Angies political background within the Australian feminist and left movements, the growth of gender ideology in Australian public institutions and why she and other feminists saw the need to take a stand against it. We also cover the chaos that followed the recent protest in Melbourne, the appearance of a group of Nazis and the lies told by Victorian PM Dan Andrews and opposition leader John Pesutto about Angie herself and protest.


Be sure to follow Angie on twitter @angijones



Mar 23, 202301:23:45
Constraints and Crises

Constraints and Crises

With the shotgun wedding of UBS and Credit Suisse along with the US governments intervention over Silicon Valley Bank another banking crisis may be upon us. But is this a new crisis or a renewal of an older one that began back in 2008? In this episode I explore why the need for US imperialism is to either find follow Andrew Mellons old advice to "liquidate capital, liquidate labor" to purge the system or to find new places to wage aggressive imperialist wars, or possibly both. I also look at why they have been constrained from taking the extreme actions the system requires thus far.


Outro music is The Hymn of the Paris Commune

Mar 20, 202355:13
Return To Perfidious Albion - Featuring Tara McCormack
Mar 19, 202301:16:53
Georgia On My Mind - Interview With Donald Courter
Mar 12, 202353:48
On Color "Revolutions"

On Color "Revolutions"

In light of the recent developments in Georgia the subject of, so called, color revolutions is being widely discussed again.  In this episode I look at the origins of the color revolution strategy in places like Yugoslavia.  I then turn to look at the development of this tactic by US imperialism through the 1990s and how this tactic is able to exploit the weaknesses of the post-soviet states.  The failure of these attempts in Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and Nicaragua is also examined and how their relationship with the masses helps them to defeat this tactic.  

Episode image is taken from the demonstrations against Milosevic in 2000, one of the first successful color revolutions

Outro music is "Glory To The Party" a song of the Georgian Communist Party from the Soviet period. 

Mar 09, 202301:06:46
Once Again On Scottish Nationalism

Once Again On Scottish Nationalism

In this follow up episode on Scottish nationalism we examine some of the reasons why the British left has come to support this particular cause.  The reasons range from the ridiculous notion that Scotland is somehow more "progressive" than southern England to the equally ridiculous opportunist reasononing of the Trotskyites.  Many of the reasons are more about sounding "left" than they are about actually challenging British imperialism.  

Outro music is "Where Is Out James Connolly' performed by Andr Irvine

Feb 27, 202301:01:32
Interview With Christian Parenti

Interview With Christian Parenti

Christian Parenti joins me for this episode to talk about his two recent articles Trump Against Empire & Will The Left Stand Up To The Deepstate

We had a wide ranging discussion covering how Trumps blundering and crude understanding of American capitalism led to him inadvertantly disrupting certain aspects of the US imperial management system.

We also cover the vast expansion in the powers of the security state in the USA and how the brings into question how much of the American system can be said to be a "managed democracy".

Outro Music is 'The Revolutionary Alphabet' a song from the early period of the American Revolution

Feb 24, 202301:10:51
Duelling Speeches

Duelling Speeches

In the first part of our analysis of President Putins speech to the Russian Federal Assembly we examine the part of the speech dealing with the Ukraine war and special military operation.  This leads into a discussion of the class war that has been waged upon the Ukrainian working class by the oligarchy and why they turned to a coup when they couldn't get the EU agreement through in 2014.  We then turn to look at old man Bidens ramblings in Poland and his farewell to Zelensky in Kiev. 

Outro music is The International sung in Ukrainian 


Feb 21, 202359:43
Paradoxes of Propaganda - Interview With Kit Klarenberg
Feb 19, 202301:17:36
Sturgeon Falls

Sturgeon Falls

In this special episode I look at the recent resignation of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.  What does this tell us about the state of the SNP? Could they have won a 2nd independence referendum? Why is the Scottish left so bought into the idea of independence?  All these questions and more will be addressed in this episode.  Due to the lenght of the episode there will be a second part of this released next week looking why petit-bourgeois nationalism has grown in Britain since the 1970's.

Outro Music is "Workers Song" by Dick Gaughan

Feb 17, 202301:04:04
Mr Z Goes On Tour

Mr Z Goes On Tour

This week saw the grotescque spectacle of Zelensky doing a Star Wars cosplaying session in the Brtish parliament and being given an IOU for fighter jets in return. We look at that before turning to the perennial question of brext and a recent immigration related riot that took place in Britain and the usage of migration by imperialism.
Be sure to read out latest article on the Marx Engels Institute site
Outro Music is "In The Flesh" by Pink Floyd taken from the album "The Wall" (1979) lyrics by Roger Waters
Feb 11, 202301:08:57
A Time Of Revelations
Feb 05, 202358:20
Interview With Joti Brar

Interview With Joti Brar

In this episode I speak to Joti Brar, Vice Chair Communist Party of Great Britain - Marxist Leninist. In this interview we speak about the World Anti Imperialist Platform and the US imperialists plans for war with China, the war against Russia and the failure of anti war movements in the west. This will go out for public release on Friday.

Be sure to check out the CPGB-ML website

Here is the link to Joti's telegram channel
Feb 03, 202301:09:13
The Dead End Of Labourism - Red Star Bulletin #35
Jan 28, 202359:45
World Of Tanks - Red Star Bulletin #34
Jan 26, 202301:12:14
The Davos Men Cometh - Red Star Bulletin #33

The Davos Men Cometh - Red Star Bulletin #33

In tonights bulletin we look at the recent purges in the Ukrainian government and ask what the hell the Americans are up to?  The tank based hysteria continues, largely fuelled by journalists who've never even played 'World Of Tanks'.  And we finally look at the bizarre and crazy world of Davos, Greta Thunberg and Keir Starmer.  

Outro Music is 'Plastic Man' by The Kinks

Jan 24, 202345:50
Dangerous Assumptions - Red Star Bulletin #32
Jan 22, 202301:02:26
The Fraud of "Anti Fascism"

The Fraud of "Anti Fascism"

I start off this episode by talking about the launch of the Marx Engels Institute which is now the home of this podcast.  As I say on the episode there will be an essay accompanying this epiosde published on the site in the next few days.

For the bulk of the episode I examine how did the concept of anti facsism change from being a socialist force driven by the working class to being a laundry service for the reputations of imperialist politicians?  In this episode I explore the historical changes that generated this and why it has proven to be such a poisonous development that leads to strengthening of anti-working class actions from the capitalist state.

Outro Music Is the Italian version of the Song of the United Front

Jan 20, 202301:12:23
Interview With Dr Bob Gill

Interview With Dr Bob Gill

In this episode I speak with Dr Bob Gill. He is a medical doctor working within the British National Health Service and long time campaigner against health service privatisation. In the hour he talks about media decepitons over health policy, the treacherous role of the health union leaders and the identical nature of the NHS policies promoted by both labour and conservative parties. Be sure to follow Dr Gill on twitter @drbobgill
Jan 14, 202354:52
Biden, Britain and Ukraine

Biden, Britain and Ukraine

Will the classified documents stashed in his corvette's glove box spell the end for Joe Biden?  Have the Russians sacked their commander? Is British capitalism actually capable of waging a real war?  All these questions and more will be answered in tonights Red Star Radio bulletin! 

Episode Artwork is 'The First Red Army Soldiers in 1918' by the Soviet Russian Artist Ivan Georgievich Drozdov (1924)

Jan 13, 202359:58
The Brasilia Riot

The Brasilia Riot

What are the reasons behind the recent riot of Bolsonaro supporters in Brazil? What does this tell us about the nature of capitalist democracy in Brazil? Are there any comparisons to be made to the January 6th events in the USA? Or is such a comparison facile nonsense peddled by instagram influencers?  

Outro music is the anthem of the landless workers movement of Brazil 

Jan 09, 202348:33
Sunak, Starmer and the Unbearable Self Deception of the British Empire

Sunak, Starmer and the Unbearable Self Deception of the British Empire

In this special episode I look at the two speeches given by the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer.  By reading through we can tell much about British capitalism and how the priorities of the ruling class are expressed by the politicians within the bourgeois state.  

Episode Outro is 'High Germany' by Martin Carthy


Jan 08, 202301:02:09
Washington Bullets - Red Star Bulletin #32

Washington Bullets - Red Star Bulletin #32

In this episode I look at the real meaning of Zelenskys Christmas in Washington, the sheer brute cynicism of the likes of Lindsay Graham and the return of Oliver North.  I then turn to domestic British politics and Rishi Sunaks proposed attacks on the right to strike.  I conclude by looking at the long term rates of poverty in Britain and why they never actually reduce over the last 30 years. 

Outro Music is 'Washington Bullets' by The Clash from the album 'Sandinista' (1980) 

Episode artwork is 'Winter Evening' by the Soviet Russian artist Viktor Bibikov (1971)

Jan 07, 202358:60
The Starmer Redundancy - Red Star Bulletin #32

The Starmer Redundancy - Red Star Bulletin #32

I star the bulletin tonight by looking at the latest from the war in Ukraine, including Putin visiting Minsk and the possible implcations of it.

The bulk of the episode thought is taken up with an examination of the strikes going on in Britain and why the labour party offers no way out for the working class.

Outro is 'The Red Flag'

Dec 20, 202257:00
The Holodomor Mythology - Interview With Comrade Slava

The Holodomor Mythology - Interview With Comrade Slava

With the German parliament recently passing a resolution proclaiming that the Soviet leadership in the ealry 1930's engaged in a deliberate policy of starvation in Ukraine it was clearly time to look at the mythology this resolution is based on.  Comrade Slava from the Chicago Workers School joins me for this episode where we examine why the 'holodomr' is a myth created by a combination of the Nazi regime, Ukrainian fascists, the Hearst press and reactionary British historian Robert Conquest.  We also examine why this myth has been sustained and how it is used by Ukrainian fascists to this day.  We also look at the role played by Trotsky in all this (and it's not a good one).  The final part of the episode deals with the reality of collectivisation, crop failures and the actual actions of the Soviet government in Ukraine and Moscow.  

Sources used in this episode:

Fraud, Famine and Fascism - Douglas Tottle

The 1932 Harvest and the Famine of 1933 - Mark Tauger

Natural Disaster and Human Actions in the Soviet Famine of 1931-1933 - Mark Tauger

Another View of Stalin - Ludo Martens

Blood Lies - Grover Furr

Stalin-History and Critique of a Black Legend - Domenico Losurdo 

Stalin The Temporary Holder of Ukraine - Leon Trotsky 

Outro music is 'You Glorious Soviet Ukraine' 

Episode Artwork is 'Sunny Day Before Spring' by the Soviet Ukrainian artist Victor Puzrykov

Dec 16, 202201:03:46
The Enemies Messengers - Media and the Class War
Dec 14, 202201:05:50
Waiting for the Fall - Red Star Bulletin #30

Waiting for the Fall - Red Star Bulletin #30

As the Kiev regime prepares another doomed offensive in Zaporozhye I ask what, what the hell are they doing?  The Saudis realign but remain the same collection of ultra reactionaries they always have been. The Serbian ruling class wait and watch whilst trying to avoid a shooting war with NATO over Kosovo but the wars fuelled by US imperialism in the former Yugoslavia cannot remain frozen for too much longer as the American empire visibly falls apart.  And finally a look at why the British trade union leaders are paying Keir Starmer to kick them in the balls. 

Outro Music is 'The Future' by Leonard Cohen

Episode Artwork is the work 'Paratroopers' by the Soviet Russian Artist Pyotr Tarasovich Maltsev

Dec 12, 202201:00:22
Mere Anarchy Is Loosed Upon The World - Red Star Bulletin #29

Mere Anarchy Is Loosed Upon The World - Red Star Bulletin #29

In this episode of the bulletin I consider the latest discussion around the potential end point for the Russia-NATO war in Ukraine that have emerged recently.  I then look at the farcical "coup" that was reported to have been foiled in Germany this week, how there's always a pro-fascist section of the bourgeoisie and how the secret services of captialist states always play a role in the running of reactionary organisations.  I conclude by looking at the recent comments from Olaf Scholz regarding Germany as a guarantor of European "peace and stability". 

Episode artwork is the work 'Kiev 1942' by the Soviet Ukrainian artist Viktor Puzrykov

Episode Outro is 'Trans-Europe Express' by Kraftwerk

Dec 10, 202258:13
Anglo Ruses - Red Star Daily #28

Anglo Ruses - Red Star Daily #28

In this episode of the bulletin I look at the likely effects of the G7 oil "price cap" and how it isn't likely to lead to the results it's originators desire.  I also look at the drone attack on airfields inside Russia and how this is being played out as a propaganda operation in the British bourgeois press.  

In the final part of the programme I look at how the government and security services have been using the clowns from Extinction Rebelliona and Just Stop Oil to soften up public opinion for more repressive measures to be taken against the working class.  

Outro Music is "American Ruse" by The MC5

Episode Artwork is the work 'Into the Night' by the Soviet Russian artist Vladimir Alexeyvich Vasin

Dec 05, 202250:42
Men Out Of Time - Red Stay Daily #27

Men Out Of Time - Red Stay Daily #27

In this episode I examine the latest from the Russia-NATO war and other related stories.  As the Russian armed forces reach almost full strength the NATO "allies" plot to dismember Ukraine and Moldova.  Meanwhile both Angela Merkel and Oscar Lafontaine have given interviews recently which both demonstrate the stagnation and decay of German capitalism.  

Outro Music is 'A Man Out Of Time' by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Episode Artwork is 'The Storming of the Reichstag' by the Soviet Russian Artist Mikhail Ananievich Ananiev

Dec 01, 202256:08
Unholy Empires - Red Star Daily #26

Unholy Empires - Red Star Daily #26

In this episode I look at the latest news from the ongoing battles around Artemovsk/Balhmut and the rumours of it's imminent fall to the Russian forces.  I then look at the latest comments from a western official who's been revealed to be a fool, this time it's the Pope revealing himself to be in the Josep Borrel school of thought.  I then turn to look at the various displays of idiocy over the protests in China and how the schemes of imperialism fit into this.  

Episode Outro is 'If I Should Fall From the Grace of God' by The Pogues

Episode Artwork is 'Short Break From The War' by the Soviet Ukrainian Artist Viktor Ivanovich Tolochko

Nov 30, 202248:40
Interview With Carlos Garrido

Interview With Carlos Garrido


I recently spoke with Carlos Garrido, co-founder and editor of Midwestern Marx, about his new book 'Marxism and the Dialectical Materialist Worldview'. Our discussion covers the themes of the book, the importance of Hegel, Soviet Marxism, the wretchedness of the Frankfurt School and the disconnect betwteen workers and the left.
Nov 25, 202201:01:27
Pawns In The Game - Red Star Daily #25

Pawns In The Game - Red Star Daily #25

In this episode I look at the fate that has befallen those who have provided themselves and their movements as allies to the US imperialists.  This is relevant not only to the fate of Zelensky but also to the latest selling out of the Kurds in Syria by the US.  It is also something that has relevance to the current violence in Iran that is taking place in Iranian Kurdistan and the Balochi region in South East Iran, on the border with Pakistan.  I also discuss the Soviet policy on national minorities and defend it against the misrepresentations of it that have come from Russian nationalists and western "marxists".  

Episode Artwork is the work 'Marshal Georgy Zhukov' by the Soviet Russia artist Vasily Nikolayevich Yakovlev

Episode Outro is 'Theme from the Long Good Friday' by Francis Monkman

Nov 24, 202248:13